Hi all we just ordered our new van and it comes with a safety Dave camera setup but we were asked if we wanted a monitor on mirror or stand alone monitor looking for any advice on which is more practical and useable for caravan use such as reversing and traveling to see behind when in transit thanks in advanced regards George
-- Edited by Crocman on Tuesday 26th of March 2024 01:14:00 PM
-- Edited by Crocman on Tuesday 26th of March 2024 01:14:25 PM
I Have a permanent solid canopy, so i would get the mirror mount to leave more space on the dash for other things.
So do I. I wedge the separate screen on the top of the dash next to the pillar. I could also mount it dead centre but think that would be a distraction for the passenger. Nothing else sits on top of the dash. I doubt I would like the small screen size of the mirror mounted one.
Welcome to the gang George, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I had the Mirror view fitted for the simple reason when you normally look at what is going on behind you look up at the mirror. I have been doing it like that since way back in 2014.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there. (OH! Don't forget to check your side mirrors too)
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DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Hi George I have the mirror option and it work fine for me, not sure if there all the same, when I have the van attached half the mirror shows the camera view behind the van and the other half is a normal mirror, switch it off and it is a normal mirror. Ian
I have the 7 inch mirror screen - it is a wireless version - and has given great service these past 7 and 1/2 years. It is where I normally look when wanting to view out the rear in all the vehicles I own. It is just a fraction larger that the rear mirror supplied with the vehicle. When unpowered the screen operates as a normal mirror. Just a word of warning though, it does add weight and stress to the mirror mounting and on a hot day has caused the mirror mount to come unstuck from the windscreen - most vehicle mirrors these days are just expoxied to the glass. Whilst not towing I now remove the mirror screen.
I have the Safety Dave screen in the middle of the dash, but have no real preference. All I see in the mirror is the front of the van - not very useful. I counted all the rear view items one day - 6- gadgets to look at four side mirrors plus screen plus central mirror. Far too many things to look at. Oh and also through the windscreen to see where you are going. Maybe the mirror mount would simplify your life a little.
I have used mostly a clip on mirror type when towing and remove it when not towing, one thing I noticed is that I wear bifocal classes all the time, mine are made so I can see the dash, GPS and down the road as well, the line between the two lenses is level with the bottom of the windscreen so I can see all I need, the problem to focus on the rear screen I need to raise my head to focus on the screen, this does not seem to be an issue with the standard inside mirror normally, but the screen is hard to focus on and is distracting, I have moved to a dash mounted screen near the rh windscreen pillar so I dont have to look up. Something to think about because when looking at the screen compared to a mirror you must focus closer for the screen as the view in the mirror is always al long way off in comparison. Hope this helps.
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Seems like with most things, preferences vary. On our previous vehicle with a fixed rear canopy we had a mirror mounted screen (7) which worked well.This had access to 2 cameras.One for reversing, one for driving.
Our new vehicle (a truck) has a mirror mounted reversing camera which is good, but I will get another for driving. If its not too difficult to achieve Ill go for a single monitor again, but if this proves too difficult there is room above the current monitor for a second one.
When I first bought our van I had a camera (Safety Dave) fitted on the rear and with the display on the dashboard. I tried using the camera as a driving aid, but it was not good for that; really only good for reversing. So later I went back to Safety Dave to buy a dual camera (wide angle = reversing, narrow angle = driving), cable and a "woza" curly cable to interconnect to the car. It was fun working out how to run the cable through the van, but not too difficult. The original display monitor has two inputs so that part is easy to select {by one button) whichever camera is required at any time. The cameras work well but a higher resolution on the screen would be preferable.
