Attaching camera to roof

tbrady · March 02, 2017, 10:22:46 PM

Hi All, I'm hopefully picking up our new 21BHS in 2 weeks (supposed to be off the assembly line on the 7th!). One of the first things I want to add is a rear view camera.

Does anyone have any recommendations on attaching the camera to the top of trailer? E.g. is there any adhesive that would bond well with the rubber roof or do I need to screw it into the alum frame?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated!

charliem · March 02, 2017, 10:34:41 PM

I recommend securing the camera to the roof with #10 SS sheet metal screws into the Aluminum frame. Use hex head screws so you can tighten them easily. Coat around the screw heads and the bracket with sealant to prevent leaks. A good wireless camera (IMO the Voyager is the best) is expensive so it should be secured well.

Chappy133 · March 02, 2017, 11:41:47 PM

I added a camera near the center clearance light.

gbpack · March 02, 2017, 11:48:35 PM

I echo Charlie's recommendation of the Voyager digital camera. We put one on the back of our 21BHS last summer and have really enjoyed having it (he recommended it to us!). It does a great job, is very clear, and gives you a wide view of what's behind you. We also like that we can see our bikes back there to make sure that they are traveling safe and secure. And I like how we didn't have to hardwire it! The cost is a little higher than what you can get other wireless cameras for, but like most things, you get what you pay for! Oh, I almost forgot. Also at Charlie's suggestion, we bought a toggle switch and incorporated that into the installation by having that switch accessible in the bathroom in order to turn the camera on and off (otherwise, the camera will always be on once you wire it to the trailer power). After attaching the camera on the back top edge of the trailer, I ran the camera power cords down through the bathroom vent cover and soldered them onto the power contacts for a the fan, and spliced the toggle switch into the positive cord and hung that down around the edge of the fan unit and into the bathroom. That way we can easily turn the camera on and off from inside the barhroom. Zoom in on the top of edge of our trailer in the pic below to see where we mounted it. There is a nice aluminum piece of trim running across the top that you can drill and screw into. We highly recommend the Voyager digital camera!

charliem · March 03, 2017, 12:48:05 AM

gbpack,

Nice job on the camera, bumper, and bike mount, especially the sideways mounting of the whole trailer.

gbpack · March 03, 2017, 09:46:26 AM

Thank you! Yes, I'm not sure why the picture shows up sideways, but if you click on the link under the pic then it straightens up when it opens up!

Chappy133 · March 03, 2017, 09:50:33 AM

I powered ours off the clearance lights. When the headlights or parking lights are on is the only time the camera is powered.

tbrady · March 03, 2017, 11:13:08 AM

Thanks for the help! Do either of you guys (charlie/chappy) use a wireless camera or is it hardwired? gbpack, how well does your's work on the highway? Which trailer do you have?

thanks again guys!!

Merlin · March 03, 2017, 11:36:19 AM

For our Voyager camera installation, I bolted (with SS bolts) the camera mount to the rear-most Maxxair vent cover. No holes in the roof and so far very secure. I did the same thing gbpack did for the wiring, running the camera power into the vent fan wiring with a switch right next to the bathroom fan switch. The Voyager used by Charlie, gppack and I is a wireless system to the front monitor. Works really great!

charliem · March 03, 2017, 11:49:23 AM

Quote from: tbrady on March 03, 2017, 11:13:08 AM
Thanks for the help! Do either of you guys (charlie/chappy) use a wireless camera or is it hardwired? gbpack, how well does your's work on the highway? Which trailer do you have?

thanks again guys!!

First, I'm not an employee or associate of Voyager. I'm just an electrical engineer, radio communications engineer, and perfectionist with little tolerance for poor performance. That said, the Voyager I used is a wireless system that pairs digitally like the Bluetooth apps for your cellphone. Perfect picture and no interference on the highway except when it gets jammed by nearby transmitters. The only times that happens is near some railroad signalling sites. Other cheaper wireless systems are not locked in like this one and are very susceptible to interference in urban/suburban locales. They also can have limited range so the reach from the back of the trailer to the interior of the TV is iffy. I had an RVS system that was completely jammed out by my Tacoma Bluetooth console. All that said I repeat: I'm not an employee or associate of Voyager. I'm just an electrical engineer, radio communications engineer, and perfectionist with little tolerance for poor performance. Camp on!

tbrady · March 03, 2017, 11:57:15 AM

Thanks a bunch Charlie and Merlin!

charliem · March 03, 2017, 12:04:43 PM

BTW, powering the camera from the clearance lights like Chappy did works great if you're willing to turn on the parking lights while you're driving. Lots of folks take that option.

pjcd · March 03, 2017, 06:45:23 PM

Chappy133 · March 03, 2017, 07:03:23 PM

Mine is wireless. Tadi Brothers purchased off Amazon. Some loss of signal in built up areas. I zip tied the RX antenna as high as I could on the black vent tank pipe. Works well enough for me. Too bright at night but a hat takes care of that.

gbpack · March 03, 2017, 09:48:30 PM

tbrady - it works great on the road (as Charlie mentions) and it's very rare that we temporarily lose signal. We have a 21BHS, so the digital signal has to travel about 30 feet from the back of the trailer to the monitor on our dashboard....... and we usually get a strong signal indicator on our screen. We really like ours and feel that it is money well spent. Ours cost $500 on Amazon.