AUSTIN VERT'S NEW REVERSE CAMERA PROJECT

Hi to all,

INTRO:

So after all these years, i figured it was time to get a reversing camera. They come in a variety of styles, brands and applications these days. Some models feature a windscreen rear vision mirror setup, some feature a one din flip up radio head with built in rear camera, some have a reverse camera built into the dash cam or a stand alone independent sat nav monitor. The list goes on. After looking into what was out there, i settled on a brand and system that works for me, suits my needs, was easy to install, and not too expensive, and can easily be removed if necessary. I went for the AUTO-VOX Solar Wireless Backup Camera 5" Car Monitor Reverse for Van/SUV/Truck. Price is around $120.00 US dollars. Auto-Vox makes a variety of different models in their product range.
www.ebay.com.au/itm/355807887543 Given that our Mustangs have small outside mirrors and have limited rear vision going on, getting a reversing camera will make a big difference for me. I have just bought a new independent sat nav system, that gets mounted on the bottom left corner of my front windscreen, and is easily removable. I will get around to reviewing that later on. It's a fantastic product.

INSTALL AND REVIEW:

The installation was fairly easy and straight forward. This model features a solar/usb battery charging camera which is wirelessly connected to the monitor, which is powered by a plug in cigarette dongle into the lighter socket. Installing the rear camera was easy. You either screw or stick the camera mounting bracket onto the number plate, and job done. No wires to connect up with that rear camera. Installing the monitor screen was straight forward as well. Finding a good working mount location was tricky. I could haven chosen to mount the monitor on top of the dash or somewhere on the front windscreen, but chose to mount it on my sliding ash tray plate on the center console (don't use that cover anymore as i do not smoke in my car). It comes with a super sticky suction pad with clamp down action. It stuck hard and firm on the ash tray plate very well. I then fed the wiring back to the cigarette lighter socket, by tucking the wire under the center console top dress plate cover. That's basically it. It is now set up and ready to operate. Another great feature of this product, is that you can have up to a max of 120 seconds with camera/ monitor on before auto turn off happens. This is handy when you are driving forward, and want to monitor traffic behind you. ( maybe when pulling out into traffic or blind spot traffic situations for example). Guiding park assist lines can also be turned off or on.

In reviewing this product so far, i will say that on the plus side, it appears to be a good quality brand and product, was easy to install, has a good res picture quality, and is easy to operate. My link above goes into explaining the many features. On the minus side, connecting the monitor to the cigarette lighter socket presents an issue in that as we know, the factory lighter socket is wired constantly on, but doesn't drain battery power until the cigarette lighter plug is pushed in to heat it up. The monitor auto turns off after a pre selected time. To start the monitor up again, you push a little built in on /off switch on the male plug. All good. However, when the monitor auto turns itself off again, two small pilot lights remain on - one on the front of the monitor, and one on the male plug. They never go out, and so, that will cause an ongoing battery drain issue. I got around this problem by gently sliding the male plug out a little way of the lighter socket. This disconnects current flow, and the pilot lights go out. Simply push in the male plug when you want to operate the camera again later. You could also get around this problem by hard wiring the monitor back to the ignition, so the camera only operates when the ignition is on, or the engine is running. Lastly, there is no beeping sound feature on the camera, just vision guiding only. Disappointing, but i can live with that.

See my pics below for the finished install and set up ( sorry, but i didn't have time for a vacuum or dusting) Oh well. Also, see my new seat belt extenders just installed. They are really fantastic. Plus, see my push/ pull knob which now controls my manual heater control valve. It's mounted just left of the usb audio in socket with red usb music stick installed. The Alpine remote control is great for controlling many functions on the Alpine head. Hope this write up will be of help to folks who want to go down a similar path.

Many thanks,

Greg

I installed one. I mounted the monitor above the rear view mirror and tucked the wiring inside the windshield molding so no wires
are showing. It doesn't impede the rear view mirror at all. Then if I want to remove it for a show, there is a connector I can easily
access just under the front molding. I've had it installed for a few months and it's never fallen off. The suction cup is really strong.

Nice mods, gents! I've considered the versions with the display integrated into the mirror but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

I'd rather drive "Italian" style!

MAD IRISHMAN said:

I'd rather drive "Italian" style!

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That's a great movie

Love it!

I'd gone a similar direction with mine using a Pyle Audio clip-on monitor and an LP frame-mounted camera. The screen's a bit clunky-looking, but I wanted a clip-on style so it wouldn't clutter-up the dashboard, as well as be located where we naturally look to when 'rear-viewing.'


The LP light has been omitted as it would've blinded the camera, but I hooked up some motorcycle LP-mounting bolts w/LEDs instead, which are very bight and do the trick nicely. You can just see the camera 'bump' across the top of the LP with the extended LED-lit motorcycle LP mounting bolts on either side.


It works like a champ, except that when backing-up in the dark, with any other cars around having their lights on, the camera goes blind. The mirror-mounted screen is a PITA to put-up/take-down (since I don't use the car very much at all), and its 'mirror' qualities are not the greatest (hence the need for removal when driving). The LED-lit LP bolts also need to be removed and re-spliced each time the license plates need replacement, which fortunately doesn't happen but once every 7-8 years.

I really don't need one in my '80 Jeep CJ-7, but I think I'm going to pull this system out and relocate it there, and replace it in the Mustang with one of these units: https://wolfbox.com/products/wolfbox-g900-4k-2-5k-touch-screen-parking-monitoring-dash-cam

The plan is to also remove the trunk lock and install the back-up camera in that space, and use a trunk popper to gain access - that will get the camera up a little higher and hopefully out of the 'blind zone' of other sets of headlights.

This is all dependent on how things continue along with my back, of course. My Physical Therapy, while seeming to be helpful, isn't really 'fixing' anything, so I imagine I'll be getting some other forms of treatment soon. I also [still] have a few Mustang projects to complete, once I get the Jeep back on the road, that is.

Mister 4x4 said:

Love it! I'd gone a similar direction with mine using a Pyle Audio clip-on monitor and an LP frame-mounted camera. The screen's a bit clunky-looking, but I wanted a clip-on style so it wouldn't clutter-up the dashboard, as well as be located where we naturally look to when 'rear-viewing.'
View attachment 91515

The LP light has been omitted as it would've blinded the camera, but I hooked up some motorcycle LP-mounting bolts w/LEDs instead, which are very bight and do the trick nicely. You can just see the camera 'bump' across the top of the LP with the extended LED-lit motorcycle LP mounting bolts on either side.
View attachment 91516

It works like a champ, except that when backing-up in the dark, with any other cars around having their lights on, the camera goes blind. The mirror-mounted screen is a PITA to put-up/take-down (since I don't use the car very much at all), and its 'mirror' qualities are not the greatest (hence the need for removal when driving).

I really don't need one in my '80 Jeep Cj-7, but I think I'm going to pull this system out and relocate it there, and replace it in the Mustang with one of these units: https://wolfbox.com/products/wolfbox-g900-4k-2-5k-touch-screen-parking-monitoring-dash-cam

The plan is to also remove the trunk lock and install the back-up camera in that space, and use a trunk popper to gain access - that will get the camera up a little higher and hopefully out of the 'blind zone' of other sets of headlights.

This is all dependent on how things continue along with my back, of course. My Physical Therapy, while seeming to be helpful, isn't really 'fixing' anything, so I imagine I'll be getting some other forms of treatment soon. I also [still] have a few Mustang projects to complete, once I get the Jeep back on the road, that is.

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Hi Eric,

Sorry to hear about your back issues, but i guess you are doing all you can to deal with it all. Back issues are really no fun at all, and spoil our enjoyment of life. I suffer now from lower lumbar back pains on a day to day basis. My issues are muscular related. Physios can't seem to be of much help. But i have had a hard working life as an auto painter. It catches up with you as old age creeps in i guess.

Regards your reverse camera setup, sounds like your not entirely happy with the whole thing and want to make improvements as such. Hmmmmm.
I was going to go for the rear vision mirror setup as well, but decided against it as i did not want to get involved with wiring issues involved with that design of system. Easy removal played a part for me as well. Also, thanks for your positive feedback on my last couple of write ups. Always welcomed and appreciated Sir!

All the best for now Eric,

Greg

Definitely one piece of modern technology that is very helpful. I also went with Autovox but with their T1400 model that includes a rear view mirror. The wiring of the mirror was easy since it only needs a power supply which I run from the instrument panel up through the window trim. You can barely see a small wire from the top of the trim to the mirror base. The only issue I have is that sometimes the wireless captures the feed from trucks or sometimes a home as you drive by. Then you are driving down the road and you see this image in your rear view mirror of a backyard or a car being pulled by an RV. Not a big deal and happens seldom but don't be surprise it it happens to you since you also have a wireless model.

tony-muscle said:

Definitely one piece of modern technology that is very helpful. I also went with Autovox but with their T1400 model that includes a rear view mirror. The wiring of the mirror was easy since it only needs a power supply which I run from the instrument panel up through the window trim. You can barely see a small wire from the top of the trim to the mirror base. The only issue I have is that sometimes the wireless captures the feed from trucks or sometimes a home as you drive by. Then you are driving down the road and you see this image in your rear view mirror of a backyard or a car being pulled by an RV. Not a big deal and happens seldom but don't be surprise it it happens to you since you also have a wireless model.

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Hi Tony,

Thanks for your feedback. I must say that i have not had that issue you speak of with the wireless capturing the feed at all. In my case, my model has an adjustable time auto cut off feature, so once initially activated, my monitor shuts down after a max of 120 seconds, and does not come on at all unless i turn the camera on again myself. The brand has proven to be OK so far.

Cheers,

Greg.

Austin Vert said:

Hi Eric,

Sorry to hear about your back issues, but i guess you are doing all you can to deal with it all. Back issues are really no fun at all, and spoil our enjoyment of life. I suffer now from lower lumbar back pains on a day to day basis. My issues are muscular related. Physios can't seem to be of much help. But i have had a hard working life as an auto painter. It catches up with you as old age creeps in i guess.

Regards your reverse camera setup, sounds like your not entirely happy with the whole thing and want to make improvements as such. Hmmmmm.
I was going to go for the rear vision mirror setup as well, but decided against it as i did not want to get involved with wiring issues involved with that design of system. Easy removal played a part for me as well. Also, thanks for your positive feedback on my last couple of write ups. Always welcomed and appreciated Sir!

All the best for now Eric,

Greg

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Thanks, Greg! My issues are deteriorating discs brought about by aging, and compounded by my weight (in all fairness) - the doc said because I stretched out too quickly growing up (5'8" in the 8th grade, to 6'2" as a 9th grade Freshman) that this has been coming for me my whole life. Physical Therapy helped a bunch last November, but I got a little complacent after I started feeling good, and it's been creeping back ever since.

Yeah, my set-up is a bit dated and there's certainly room for improvement - that first pic with the big LCD screen was from May 2015, so my stuff's getting pretty old. The nuts & bolts are there, but that Pyle Audio screen is just not what I was hoping for - its clunky design would also just look better in my Jeep. Since I've already got the wiring in-place, as long as the connectors are the same, it should just be a swap - the screen in the Wolfbox kit is also a clip-on, but like most technology, got smaller and sleeker over time. The fun part will be installing and integrating the lock popper into my current alarm/keyless entry system and fitting the back-up camera itself into the key lock opening.

I still want to fix up a set of power mirrors for mine like you did with yours - still have the actuators from my Mom's '96 T-Bird mirrors, too.

You're welcome for the feedback - you always do such cool stuff, and do it well.

I went with a new rear view mirror with a monitor in it.

On the 73 there is a black with purple striped wire that comes up from the transmission, through the main junction box under the dash and then down to the reversing lights. This wire is powered when reverse is selected on the gear selector. I need someone to splice their reversing camera system into this wire so I know what mistakes not to make when I install my system.
Thanking you all in anticipation.
Vern

jscott said:

I went with a new rear view mirror with a monitor in it.

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What company produces this nice rear view camera?

Cleveland Crush said:

What company produces this nice rear view camera?

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needless to say this involves removing the stock mirror and mount. Hiding the wires behind the trim was tricky but doable.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DVP8G2...4JO9XM0T&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

In case someone is looking for yet another option, you can do an in dash stereo / head unit something like this. I've been using a rear view mirror cam for a few years but at some point I'll switch the camera over to the in dash head unit, just didn't want to deal with the cable routing when I installed the stereo.