Bongo Fury

Anyone got any thoughts on whether reversing camera/parking sensors are a good idea? Which ones do you recommend?

Woody4567 wrote:Anyone got any thoughts on whether reversing camera/parking sensors are a good idea? Which ones do you recommend?

Well worth fitting sensors. Wish I'd done it before I crunched the back end 3 times. All too common sadly

Not sure reversing camera essential - £14 wired sensors off eBay have proved simple and effective for me.

We have both fitted and they both have there good points and poor points which together give you a much better result!
The sensors will often detect ANY obstacle like long grass, whilst the camera will let you see what it is your backing into, but sometimes the camera won't show you the fine detail which the sensors will react to. Try to mount the camera high up by the high brake lights, that way the camera looks down and gives you a "plan" view of the area behind, if you mount it low down, then there is more mud spray and sometimes it can be very difficult to judge the distance as no stereoscopic vision thru the single view point.

g8dhe wrote:We have both fitted and they both have there good points and poor points which together give you a much better result!
The sensors will often detect ANY obstacle like long grass, whilst the camera will let you see what it is your backing into, but sometimes the camera won't show you the fine detail which the sensors will react to. Try to mount the camera high up by the high brake lights, that way the camera looks down and gives you a "plan" view of the area behind, if you mount it low down, then there is more mud spray and sometimes it can be very difficult to judge the distance as no stereoscopic vision thru the single view point.

I use my reversing mirror as my webcam - cheap and cheerful. The real value of sensors is they warn that something might be there, so you reverse with caution rather than blunder unawares into something hard, if you get me.

I have them on my work bus but never rely on them. However, if it beeps I double check visualy.

Can't hurt used as a 'Back Up'.

Had them for three years and they are invaluable. Like a sat nav though, don't rely on them 100%. I managed to crack my rear bumper on an obstacle that shouldn't have been there according to the sensors!

I have them on the company car, front and back and love them. Makes parking a breeze. Yes it takes away some of the skill, blah blah blah but their sooooo easy!

I haven't put them on the Bongo, as the rear mirror suffices, however hooking up when towing would be made easier with a camera, as it's too small in the mirror to see properly.

I am part way through fitting a camera to my Bongo.
It works well .
This is the one I bought
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18-IR-Reversi ... 231b583470

I have fitted the camera just under the high level brake light, screens going above the interior mirror once I have finished a small console to house it

I have the cheap eBay sensors - one of the first things I added. Dead easy to do and makes reversing so much more comfortable.

Quite like the idea of a camera, but don't like the idea of a huge screen taking up loads of room and only being used 0.01% of the time.

winchman wrote:I am part way through fitting a camera to my Bongo.
It works well .
This is the one I bought
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18-IR-Reversi ... 231b583470

I have fitted the camera just under the high level brake light, screens going above the interior mirror once I have finished a small console to house it

Jeepus, how do they make them so cheap?!

I have a spare pair of sensors that I have been considering fitting to Bongo.
But I guess I would have to disable the existing *reverse warning bleeper so
as not to confuse with sounds from sensor - *is this easy to do

mellon man wrote:I have a spare pair of sensors that I have been considering fitting to Bongo.
But I guess I would have to disable the existing *reverse warning bleeper so
as not to confuse with sounds from sensor - *is this easy to do

I decided not to disable my reversing bleeper. Having them both going off was distracting at first but I soon adjusted. I'd like to know if I've engaged reverse by accident, before I accelerate hard into something behind me. Conversely, the reverse sensors don't sound until/unless you are near something. So you only get multiple sounds when it matters.

Cameras on, roof consoles made its rough but it works. I have a7" screen mounted above the rear view mirror
Cameras excellent, I still use the rear view mirror for reversing in general but parking's much easier with the camera as I can easily see the rear bumper position even it the pitch black as it has infra red leds

Photos of roof consol are required

I will take some tomorrow, its a prototype so its rough but up till now its easy to fit, just remove the cab light and place a strip of wood in the hole, the console screws to the wood so no drilling required, the cab light re locates in the console.
The final one may also house a volt meter.
To be honest I am waiting till my mates back from holiday as he has a proper saw bench thingy so we can make one that's more square with no gaps at the edges so it can be vinyl wrapped or carpeted.
It was made from some scrap wood I found in a shopping trolley on the Ikea car park and just cut out with a jig saw.