Tested: Parksafe rearview camera

Rear view cameras, big screen dashboard monitors, towing stability aids, lane change warning and blind-spot beeps and even caravan parking assistants; many, if not all, are fitted to the latest crew cab utes and top-spec SUVs that manufacturers lend us go tow the latest caravans.

However the majority of Australians tow with much less help, either with older vehicles that don’t have this technology, or with a more recent, mid-spec model, rather than shell out more for the option-laden top version of any range.

I’m typical here. In late 2007 I purchased a new Land-Rover Discovery TDV6 SE mid-range model, rather than pay somewhat more for the top luxury HSE that included a rear view camera linked to a centre console monitor.

Over the years, the lack of a rear view camera to help hitching became more irritating. My wife does an excellent guiding job, but as she doesn’t tow regularly, her instructions to me when reversing a large tandem axle caravan were sometimes lost in translation.

As I’m towing different caravans or campers all the time – including my own – and with up to four different types of couplings – I rarely nail it first go without an experienced towing person to guide me.

This means I’m reversing ‘blind’, using my rear parking sensors to get as close as I dare, then jumping in and out up to half a dozen times until I get the pin or ball right below the coupling. My rear bumper bears witness to a number of times when I’ve got it wrong!

So, I recently decided to bite the bullet and purchase an after-market rear view camera focussed on my coupling.

Because I didn’t want to go to the expense of fitting an aftermarket dashboard monitor, or a new rear vision mirror, I elected to fit a clip-on replacement electronic mirror wired to a small camera located adjacent to my rear hatch release, pointing down at my coupling.

Burg Automotive Design specialises in imported technology products for cars, utes, motorhomes, 4WDs and bikes and because I didn’t want to tamper with my Landy’s original spec or incur a major fitting cost, they recommended the following: a Parksafe 5-inch clip-on Mirror Monitor (RRP $200), Parksafe camera with adjustable bracket (RRP $99), and extension lead (RRP $99). Total RRP: $319

I then took these items to their recommended local fitter, Coastal Air Conditioning on the Gold Coast, where I paid $165. for the 90 minutes it took to have it all installed. It would have been lessuwith a typical crew cab ute, but my Disco took more time to run the wires through neatly.

The Parksafe system works much the same as the rear view cameras fitted as standard to many 4WD utes. When you engage reverse gear with the ignition on, the centre third of the mirror becomes a camera that focuses on my coupling, but also displays several metres to the vehicle’s rear. So, I can also see toys, kids, rocks and trees behind me.

While the camera is on, the remaining non-camera sectors of the mirror still function as a regular mirror, while once out of reverse, the mirror functions exactly like the Land-Rover’s slightly smaller original mirror that it's clipped to.

The colour and brightness of the camera image can be adjusted by two simple mirror controls and for a total installed RRP cost of $484, including a three-year local warranty, I’ve joined the 21st century!

Now, my wife is out of a towing guidance job, something that works just fine for both of us...