Mrs. BB61 wants a backup camera on our travel trailer now we have a new tow vehicle with all sorts of camera/tow goodies (GMC Sierra HD AT4 3500 6.6 gasser).

I'm not really a big fan of drilling holes in the trailer so I was thinking of buying some cargo box arms and mounting them vertically on the bumper (instead of horizontal for the cargo box) and then attaching the camera in the center of the support arm.

Support Arms
https://www.ebay.com/itm/356725270942

For reference, the rear bumper is the standard 4x4 RV bumper.

In addition, I wasn't planning on buying a wireless camera as they don't work with GMC's camera system, at least from what I've been able to find so far. So, I'm planning on buying a GMC approved one that is directly plugged into my tow vehicle. I'll run the cable from the camera under the trailer with the other cables/piping to the trailer front.

Questions

1. Not just will this work but is it a bad idea?

2. I would like to raise it a few inches higher to get the proper height for GMC's see through camera view but I can't find anything really any taller. Suggestions on how to raise it?

3. Any better suggestions?

Thanks!

I had a remote camera (not a back up camera) in the back window of my first 5th wheel. Monitor was in the cab of my Chevy 3500. Image on the monitor was reversed because the camera was facing backwards. Semi passing on my left, monitor showed it was on my right. I bought an International with real rear view mirrors. Problem solved.

^^^^^

The GM camera displays L&R correctly.

I mounted my back up camera on my all fiberglass travel trailer. It was a magnetic mount, but it came with a 2" x 4" powered coated metal plate. The plate was to be screwed on but I didn't want any holes so I used 3m VHB tape, not the anemic crap the comes on a roll from the hardware store. This stuff comes in a sheet. It is tenacious. The camera has such a strong magnet that when you go to mount it to the plate, it will literally rip it from your hands.

Amazon has both the camera with plate and the tape.

Can you use one of those backup cameras that mount on a license plate frame?

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
Can you use one of those backup cameras that mount on a license plate frame?

Good question. I could but to use the GMC transparent trailer view and trailer backing guidelines it has to plug into their system with my truck. The other problem is that the camera has to be 4" higher than the camera on my tailgate for optimal performance. So even if I tried a license plate mount, it would be too low.

Thanks!

It doesn’t integrate like you want, but for anyone else without the option of adding to an onboard system:

My uncle put one of these on his topper rear wall (on the door itself).

$80


There is a two camera version also.

$180 Prime day

Fair warning: his first one crapped out in 11 months. OTOH the Amazon seller sent a complete new package for replacement, no fuss. I haven’t done troubleshooting on the dead unit, but I suspect it was just the cigarette plug power adapter.

And plenty of similar units from other ‘brands’.

I would mount it with the screws to the bumper vs creating an additional mounting point.

It's not going to hurt anything, put a little paint around the inside of the holes, either that or use industrial double sided velcro tape, so it can be removed if needed if you don't want to drill.

I’d mount a backup camera on a RV trailer as high as I could angled down a bit. I don’t really care what’s 20’ behind the trailer. I do care about what’s right there, right now. Sometimes you’re trying to get into a tight spot and your spotters are swatting mosquitoes, looking at the stars, squirrels, chipmunks, dolphins, manatees, girls in the campsite next door, boys in the campsite next door, the fancy tag axle motorhome in the campsite next door, etc.