Personally, I went some time without one of these and would have to say, when nothing happens, a rear view camera / dash cam is not absolutely necessary to have.
Has something happened to make me wish I had it earlier? YES!!
In this day and age of technology, unless you have x-ray vision for backing into parking spaces with limited visibility, an assistant to step out in the rain to guide you or be your eye witness which is not nearly at all as convincing as video, a tool like this is absolutely worth the investment. Especially when you bring into account potential mishaps, collision center bills, rising insurance premiums, and other dings and dents you may experience on the road. Think about it. Now, read on!
BENEFITS OF A REAR VIEW / BACK-UP CAM
You may be thinking to yourself, “I am one of the few good drivers out there, so I don’t need something like this.”, If so, high-five! Keep those skills in tune! Your ancestry may have thought mirrors were silly too. The truth of the matter is, one cannot justify skill set via lack of tools being used that are readily available. We all are human, unless your cat is orating this article for you, in that case, you are special.
WHAT IS IT ANYWAY?!
A reversing camera is a CCTV (closed circuit TV) camera that is mounted on the rear of the vehicle, the kits generally offer 5-7″ minimal display monitors which provides drivers with another tool to clearly see what is behind and in blind spots.
PRO’s
Reversing cameras, used correctly in addition to existing mirror systems, will strongly decrease the likelihood of backing into the neighbors fence, falling off a cliff when needing to maneuver a tight mountain road switchback, and also providing control and visibility necessary to drive your wife in labor to the hospital in reverse if the transmission suddenly goes out on you.
Along with the addition of a camera for driving in reverse, comes the ability to park in tighter spaces without becoming the initially welcome arrival to your van gathering and driving into your neighbor because you couldn’t see.
Without a doubt, a reversing camera makes it much easier to hook up and/or back up a trailer or caravan when there’s no one available to guide you.
Many of us with RV’s and vans have zero visibility directly behind us without one of these units, forcing us to rely solely upon side view mirrors and the hope of courteous drivers sharing the road. If any of you share in this and want to upgrade to #backupcameralife but need to save up first, in the meantime and any other time, I also fervently recommend getting a set of these Convex Mirrors to add to your side view mirrors.
BENEFITS OF A DASH CAM
We live in a nation full of fraudulent insurance claims, civil cases, and their word against yours whether it is from another civilian, an illegal driver with no insurance, or even of those in authority. C.Y.A. is a suitable acronym for what this tool offers and it is basically a short way to paraphrase the title of this article. If you can’t put meaning together for yourself just know that it means do everything in your power to ensure stories told are credible.
PRO’s
Cameras and video don’t lie. If you have record of any incident in this form you, and deciding authorities and insurance providers are much more likely to know what really happened and who is at fault. Did you rear end someone or did they cut you off not offering enough space for you to slow down? This can only be answered by timing analysis provided by video records.
Honestly, how many things can you say happen in front of your vehicle that you wish you had record of? It isn’t always bad things. You could be driving through Yosemite and happen to have a clean windshield. Press record and enjoy the scenic views in motion later, you now have the opportunity to watch this on your enormous tv when you get home and keep your eyes on the road. Heck, add in some theme music while your at it.
THE PRODUCT
- ?7 Inch IPS Touch Screen & 1080P FHD Recording? Simultaneous recording in Full HD 1080P front view video recording and 480P waterproof rear cam, ensuring you get the best footage all day and night. 7 Inch IPS touch screen provides a wide visual angle which makes it clearer to view video laterally.
- ?Reversing Camera Kit for Safe Parking?Connect the red wire from the rear camera to power positive wire of back up light, the image of rear camera with 4pcs night vision lights will automatically switch over the full view and trigger guide line for safe parking when the reverse gear engaged.
- ?Parking Monitor & G-Sensor?Triggered by the Parking Monitor, the dash cam front and rear will automatically turn itself on and record when parking. The integrated G-sensor will auto-lock recorded video for safekeeping when detecting collision. Equipped with these powerful functions, 7 inch dash cam front and rear provides powerful evidence in case of dispute and give you peace of mind when driving.
- ?One-Key Switching Design?Based on one-key switching design, it is convenient for you to switch the five view modes from full screen display of front/rear view or picture-picture display. Turning off the screen display, it can be used as a regular rear view mirror.
- ?Exquisite Appearance and Easy to Use?With 2.5D advanced Anti-glare glass mirror, this iron body gives you a special sense of touch and vision. 7 inch sensitive touch screen is more concise and easier to set up than traditional physical buttons.
Did you know about Labor Day Deals?
I found this “wheel of a deal” listed on Amazon for an order total of a mere $59.49 while list during a Labor Day special. For our international readers, Labor Day is a public holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September which guarantees the “long” weekend for workers depending upon industry compliance. It honors the American labor movement and the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, laws, and well-being of the country. More than 80 other countries celebrate an International Workers’ Day.
An additional “plus”, for my countrymen and women here in the U.S. which many of us may not be aware of is that if we go into consumer-mode at this time, we will find some killer deals! Actually this item was listed for $69.99, an additional Labor Day coupon took off $10.50, and being an Amazon Prime member got me free 2-day shipping. Looking back at my order summary I did not pay any sales taxes which leads me to believe this is yet another bonus of sensibly choosing my time to be a consumer!
THE UNBOXING
It arrived the day I began this article, I checked to see what the price was if I were to order another and it has gone up to $78.99 which still saves you $61.00 since the list price is $139.99. Click here to see what the price is for you today!
Upon unpacking this bad-boy gadget, I felt that it had a real quality feel and appearance. Almost an equivalent experience to unpacking a new smart phone when you are eligible for an upgrade. So, with that said, even if the price were $139.99, I would still be recommending this product for you to cover your vehicular front/rear activities which offers security and safety worth far more than many smart phones barring the need to contact loved ones, authorities and insurance providers, should an accident or other occur.
I too thought this a large package to hold such a small item. Did Amazon run out of boxes?! Unlikely. Ah yes, I also ordered some batteries which are for another project altogether.
COMPONENTS
The kit came equipped with:
- Back-up cam attached to mounting bracket
- 3M tape to assist in the securing thereof
- Rear-view mirror replacement/monitor including dash cam
- Rubber straps for mounting mirror/monitor on existing rear-view mirror
- 12V power adapter
- Operators manual
- And lastly, a dash cam “warning sticker” for those who feel that letting a potential intruder know what you have on board and which direction to come from is a good idea
WHAT ELSE WILL YOU NEED TO BE SET FOR THE ROAD
All of you will need to have an SD card. 16GB or 32GB will work for most as I am hopeful none of you have an incident lasting longer than one of these will store. This product is programmed to erase the earliest saved and overwrite with most recent feeds so there is no need to clear storage periodically. It also has an option to lock videos that you do not want to be erased.
The memory card I am recommending here, also comes with the adapter necessary to for most laptops to read. If your pc does not have an SD card reader that is an easy fix too, just another small investment, click here.
If you don’t have a cigarette lighter style 12V outlet you may need to consult with a knowledgeable professional and/or install one of these as a work-around adapter.
Another potential purchase those with longer, less traditional vehicles (myself included) will need a longer cord for their back-up camera which is offered in a 23-foot version here.
THE DETAILS
There is a bit of setup and operation personal adjustments to make after installation of this unit that the manual or a tech-savvy individual will easily be able to walk through with you. If not, the default settings work well too. Just know, there are options. If you would like assistance from us, that’s easy too, just reach out or comment below with your quandary!
Fair warning, although I am considered to be a “handy” person, good with tools and problem solving, I still managed to experience my own set-backs upon tackling the installation of this device. I do not recommend your attempting this on your own unless, like me, you enjoy the challenge and are able to regard any such set-backs as a learning experience far cheaper than paying a self-acclaimed professional. You may enjoy reading about how I installed it on my van since not all vehicles are the same.
READER APPRECIATION AND WELCOME FOR FEEDBACK
Hey! This is our opportunity to thank you for being interested in information we have to offer and choose to share. Thanks! If you have some other ideas, developmental input, or personal blessing to share with assistance of having one of these doo-dads please share with us below in comments or if you have a meaty response, why not consider writing and submitting an article of your own to be reviewed for posting HERE on Roaming Interest!
