Do i need a reversing camera?

[CaliforniaBen]

If you have a bike rack get one, if not you don't need one. The cali is not much longer than a car

 

[pjm-84]

Great name! Have to say Hi

pjm-84 = Paul Morris (lived at 84 sadly not born that year.)

Worked on a project once where the mechanical subcontractor was called Paul Morris. (They had to call order at the first DTM as we were like long lost mates..... )

 

[oryx white]

I have front and back parking sensors.
Is the reversing camera really required with these already fitted, I'm not sure what would show on the screen as I already get a front and back radar image when in reverse.

2016 California 150 DSG with sat nav etc.

Just picked up my T6 which has both the sensors and the rear camera.

I'm of the 'you don't absolutely need it but it is really nice to have it' party. I've not had a camera before and it certainly helps - especially in the dark when it's trickier to see things in the mirrors.

Two extra points to add:

1. When I was shopping for insurance from the specialist campervan brokers they asked if it had a reversing camera specifically in addition to the rear/front sensors. The implication was it gave a further discount. As it was, I ended up with Admiral who gave me by far the best price and couldn't care about sensors or rear cameras.
2. To try and answer your question about the display on the VW head unit - on our screen, we get both the view from the camera with a very helpful 'frame' to indicate where the vehicle is pointed AND also a smaller version of the sensor graphic so you can see what that's detecting as well. The audible bleeps are also still there.

 

[Deskman]

I don't have one and no parking sensors either and I never had on my other cars but I certainly wil retrofit a backup cam since my privacy windows give me very little feedback about my position

 

[Kayak74]

I would not like to be without the camera, great for lining up in parking slots. Stop at red line, very easy. I seem to remember it was not much more to add.

 

[Richy]

I've never had reverse camera's before and use it every day now, I love it, I can get our van backed right up to our house (to within 6").

But, if I could have the option list again, I'd have ditched it and some others in favour of the upgraded headlights as the standard ones are very poor.

 

[Neil8465]

Hi I have sensors and camera on my new T6. When I was getting insurance quotes every provider asked if I had sensors/ camera.

This is recorded on my insurance certificate and applied a discount to my insurance when I asked before I bought, so potentially a cost saving there in the long run.

 

[majorbooboo]

I have front and rear parking sensors on my Cali, however recently upgraded the ancient VW Sat Nav radio unit with a CarPlay unit and that supported a rear camera, so for the sake of circa £100 I had it fitted (very discreetly) and I find it useful as I often carry bikes or motorbikes on the back so makes manoeuvring a fair bit easier.
As many have said, don't need it, but it's a nice to have (particularly for the extra cost I paid).

Gavinskii I'd be interested to know more as I'm considering the same u/g from the basic VW fitted radio to something with bluetooth and car play, and I'd like to fit a rear camera at the same time. What was your solution? M

 

[DOUG MILNE]

I have front and back parking sensors.
Is the reversing camera really required with these already fitted, I'm not sure what would show on the screen as I already get a front and back radar image when in reverse.

2016 California 150 DSG with sat nav etc.

have both sensors & camera. on beemer also. would not be without. also have tow bar. very handy for backing, also saves lives, especially kids, & other vehicles backing toward me.

 

[MattBW]

I have hte sensors and wouldnt be without them, I dont have the camera but if it was easier to fit I would put one in. Not needed but quite a good safety feature being able to see behind.

 

[B J G]

Wouldn't be without one.
Insurance asked if one fitted, don't know if it reduces premium.

One advantage of the factory fitted one is that it has markers that show how close to anything, your front door for example, you can get and fully open the tailgate without hitting anything.

 

[sidepod]

A bit of intel for anyone retro fitting a camera.

I bought one with adjustable vision angles.
Having used it now it's really quite impressive.
I was using a trailer recently and, with the "top" view selected, I could position the tow ball literally to within about two centimetres of the hitch.

 

[Brianc26]

We have the reversing camera on our t6 ocean and it will only be good for hooking up a trailer

 

[Teejay]

I have the rear camera its a good option. Its so wide that you can "see" around a blind corner when reversing.

..message ends...

 

[Mr & Mrs B]

We were only going to have the sensors until we had a test drive in a Cali with a reversing camera and then added it to our spec. It's great for reversing into car parking spaces and it's easy to see where the lines are. Our insurance company also noted that we have camera and sensors.

 

[GrannyJen]

I have a reversing camera and it's brilliant!

I know every time what I am hitting when I reverse

 

[Guy/Louise]

A reversing camera may reduce your insurance premium! On my questionnaire for the quote it asked if one was fitted!

 

[Borris]

I have front and back parking sensors.
Is the reversing camera really required with these already fitted, I'm not sure what would show on the screen as I already get a front and back radar image when in reverse.

2016 California 150 DSG with sat nav etc.

No.

 

[Erbster]

Need? No.
Is it useful? Very much so! I'm very glad I got mine- makes reversing easier because you can see what's going on, though as you say, the beepers do the same job really. However, the clincher for me is when towing. I can now reverse straight up to my tow hitch and line up perfectly with the ball with no assistant. Not an expensive accessory, so worth it in my book.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Mr & Mrs B]

Not essential, but I'm glad we had one fitted. It wasn't on our original spec until we had a test drive in a Cali with one. I find it really useful when reversing into parking spaces as I can see the white lines on both sides of Cali. If you're better at reversing than me, you may think differently.

 

[zerofour]

It's worth having one. Very useful and will pay for itself may times over with less trips to the bodywork repair shop.