Side Mirror Cameras/Monitors

[Monte66]

With regard to a discussion about Camera/Monitor mirror replacement.

I dealt with a nice chap called Eason, at Kocchis Technology. Hong Kong.
The full set, 2 mirrors/ 2 Monitors, cable and fittings supplied from Hong Kong manufacturer, Kocchis
Total debited from your account: 879.42 GBP.

Also bear in mind that UPS took about £150 from me, for the Governments coffers, in import tax.
So adding the installation cost, as I said earlier, it is not cheap.

Would I put put my mirrors back on if someone offered me £1300 or so? NO.

Just Google, Kocchis Technology Mirror Cam and it should all come up on their website.
Also. I made a mistake by purchasing the Coach Camera. model K21EM-12-M.

I should have bought the Truck Model K22EM-12-M because this model projects out further and therefore would get around the awning pillar that is currently blocking part of my view down the side of the coach.
Also, when fitting the internal monitors, be sure to fit them above your eyeline, as the mounting bracket has the monitors facing slightly downward, towards the floor, so you look upwards when looking at them when driving. Mine Don't

The picture quality is superb, and amazingly it is still in colour at night.
The main benefit for me however is that it feels as if the Coach has had its width reduced. A lot less breathing in when a 30 ton Tipper Truck, or Coach is heading in your direction on a narrow A or B road in the countryside.

They were fitted by Gary Burton (Chase RV Electrics) Burntwood, South Staffordshire.
Just off T6, M6 Toll.
Gary did a lot of work on My RV, so I couldn't pin the price down to the mirrors, but he is very fair and an excellent electrical specialist for American RVs.
He also sorted out my dodgy automatic steps, and the furnace for the central heating, amongst other things.

 

[poacher]

Thanks for your comprehensive reply and explanation

 

[shovelheadrob]

With regard to a discussion about Camera/Monitor mirror replacement.

I dealt with a nice chap called Eason, at Kocchis Technology. Hong Kong.
The full set, 2 mirrors/ 2 Monitors, cable and fittings supplied from Hong Kong manufacturer, Kocchis
Total debited from your account: 879.42 GBP.

Also bear in mind that UPS took about £150 from me, for the Governments coffers, in import tax.
So adding the installation cost, as I said earlier, it is not cheap.

Would I put put my mirrors back on if someone offered me £1300 or so? NO.

Just Google, Kocchis Technology Mirror Cam and it should all come up on their website.
Also. I made a mistake by purchasing the Coach Camera. model K21EM-12-M.

I should have bought the Truck Model K22EM-12-M because this model projects out further and therefore would get around the awning pillar that is currently blocking part of my view down the side of the coach.
Also, when fitting the internal monitors, be sure to fit them above your eyeline, as the mounting bracket has the monitors facing slightly downward, towards the floor, so you look upwards when looking at them when driving. Mine Don't

The picture quality is superb, and amazingly it is still in colour at night.
The main benefit for me however is that it feels as if the Coach has had its width reduced. A lot less breathing in when a 30 ton Tipper Truck, or Coach is heading in your direction on a narrow A or B road in the countryside.

They were fitted by Gary Burton (Chase RV Electrics) Burntwood, South Staffordshire.
Just off T6, M6 Toll.
Gary did a lot of work on My RV, so I couldn't pin the price down to the mirrors, but he is very fair and an excellent electrical specialist for American RVs.
He also sorted out my dodgy automatic steps, and the furnace for the central heating, amongst other things.

I'm assuming that your mirrors are gone? What happens should a camera go down or get damaged? It's an instant GV9 whereas a conventional mirror can usually be botched up to get by & keep the vehicle drivable......

 

[RV Neal]

I'm assuming that your mirrors are gone? What happens should a camera go down or get damaged? It's an instant GV9 whereas a conventional mirror can usually be botched up to get by & keep the vehicle drivable......

Just what I've always thought since seeing my first vehicle fitted with cameras instead of mirrors, which was a London bus back in 2019. The big artic "tractors" have their cameras mounted really high but they could still be caught by an awkward obstruction.

But, thank you Monte66 for your detailed and informative posting.

 

[shovelheadrob]

Just what I've always thought since seeing my first vehicle fitted with cameras instead of mirrors, which was a London bus back in 2019. The big artic "tractors" have their cameras mounted really high but they could still be caught by an awkward obstruction.

But, thank you Monte66 for your detailed and informative posting.

A good mate is workshop manager at a DAF dealer, he said that they get more trucks in with damaged cameras than they do with mirrors, maybe because they have to be programmed into the ECU, I do like the idea of not having vulnerable mirrors, but I also like being able to just move my head a bit to see a slightly different view when reversing for example....

 

[Monte66]

I'm assuming that your mirrors are gone? What happens should a camera go down or get damaged? It's an instant GV9 whereas a conventional mirror can usually be botched up to get by & keep the vehicle drivable......

I'm assuming that your mirrors are gone? What happens should a camera go down or get damaged? It's an instant GV9 whereas a conventional mirror can usually be botched up to get by & keep the vehicle drivable......

I suppose I could cart them around in the lockers but you could say the same about any part of the vehicle that can affect its driveability. There are many trucks these days, and electric cars, that don't have traditional mirrors.

 

[shovelheadrob]

I suppose I could cart them around in the lockers but you could say the same about any part of the vehicle that can affect its driveability. There are many trucks these days, and electric cars, that don't have traditional mirrors.

Agreed but a car won't get a GV9 from the DVSA, I'm not entirely sure where an RV sits with them regarding that, but having no offside mirror would be less than ideal anyway.

 

[RV Neal]

I'd say an offside mirror on a LHD vehicle is essential. I bought a Chevy Chevette years ago (yes, that's right, the forerunner of the Vauxhall Chevette - America does it first!) but it didn't have an offside mirror. A visit to the US breakers by the Blackwall Tunnel and I had one. Just a quick respray in the workshop and then drill a couple of holes in the passenger door and back to safe driving.

I've also lost two (yes, two) offside mirrors from RVs, both due to "tugging tw*ts" crossing the centre line with their wobble boxes and smashing my mirrors off!! Grrr! Both fixed in double quick time!

 

[Monte66]

I'd say an offside mirror on a LHD vehicle is essential. I bought a Chevy Chevette years ago (yes, that's right, the forerunner of the Vauxhall Chevette - America does it first!) but it didn't have an offside mirror. A visit to the US breakers by the Blackwall Tunnel and I had one. Just a quick respray in the workshop and then drill a couple of holes in the passenger door and back to safe driving.

I've also lost two (yes, two) offside mirrors from RVs, both due to "tugging tw*ts" crossing the centre line with their wobble boxes and smashing my mirrors off!! Grrr! Both fixed in double quick time!

That's the kind of thing I'm talking about really, avoiding mirror to mirror collision. Depending, of course, on the height of your mirrors as to what kind of vehicle will be your nemesis. Also with regard to the camera going down and leaving you without a side mirror, I have a good, Dual, Rev Camera which becomes a rear view camera when going forward so that is really enough to keep you driving.