BCM Publisher Crashes Eagle for the Last Time

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

When I arrived back home from the Dam Rally last month I backed my Eagle into my slip and hit my enclosed car hauler which took a chunk of the driver's side of the ole 1967 Eagle.  See picture below.  I was watching very close, but it is very tight on all sides and you know what they say, "Stuff Happens".

I decided then and there that this is the last time I am going to hurt my Eagle.  So today I am having Premier Services from Santa Fe Springs, CA install a 360 degree camera system on my bus.  The technicians arrived right on time at 8:00 AM and at this time (noonish) they already have all four cameras mounted, most of the harness holes drilled, and some of the wires run. With this new system I will be able to see straight down on all four sides of my bus as well as an angle and about 20 feet out on all sides.  They mount four cameras, one in the center of each side and in the center of the front and rear of the bus.  Then with the latest digital technology they stitch together all four images so when you look at the 7" display screen on your dash, it seems like you are sitting in the center of the roof of your bus with a top-down view, but on all edges at the same time where you can see all sides very clearly so there are no blind spots.

Sometimes I get a bit nervous driving this 40 foot long, wide body bus on narrow streets and in busy campgrounds and through narrow mountain passes.  By the end of today after I get this new system installed, my blood pressure will be much lower when driving the Eagle, especially when driving though tight spaces or backing into a narrow campground space.

This is especially useful if you don't have a co-pilot that is able to see out the passenger side of the bus and to help you back into tight spots.  I decided that I could either get married so I will always have a co-pilot or buy this system.  It was a tough decision, but my thinking is that the camera system may be the least expensive option.

Check out this AWESOME system by clicking on this link to see how this system works and then click on the two minute, 360 degree Omnivue video...

http://operationsaferoad.com/fleet-solutions/

If you have any questions, please post them here and I will answer them the best I can.  Or, the folks that installed the system will answer them for you.  Then stay tuned and I will write an article about the system and provide much more details.

[sledhead]

my wife has a system just like that on her car , it works great until it,s crappy weather out then it is hard to see because all the cameras get dirty . but in a sunny world backing into the garage , it is as if you are 20 ' above your car watching some one back it in . amazing to use it

dave

[luvrbus]

I have the 3 camera setup with a new dash cam,that is a neat setup Gary I will take for a Christmas present if you are in the giving mode 

[pabusnut]

Gary if you already have a checklist add these 2 items:
1) make sure all cameras are clean, and functioning
2) LOOK at camera & mirrors when backing

My wife has a backup cam in her cheap KIA, but has "bumped" things because she forgets to look at the HUGE MONITOR in the middle of the dash.  OK, so I am the one who actually jackknifed the trailer into the DRIVER's SIDE of my Jetta, because I looked to the right when I should have been looking left!!  (I tell people the little holes in the fender are from a drive-by shooting).

Steve Toomey
PAbusnut

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Good point Cliff.  With the holidays coming up the least I can do is to give everyone that visits us at the Quartzite Rally a free camera....brochure.  Feel free to pick one up when you visit my booth.

[HB of CJ]

That is my saying.  I tend to crash and smash into all sorts of stuff when I back up.  So I don't.  Always try to park where the car/whatever can just drive forward to get out.  Even if this means walking a bit.  Works for me.

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Steve,

This is a very advanced system not one of those Walmart models. When you are backing up it can sense your eye movements and if you are not looking at the monitor directly, a hand comes out from the back of the monitor and slaps you in the face. :-)

Gary

[pabusnut]

Gary,

That's the system I need--one that slaps you up aside the head---Wait I already have that system, and it was/is expensive--WIFE!!

[Darkspeed]

more details > http://www.gmctechnology.de/fileadmin/Kundendaten/pdf/Automotive/VE-ProViuASL360.pdf

[Dave5Cs]

wow I can hardly wait until we get to the "Q" to get one of those.....Brochures!.... LOL

Dave5Cs