wgander

Anybody have a rear view camera on their Express van that can see a trailer hitch for towing as well as the view behind on the road?
Since the license plate is mounted off center, on the right side cargo door, would it view the trailer hitch?
But a license plate mount would only view the front of my boat, I'd like to be able to see traffic behind me when towing the boat.
Is there one model that can do both? Even if I have to manually tilt it down to hook up, then tilt it back up for driving.

canucklehead

I use my rear view mirrors......just sayin....lol

SnlpeR

i have one mounted where the 3rd brake light is

the view is good.
but i have it adjusted to see how close i am to anything behind me.
i can probably see about 10ft behind me

but of course i can tilt it to see even further

klockw243

I was looking at replacement third brake lights with the built-in camera on eBay, but the prices vary wildly. Looks like $99 is the cheapest ones direct from China, then it goes up from there.

wgander

Can that camera view the trailer hitch?

klockw243

No idea about the trailer hitch (this is something I was also wondering). I did see an Explorer conversion listed on eBay today that had a custom license plate trim piece with the camera molded into the left side of the plastic, just under the handle.

wgander

I don't know if the 3rd brake light mount can see the trailer hitch.
The problem with the license plate mount is that the license plate is on the right side rear door; I don't know if it can see the trailer hitch.
The second problem with a license plate mount is that it wouldn't help me see when backing my boat into it's parking space. (A real nuisance at night.)

Jessica08

backup third brake light camera especially for Chevrolet Express Van/ GMC Savana Van. the cameras just built into third brake light ,just replacement to complete installation ,but the price is more expensive than conventional backup cameras. but for trailer hitch , it may not work well.if you want use a backup camera for both parking and trailer hitch ,there is a extended roof rear view cameras that can be working well for trailer hitch, but this camera need to drill hole on the roof to finish installation. the camera is from this vendor called vardsafe :
Brake Light Cameras Archives - Vardsafe

wgander

I tried a license plate frame camera but it didn't view the hitch. Bought a iBall. Camera has a strong magnetic base. Screen is on a flexible mount for the cigarette lighter. Works great in the parking lot, put the camera on the boat to back up when parking. Not suitable while driving.

Salto_jorge

I purchased a WIFI unit that lasted less than 7 days.

Attached the rear camera and its WIFI to the license plate light location. The camera was then located just between the letters/numbers on the plate. Was powered up when the main rear lights were on so I could see when not in reverse. Great view could see everything behind me.

Cut the wires to the drivers side lighterand hard wired the front wifi and monitor. The monitor has an on/off button but the WIFI did not, the instructions said you could leave the system on all the time. The WIFI up front burned, the monitor was ok.

Lesson is beware, of the power source if you get a WIFI system, they are not built as well as a wifi security camera that runs 24x7 for years.