Ever since web cams were first invented it was only logical that the same technology would be making these little cameras do duty in other ways. CCTV security cameras were a logical next step, and nearly everybody has one in their cell phone these days as well.

When the techies finally manged to get down the cost of the LCD screen the idea of the Backup Camera was an easy step forward. The basic components of these devices are really quite cheap and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. The thing that makes some of them (Mostly the bigger RV Backup Camera models) so comparatively expensive is the fact that the camera and to a lesser extent the screen are comparatively fragile.

While they have no moving parts to get joggled by a rear end bump, they still are designed naturally to be out in all weathers. Its getting this balance of functionality and durability that makes the price vary so much. The golden rule always applies. You get what you pay for. A cheap backup camera system will do a good job but you may find it fall prey to the weather far sooner than a more expensive one that has no better technical statistics. Likewise sometimes the extra price you pay will be the manufacturer covering their ass by building in some “insurance” for the units that do fail within statutory guarantee guidelines.

But that aside, many of the models I have seen of RV backup camera are quite suitable for use on much smaller vehicles.  Indeed I marvel that they are not a lot more common than they apparently are.  Some are fitted with low light lenses and even equipped with IR LED Lights that will ensure safe maneuvering at night. Some even have a microphone in them so you can hear whats behind you as well..

That initially struck me as just plain silly. I mean what your likely to hear behind you is…

…your exhaust!

But then again why not? I don’t know what sort of vehicle might have. One of my most vivid memories of my time in a warehouse environment was of a 18wheel container truck backing ever so slowly up to a delivery bay. He miss judged his turn by only the merest fraction and clipped the wall of the building. The brick work shattered. I was shocked, all the work gang was shocked but the foreman explained that despite his moving at only a few mph his trucks mass had delivered a huge amount of energy to the brick wall.

Had that trucker had a backup camera system in place it might never have happened. Had it had a microphone maybe he would have heard us all yelling at him to turn tighter…  As it was there was a bunch of rudely awakened unloaders who suddenly realised that even their simple little job had a very real danger to it. Not to mention an independent haulage contractor whoes insurance premium no doubt went up after my then boss billed him for the repair work on the delivery dock!