I just installed the VR3 back-up camera and I wish I had done it much sooner. The viewing monitor gives off an excellent picture of the overall area behind the tailgate, from to 2 feet to 70 feet. The wiring was easy by connecting the camera to the back up light wiring. The monitor just needs any 12v/Ground connection with the signal going thru the air to an antenna within the monitor. The monitor kit also comes with a plug in for the cigar lighter. The accompanying monitor stand may stick out too far for some drivers. I cured this by making a custom stand out of thin hardware store metal and attaching it to the dash with velco (good ol' velcro). The monitor is buttoned so that the picture can be turned to any angle that the mounting leads to. The only flaw I found was that when direct sunlight covered the monitor the picture faded away. There was some slight screen static when some vehicle functions so caused, but very little.

Hint: Buy some slotless, hexless bolts to mount the camera to the rear license plate. This will keep the theives at bay.

www.vr-3.com

 

I installed one in my truck a few months ago and completely agree. The only odd thing I have found is that when I drive between 2 banks in town, I see the lobby of one of them on my monitor. I installed my monitor a little differently and people ask me if it was a factory installation. I took the mount and cut the bottom off of it, drilled a hole in it, ran a screw through through it to a plate I made and then mounted it over the hole where the "coin holder" (or electronic 4X4 switch) mounts. I ran the wire from there to the fuse box. I can uninstall it and leave no footprint. I mounted it with the velcro at first but the heat made it keep releasing from the dash.

 

osbornk that is where I was thinking this weekend about installing it. Did you remove the "coin holder?" Did you go through it?

 

Is there anyway you could show me where you mounted the LCD.
Thankyou

 

I installed one too a couple of weeks ago.
I agree for the money it’s a nice little set up and simple to install and use.
The truck is so big I was scared to back up without it..
On the truck I can see the ball perfect so hitching up the camper is a breeze.

I soldered a 4 way connector on to the camera and wrapped it up nice in some of that plastic ribbed tubing conduit about a foot and a half long.
I did this so that it can be plugged and unplugged so that it can be moved easily.
I can just plug it into the 4 way connector on the back of the truck or I can move it to the back of the camper by just undoing the two mooting screws and unplug the 4 way.
I mounted the monitor in the empty cuby at the bottom of the console under the radio.
I used a set of those Reese license plate screws that require a special wrench to undo. I hope this will turn off the thieves.

 

My monitor mount was peculiar because some time ago I pulled the coin holder out and inserted a tranny temp guage. Too, just to the right of the steering column I have my garage door opener. I put it there to stop thieves from reaching in what may be an accidental open window and taking the door opener off my sun visor. Again, opener mounted with good ol' velcro.

To mount the monitor in an easy to view position I took a piece of thin metal I purchased at a hardware store and bent it to shape so as to mate to the contour of the dash just under my tranny temp guage (old coin holder hole). I also shaped a small deck at the top on the same piece of metal. I then velcroed the metal to the dash, then velcroed the monitor to the small metal decking. This all works well as I tested my entry and exit from the cab and the area just to the left of the steering column is such that my knee would hit the monitor if it were mounted to the left of the steering column.

The mounting bracket that comes with the camera/monitor does not angle in any direction sufficiently to give good viewing and mate to a space on my dash. I did not like mounting the monitor atop my dash as that is another thing that would block my needed quick viewing when driving in tight traffic.

Realize, you only use the monitor when backing. Therefore, it is active only for a few minutes, and then only when vehicles, children, animals, etc. may be in the backing zone. If your wife is walking back there, there is an off/on switch on the monitor.

 

I removed the "coin holder" (the wire that goes to it is does nothing and I just let it drop). The monitor covers the hole and I have the "coin holder' so I can put it back in if I ever remove the camers. If I remove it, there will be no evidence it was ever there.

 

Did the coin holder just "pop" out?

 

Yep, just pull

 

I would love to see some pictures if you could

 

I had the VR-3 unit installed for 3 weeks after replacing one non functioning unit. I found the system too erratic( poor image quality and signal ). When it did work well it was useful. I also had problems with the power on/off switch. I would turn the unit off and find it on the next moring -- or I did not really turn it off or I pushed the button twice in error. The "on" red light I found was too dim.
I felt that the poor image quality posed a safety issue. I would lose the "image" of what was behind me at the start of backing up as the image would fade in and out. With out the unit I paid more attention to what was "around" the truck and behind it.

Personal expression based on my experience. Yours may be different, more positive.

I had mounted it in the upper left hand corner of the windshield. I found this a good out-of-the-way position and did not interfere with my field of vision. It did limit the sun visor mobility.

I had soldered all of the connections and used a piggy back fuse holder to add a spare/additional tap for the fuse panel.