What back up camera system do you use for your truck camper rig? We’re looking for an update on how you keep and eye on what’s behind. How’s your rear view?
Twenty years ago, before slide-outs had taken hold in the truck camper marketplace, it was common to have a window on the front wall of a truck camper that lined up with a window on the camper rear door.
These two windows were designed to allow the driver to use the truck’s rear view mirror to see straight through the mounted truck camper and view vehicles behind the rig. Sounds impossible, right?
When we first saw this set-up on our first camper, a 2004 Lance 1030, we couldn’t envision how it would work. How could these two small windows, with the interior length of the truck camper between them, possibly offer any real visibility?
Well, the windows worked beautifully. By looking at the rear view mirror, we really could see through the camper, all the way to the rear door window, and the vehicles behind the camper. It worked.
On our 1030, Lance had added a Fresnel wide-angle acrylic lens to the rear window. This dramatically increased the field of view the small window offered. The two windows, with the Fresnel lens, made driving the rig more comfortable. You could see vehicles behind the rig during the day, and headlights behind the rig at night.
Fast forward to 2022 and the great majority of truck campers manufactured no longer have this window-to-window set-up or visibility. On some campers, slide-outs now completely block the center path through the unit. On others, manufacturers have decided that front windows are a potential leak source and omitted them throughout their product line.
Whatever the case may be, most truck campers do not feature rear view visibility, unless you opt for, or install, a rear view camera system.
Once again, it was Lance that first introduced us to rear view camera systems. Our 2013 Lance 855-S came with a built-in rear view camera. It offered excellent visibility to the driver, but we found the screen to be disorienting to have on while we were driving. Ultimately, we didn’t use it much, but our interest in rear view camera systems was piqued.
After returning the camper, we asked our readers about their rear view camera systems. The response was huge with readers recommending a wide range of rear view camera systems at an equally wide range of capabilities in prices. Most importantly, the article went on to be exceptionally popular, until recently.
It should surprise no one that rear view camera technology has come a long way since we first asked about them in 2014. A very long way. Most of the systems mentioned have long since been discontinued for better models.
Here’s what we’re looking for; if you (a) use a rear view camera system with your truck camper rig, (b) would recommend your rear view camera system to fellow truck campers, and (c) your rear view camera system is still available, we want to hear from you! A quick online check should verify the rear view camera system you have is still available.
We’re also curious about how it’s impacted your truck camping experience. Do you use it while driving and backing into a campsite? Has it helped you feel comfortable with your rig?
Our question is, “What make and model of review view camera system do you use and how has it changed your truck camping experience?”
This question is now closed. We will share the responses in TCM soon.
