Backup camera cable routing?

[tobysdad]

On my 2002 R-Vision Condor, my original BU monitor was failing, so along with the new one, I decided to install a new camera. I settled on the $200 Costco unit with the 7" LCD. I just have no idea yet how I'm going to route the new cable from the camera, and wonder if anyone knows how it was originally routed. While I had the overhead cabinets (above the driver's head) out for another "project", I saw that the camera cable makes it to the front of the coach in a plastic pipe along with 2 TV cables, some big 12V lines, and some other cables. This pipe is located in the ceiling panel, above driver's side wall. But I cannot for the life of me figure out where the other end of that pipe is, or how the wires got into it. From under the coach, I can see the void in front of the rear "cap" up to the bedroom floor, but then there is plywood fitting tight up against the cap. That's going to make it tough to reroute the cable down inside the cap and along the frame rail. I even removed the large mirror in the bedroom thinking maybe it hid an access panel - no joy. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[ahicks]

You could do what I did. I cut the ends off the original cable (not like it was going to do me any good as is), then carefully spliced the ends from the new harness to the old - color matching front to rear (if that makes any sense).

[tobysdad]

Seriously considering it. Four wires in the old cable. If the new one also has four, I think that might be the easiest as long as they are about the same gage. Thanks for the reply.

[sdennislee]

If you find the wiring to be different, you might be able to cut the end in the overhead cabinet and splice the new wiring to it and snake it through the conduit.

[ctpres]

I ran underneath in elec. pvc conduit. Found lots of holes and places to tywrap to frame. Just stayed away for hot and moving parts.

[JimM68]

I used that same costco backup monitor in a 99 pace arrow a few years ago.
If you search rv.net for my user name, you'd probably find a thread I did with pictures showing how I mounted the costco screen in the original big panasonic box, it worked out pretty slick.

The wiring for the costco unit is probably completely different. As it has terminations and connectors on it and handles high frequency videio signals, messing with it is not a good idea.

I ran the new cable down under the trim on the drivers side of the windshield, down under the dash, and thru the firewall.
From there, I just ran it along the frame with the existing wires, used lots of tiewraps.

At the back of the coach, there was an air space nearly a foot deep, it was a simple matter to drop a weighted string down thru the camera hole and use it to pull the new cable up.

[ahicks]

If shopping for a new camera and monitor, here's the one I used. Was recommended by somebody else here, and have seen it mentioned several time since I bought mine. Great buy with no issues.... and it uses 4 wires (power/ground and the 2 video wires).

7 LCD Color IN CAR Monitor w/IR Reversing Camera 7 LCD Color IN CAR Monitor w/IR Reversing Camera [P32 ecbuys]- US$87.99 - Ecbuys.com

[tobysdad]

Thank you all for the info. JimM, I'm sure you're right about messing with the new cable. The technology has advanced quite a bit since the original old CRT was installed at the factory. I am considering your idea as a last resort - bringing the cable down and along the frame, but as I mentioned, that gap at the rear of the coach is completely sealed off a few feet above the ground by the form-fitting plywood. I guess I could drill a hole in the plywood from underneath and then try to fish the weighted string down from the camera location, through the hole in the plywood ........ no too sure about that.

[JCM]

Remove a tail light and then cut the plywood carefully as there is probably wires on top of it. I used a wood chissle to work through the wood and foam insulation. Then used a fish wire to pull the backup camera wire down. I then fed it down from the light to under the coach. Then to the front.
Re foam to fill the hole in the wood and fill in behind the light.

[tobysdad]

Thank you for the idea and the photos. I think I figured out the easiest way for me. I removed the "third taillight" right in the middle of the coach, and found that it is just above that problem piece of plywood. But it is directly below the camera. So I am going to drill a hole through the plywood from underneath, drop a weighted line down from the camera location and then I can easily fish it through the drilled hole once the third taillight is removed. Then along the bottom of the chassis. I was really wanting to route it through that pipe the old one is routed through, but I'm thinking now that maybe they fished everything through and then glued on the rear end cap.

Thanks again.

[JCM]

Be very careful as there are probably wires run across on top of the plywood spacer. There were on mine. I was lucky and had a photo of how they were run - from the factory tour - and didn't drill into them.

[tobysdad]

I got it done this past weekend. The third taillight was the trick (there must be a catchy name for those) . I removed it, and dropped a weighted string thru the old cable hole and it fell down right in front of the opening. Then I went under the RV and was going to drill a hole thru the plywood, but saw an existing opening on the right edge, so I fished a wire up from there with the end of the new cable attached, attached it to the string and pulled it up. I then tie wrapped the cable all along underneath the chassis to the engine compartment, and thru the firewall with another wire bundle. Except for one thing, it works great. I can't seem to get any sound from the camera through the speakers. This is strange because I bench tested the unit before I mounted it, and was able to get sound at that time. But only when the camera is triggered by the reverse cable - not when you push the "Power" button. Strange. Still, I think a good deal for $200.

Thanks again for all the help.

[JCM]

Check for a volume controll. Possibly turned down. Mine did the same. Occasionaly it would come on. Possibly pulled a wire from the plug (inside the cable). Who knows?

[UltraKen]

Originally Posted by ahicks

If shopping for a new camera and monitor, here's the one I used. Was recommended by somebody else here, and have seen it mentioned several time since I bought mine. Great buy with no issues.... and it uses 4 wires (power/ground and the 2 video wires).

7 LCD Color IN CAR Monitor w/IR Reversing Camera 7 LCD Color IN CAR Monitor w/IR Reversing Camera [P32 ecbuys]- US$87.99 - Ecbuys.com

That was me.

Here's a photo essay on the installation.

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/kOV3TmD...the%20rear.pdf

You'll notice that the original cable was used with simple adapters available at Radio Shack and other electronic parts suppliers.

Using the original cable saves a tremendous amount of time.