Back up camera
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 2
From: Vero Beach FL
Back up camera
Looking to see if anyone has added a back up camera on a C4 / My father retired and purchased a C4 . He backs it in the garage every time . I am looking to put a camera in it for him . He is 70 and eyesight not the greatest . Any advice would be greatly appreciated as to options . Don't want to change out radio and keep it as stock as possible . Thank you in advance . Pics greatly appreciated too.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 227
Likes: 43
From: Maple Valley Washington
I bought a wireless backup camera at Costco for about $125. The license frame has a solar charging device so you never need a battery. I installed it on my 17' Stingray for the front of my car. Works great.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,029
Likes: 63
Hang a tennisball from the ceiling with a string. Position it so that it hits the rear window or bumpercover the moment he needs to stop. Put some high visibily tape or something on it. So he only needs to be aware of the ball. Or put a marker to driver side wall he needs to lign up with his door mirror or something. Easy and cheap.
Maybe even a photoelectric sensor which triggers a light in front of the car (easy for him to see) when he has backed up enough. Or a motion sensor light with the sensor aimed at specific point so it triggers when the bumper gets into its view.
If that is not high tech enough then install a backup/parking sensor system with audio warning. Much better than just a camera for the old guy. And usefull outside the garage too. And you don't have to touch the radio unit.
Be creative, lots of possibilities.
Maybe even a photoelectric sensor which triggers a light in front of the car (easy for him to see) when he has backed up enough. Or a motion sensor light with the sensor aimed at specific point so it triggers when the bumper gets into its view.
If that is not high tech enough then install a backup/parking sensor system with audio warning. Much better than just a camera for the old guy. And usefull outside the garage too. And you don't have to touch the radio unit.
Be creative, lots of possibilities.
Last edited by ToniH; Jan 18, 2019 at 10:44 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,260
Likes: 6,461
From: Melbourne, FL
My parents had those proximity sensing setups in their garage because my mother had a bad habit of parking in the hot water heater. They worked well enough, until she decided she didnt want to drive anymore... in her 50s.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,058
Likes: 214
From: Epping NH
That's a good idea being wireless, do you remember the model/brand?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,830
Likes: 147
From: Gainesville FL
Here's one that displays on a clip on rearview mirror on ebay that looks pretty cool and is inexpensive:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Backup-Came...frcectupt=true
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Backup-Came...frcectupt=true
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 227
Likes: 43
From: Maple Valley Washington
It is called a Types. You can probably find it on the Costco web maybe. It is solar powered and I made a holder for it to hold upright and installed it in the little cubbly behind my radio screen that comes down. There is also a plug in there so I just push the button and the screen drops and helps me to park my Corvette. Very easy install.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,357
Likes: 3,253
From: Hartford WI
Looking to see if anyone has added a back up camera on a C4 / My father retired and purchased a C4 . He backs it in the garage every time . I am looking to put a camera in it for him . He is 70 and eyesight not the greatest . Any advice would be greatly appreciated as to options . Don't want to change out radio and keep it as stock as possible . Thank you in advance . Pics greatly appreciated too.
If you don't want to change the radio https://www.autozone.com/safety-and-...122313_0_20534
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Racer
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 350
Likes: 74
For me, it’s as simple as that my garage isn’t very big, and due to the positioning of some shelves and work benches, backing in places the drivers door on the side that it is easier to open the door further to get out.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 396
Likes: 58
From: Katy Texas
I worked for a Dutch company and it was written into the employee manual. We had to back into our spaces at work - it's supposed to be safer when leaving. I never did and pulled in headon. I don't work there anymore.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,357
Likes: 3,253
From: Hartford WI
I think they say it is safer when you leave and not back into traffic So how is that risk when you are trying to back into the stall and traffic is there? Sounds like what you save here, you lose there?
Racer
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 350
Likes: 74
Time of day can be a big factor. I work in the city and park in a crowded lot. I get there early in the morning when there aren’t many other cars or people around, and it’s easy to back into a spot at that time without bothering anyone. Then when I’m headed home at rush hour time when the lot is full and lots of cars are trying to get out, it really helps being able to drive straight out of my spot.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,424
Likes: 603
From: Minneapolis Mn
I have a 2 stall garage and 2 cars I park in there. I back one in and pull the other in forward. That way the drivers doors are on the inside aisle making it easier to get in and out of both vehicles as there's nothing obstructing them. About the only exceptions are when I need to work on the front of the Vette then I back It in so the front is by the garage door.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 2
From: Vero Beach FL
Its due to the layout of the garages. they make them smaller and smaller . I have a two car garage but its only 18x19, 20x20 used to be the standard. i have to back one in and the other straight forward to get both passenger sides close to the wall to open the doors to get in . His is the same way and due to storage he needs to back in . Plus I've been a fire fighter for 25 yrs now and its kind of habit we back all trucks in the bays lol .
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 786
Likes: 31
Cruise-In II Veteran
Amazing how this post has gone from a simple question on back-up cameras to why some people back into their garages. Anyhow, I bought one on the "auction site" for under $20 and it works fine.
After trying the wireless type I went to the hard wired type. It was actually easier to install because there is only one wire splice (plus a ground) at one of the backup lights. That supplied power for both the camera and the monitor. The system is only powered when the car is in reverse.
The wireless type requires two splices-one for the camera and another for the monitor plus two grounds (the best place I found for the monitor was the radio circuit, it only is hot when the key is on. The hard wire type is more reliable than the wireless type. The wireless would sometimes drop out, apparently because the transmitter wasn't strong enough.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-3-TFT-LCD-Car-Rearview-System-Monitor-Backup-Reverse-Camera-Night-Vision/351880614786?_trkparms=aid%3D333200%26al go%3DCOMP.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D201710120 94517%26meid%3Ddf44012a1bca45748a3c75a76 7289ee7%26pid%3D100008%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D 12%26sd%3D253949560738%26itm%3D351880614 786&_trksid=p2047675.c100008.m2219
After trying the wireless type I went to the hard wired type. It was actually easier to install because there is only one wire splice (plus a ground) at one of the backup lights. That supplied power for both the camera and the monitor. The system is only powered when the car is in reverse.
The wireless type requires two splices-one for the camera and another for the monitor plus two grounds (the best place I found for the monitor was the radio circuit, it only is hot when the key is on. The hard wire type is more reliable than the wireless type. The wireless would sometimes drop out, apparently because the transmitter wasn't strong enough.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-3-TFT-LCD-Car-Rearview-System-Monitor-Backup-Reverse-Camera-Night-Vision/351880614786?_trkparms=aid%3D333200%26al go%3DCOMP.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D201710120 94517%26meid%3Ddf44012a1bca45748a3c75a76 7289ee7%26pid%3D100008%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D 12%26sd%3D253949560738%26itm%3D351880614 786&_trksid=p2047675.c100008.m2219
Last edited by Wildride; Jan 19, 2019 at 08:07 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 111
I have a back up camera in my new car, like most new cars have. That camera isn't going to stop a senior from backing into something in a small garage with aging eyesight.
Unlike you on the job, my guess is your father isn't going to need to pull the Vette out the garage very quickly to save a burning structure. I recommend pulling straight into the garage and backing straight back; safest for all involved; especially in small, tight garages like you all have.
Unlike you on the job, my guess is your father isn't going to need to pull the Vette out the garage very quickly to save a burning structure. I recommend pulling straight into the garage and backing straight back; safest for all involved; especially in small, tight garages like you all have.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 332
Likes: 74
From: MUSKOGEE COUNTY OKLAHOMA
Cops and soldiers tend to do this. In third armored division you would get a DR for parking nose in.
Last edited by GRIS; Jan 20, 2019 at 10:02 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,357
Likes: 3,253
From: Hartford WI