The revival of this thread is timely for me as I’ve got a towbar mounted bike rack on the way and I’m trying to get my head around fitting a camera to it - I find parking the van enough of a task without having to worry about the extra 2’ or so that the rack adds to it’s length whilst also disabling the parking sensors! My T6 has a tailgate.
My thoughts were to install just the sort of camera / mirror combo described above with the camera fixed to the cycle rack and connected when the rack is on but disconnected (obviously!) when it’s not. I’ve no problem with the sender being left in an accessible place in the van (but probably still hidden) for the camera to be plugged in when needed and also thought that I would be OK just closing the tailgate on the cable from camera to transmitter when it’s used. Does the camera take it’s power from the transmitter or does it need to be wired separately? I ask as I think the lights on the rack are sealed units with a socket for the wiring loom. I had an idea that the mirror might also be easy to connect / disconnect (12V socket?) so that it could be removed altogether when the rack wasn’t fitted.
If I can find one, I’ll pay a proper auto electrician to do the work but wanted to know whether what I’m think is practical before talking to somebody.
Am I being an idiot with these ideas? I would be most grateful for any comments and advice. Thanks in advance.
My thoughts were to install just the sort of camera / mirror combo described above with the camera fixed to the cycle rack and connected when the rack is on but disconnected (obviously!) when it’s not. I’ve no problem with the sender being left in an accessible place in the van (but probably still hidden) for the camera to be plugged in when needed and also thought that I would be OK just closing the tailgate on the cable from camera to transmitter when it’s used. Does the camera take it’s power from the transmitter or does it need to be wired separately? I ask as I think the lights on the rack are sealed units with a socket for the wiring loom. I had an idea that the mirror might also be easy to connect / disconnect (12V socket?) so that it could be removed altogether when the rack wasn’t fitted.
If I can find one, I’ll pay a proper auto electrician to do the work but wanted to know whether what I’m think is practical before talking to somebody.
Am I being an idiot with these ideas? I would be most grateful for any comments and advice. Thanks in advance.