What to do with all these cameras…

So I bought these 4 cameras a while ago and I had ideas of adding 4 cameras underneath so when I am off roading I could actually see clearances without having to get out. Well that project sat for about a year and I was cleaning up and found the video controller I got so I am really considering it now. My questions really are wondering what would you guys point a camera at? I wanted to use 2 of them for turn activation however in order to get that to work I would need to have this running through the primary video in on the head unit. I could get a splitter but with quality lacking on these screens I don’t want to have piggy back upon piggy back. I say that because I have a front facing anytime camera so that has its own splitter and after that I have a screen mirroring device that will play video out but on its own channel (you have to hold the down button on the steering wheel for 3 seconds and it takes it into that screen mirroring device. Obviously when in this screen car play and Navi are gone because your mirroring the phone so it’s not really a back and forth thing. The screen mirroring is connected to phone via lighting cable so I can hold down button for 3 more seconds and it will take that device into secondary video out allowing me to use that screen for any video in. Here is where I look to hook up the video selector so purposefully I would need to select the secondary video and then I could use the remote to bounce around 4 cameras.

All that out of the way I want to make a point to say I am not going for he quality… looking into that the only hope is a new head unit and when that happens I will go big and upgrade sound. For now reasonably allowing me to see clearance for any night travel OR is over the top I can agree too that however parts have been order and passion has been re-lit. The biggest crossroads I find myself is do I really need 4 individually placed and angled cameras or would 2 suffice one pointing forward and one pointing back? If you think so (I am leaning more towards this setup) that gives me 2 more cameras and my the native system handles rear camera and the front is an easy toggle switch so what else do I really need? Only install 2? Add one for the truck bed? (I am not keen drilling into or on the body of the vehicle that’s why underneath gives a huge amount of options. Not really sure where to mount or add the other 2?

p.s. the lights are a pod kit that gives option for 2 lights each wheel hub. I was considering 1 each hub and 1 light underneath and they are dimmable so I could turn a low white on and hopefully enhance the picture. Possibly 4 is too many but I will probably use sticky tape to try it out at night once cameras are in to really get an idea of illumination and the perfect balance. Lights are for fun so the side benefit is lighting area for cameras.
Thanks for reading this far

 

the only camera i'd really consider adding is a front grille camera so i can better see past the gigantic front end... other than that, i think the truck has overall decent visibility anyways.

 

Oh yes visibility to drive no problem, I am specifically talking about off roading and being able to look at the boulders your driving over or coming off of and seeing if the clearance is going to be ok. Othere than that it's kinda why I pose the question because that does seem to be it.

 

it's really best to wheel with friends, and have a spotter on obstacles like that. wheeling alone, and relying on a camera image that can easily be skewed by dirt/mud/debris seems to just be asking for problems.

 

I couldn’t agree more. I guess too me the cameras are extra data. Never meant to replace Spotters but extra data to consider. Here is an example I guess of how this could be used but not in an off road sense. If your deploying at a boat ramp you could get a really good look at the waterline and know exactly where to stop which is handy when your retrieving the boat.