Rear View Camera / Dashcam Advice please
Hello,
Our new Suzuki Vitara 1.4 Mild Hybrid Auto is going to ready with the dealer to collect next week. The spec was supposed to include a rear view camera, but because of Infotainment system supply issues, if we went for an automatic, it would not include a factory fitted rear view camera. It would come with a Sat Nav instead, which we were not particularly bothered about as we have a decent Tom Tom with lifetime traffic, so the dealer agreed to fit a free Rear Parking sensor as part of the deal too.
We had test driven both the auto and manual and preferred the auto so went with that. One feature we loved on the test drive cars was the rear view camera, maybe because we had never used one before, but it seemed useful both potentially for hitching up and also for reversing into or out of our drive where there are often parked cars.
We have now been told by the dealer that they can fit a rear view camera for £300, as they have more information about the Infotainment system supplied and have found it is compatible. However, I understand it is attached to a rear light so will not be completely central, which might not be ideal for hitching up.
We are wondering if it might be better to spend £460 on a Garmin Camper with rear view camera instead (or Avtex equivalent), so the camera could be fitted to a number plate attachment in the centre and also could be transferred to the back of the caravan when towing if we got a 2nd numberplate attachment. Our caravan total length (which we don't have yet) is 4.42 metres, so the range of 13m should be fine.
This would give us both a Caravan compatible Sat Nav and a more useful camera for towing, but obviously means when not towing, if we want to use the camera, we would have to set up the Sat Nav and camera, which I think we would be unlikely to do in reality on a day to day basis for short journeys and so it might not end up being used for going in and out of our drive, although we would have the rear parking sensors for that.
https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/p/677369
This is the camera included in the package:
https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/p/591686
Or we were also wondering if it might be better to keep the Tom Tom for Sat Nav and get a dashcam like this with rearview camera. Could this be used for hitching up and also for security on our new car? Or would it not work like that?
https://www.nextbase.com/en-gb/dash-cams/622gw-dash-cam/
Any views would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Annette
Comments
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Yes, this was pointed out in the review here:
"However, it’s a shame that the rear-view camera isn’t in the centre of the tailgate. It’s off to one side, so not quite as useful when reversing towards the hitch as it could be."
https://www.practicalcaravan.com/reviews/suzuki-vitara-2
So we were wondering whether we might just be better off going with the Garmin/Avtex.
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It is the tow ball you are lining up, not the camera so if you can see the tow ball that becomes your guide. You don’t drive with a central steering wheel and most people manage to steer properly. You very quickly learn to accommodate and adjust. I think this is a mountain out of a molehill and if reversing is such a problem then get a motor mover. What also concerns me is what is being towed with a 1.4 petrol?!
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Hi, We have had one car with a, centrally mounted, rear view camera.
Whilst its a useful tool to assist you thats all it is and even using the camera it was only to get 'close', and then I got out and looked anyway.
As I say, useful, but would I pay the money you are talking about? No.
As for sat nav, I am fortunate to have it inbuilt and it uses Google maps-if it wasn't I would use Google maps on my phone.
Plan the route on a PC/laptop, so you can check out any access that looks a bit tight on Streetview, then send the directions to your phone.
I am presuming that someone who is considering this spend already has a smartphone!
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Exactly this. My car has a reasonably recent update of its maps, but I've discovered a few times that 'she' hasn't a clue of some fairly major road improvements eg M6 north of Lancaster. I use it because it's there, but frequently use WAZE on my phone that is aware of what's happening now on the road & will reroute you accordingly. It also has a reverse camera with lines on the screen to guide you .... again, I use it because it's there, but managed to hitch up a caravan for years without one.
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Silver Mini Freestyle 290. MIRO 688kg, MTPLM 1000kg (but we don't intend to use that much payload):
https://www.mini-freestyle.com/en/mini-freestyle-290.html
We don't really want a motor mover as it will add to the payload and noseweight.
Review is helpful from Practical Caravan about the car's capability as a tow car for lightweight trailers:
https://www.practicalcaravan.com/reviews/suzuki-vitara-2
We also checked matching carefully on towcar.info
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Now resolved. Suzuki said the rear parking sensors they were going to fit cannot be switched off, which we thought might be quite distracting when reversing with the caravan/hitching up. Having never had parking sensors I am not sure we will miss them much, but we loved the reversing camera in the test drive. So they are going to fit the rear view camera instead of the parking sensors without extra cost. Sounds like a good solution.
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Hi, As you say sounds reasonable.
Our cars have had the “trailer prep” so the sensors don’t operate once the electrics are connected.Re the comment about sat nav maps being up to date, that’s one another advantage to using Google via a smartphone to plan as its more likely to be up to date.
One word of warning though-back in 2013 our first ever new car had built in sat nav which, just three weeks later, as “dynamic route planning” was turned on, I didn’t realise, sent us into Paris as the road we intended to use was blocked.
Not an experience I would want to repeat!
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