reverse cam when turn-signals engaged

With spot mirrors I can clearly see two lanes over directly to the side of me.

 

Along that mindset, you'd just remove the reverse camera entirely and rely ONLY on mirrors for backing up also?? (old-timer voice) "Back in my day... we had to hand-crank start our cars in the blowing snow"

I had prob 2' spot mirrors on my honda and I did like the extra view, but don't like how it blocks some of the existing mirror and how so far distorted the view is from that of the flat mirror it's sitting on.

 

It's not just about the blind spots.

Heck --here's a new new thread potentially less offensive to Mavrick but less thought through already... If my topper was black-blacked out or full of stuff (like it's going to be when I pack up in a few to go camping/wheeling this weekend), I'd want a constant camera back there... How can I make that happen without adding a new switch or additional camera to the truck?

 

I don't know what I can't see... now that's some profound TacomaWorld posting

Wouldn't a blind spot be something missed by either mirror? With my topper on, that is in it... when the topper's full, the entire space behind me is the blind spot. Mine's probably different than yours based on seat position, posture, or accessories like topper, tinting, gun-rack, etc.

 

Of course. I'm not saying just use your mirrors and never bother to look. What I'm saying is by altering mirror positioning you can cut down on your blindspots and do a quick final check as a 100%. As im sure you probably know in the case where you don't run a topper and have an unobstructed view you use your rear view mirror for actual rear view and the side view for side view/blindspots elimination so that when a vehicle exits your rear view they immediately pop up in the side view, and when they leave the side view you can then see them in your peripheral vision. That's when it is set up properly.

 

From the California DMV handbook and I'm showing in Blue what areas I'm trying to solve for:

 

A spot mirror can see those area's with the exception of directly behind you. The only time you need to see directly behind you is when you back up and that is the purpose of the camera.

I am confused about one thing, how does having a full topper or not make any difference when your changing lanes? Are you trying to use your center mirror for that or are you twisting your neck around trying to look through the back windows?

 

There are plenty of other times, I've listed many earlier here. I use my rear-view mirror when merging, passing, stopping abruptly (when I hit brakes immediately in traffic, I always look behind me to see if I'm getting run into), seeing if the next car in convoy is still behind me.

Are you saying we don't need rear-view mirrors at all if there's a backup cam? Side mirrors are good for telling you if something's next to you, but not for judging distance. "Objects in mirror may be closer than they appear". I use (or now try to use) my rear-view mirror to determine if I'm safely ahead of someone I've passed if the car is fully in view or not. How can you tell when to merge back? Watch the whole time with eyes only and never look ahead?

 

Basically yes. Look at every straight/box truck on the road. I used to be a trucker and we never had a rear view mirror or back up camera. We did have bigger side mirrors but that just offsets the size of the truck. All you really need is the two side mirrors with a spot mirror on each one even with a full topper or blacked out rear window. If a car is directly behind me at a stop light I can still see him in my spot mirror. You really just need to get used to using a spot mirror.

 

Now who's being unreasonably stubborn? Get rid of rear-view mirrors?? At this point it sounds like you own the only company in the world who makes spot mirrors.

Still looking behind me when passing to judge distance. Spot and side mirrors are poor at determining distance. That, along with many other reasons are justification for this. If rear-view is blocked, then you're doing a lot more work to see what's easily available as a data stream readily being fed to my cab.

New truckers use reverse cams as a way to increase safety and reduce time backing into blind alleys. Brother-in-law drives long-haul and he uses a wireless cam to place anywhere he needs to. Heck--truckers even use the communication systems of light-flashing when lane changing and merging, because it's very difficult to see behind you with a load.

 

All I can offer you is that once you learn how to use your mirrors properly seeing everything around you becomes very quick and simple. New truckers are just like you, they refuse to learn how to shift and a lot of them can't back up so the solution is expensive equipment that doesn't work as well as the skill of the operator. That's why their called steering wheel holders now. I guess if you want to go through your life acting like your handicapped then have at it.

 

You have some magical mirrors that can see through the topper? Land Rover's rolling it out also: http://www.albawaba.com/business/pr...gh-trailer-research-burghley-horse-trials-738

Side mirrors aren't enough on their own and that's that. You can live in your imaginary world where everyone drives semis and only uses their side mirrors, but I don't. I'm not refusing to learn to use mirrors. They don't do what I'm asking of them. I care about what's directly behind me more than you do, I guess.

Answer me this::: how is this any different than using a high quality camera and LCD display as mirror system? Would that be the end of the world too? Your trucker nostalgia is going far-too-far here.

 

Poll added to original post. Curious to see how this community feels about it.

 

I don't see what all the fuss is about. He is looking to add a feature on while not eliminating any of the other safety features. The only way I could see this as bad is if he used only the camera view and stopped shoulder checking and using the mirrors. From everything he has wrote it looks like he will use this to enhance his checks, not to eliminate others.

It's not for me personally as I don't think I would get as much use from it, but I don't see why it would be unsafe etc.

Just my $0.02

 

If there is a car directly behind me on my bumper I can see it in my "magical" side mirrors. I can't see the grill but I can see its there and that's all you need. Yes, 99% of semi drivers only rely on their side mirrors. You have to admit, your not willing to try to learn how to properly use your mirrors, you may use them but has it ever dawned on you that your doing it incorrectly? Half of using mirrors properly is knowing how to adjust them and the other half is trusting them. When you sit like you normally do how much of the truck do you see on the inside of your mirror? If you have them set properly you should only see a small sliver of your truck to give you a reference to where things are. Then adjust it up or down so your looking parallel to the truck, not at the ground and not at the sky. Put your 3 inch spot mirrors on the outer edges of your mirrors and your good to go.

You ask how this is different? Mirrors are 100% reliable and work every time if set properly and require less time taking your eyes off the road to see if its clear, that's it. The only way for you to make this work is to have a camera on each side and one in the back if you want, that means three different monitors. Your idea of using just the rear camera just wont work, it doesn't cover all of your blind spots.

Camera or not, the one thing you just don't seem to be grasping is your rear view camera/blinker idea with your regular side mirror STILL LEAVES A BIG BLIND SPOT which is exactly the problem your trying to solve.

 

My mom has a right mirror camera on her crv for the blind spot. It's OK but too be honest, it's more of a distraction because as your looking over your shoulder you have the screen on and you see the road moving, which catches your eye (as much as you try to ignore it)

However....

There have been a few instances where people have hid in the blind spot. And they would speed up and slow down with me. My guess is that they were hoping I'd change lanes into them.

 

What about the left mirror?

 

No. More of a turn signal cam I should say so right before you turn right you can get one last glimpse to make sure there is not a pedestrian or something you missed in the blind spot.

 

The thing I guess you don't understand, maverick, is that I'm not exclusively concerned with blind spots and their 100% eradication. Thanks for taking over this entire thread and your battle against technology, even though (you've never addressed this point once) side mirrors are not good at depth perception. Just trying to just get a better view behind my truck, is that too goddamn much to ask without picking and bitching about how I need to adjust to your Luddite ways of using a janky aftermarket accessory I already said I don't like using.

 

Geez maverick get over your condescending self. He's not asking for pointers on his driving skills and habits. Also saying happy crashing to someone is so f***ing juvenile. You acting like a b***h
Now to the original post. I've seen cameras integrated with the blinker but not as an add on to reverse but two separate cameras. My buddy who does construction work has a pipe rack rear window bars and side cages on his truck and decided to add two cameras to each side of cage(sits right behind cab). So when ever his blinker goes on that side goes on giving him a a wide view of mid truck back a few hundred feet