Reverse camera installation

[SAguy]

I had a reverse camera installed yesterday on my Nissan hardbody, I have a pioneer headunit that supports camera activation when the bakkie is put into reverse.

Installation is all good, and pretty happy, but I'm undecided about something.

When they installed it, they installed it for the camera to only be powered on when the bakkie is put into reverse (power is fed from reverse light).
The headunit has two ways of viewing the camera:
1. When bakkie goes into reverse (it automatically pops up on the screen)
2. Tap on the camera icon on the headunit and camera could be displayed, whether in reverse or not.

Because the camera is only powered via reverse signal though, I can't use option 2, as the camera is physically off unless bakkie is in reverse.

Am I going to miss out on not having option 2? I'm trying to think of whether I'd want to view the rear camera when not in reverse.
Maybe if driving with a trailer and I want to quickly view the rear without stopping?

 

[RedViking]

Could also be helpful to record someone rearending your vehicle.

 

[R4ziel]

If I ever had a situation where I installed something like this, I would like to have all the options and having that camera on all the time, I suppose its personal preference but I would most definitely want the camera on when the car is on

And yes the same as a dashcam, I would want that recording all the time for as long back as it can

 

[Tabac]

I had a reverse camera installed yesterday on my Nissan hardbody, I have a pioneer headunit that supports camera activation when the bakkie is put into reverse.

Installation is all good, and pretty happy, but I'm undecided about something.

When they installed it, they installed it for the camera to only be powered on when the bakkie is put into reverse (power is fed from reverse light).
The headunit has two ways of viewing the camera:
1. When bakkie goes into reverse (it automatically pops up on the screen)
2. Tap on the camera icon on the headunit and camera could be displayed, whether in reverse or not.

Because the camera is only powered via reverse signal though, I can't use option 2, as the camera is physically off unless bakkie is in reverse.

Am I going to miss out on not having option 2? I'm trying to think of whether I'd want to view the rear camera when not in reverse.
Maybe if driving with a trailer and I want to quickly view the rear without stopping?

Get option 2 activated.
I drove with a friend once and he stopped for a piss next to the road. I switched his camera on and took a pic of him pissing behind his bakkie.

 

[WAslayer]

You would not be able to see much of the trailer anyway.. especially not the middle or very back and especially not when the front of the trailer is blocked by an object..

 

[Stonemason]

I have had reverse cameras in my cars for at least the last 12 years and I have never had a need to use the camera other than when I was reversing.

 

[The_MAC]

So I have the same setup, and option 2 is available to me, get it sorted out.

I have used it before when towing my trailer, and randomly when driving straight into an adjacent parking bay and wanting to align my rear to the bay boundary markings

 

[The_MAC]

I have had reverse cameras in my cars for at least the last 12 years and I have never had a need to use the camera other than when I was reversing.

Yeah, it's not common to need it, but should be available by default

 

[UB40]

Just throw the gear selector into Reverse when you're going down the highway towing your trailer. Just dont take your foot off the clutch, keep it in, when done viewing pop her back into 6th gear and carry on cruising

 

[The_MAC]

Just throw the gear selector into Reverse when you're going down the highway towing your trailer. Just dont take your foot off the clutch, keep it in, when done viewing pop her back into 6th gear and carry on cruising

and if auto?

 

[UB40]

and if auto?

Then dont take my advice

 

[The_MAC]

Then dont take my advice

Thanks Manuel!

 

[ShaunSA]

Get option 2 activated.
I drove with a friend once and he stopped for a piss next to the road. I switched his camera on and took a pic of him pissing behind his bakkie.

And then straight into your spank bank?

 

[UB40]

Thanks Manuel!

Pleasure Top Auto Bot

 

[UB40]

Get option 2 activated.
I drove with a friend once and he stopped for a piss next to the road. I switched his camera on and took a pic of him pissing behind his bakkie.

Pervert

 

[Tabac]

Pervert

Injun

 

[Steamy Tom]

Just throw the gear selector into Reverse when you're going down the highway towing your trailer. Just dont take your foot off the clutch, keep it in, when done viewing pop her back into 6th gear and carry on cruising

go try this and let us know how it went

 

[SAguy]

Just throw the gear selector into Reverse when you're going down the highway towing your trailer. Just dont take your foot off the clutch, keep it in, when done viewing pop her back into 6th gear and carry on cruising

Damn, that's some wild advice
Unrelated note, anyone got a spare Nissan hardbody gearbox lying around?

 

[UB40]

Damn, that's some wild advice
Unrelated note, anyone got a spare Nissan hardbody gearbox lying around?

@Tabac

 

[SAguy]

So I have the same setup, and option 2 is available to me, get it sorted out.

I have used it before when towing my trailer, and randomly when driving straight into an adjacent parking bay and wanting to align my rear to the bay boundary markings

Would that then mean that the camera is always on and running when the car is on?
Mine is aftermarket, so either the camera is always gonna be powered on via the acc or I'm gonna have to put a power button somewhere in the car.

Not sure if running the camera always on is gonna impact lifespan, though they are cheap and I have a spare.