Backup Camera

[Ry' N Jen]

The only problem I have with a back-up camera that comes with the little
3.5 inch monitor is the fact that the monitor is too small to actually make
out just what's behind you.
Also, the ones I've looked at have a license plate mount which in my
opinion is absolutely useless if mounted on a KJ's license plate.
Its too low to be of any use for me.
Even with the camera mounted up by the high mounted center
brake light the image is to small to make out any real detail. If I were to
hook it up to a lab top that would be better i guess!
Nice little toy I suppose, but no replacement for checking all three mirrors
and turning my head around. Even when I pull a trailer,
I have somebody get out of the vehicle and physically go and look if
there are any hazards present.

I have thought of adding cross hairs to the monitor!
Might be good for targeting tailgaters!

 

[jnaut]

The only problem I have with a back-up camera that comes with the little
3.5 inch monitor is the fact that the monitor is too small to actually make
out just what's behind you.
Also, the ones I've looked at have a license plate mount which in my
opinion is absolutely useless if mounted on a KJ's license plate.
Its too low to be of any use for me.
Even with the camera mounted up by the high mounted center
brake light the image is to small to make out any real detail. If I were to
hook it up to a lab top that would be better i guess!
Nice little toy I suppose, but no replacement for checking all three mirrors
and turning my head around. Even when I pull a trailer,
I have somebody get out of the vehicle and physically go and look if
there are any hazards present.

I have thought of adding cross hairs to the monitor!
Might be good for targeting tailgaters!

The only backup camera I've had any experience with is on a test drive of a Lexus rx350. The nav screen worked as the backup camera monitor and was fairly decent. But I think the point is that you don't need to see what's behind you as much as the necessity to see IF anything's behind you. If you see anything other than grey pavement, then you probably have a problem. If there's an object back there, you probably ought to get out and check it out. The fact that you can't read the words "Schwinn" or "Inflate to max 85psi" is probably not that important. You'll just know you have a bicycle behind you.

 

[ScottZ0]

well said jnaut.

Scott

 

[LibertyTom]

I work for USPS and we had to go through a driving class, our instructor stood behind our vehicles with a small box about 2 1/2 feet tall, he backed the box away from the vehicle until we could see it in our review mirror, I didn't see it until 12 feet from my vehicle and that was with a saturn stationwagon, much lower than a KJ. So even with all mirrors and looking back, you will still have a blind spot behind your vehicle and a backup camera might help. I saw on fleabay a backup camera with a 7" monitor for $109 shipped, not a big investment, especially if you have small children in your neighborhood. If someone has some time today, take a yardstick and see how far behind the KJ it takes before you see it, anything less than the tip of that yard stick is a blind spot.