Anyone actually use back-up cameras?

Without a doubt, they are huge advantage for safety. Not a requirement for safety, just a convenience. My only criticism of them is they breed bad drivers. Like what happens when the camera fails. Basic driving skills and safety procedures cannot be replaced by technology. Pay attention, learn to drive, use a spotter if you need one.

Technology only substitutes stupidity for skill.
 
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socal66 said:
The view back is much more clear than the standard mirror and the field of view is close to 180 degrees which provides the ability to see both down the left and right as I backup allowing me to ensure there is no oncoming traffic.
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This, 100%.
 
FishinCrzy said:
Handy for hitching trailers and backing in parking lots. Oh, and seeing if you left your tailgate down. I still use my mirrors for most things.
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Unfortunately I have experienced times when my camera became totally washed out by sunlight. So I still make sure to back up the old fashioned ways -either just using mirrors or twisting around with my hand on the passenger seat. However, I have gotten used to using the back up camera IN ADDITION to the old fashioned method

They are well worth it, as mentioned in other posts, to make sure someone small doesnt jump out and run behind you as you back up.

Anyway, I believe the government is mandating them going forward so you may as well get it. Dont use it if you dont want to, but it's nice to have it in a tight spot.

Now that I have the back up cam, I wish I had a camera on the FRONT of my truck for easier parking in thw city
 
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I use my backup camera even though it's partly blocked by a swing out. I added a low mount front camera for better vis off roading, great investment.
 
Another helpful use: I installed an override switch so that I can turn it on while moving forward. It is really handy to be able to look at the hitch, safety chains, electrical hookup, etc. without stopping. It has saved my bacon a couple of times.
 
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I relocated mine as soon as I put my rear spare on. I have to parallel park daily, so it is a real help. I built a wiring harness with a second cam and when I take the tire off, I unplug the aux cam, and flip a switch to use the stock cam again.
 
I have a stock rear camera and just added a front camera last month (I can switch to those anytime regardless if I’m in D or R).

I find those very useful on trails, especially on tight switchbacks or when I need to crawl over big rocks.
 
OverLandPW88 said:
Changing out factory radio for a new double din alpine but should I really install a back-up camera?
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I had both rear and forward facing cameras connected to my Kenwood head unit in the Jeep. For the cameras I just bought cheapies from Amazon and they work great (~$10 ea). I never really needed the rear for backing up on the street, but it really helped in the woods. The front camera was the clutch, and why I got them, as I used it when breaking over terrain where all I could see from the drivers seat was sky. Flip on the camera and I did't have to get out to see what was ahead!

I have the head unit in the van now, but only need the rear camera since there isn't a hood in the way out front. :p I also have a rear facing camera for my dash cam. I may use the 'front' camera for a blind spot camera on the Drivers side.

At $20 - $30 for both, why not? Don't feel like you have to buy the $100 Alpine cameras!! These are the ones I have and they work great for the price:


I was looking for a pic showing the front camera, but guess I don't have one..

IMG_20190414_130258.jpg

I mounted the front camera under the fair-lead. When I was on road I had a license plate the fit over he fair-lead, and also covered the camera so it wasn't getting hit by bugs on the highway. Here you can see it (I had just used the winch, hence the cable)..

IMG_20190417_121323.jpg
 
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All throughput my first 3 decades of driving there were no back-up cameras, but I must admit I like them a lot, I just don't "need" one to back up safely.
 
It’s not really something I think of as an additional “safety” feature, I think of it more as a convenience feature. It makes my life soooo easy when I have to hitch up a trailer and my Canyon has the guide line. And I know, I know “back up like a man using mirrors” blah blah BUT think of it like this, you can always paddle a boat... however, it makes your life easier to just strap a motor on it haha
 
Nbyapp said:
It’s not really something I think of as an additional “safety” feature, I think of it more as a convenience feature. It makes my life soooo easy when I have to hitch up a trailer and my Canyon has the guide line. And I know, I know “back up like a man using mirrors” blah blah BUT think of it like this, you can always paddle a boat... however, it makes your life easier to just strap a motor on it haha
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I find the backup cam useful on trails, to help watch my departure angles. I suppose it could also help with parking, but I am old school enough to still look out the mirrors and back window!
 
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Like others have stated they are useful for many things. I still use my mirrors when backing up but with the camera I can back into a parking spot & put my trailer hitch right at the line, no guessing how close I'm getting to the car in the other parking spot. I don't need help hooking up a trailer, that is priceless in itself. Many times I've used it to see if I closed the tailgate! In the next couple of years I'll be getting a new truck and looking forward to having a 360 degree camera system!
 
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The camera curmudgeon says NO. The cameras are a device that will keep you from becoming one with your machine. All those cameras and lane sensors are great, until you’re driving in snow and they get covered up. Or until they simply fail. Then what? Our RAV4 has one and I turned it off long ago. If it did anything well, the screen was plenty bright. So bright that I couldn’t see anything outside the vehicle at night. The curmudgeon says LOL
 
I'm going to add one to the back of my truck. I have a 3500 Ram Megacab and its really long, especially when I have a ball hitch in the receiver, so when parking I need to back in as far as possible to not stick out into the drive aisle. A camera will help with that. I view it as a tool, not a crutch, to aid in successfully accomplish a task.
 
In actuality, my truck was parked on the street (!) And the person parked behind me on the street was a brand new driver. She left the parking space... badly. Raked the whole side of her car from front marker light to rear marker light with the double crease of the step bumper.

Seems like some people would also use a FRONTWARDS camera
 
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ThundahBeagle said:
In actuality, my truck was parked on the street (!) And the person parked behind me on the street was a brand new driver. She left the parking space... badly. Raked the whole side of her car from front marker light to rear marker light with the double crease of the step bumper.

Seems like some people would also use a FRONTWARDS camera
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She probably needs glasses as well as a front camera lol.
 
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