When we consider modern safety camera systems on cars and trucks, most of us think about being able to see behind the vehicle when we’re parking or backing up. While those are two of the most common uses for video-based collision-avoidance systems, cameras can also make a difference in other situations where it’s important to see what’s around you. In this article, we’ll take a look at how a camera system can make your next trail adventure safer or your job more efficient.
Off-Road and Adventure Trail Camera Solutions
If you’ve ever gone off-roading in a lifted truck, then you know that many obstacles and challenges are better handled with a spotter. That’s someone outside your vehicle watching where each tire is and letting you know when to turn, speed up or slow down. What if you don’t have someone qualified to help you navigate a narrow opening between two trees or stay on a steep trail when all you see is the sky in front of you? A custom camera system is a great solution.
Imagine a pair of cameras mounted on your front bumper. Each camera would face downward to give you a clear image of where you’re headed and where each tire is relative to obstacles. You can see ruts, stumps, rocks, trees and, most importantly, the edge of the trail or path from the comfort of the driver’s seat.
There’s no limit to how a camera system can be configured. You may want to opt for a three-camera system, with one facing forward from the center of the grille or bumper and secondary cameras on the side-view mirrors or pods on the side of the vehicle facing forward to show your front wheels and the trail.
This Nissan includes a NAV-TV KIT564 universal camera mounted in the front grille to make maneuvering safer.
For camera systems such as this, you’ll want a monitor that can show more than one image at a time. Don’t confuse a monitor that has multiple inputs with a unit that can combine images to display them simultaneously. You don’t want to have to switch back and forth between a left and right wheel camera to ensure that you’re safe.
Displays like the IBEAM TE-7VS-4 can show images from up to four cameras simultaneously so you can see objects around your vehicle.
The PCAM-840-AHD is a compact, heavy-duty camera that includes a bar mount that makes it perfect for UTVs, tubular bumpers or roof racks.
Commercial Camera Applications
With a safety camera system, there are dozens of ways you can improve efficiency and safety while on the job. If you’re a tow truck operator, having a camera placed strategically on a wheel lift or the boom of a heavy wrecker would allow you to position your vehicle with greater accuracy and minimize the time you spend on the side of the road. The faster you can move a stranded vehicle, the less risk there is to your safety.
Tow truck operators can benefit from strategically placed cameras to help them align their rigs with the vehicle they need to clear.
Delivery Vehicles
We’ve all heard how backup cameras help prevent back-over accidents. For operators of cube vans or cargo vans, a high-mounted camera on the back of the truck can help you line your vehicle up with a loading dock. You’ll be able to park just close enough to unload boxes without having to step down to the ground.
The Echomaster PCAM-GM1 is a camera that’s integrated into a replacement third brake light assembly for 2003 through 2018 GMC Savana and Chevy Express vans.
If you’re transporting horses, you can easily monitor their health and comfort by adding a camera to the inside of the trailer. Many cameras are available with night vision capabilities, using infrared transmitters to let you see what’s going on without visible light.
The Rydeen CM-R1000P is a heavy-duty commercial camera that features 18 infrared LED emitters to let you see as far as 39 feet in absolute darkness.
If you’re having a camera system added to a trailer or fifth-wheel RV, a high-quality connection kit like this 250-8724-KIT from Rostra ensures reliable connectivity and an easy way to disconnect the system when the trailer isn’t in use.
If you operate a snow plow, having a camera monitoring a salter or on the light bar on the front of a truck will let you operate more efficiently. You’ll know when you’re low on salt and see when you’ve reached the edge of a parking lot. A backup camera system is also an excellent investment in these instances where the driver needs to reverse frequently to clear a parking lot.
See Safely in Absolute Darkness
Police and fire departments all around the country use thermal imaging cameras to help them find fugitives or locate otherwise invisible hotspots after a fire is extinguished. NAV-TV offers the FLIR PathFindIR II infrared camera system for automotive applications. If it’s foggy, raining or smoky, the image from the PathFindIR can help you stay on the right path. Any living object that enters the field of vision will be highlighted with a yellow box on the display screen, so you’ll know to avoid them, even if you can’t physically see them yet. There are options to integrate the camera image into a factory-installed infotainment system, or it can be used with an external display.
A thermal imaging camera system like this FLIR PathFindIR II will let you see people and animals in low-visibility conditions.
Upgrade Your Vehicle with a Custom Camera System Today
High-quality automotive-grade cameras are rugged and reliable. Your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer can design a bespoke system to let you see around your vehicle. Visit them and let them know how they can help you drive or work more efficiently.
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