Reversing Camera on a D4 (moved from FAQ thread)

[Robertjbruce]

Hi,

Is a reversing camera necessary for a D4. Should I go factory (at huge cost) or aftermarket. Thanks (and apologies if this is in the wrong spot I am a newby)

[Bushwanderer]

Hi Robert,
Welcome!

A reversing camera is NEVER necessary, but can be very useful. As for cost, that is a personal decision.

I am in the process of fitting a D4 reversing camera (which fits to the tailgate handle) to my D3. There are other choices available, but I like the neatness of this approach.

Best Wishes,
Peter

[eddomak]

I have a D4 on order without it since $5000 was just too much to spend - what are the options?

a) Any way of fitting a camera that outputs to the non-touchscreen factory screen?

b) Anyone with experience of a good aftermarket one? I see a lot on eBay, but am wary of the quality, and also where to mount it?

c) Anyway of having the screen switch on/off in relation to reverse gear? I know the camera is hooked up to the reverse light, but as for the screen - do you need to switch it on every time manually and/or face a blue screen?

[sniegy]

I have seen the Hema Navigator 5 with an aftermarket camera fitted to a vehicle without the SatNav. The Hema Nav 5 allows for an aftermarket camera to be plugged in, the fitment was neat & all worked very well.
The Hema unit just suction cupped to the W/screen & was removable if required.
Cheers HTH.

[B-A-S]

The reverse camera when i got my car was about 225GBP, i thought the cost was very minimal for what i got.

The picture is very clear and you can actually just see the tow ball so when putting trailer on it does help.

Pete

[3toes]

Was at the NEC for the caravan show late last week. Land Rover had a display with the D4 demonstrating a new reversing camera. This camera which is to be available later this year projects two lines on the internal rear view mirror: one line to show where the car is going, the other line the trailer. The lines move in real time with the movement of the vehicle. By projecting where both the vehicle and trailer were going to go it appeared to make reversing a trailer a lot easier for those who only do this occasionally.

Also on offer was a more basic system called Trailer air. This involved a camera on the back which also showed some lines on the internal rear view mirror to make make hitching up easier. Included in this was a tyre pressure monitoring system for both car and trailer which also displayed on the internal rear view mirror.

Price was not mentioned

[camel_landy]

The reversing camera on the D4 is more than "Just a camera"... Especially with the trailer assist programs.

When maneuvering, it'll overlay a double line, which is the predicted path of your wheels. i.e. when you turn the steering wheel, the lines on the display move to show you where you're going to go.

It's also brilliant for hitching up trailers. Select a couple of options and the double line turns into a single line with a red dot for a target. The red dot is where your tow ball is and the single line is the predicted path for the tow ball. Turn the wheel, line up the line with the tow hitch and BINGO! As you reverse, not only will it guide you in but it can also zoom in on the hitch for pin-point accuracy.

Finally, with the trailer hitched, tell the car the dimensions of the trailer (which can be saved as profiles) and when you pop it into reverse, not only will it show you where the car is going to go but it'll show you the path for the trailer too.

I've had it described to me as a "Marriage saver"...:D

M

[djhampson]

I am in the process of fitting a D4 reversing camera (which fits to the tailgate handle) to my D3. There are other choices available, but I like the neatness of this approach.

Where did you get the D4 reversing camera from and what was the rough cost?

Cheers,

[Bushwanderer]

Hi dj,
I suggest that you see the below link:
DISCO3.CO.UK • View topic - Fitting D4 tailgate handle with camera (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic43124.html)

I bought the handle (with camera) from Simon (Slimer). He was great to deal with.

The cost, including delivery, was about 260GBP (I also bought the Fakra connector from him).

[rmp]

Heartily second all that by CL.

It has robbed me of a favourite pastime, watching married couples work together to hook trailers up.

[MartyJB]

Hi Guys,
I'm close to making a decision on buying a D4, which will be my first LR incidentally. (The decision was between the D4 or a LC200, but I'm heavily swayed to the D4 SE)
I'm struggling with this decision on the reversing camera, it was initially on the must have list of accessories until I found out you need to have the Sat Nav first at about $4.4k then another $1.4k for the camera. Sat Nav was never on the must have list, especially at $4.4k, although I realise it's more than just Sat Nav.
I have a trailer, so the camera would be handy for that, but the orginal reason was I have a young family as do a number of our neighbours. The dealer said the reversing sensors will pick up kids and their bikes, but I'm not sure it will instill the same confidence of a blank screen.
I'm interested in others thoughts on the value of the Sat Nav including it's other control functions etc??
Thanks
Marty

[camel_landy]

Heartily second all that by CL.

It has robbed me of a favourite pastime, watching married couples work together to hook trailers up.

When the neighbours had a caravan, it was worth setting up deck chairs to watch them reverse it onto the drive... :D

BTW - If you feel it's FAQ material, go for it. ;)

M

[rmp]

The best bit is when the bloke (and it's always the bloke driving) needs 5000rpm to move the car one metre.

You can settle back and open the popcorn at that time.

[Graeme]

I installed a reversing camera on my previous vehicle and was keen to fit one to the D4 asap. However the rear parking sensors seem to work well in tight shoping area carparks so whilst I will still install a camera, the urgency is no longer there. I have a cheap 7" nav/Ozi system that accepts the reversing camera from my old vehicle although I will install a smaller more discrete one on the D4.

[mildred]

Hi,

Is a reversing camera necessary for a D4. Should I go factory (at huge cost) or aftermarket. Thanks (and apologies if this is in the wrong spot I am a newby)

Fred Hollows would be proud of you, turn you head, open eyes wide as possible, then.... look in both mirrors, then... if you cant see over the headrest....get out and look for small objects....ie: children, feral defender drivers and federal members of government. Then....

[Bushwanderer]

Hi rmp,
I understand where you are coming from.:)

When recently in a c'van park in QLD, there was an elderly couple trying to hitch up their 'van. They became increasingly frustrated with each other and, somehow, he (the driver) ended up at about a 45deg angle to the 'van. At this stage, I went to help, got him to line up axially on the 'van and reverse. This he did and, with my directions, ended up laterally lined up but about 60mm axially offset. The wife didn't believe it when I picked up the draw bar and dropped it onto the ball.

I'm glad that I wasn't at their next site. ;) (IIRC they had come from WA.)

Best Wishes,
Peter

[gghaggis]

Hi rmp,

I'm glad that I wasn't at their next site. ;) (IIRC they had come from WA.)

Best Wishes,
Peter

Oi!! Some of us Sandgropers can actually tell our left from left, er, right (the other one) whilst still remembering to breathe, you know.

Cheers,

Gordon

[ADMIRAL]

....and some are clever at covering their inability !! A nearby resident had painted a curved line on the road , running back into his drive. The idea was to pull up with the rh caravan wheel adjacent to the line, and reverse slowly back, keeping the wheel alongside the line. Worked a treat, and without any help...until the council made him remove it. Not such a dumb idea though !!
Keep your eye out for coloured curved lines on roads outside parked caravans.

[Bushwanderer]

Hi Gordon,
I'm sure that's true (even though I have yet to see the evidence :twisted:).

The funny thing was that this couple had made it all the way across the Nullabor and to QLD. The poor old bugger kept saying "this is the first time I've had any problem.":D:D:D

Best Wishes,
Peter

[sheckster]

Hi dj,
I suggest that you see the below link:
DISCO3.CO.UK • View topic - Fitting D4 tailgate handle with camera (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic43124.html)

I bought the handle (with camera) from Simon (Slimer). He was great to deal with.

The cost, including delivery, was about 260GBP (I also bought the Fakra connector from him).

hi there,

how did you go about installing the handle (with camera), was it straight forward?, and do you have factory satnav?, I don't have satnav but would like to do same as you and hopefully it'll still project to a generic screen, would that work?

thanks!

[mowog]

Our last car was a Territory Ghia with the reversing camera. We got very use to using to using it. We drove a couple of D4 demo's one with and one without the camera.

We felt blind without the camera on the D4 and the wife wanted a camera on the D4 as much as I did. I do have a bur under the saddle over the combined sat nav option. We did get a discount on the car that was greater than the combined option cost anyway.

The camera is great for getting the tow ball right under the hitch.

[Disco4SE]

I had my auto elec fit an after market reversing camera to my D4. The camera is mounted near the finger pull on the rear tailgate and the monitor clips over the existing rear view mirror. The monitor acts as a rear view mirror and when reverse is selected, the monitor splits in two. I use mine for hooking on trailers and checking if kids toys are in garage etc when reversing. I am very happy with the set up

[camel_landy]

I had my auto elec fit an after market reversing camera to my D4. The camera is mounted near the finger pull on the rear tailgate and the monitor clips over the existing rear view mirror. The monitor acts as a rear view mirror and when reverse is selected, the monitor splits in two. I use mine for hooking on trailers and checking if kids toys are in garage etc when reversing. I am very happy with the set up

Yeah, but don't you really wish you had the fully integrated system that shows you where you're going to go as well as guiding you onto the tow hitch?? :angel:

M

[eddomak]

I had my auto elec fit an after market reversing camera to my D4. The camera is mounted near the finger pull on the rear tailgate and the monitor clips over the existing rear view mirror. The monitor acts as a rear view mirror and when reverse is selected, the monitor splits in two. I use mine for hooking on trailers and checking if kids toys are in garage etc when reversing. I am very happy with the set up

Would you mind sharing how much your setup cost? I have got various quotes for the same thing and it varied a lot.

Thanks!

[Disco4SE]

Hi Eddomak, I had a heap of things done at once by my auto elec and received the one invoice for all. However, after making a quick call to him, he tells me that it cost around $600 - $650 fitted. The unit itself was around $450.00 and it took a couple of hours to fit.