I'm installing a $200 wired 4 camera system in the bus. The rear camera was the main one I wanted with getting ready to pull my toad. The front camera is pretty nice too for those times when someone pulls out in front of you. However, I have yet to install the side ones. I'm not sure where the best place is for them, whether toward the front of the bus, or, halfway back, three quarters back or (?). I really don't have any issues with seeing the rear/side of the bus with the normal mirrors, but it seems like the closer to the front, the more blind things get. The rear-view camera has a pretty wide view, so it seems sufficient for changing lanes with the toad.
What approximate locations have you all installed your side cameras, and have you had good luck with them?
Thanks everyone.
From your mirror position a wide angle camera will find motorcycles and vehicles coming up onramps, mirrors won't capture as well...
My side cameras are installed in the center of the bus below the drip rail as you can see in this article. I know the author and he is a really nice guy. ;D
https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/articles/conversion-and-nomad-life-tips-tricks-and-information/i-can-see-clearly-now-with-my-360-omnivue-vision-camera-system/
Interesting. I didn't think of having the side cameras pointed straight down from the center of the bus. I was more thinking it would be faced backwards being mounted toward the front. I like the straight down from the middle setup so that it shows along the entire side, but from the middle. I'll mock them up there and see how it looks (literally). Thanks.
Mine are also centered on the sides, but my camera system stitches them together into a bird's-eye view so it made sense to minimize distortion. They too point straight down and between the four there's not many blind spots - you can maybe hide something the width of a telephone pole if you're trying to.
Sounds like something worth keeping in mind for a future install.
Jim
Does the camera hardware offer a birds eye top view around the bus? If so you want them halfway back on each side.
The particular unit I installed does not have the bird's eye cameras. I don't know if I could get different cameras and plug them in or not. At any rate, I am happy with just the rear and front view for now. It has made all the difference in the world. The front view is only good for recording the happenings up front in case someone slams on their brakes in front of me. That being said, the rear view is the most practical for constant monitoring of the toad. Having a tow vehicle has opened up a whole new world of travelling, and being able to see it at all times has made it much more palatable.