Camera Installation

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Tom in NM
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Camera Installation

I have a new 13' and decided I want a rear camera after all. I'm going with Furrion, the same brand Scamp uses, but with a larger monitor screen. The installation looks straightforward, but of course involves attaching the bracket / sealing plate to the trailer. It'll go above the center of the rear window. I do note that the trailer has a slight curvature there. I think it will be relatively easy to run a wire under the fur to a side cabinet for power (and that's what Scamp recommends).

I am experienced with tools and projects generally, but do not have any experience with rivets. Of course the inside of the trailer has the rat fur. There are four attachment points for the bracket. I've been reading various threads here about rivets and some people say that it is best to have a washer on the inside. That would require getting under the rat fur. Or if I have to do that, would I be better off with a stainless steel machine bolt. The outside will be covered by the actual camera.  

Advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Tom

salukispeed
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Higher

Your solution of mounting the camera higher will likely  give better line of sight but to ease  my Instillation I made a bracket that went behind the spare tire and mounted the camera just below the window. Easy to attach to the spar tire mount and the aluminum band.  But I used a Garmin BC30 camera to work with my Garmin gps and it only comes on when in reverse as that is where I sourced the power.  The larger display would also be nice. Even with the camera just below the window We get a good view.  and even with bikes on a rack it works well enough.  Furrion makes nice unit. 

2019 Scamp 13 standard

Tom in NM
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Camera position

That's an interesting idea. I want to use it as a rear view mirror while traveling so will wire it into constant power (with a switch inside for when I'm stopped). Do you think the view you get from that location would be sufficient for use while traveling? Now that I think about it, I could set it on the top of the spare tire and see what the image looks like.

gwhaile@comcast.net
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camera

i used the garmin b30 also, mounted the camera above the spare tire on the trailer seal, ran the wire under the tire over to the driver side rear light on the back of the scamp, then inside the scamp with the other wires and connected to green (positive) and white (negative).   I mounted the transmitted to the styrofoam on the water tank.  Works great.

 

gwhaile

LEberhardt
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Camera Power

If you powered the camera with the running light circuit, it might make wiring easier.  I'm assuming the camera signal is wireless and driving with running lights on while towing is a good idea.

Tom in NM
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Power source

Another good suggestion. If I mount it high, the regular power wire in the side cabinet is actually the easier connection point. If I mount it lower, I'd be inclined to run wires from the drivers side bench compartment through the floor and up behind the bumper and tire. All the various power options are available in that compartment. 
 

if I do mount it high, any thoughts on the rivet versus bolt options? And what I need to know re inside washers if I use rivets?

salukispeed
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Sun shine

Only thing I ran into is that the camera does not have any type of sun visor unlike your T.V. rear view mirror has the roof, and I ran into the sun shining directly at the camera and it really messed with he image observed. I did finally fab a simple sun shade to address this. Mounting higher makes this a tiny bit easier to adjust for view.  Try your idea of sitting it on top of the tire and powering it from the running lights makes for easy use. with no switches needed . or to forget. Also mounting it above the tire made hiding the transmitting box and antenna easy. 

2019 Scamp 13 standard

Tom in NM
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Camera - 5 holes in shell

The Furrion camera uses four mounting screws plus a hole for the power cable. I just checked with Scamp and they indeed do use nuts and bolts for this. Five holes seems like a lot just to mount a very lightweight camera. One option I thought of was to mount it to a trimmed piece of rigid sheet metal and then attach that using 3M VHB tape. If it can be used to mount solar panels, surely it would secure this camera. That would get me to just one hole for the cable.

Or maybe I'm overthinking this and should just drill the four small mounting holes, bolt it on, and be done.

Any thoughts?

update: I decided to just go ahead and do the holes and stainless bolts. Once I did the center one for the wiring I realized that this is the best path. 

Baysider
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Scamp Camera Instal

I have a Scamp 13' and want to mount a rear camera. 

Tom, could you post some pictures of your set-up?

Bridget

Tom in NM
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Install

I should have taken some pictures along the way. Sorry. 
 

Here's how it came out. 

 

I drilled five holes. The center one is a little bigger, just enough for the wiring to pass through easily. The instructions say a 5/8 hole. Mine is nowhere near that big. The other four holes are for bolts. I used #8 stainless with nylon locking nuts on the inside. I put a couple of larger washers inside to spread the pressure a bit. I cut slits in the rat fur to reach the bolts and put the nuts under it. I made another slit to reach the wire and then threaded it under the rat fur to the drivers side upper cabinet where there is power. I may run a wire down from that cabinet to tie it into the marker lights circuit but that's a future project. For now I just added a simple switch to power on the camera. 

Baysider
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Thanks Tom,

Thanks Tom,

So, you drilled through the fiberglass into the camper and bolted the camera on.  What did you use to seal the holes from leaks?

Bridget

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