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Sat Feb 05, 2022 7:30 pm

We decided to pair up a wireless rear view camera with our dash mounted Garmin GPS. Garmin’s offering (BC 30 add-on camera) includes the camera, mount, wiring harness, and Bluetooth transmitter. We mounted it inside on the AC plenum facing out the rear window. Only two wires to hook up: 12v power lead and ground lead. We pulled power from the reverse light circuit in the right side taillight so the GPS display powers up automatically when shifting into reverse.

Sun Feb 06, 2022 7:09 am

Clever dry camera location.

My Garmin will accept a camera.
But never having had a vehicle with one, I feel no need for one.

I guess you don't miss what you've never had.......

That's why God gave us mirrors I guess.
I remember getting my first Right side exterior mirror!
Now THAT was the lap of luxury!

Dave

Mon Feb 07, 2022 12:29 am

Red Ryder wrote: We decided to pair up a wireless rear view camera with our dash mounted Garmin GPS. Garmin’s offering (BC 30 add-on camera) includes the camera, mount, wiring harness, and Bluetooth transmitter. We mounted it inside on the AC plenum facing out the rear window. Only two wires to hook up: 12v power lead and ground lead. We pulled power from the reverse light circuit in the right side taillight so the GPS display powers up automatically when shifting into reverse.

I’ve been thinking of getting this unit too. Can you show pics of how you set it up at the AC plenum and location of the camera? Thanks!

Mon Feb 07, 2022 6:11 am

Sounds awesome! I use my phone for navigation and needed a rear view/dash camera. This is the unit I went with (just came in, haven't installed yet).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0895NMDKT/r

Mon Feb 07, 2022 6:33 am

On a thread like this, it is helpful to state your use case, and be specific. The purpose of this thread is vague to me.

Are you putting in the rear view camera as a camera for use when driving your van in reverse (a backup camera with screen visible to the driver), or as a rear facing dashcam for recording driving activity (a dashcam, but for the rear facing zone of the vehicle, not meant to assist in driving) or as an internal camera, recording internal activity (in-car camera, for recording driver or passenger activity, which is common in rideshare applications)?

Sidenote, backup cameras (a rear facing camera that displays on a screen within the vehicle, for assisting in driving in reverse) have been required on all new cars sold in the US since 2018. That law exists because many people died and backup cameras could have prevented those deaths.

kourt

Mon Feb 07, 2022 1:08 pm

Photos of installation:

Camera location

Wiring harness is behind the panel

Bluetooth transmitter

Mon Feb 07, 2022 1:20 pm

nice, got a link for that product?

Mon Feb 07, 2022 2:17 pm

vanis13 wrote: nice, got a link for that product?
If you have a compatible Garmin unit, you need this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RVGXYJK/ref=cm_sw_em_...&psc=1
The camera’s resolution is only 240p, so if you are used to 4K HD reso on your home theatre screen, prepare to be disappointed!😁

IMPORTANT NOTE: The power cable that originally comes with the Garmin GPS unit must be replaced with the one included in this kit. It contains the Bluetooth receiver.

Mon Feb 07, 2022 4:25 pm

kourt wrote: On a thread like this, it is helpful to state your use case, and be specific. The purpose of this thread is vague to me.

Are you putting in the rear view camera as a camera for use when driving your van in reverse (a backup camera with screen visible to the driver), or as a rear facing dashcam for recording driving activity (a dashcam, but for the rear facing zone of the vehicle, not meant to assist in driving) or as an internal camera, recording internal activity (in-car camera, for recording driver or passenger activity, which is common in rideshare applications)?

Sidenote, backup cameras (a rear facing camera that displays on a screen within the vehicle, for assisting in driving in reverse) have been required on all new cars sold in the US since 2018. That law exists because many people died and backup cameras could have prevented those deaths.

kourt
Well I thought the intended use was kinda obvious. The camera is activated by the reverse light circuit — for a view to the rear while backing. 😁👍

Mon Feb 07, 2022 5:07 pm

djkeev wrote: Clever dry camera location.

My Garmin will accept a camera.
But never having had a vehicle with one, I feel no need for one.
I guess you don't miss what you've never had.......
That's why God gave us mirrors I guess.
I remember getting my first Right side exterior mirror!
Now THAT was the lap of luxury!

Dave
Garmin. GPS?

But never having had a vehicle with one, I feel no need for one. 😅

I guess you don't miss what you've never had.......

That's why God gave us paper maps I guess.
I remember getting my first map book!
Now THAT was the lap of luxury!

Mon Feb 07, 2022 5:52 pm

Well, the good news is that if you don’t want GPS, owning a Vanagon you will have more to spend on other stuff! :lol:

Mon Feb 07, 2022 7:12 pm

Red Ryder wrote: Well I thought the intended use was kinda obvious. The camera is activated by the reverse light circuit — for a view to the rear while backing. 😁👍

I agree, it was pretty obvious to me... but read shagginwagon83's post and you can see a reference to a dashcam product, not a backup camera. So not the same context of use. So it helps to really spell out your use case.

kourt

Mon Feb 07, 2022 7:15 pm

kourt wrote: Red Ryder wrote: Well I thought the intended use was kinda obvious. The camera is activated by the reverse light circuit — for a view to the rear while backing. 😁👍

I agree, it was pretty obvious to me... but read shagginwagon83's post and you can see a reference to a dashcam product, not a backup camera. So not the same context of use. So it helps to really spell out your use case.

kourt

I have a Westy with factory A/C headbanger. I can hardly see out - so mine will always be for rear view - not just in reverse. And plus a dash cam.

Mon Feb 07, 2022 7:16 pm

vanagonjr wrote: djkeev wrote: Clever dry camera location.

My Garmin will accept a camera.
But never having had a vehicle with one, I feel no need for one.
I guess you don't miss what you've never had.......
That's why God gave us mirrors I guess.
I remember getting my first Right side exterior mirror!
Now THAT was the lap of luxury!

Dave
Garmin. GPS?

But never having had a vehicle with one, I feel no need for one. 😅

I guess you don't miss what you've never had.......

That's why God gave us paper maps I guess.
I remember getting my first map book!
Now THAT was the lap of luxury!

Ha! Good one!

I only got it because my speedometer wasn't working!
Although I fixed my speedometer I had grown to like the digital speed read out that turned red when the legal limit is exceeded.
So I kept it.

Ironically with your joke............ I AM .a paper map guy. 😂😂
My kids tease me about it all the time.

I'm not sure I even know how to use it as a GPS 🤷‍♂️

Dave

Mon Feb 07, 2022 7:49 pm

shagginwagon83 wrote: I have a Westy with factory A/C headbanger. I can hardly see out - so mine will always be for rear view - not just in reverse. And plus a dash cam.

Fair enough. For anyone who is looking for a thread about dashcam installs, here's one I started a few years ago. Thanks, all.

kourt

Mon Feb 07, 2022 10:34 pm

I did a VanGo and it works well and I know that's not what this thread is about but having pulled wire and trying to hide it the bluetooth looks good!

Mon Feb 07, 2022 11:06 pm

djkeev wrote: I AM .a paper map guy. 😂😂
My kids tease me about it all the time.

I'm not sure I even know how to use it as a GPS 🤷‍♂️

Dave

This kind of reminds me of my Mother In Law. Except she's not a paper map person or a GPS person. I've literally set her GPS to get her where she's going, but she's so convinced it's lying to her (on a route she's never taken), that she ignores it. She'll eventually call 2 hours later when she's so far off the proper path, there's no point in even trying to get to the destination anymore. Then I'm supposed to get her back on track with a description like "I'm near a tree and a house with a red fence."

I'm not very big on technology like that, but it's hard to deny how easily an iPhone or TomTom GPS can get you around the world compared to having 50 spiral bound map books that become outdated every few years.

Tue Feb 08, 2022 6:04 am

CanStan wrote: djkeev wrote: I AM .a paper map guy. 😂😂
My kids tease me about it all the time.

I'm not sure I even know how to use it as a GPS 🤷‍♂️

Dave

This kind of reminds me of my Mother In Law. Except she's not a paper map person or a GPS person. I've literally set her GPS to get her where she's going, but she's so convinced it's lying to her (on a route she's never taken), that she ignores it. She'll eventually call 2 hours later when she's so far off the proper path, there's no point in even trying to get to the destination anymore. Then I'm supposed to get her back on track with a description like "I'm near a tree and a house with a red fence."

I'm not very big on technology like that, but it's hard to deny how easily an iPhone or TomTom GPS can get you around the world compared to having 50 spiral bound map books that become outdated every few years.

I'm not that anti technology.
I have an iPhone and that is my "Go To" GPS platform.
I can stream the directions through my car radio too.
My Garmin is truly there as a speedometer.

I like paper maps because you get a "lay of the land" in one easy glance.
With GPS you know where you are....... exactly within a few feet....... but you don't know where you ARE in the bigger picture.
Maps provide this spacial orientation in a large easy to read format.

Though....... I am guilty of having placed my fingers on a paper map and spreading them to look at a given spot in more detail! :lol: :lol: :oops: :oops: :shock:
FYI ....... it doesn't work.

Dave

Tue Feb 08, 2022 6:14 am

In the '80's I used to fly with a friend's dad who had a Cessna Decathlon. It was equipped with a Loran C navigation system and I was floored by how it calculated speed, ETA, position on the map, etc. I daydreamt about how cool that would be in a car (completely impossible, I thought--too many variables in driving.)

I was wrong. I dig GPS. It's invaluable, when assisted with Topo maps, in the desert. Paper maps do have their function, though.

Back to the topic, I just bought a backup camera and an off-brand double din stereo...Hoping to install this weekend then give a report.

And to add: yes I need a backup camera partially because of all of the crap hanging off of the back of my van. I know. But there are a lot of kids in my alley playing these days, and it doesn't hurt to take extra precautions. And I think it'll make it easier to avoid obstacles when backing into remote camping spots.

Tue Feb 08, 2022 8:01 am

While driving cross country, I stopped at truck stops. When I asked a driver about the best way to cross the Great State of Iforgetnowyearslater, although he had a huge GPS screen, he pulled out a road atlas. I agree. GPS is an extremely handy tool, but useless for planning.

Duncan