The right rear pillar is killing me. My other vehicle is a Yukon so I'm used to LOTS of visibility. When I first bought the Crossfire a few months ago, I almost took two peoples front fenders off changing lanes until I learned to trust my mirrors (and adjust them correctly...). I've searched the forum for threads concerning camera installations, found a couple, but I don't think the camera location used by most will gain me that much. I actually don't have a problem directly behind the car.

What I would like to do, and this is what I'm seeking opinions on, is to mount a very small flush mount camera in the right rear side marker lens. I think this would give me the view I'm looking for. If I happened to be parked with a large SUV to the right, I could back up a foot or so and the camera would peek around the rear of the truck.

For the monitor, since I don't have a head unit with a large screen built in, I was thinking about mounting it behind the passenger headrest facing the driver, possible in the smaller rear window. It seems more natural to place it there as that's the direction I would be looking while trying to reverse. It would also be more out of the way there, more so than mounting in the dash area.

Please let me know if this sounds like something that would work. And if you know of a camera / monitor combination that would fit the bill that would be a great help. Thanks.

 

Good job thinking outside the box. It sounds like a great idea. Most backup cam monitors have 2 channels so you could also have the rear view w/ the click of a switch (and an additional cam). I can't help much w/ selection, but when you get it perfected, I'd love to see a writeup/how to. Good luck with it.

 

I just use the convex warts on my mirrors. They work great but you have to get used to judging distance with them.

 

Convex mirror on drivers side lots of caution/prayer on pass side. I like the idea of mirror on taillight cause most plate mounted ones Ive seen dont cover your 5 oclock area enough. Wouldnt put the monitor over the side window, you ned all the windows you have

 

I have the plate mounted one from Autozone, wired to my back ups and the surround view is verry very good. Big enough fish eye lens, and sees really well in the dark. Just ambient light is really great because the aperture is big. The monitor is small and I have that mounted on my dash w/velco/ Yopu do have to get that angle right however because it is a cheaper lcd but for 79 bucks it is really good.

 

Some members have used these Multivex Mirrors - The Most Optically Advancec Vehicle Mirror Systems Ever Developed and like them. I'm considering trying them out.

 

Is it wired to the monitor? I love the idea of one but love the idea of anything wireless even better

 

There are some rear view mirrors that have a 2 channel video input. My goal is to rig up a camera on each side of the car, and turning the turn signal on activates either camera. The problem is finding a constant signal to send to the activator.

 

Thanks for all the input...

I had thought about buying the plate mounted camera, but even with a large field of view, the image that would translate to an already small monitor would be even harder to see. I would really only be interested in 20 degrees or so of the cameras effective view to see oncoming traffic from the rear passenger area. That may get to be 1/2" or so on the edge of a 4" screen.

I did look closer at the rear passenger window as a mounting point for the monitor. It's actually ended up being 90% obscured by the passenger headrest. I may still be able to mount there via suction cup base if the base is articulated enough to allow the monitor to set rearward of the window a couple of inches.

As far as wired vs. wireless, I'm hoping that the same wire "chase" that the rear passenger side marker light uses will also have the reverse light wires nearby. If that's the case, I would pick up a power somewhere in the vacinity and be done.

My biggest concern is a mounting depth issue for the camera in the side marker lens. I don't know how deep that recess is, but I imagine I will need a pretty small camera.

 

Maybe you could install one of these...
Also, check this site as it has many monitor types.




Bluetooth Rearview Mirror with Built-in GPS Navigation

 

you can get to the sidemarker easy enough and the taillight wires too. pull 3 10mm nuts, disconnect bulbs and pull it out.