Maybe an odd idea?

[Paladin]

I've sure some here can throw a bus around and put it anywhere they want it forward or back but I'm not feeling so confident even with a backup camera. I have a Lincoln Navigator and it didn't come with backup sensors which I wanted so I found some on Ebay which work very well for not very much money (the dealer wanter $700.00!)
I'm wondering if there might be a benefit to putting backup sensors in the rear bumper of my bus?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=004&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=140064120116&rd=1

These will tell you which sensor or sensors are sensing proximity so you know which corner you need to watch. Nice for small things that you can't see including tall curbs or rocks, shopping carts or bikes laying in the driveway.

Of course I'd do as I did on the Navigator and put in a bypass switch for when I tow so it doesn't sound all the time while in reverse.

Any thoughts?  I'm kind of liking the idea.


-Dave

[Songman]

I know I certainly plan to use them! They are so cheap these days that there is no reason not to. Even if you happen to miss something in the mirrors, the sensors will let you know it is there and hopefully keep you from hitting it.

[H3Jim]

I think its a god idea. I bought some, but have not yet installed them.  I have them on my car and truck. In  the beginning I thought they were just so much fufu stuff, but I have come to really like them, and even depend on them when I can't see very well.  You can never have too much information when driving one of these big rigs.  

When I was first looking at buses, one of my neighbors who has one invited me over to take a look at his.   As I was walking around his bus, I saw his rear bumper was pushed in in the middle and the ends were buckled outward about 8 inches, kind of ugly.  When I commented on it, he said yes, when he first got it, he was filling with diesel and when he backed out he hit a pole a very low speed.  Point being, with the weight of these things, you can do a whole lot of damage in a short time at a crawling speed.  Anything that reduces that risk is a good idea.  But make sure you still keep your eyes open and don't rely on the sensors entirely.

[Gary '79 5C]

I have not utilized the B/U sensors, as my cars are a bit older than that technology, but I was thinking if they could be modified to "sense" a car on the curb side of a bus. I have an Eaton system which sensors and records the "closing" space in front of the bus and a side sensor which lites an indicator when a car is on the R/S of the bus. This has saved me ( and someone else ) when a small vehicle may try to pass on my right as I return to that lane. I clear my turns, but a low slung convertible may go unnoticed. That warning lite is on the right side post, next to the mirror and works great.

Not to hi jack, but just wondering it these B/U sensors have the range to do the same.

I rely on the camera when I am backing and that has sufficed for me.

Have a great day.

Gary P

[Paladin]

The sensors that I have on the Navigator are the same as the one in the link I posted but I don't have the display box, I rely on the frequency of tones. At about 6' it begins to beep slowly and progressively beeps faster until you get solid tone at about 1' distance.
I've thought that this newer one that they have with lights could work for a side sensor since you wouldn't have constant beeping every time a car came within 6' of you which is obviously in the other lane although it might be nice at times to know that there is a car in that lane if you can't see him or if you are cutting a corner a little tight to a tree or hydrant or something. You could also obviously aim to adjust to sense any height so that even a regular curb would set it off.

Others mileage may vary.


-Dave   

[Gary '79 5C]

Dave,
You are correct on the beeps, as I can turn down ( and do ) the volume. The side sensor I have will P/U guard rails, bridges, any mass on that side with a 6' proximity. For me the flashing indicator lites which transition from green to flashing amber and red, really are helpful. Being within 6" of the R/S rear view mirror makes it a no brainer for me.

Gary

[RJ]

And then you have the, well, how can I say it nicely, "individual" who backed his brand new Lincoln Navigator right into my brand new Toyota Tacoma pick-up in a local Target parking lot.   

Hit my truck hard enough to push the bumper cattywampus, but no sheet metal damage, fortunately.

He said he heard this funny beeping, then loud buzzer as he backed up, but didn't know what it was until he hit me.   

DUH!

Oh well, all is good - I had three witnesses who verified to my insurance company that I was stopped when the Navigator plowed into me, and my trailer hitch/ball punched an nice hole in the Navigator's rear bumper fascia. . .

Storal to the morey:

You've still got to pay attention!!

(Unless, of course, you're BK, who's too broke to pay attention. . .  )

FWIW & HTH. . .

[tekebird]

MC-8 as well as both my Dad's buses have backup cameras........never use them.

the 04 I sold to Clif Bar now has a backup camera, didn't use it for backing but it was a nice feature at night for gauging when you could return the the right lane after passing a car (infrared)

[brojcol]

Nothing beats a good old fashioned walk around, everytime you crank her up.