Rearview cameras available in many tow vehicles today — or added to travel trailers and fifth-wheels — create 360-degree views, eliminate blind spots, and make backing less stressful.
By Bruce W. Smith
February 2022
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Safety. That should be the top priority for anyone towing an RV. Travel trailers and fifth-wheels present a huge concern in this regard because of the blind spots they create. The bigger the trailer, the bigger the blind spots. This is especially true when backing up, as not even side mirrors allow you to see what’s immediately behind the trailer.
That’s why tow vehicle manufacturers such as General Motors and Ford have spent years and millions of dollars perfecting camera systems that provide drivers with a 360-degree view around both the tow vehicle and whatever it is towing just by looking at the infotainment system screen on the dashboard.
For example, some of the higher-end Chevrolet Silverados and GMC Sierras are equipped with a trailer camera package that includes eight “available” cameras that give the driver up to 15 different views of what’s going on around them. One view even offers a top-down perspective, as though the camera were magically hovering above the truck. Taking full advantage of these wonderful visual aids brings towing safety and convenience to a new level and makes the towing experience less stressful.
Aftermarket Factory Rearview Camera Kit
The caveat, of course, is that many of these advanced visual safety features are “available” for trucks and other vehicles, which in everyday speak means they are factory options. And although travel trailers and fifth-wheels may come prepped for a rearview camera, the actual installation of a camera generally is up to the vehicle owner.
That was the case for a customer of Bish’s RV in Meridian, Idaho, who purchased a 2021 Grand Design Reflection 313RLTS to tow behind a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD equipped with the high-end infotainment system, multiview camera setup, and optional trailering package.
While the trailer was getting a couple of its own aftermarket upgrades, the customer had Bish’s technicians install the Chevrolet trailering camera system (part number 85004154; suggested retail price: $475). The kit includes the high-definition rearview camera and an integrated, water-proof 60-foot cable that plugs into a dedicated camera trailer plug above the seven-pin socket at the truck’s rear bumper.
The pickup’s computerized infotainment system seamlessly connects to the new camera, so there’s no programming involved. You just plug in the camera cable connector at the rear bumper, turn on the infotainment system, and then select what camera view you want to see.
Making A Rearview Trailer Camera Look Like A Factory Install
The actual installation is just as easy. Mount the camera on the trailer according to the instructions and plug the other end into the receptacle on the pickup.
But to make everything look like a factory installation, and to keep the 60 feet of integrated black cable as invisible as possible, certified RV technician Craig Martinez routed the camera wiring from the RV’s roof, down through an inner wall, out the floor, and along the inside of the trailer’s frame up to the hitch. (This was done during the installation of a Winegard Connect 2.0 WiFi Extender that also required wiring to be run through the roof.)
Martinez’ goal was to make the rearview camera installation as invisible as possible, and to make sure the mounting points on the RV’s roof were leakproof. He accomplished both in about an hour.
The aftermarket is filled with a variety of wired and wireless (Bluetooth) rearview camera systems. But installing a rearview camera that is already matched to the factory infotainment system means there’s no need for an app, programming, dealing with additional wiring, or locating and mounting a second monitor.
Taking full advantage of a rear-view or backup trailer camera adds a level of safety and convenience that makes any RV experience that much more enjoyable.