Speccing Rear Parking Camera

[soulstyledevon]

The rear parking camera.
Is it another, unnecessary expensive option...?

I have a loan Kombi at the moment and find the camera more of a distraction than something I find useful.
I always thought the sensors front and rear were brilliant and the visibility is better on a Cali than any other vehicle I can think of. So much so, I have stopped looking at the camera.

Speccing a new van, would the camera be a yes tick or no

 

[WelshGas]

The rear parking camera.
Is it another, unnecessary expensive option...?

I have a loan Kombi at the moment and find the camera more of a distraction than something I find useful.
I always thought the sensors front and rear were brilliant and the visibility is better on a Cali than any other vehicle I can think of. So much so, I have stopped looking at the camera.

Speccing a new van, would the camera be a yes tick or no

Personally I find the camera useful when I have the Towbar bike rack attached and also when reversing into tight spaces as it gives you that extra 30-50 cms of travel if the sensors are showing red.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Never thought about the towbar bike rack situation. I can see how it would be helpful. I think it’s an extra £500 on standard sensors, so trying to figure out is it worth £500 of my hard earned.

You should see where Nissan have put the screen on my electric van. Next to the speedo, which means as you turn the wheel, it blocks the screen

 

[GillianC]

The rear parking camera.
Is it another, unnecessary expensive option...?

I have a loan Kombi at the moment and find the camera more of a distraction than something I find useful.
I always thought the sensors front and rear were brilliant and the visibility is better on a Cali than any other vehicle I can think of. So much so, I have stopped looking at the camera.

Speccing a new van, would the camera be a yes tick or no

Personally I would always have one so I can see exactly how much space and what I have behind me. Worth every penny. I have one on my Nissan x trail and it is great too. Enables me to park closely but still able to open the tailgate. Different things are important to us though. I know that lots want ACC but that doesn’t matter to me.

 

[Lewis]

As a daily driver it’s invaluable for squeezing the Cali into tight spots on high streets and on the road outside our house!

 

[sidepod]

Check exactly what it gives you. Mine has 4 view options once activated, the most useful being TOP as this gives you virtually a vertical view of the tow ball. I can reverse up to a trailer to within a couple of MM.

Also, I find the rear camera useful when on the motorway. It can be activated manually and gives you a great rear/side view of traffic.

So not just a reversing “nice to have”.

 

[Trebor]

The rear parking camera.
Is it another, unnecessary expensive option...?

I have a loan Kombi at the moment and find the camera more of a distraction than something I find useful.
I always thought the sensors front and rear were brilliant and the visibility is better on a Cali than any other vehicle I can think of. So much so, I have stopped looking at the camera.

Speccing a new van, would the camera be a yes tick or no

I’d definitely get the camera . My wife has just got a Santa Fe and you definitely get used to it . I keep looking at my screen in reverse but nothing there . Think I may get one retrofitted . It would be especially useful as I tow quite a lot . With the Santa Fe you can even see the towball to hitch up !

 

[Verity]

I was sceptical before we got the van, but now I wouldn't be without it.

 

[El Greco]

Never had one before but thought it would be useful on a van. I was wrong, it is indispensable for accurate positioning.

 

[Moakesy]

Didn't have one on my old Cali, do have one on my new one. It's definitely useful, although I find it's not required all of the time.

Plus, everyone who's seen my old van when selling it asked if it had reverse camera.....so desirable when it's time to change.

 

[Amarillo]

Also, I find the rear camera useful when on the motorway. It can be activated manually and gives you a great rear/side view of traffic.

I can turn on my parking sensors at 130 KPH on the Sicilian autostrada, quite alarming when it bleeps red, but have yet to discover how to turn on the camera to see who is sniffing my exhaust.

How do you turn it on?



Follow my blog: www.au-revoir.eu

 

[larrylamb]

Check exactly what it gives you. Mine has 4 view options once activated, the most useful being TOP as this gives you virtually a vertical view of the tow ball. I can reverse up to a trailer to within a couple of MM.

Also, I find the rear camera useful when on the motorway. It can be activated manually and gives you a great rear/side view of traffic.

So not just a reversing “nice to have”.

Is that a VAG system? I can only get the camera up on selecting reverse with my Seat.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Some very useful info.
Definitely food for thought if I decide to order a new one.

 

[motacyclist]

For most situations it's not needed, and it is an extra thing to have to think about; but it does give a bit of extra confidence in a tight space, or hitching up a trailer as Welshgas says.

I would spec it again.

 

[sidepod]

Is that a VAG system? I can only get the camera up on selecting reverse with my Seat.

No. Mine is an Alpine unit but it could/should be in the VW set up menu?
Failing that, remove the head unit and it should be easy to find the reverse light input line, then just add a switch to power it up independently of reverse.

 

[B J G]

Other than normal rear view benefits the VW rear view camera has distance markers that enable you to see how close to a door/wall or another vehicle and still get the tailgate open.

Insurance Companies like them and on the questions list..

 

[Trebor]

Personally I find the camera useful when I have the Towbar bike rack attached and also when reversing into tight spaces as it gives you that extra 30-50 cms of travel if the sensors are showing red.

Hello WelshGas . I wonder if you can help . I’m thinking of having a reversing camera installed . I’ve got the Rns510 and parking sensors . I spoke to a local Specialist today . They say there are 3 options
1 Genuine Vw Highline camera ££850 fitted
2 Genuine Vw Lowline camera £799 fitted
3 non Vw rear camera linked to Rns510 ( apparently this is better resolution ) £699 fitted

Any thoughts ?

 

[sidepod]

Any thoughts ?

I’m in the wrong business?

 

[WelshGas]

Hello WelshGas . I wonder if you can help . I’m thinking of having a reversing camera installed . I’ve got the Rns510 and parking sensors . I spoke to a local Specialist today . They say there are 3 options
1 Genuine Vw Highline camera ££850 fitted
2 Genuine Vw Lowline camera £799 fitted
3 non Vw rear camera linked to Rns510 ( apparently this is better resolution ) £699 fitted

Any thoughts ?

Personally I would stick to a VW system properly coded.
Hazzydayz charge £795 + VAT for a Highline System + 2 yrs Warranty.

https://www.hazzydayz.com/reverse-c...stailgate---genuine-vw-supply--fit-3268-p.asp

 

[Trebor]

Thanks for advice WelshGas . Do you find picture quality ok ? Is it worth looking at / any benefit to new Vw Apple play Head or is that very expensive ?

I think what happened was that I mentioned that my wife has a new Hyundai Santa Fe with a really good screen and camera and a lot more . They said that Vw kit doesn’t compare !

 

[WelshGas]

Is it worth looking at / any benefit to new Vw Apple play Head or is that very expensive ?

I understand it is not possible to retrofit a T6 unit in a T5. I could be wrong but I’m sure I read somewhere that some one tried and failed.

 

[sidepod]

my wife has a new Hyundai Santa Fe

 

[Alan Andrews]

I bought a 2017 used Ocean in August this year. It has front+rear sensors but did not have the camera.

When the Ocean is fully loaded plus a loaded bike rack, it is impossible to see out the back, other than use side mirrors and sensors.

I bought a genuine VW T6 camera unit from Germany (around £200) and have installed it myself.

Yes rather fiddly with the cabling and removing the tailgate internal trim, but perfectly achievable by taking your time.

The T6 now has an all steel tailgate, so you need to cut a 40x40 hole above the number plate. It is very tight, but using a flexible drive on my Dremel, it did not take long. I prepared the cut surfaces with primer, top coat and lacquer. Then the camera simply snaps in to position.

I had to use my vcds to enable the camera.

It works perfectly and I use it all the time......in daylight and darkness.

Shortly after installed it, I found myself in a blind road with no lighting and cars tightly parked both sides.

With the camera, I was able to comfortably reverse 400m all the way out without incident. Without the camera, it would have been extremely difficult to navigate around the cars and bends in the road.

As others have said, fitting the genuine camera means that it is fully integrated and looks like an original install from the factory.

I can share details if anyone wants them.