Community Forums

Nildecaf · 04-24-2019, 03:03 PM

Picked up my new Class A and got it home last week. Outfitting it with necessary tools & consumables.
Would like to get some opinions on the utility / need for a endoscope in my kit (~35 - 50$). Interested in all feedback - If you have one would you buy it again? Never had one - never needed it? Or wouldn't travel without it?

Thanks in advance
Ed

Mudfrog · 04-24-2019, 03:29 PM

There have been times in my 60 years plus of living that having one would of been helpful. However, I can't think of a single time that I ever needed it with an RV we owned.

I can certainly see there could be a time when it would be handy though. I'd get one if I had the extra cash laying around and a place to store it for that "just in case".

Deep Water D · 04-24-2019, 03:32 PM

I've got a cheap one from Harbor Freight. I've used it several times in the RV, unfortunately the cheap one like I have isn't as useful as a good one would be. I wish I had a better one because they are sure handy if you do much of your own work.

gerdutch · 04-24-2019, 03:34 PM

As tighly as thing are packed in the Engine compartment, i had occasions for one trying to find a Sensor, leak, etc. ,

Spk64 · 04-24-2019, 04:10 PM

I bought one and do use it on occasion. It is handy at times. Do not expect all images to be as good as depicted in the ads.

FIRE UP · 04-24-2019, 04:12 PM

I have two of them. One, is my original from Costco. I have used it several times in/on/around/under the RV. It came in specially handy when researching a leaking ram that powers the HWH bedroom slide. I can snake that lens way down in the support tube and actually see where the leak was coming from. I've used it for analyzing how bad my radiator fins were clogged up from oil/debris/hay/trash/grass etc. when there was absolutely no way to look at them in any other fashion.
Yes, they are darned helpful in various situations. Do you use them every day, nope, not at all. But, when you need it, it's invaluable. My second one is one that I got for my phone. It's not as nice as the Costco one but, it is usable with my phone which, has its benefits. The cost of these is negligible in terms of just how valuable they can be at given times.
Scott

KiteSquid · 04-24-2019, 04:37 PM

I bought a camera on a flexible cable from Deal Extreme that i connect to my laptop computer with a USB connection.

It works Great !!

I have a larger screen than on integrated endoscopes and it was at a low price.

Down side was surface shopping from China took three weeks.

l1v3fr33ord1 · 04-24-2019, 06:18 PM

I bought a borescope to look for openings in the motorhome that mice can use to get in. It has worked well for that purpose.

I borrowed a borescope a mechanic when I was running brake-and-light wires in the toad. I could not have done as neat an installation without it.

I definitely would put a borescope in the "nice-to-have" tool category. It's only since the prices have dropped that I got one, though.

Jag73e · 04-24-2019, 06:29 PM

Mine works as a plug-in to my iPhone. Inexpensive and very handy when you need to peer in inaccessible places. Excellent resolution

Bob_C · 04-24-2019, 06:50 PM

Mine travels in my RV....works with either phone or laptop......have used it a bunch....works good for checking ducted A/C runs, and heater ducts, inside water heater and so forth...

Mark_K5LXP · 04-24-2019, 08:59 PM

Similar to KiteSquid, I've used an inexpensive web cam and a long USB cable with a laptop. I've dropped it into wall cavities, peered up under dashboards and read part numbers and labels from otherwise inaccessible places. Not something you'll fish through plumbing but pretty much usable for everything else.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

SSTraveler · 04-25-2019, 07:21 AM

I bought this $22 USB endoscope kit (https://www.amazon.com/DEPSTECH-Semi...ustrial&sr=1-4) last year, to attach to my smart phone, and have used it a number of times in my RV and at home. It is excellent and let's me see and record things in tight places. I originally bought it to inspect my Schwintek/Lippert wall slide internals and see how to lubricate it properly. I keep it in my RV because that is where I anticipate using it the most.

Gumpster808 · 04-25-2019, 07:58 AM

Thanks for the info. Just ordered the WiFi version of the above item.

Been a few times I could have used and $34 is not bad for a once in a while item.

Now to find the fill plugs for my hydraulic levelers [emoji3]

FatChance · 04-25-2019, 08:26 AM

I bought one on Amazon that attaches to a phone/tablet/pc with a USB cable. I have used it for numerous projects. My current project is snaking coax, network, HDMI, and RCA video/power cables from the front upper entertainment cabinets, through the AC ducts to the back bedroom closet and to the rear TV and back to the rear of the coach through the engine compartment for a new rear view camera. For work like that, the bore scope is huge help to see what you are doing above the ceiling. When not in use, it fits into a case the size of a small paperback book.