Anybody with aftermarket backup sensor experience?
 

Today, driving my F250 in the parking lot at work, I realized how quickly a Honda Civic can disppear in my rearview, while pulling into a spot. This has me wanting to pick up an aftermarket backup sensor, so I don't have to worry about nailing anybody with the big boat of a truck. Does anybody have any experience with these that can reccomend a good, inexpensive one?

Ebay has a bunch of these, but the price is throwing me off, it just seems too cheap to be good:

Car LED Display 4 Parking Sensor Reverse backup Radar:eBay Motors (item 280382685088 end time Aug-10-09 18:26:38 PDT)

I found this in my beginning searches online, which looks to be pretty good. It is wireless and can be mounted in the rear window:
Audio LCD w/4 sensors - Backup Sensors Designed for those customers who want an audible alert with an entry level LCD Display

ttt

IMO those are crap. If you're driving something as big as a F250,
you need to bite the bullet and get a "BACK UP CAMERA."
About 3 years ago I was visiting my daughter and grand kids.
When I went to leave I almost backed into my then 6 y.o. grandson.
He was playing behind my ranger and I never saw him.
Fortunately his older brother screamed at him and I instantly hit the brakes.
I went out the next day and got a camera.
I think you can get one for about $150 or so. Maybe less.

Yeah, I agree with Nick. A back up camera is a great idea. I dont have one myself yet, but Ive seen them work and I plan on one. Ive seen a few out there for 150ish.

150 for safety = good investment.

Thanks guys for the input.

Nick, did you have backup sensors when you had that experience? I'm not entirely sold on the idea of having a backup camera, and that might help to change it.

It would be nice to have a camera I think. VR3 looks like a good kit.

http://roadmasterusa.com/index.php?page=back-up-cameras

You wont be 100% safe against hitting something, my friend has a backup camera that goes to his headunit and he still backed into something lol. I forget who it is but some company makes one of those steps that you put in your hitch and it has the reverse sensors built in so you dont have to drill your bumper, might wanna look into that.

I like the fact that it connects right to your liscense plate, that works out well. The screen's not too big, which is nice too. Just have to find a decent price, or something similar.

I'm aware of never being 100% safe... I just don't want to be paying for the hood of anybody's lil' car more than I have to. :biggrin: As for the steps that connect to the hitch, I'll pass on those -back up camera or not, I can't stand them.

I've never had reverse sensors in any of my vehicles.
I got the idea for the camera from my roommates 35' motor home.
My understanding is they give off an audible tone when you get close to something.
The closer you get the louder or faster the tone.
Not sure how effective they would be with small children or animals.
Also not sure how you could back into something with a camera like Korey says.
Unless you're not watching it. In which case why bother to get one.

I will say I was somewhat skeptical as to how effective it would be in low light conditions.
(at night etc.) I'm happy to report that my camera amplifies the light from any source
(backup lights, street lamps, etc.) so the visibility is actually better.

I found this these at Crutchfield.
Audiovox ACA250 Rear-view System Wireless rear-view camera and 2.5" monitor at Crutchfield.com

or
Boyo VTL400 Rear-view Camera Add safety and convenience to your vehicle at Crutchfield.com

I decided to go for the extra bling of chrome and got this one.
Boyo License Plate Camera License plate frame with built-in rear-view camera at Crutchfield.com
I have a HU with a pop-up video screen. So this Camera works great with it.
If you don't have a video screen you're probably better off with the first one.

I'm sure you could go on Ebay or some place else and beat those prices.

Ha, I never thought about blingin' out a back up camera. Good info Nick, thanks. As to your inexperience with the back up sensors, my father has them on his Chrystler Town and Country minivan, I've only driven it a few times, however they do work pretty well. There is a beep that changes with the distance of any object in your path, as well as red/yellow/green lights that change with the distance.

The main reason I like the back up cameras right now is for the lack of drilling into the bumper as well as the added visuals.

The backup cameras can be nice. I work at a university and a custodian backed into someone so our mechanic has started installing backup camera's on all of the campus vehicles. The are all the V3M camera listed above. Personally, I would not suggest that camera, it is a good price, but they just don't work all that well. My father has two different cameras on his Ice Cream Truck which help tremendously with all the little kids around, and the best camera he has so far is this one. It has a clear image, mounts on the license plate, is a good price, and the LCD screen is great for other uses as well because it has RCA inputs.

You can get the cameras for under 50 on ebay too. Crutchfield is a rip-off, don't buy anything from there. I wouldn't go with VR3 stuff either, their normally low low low end products. Boyo makes one of the best back-up cameras out there but you'll have to pay for it though and you'll also need a full double din headunit to use it.

Since all my kids are grown and on their own, and the EX decided she needed "her own space" years ago.
My truck has become my "spoiled child." :biggthump I spend more money on it than I will ever admit. :silly:

So I saw within the cost of that blinged out back up camera. :biglaugh: