Parking sensors recommendations/advice

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Wavril

Member
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89
Hi folks,
Now that I'm living in a more urban area, I've realised that I'm absolutely frigging terrible at parallel parking my Defender 110! (Td5, 2002)
Whilst I continue to practice the art of not crashing into stuff, I'm thinking parking sensors would really help.
So I would very much appreciate some recommendations/advice from your good selves.
As I understand it, the metal bumpers on the Defender rule out lots of products.
Also, I'm doubting that my little cordless drill could cope with drilling through the bumpers (or are they quite easy to drill through?) So no-drill options would be favourite.
And of course...
Cheap! (Or as cheap as possible.) There seems to be a lot on eBay but don't know which would be best for my purposes.
Many thanks in advance.
& Best wishes
Wayne
 
hmmm I agree that would be slightly less than useful sensors! Crashing into raindrops not being my immediate concern.:D
 
A mirror at the back would be betterer if you are worried about scuffing your bumpers .
Or you could just learn to park !
 
I put a reverse cameria on my 110. Ran (when had someone run) the cable inside the chassis in split tubing and mounded the camera in one of the cut outs in the bumper right by the tow bar.
 
Mcclegend said:
I put a reverse cameria on my 110. Ran (when had someone run) the cable inside the chassis in split tubing and mounded the camera in one of the cut outs in the bumper right by the tow bar.
Click to expand...

I would advise a camera too. I fitted one to my 110, not in the bumper but on the rear of the roof. I use a Nissan rear view camera connected to a 4” display mounted next to the radio. It works well when parking, but not so good when hitching the trailer on as the spare blocks the view.
 
fucmeitsandy said:
A mirror at the back would be betterer if you are worried about scuffing your bumpers .
Or you could just learn to park !
Click to expand...
Haha yes I will certainly carry on practicing!
A universal tailgate mirror would be good (like some camper vans have) but no universal ones seem to exist unless you're in India (which I'm not). I could maybe adapt one for a specific van (like Suzuki carry) but don't want to buy sthng that won't work. Good idea tho.
 
Mcclegend said:
I put a reverse cameria on my 110. Ran (when had someone run) the cable inside the chassis in split tubing and mounded the camera in one of the cut outs in the bumper right by the tow bar.
Click to expand...
I'll look into cameras. Is the wiring complicated?
 
mick 1986 said:
I would advise a camera too. I fitted one to my 110, not in the bumper but on the rear of the roof. I use a Nissan rear view camera connected to a 4” display mounted next to the radio. It works well when parking, but not so good when hitching the trailer on as the spare blocks the view.
Click to expand...
Seems like a camera might be the way forward....or rather backward....
 
Wavril said:
I'll look into cameras. Is the wiring complicated?
Click to expand...

Mine is powered by the reverse light circuit. I have one wire that goes to reverse light live, one wire to the earth point in the rear corner. These switched power wires go to the reverse camera and screen. The camera also has a 2 wire feed to the screen. Both pairs of wires are in a “single” wire that is a 6 core signal cable designed for CCTV systems.
 
mick 1986 said:
Mine is powered by the reverse light circuit. I have one wire that goes to reverse light live, one wire to the earth point in the rear corner. These switched power wires go to the reverse camera and screen. The camera also has a 2 wire feed to the screen. Both pairs of wires are in a “single” wire that is a 6 core signal cable designed for CCTV systems.
Click to expand...
Hmm doesn't sound too complex - so really just a connection to make to the reverse light positive & an earth?
 
Wavril said:
Hmm doesn't sound too complex - so really just a connection to make to the reverse light positive & an earth?
Click to expand...

Yes. If you get a wireless system, there will need to be connections at both ends, but wired can be done at one end.
 
Mcclegend said:
Click to expand...

Yay! Really handy. Looks eminently do-able....even by me! Now to shopping! Thanks loads.

Actually looks like many are cheaper than cost of a tailgate mirror and defo less that paying for sensors to be fitted (don't fancy doing for myself the bumper drilling or more complicated wiring of sensors... I'll just have to practice with cones judging front angles!.)
Thanks again to everyone.
 
Last edited:
Just two final questions folks, if you would be so kind.....
1) sorry if this is a silly question, but does it matter which way up the camera is mounted? I.e, bracket uppermost or bracket at bottom? In other words, will the device auto-rotate the image, no matter the orientation of the camera?
And
2) what's the easiest place to access the wiring to the reversing light? Everything seems to be encased by body panels or awkwardly behind stuff!
Thanks folks.
 
Wavril said:
Just two final questions folks, if you would be so kind.....
1) sorry if this is a silly question, but does it matter which way up the camera is mounted? I.e, bracket uppermost or bracket at bottom? In other words, will the device auto-rotate the image, no matter the orientation of the camera?
And
2) what's the easiest place to access the wiring to the reversing light? Everything seems to be encased by body panels or awkwardly behind stuff!
Thanks folks.
Click to expand...

My camera can mount either way up, so it didn’t make a difference to my setup. My monitor is mounted upside down, but has a ball joint on the back, so can rotate 180degrees. Yours may not be the same.

Wiring is best located on the drivers side, inside the rear tub, behind the small triangle shaped body panel.
 
My camera did not rotate or anything it had to make sure it was the right way up before fitting, mine had actually had top embossed on the camera. I would test it all works before you start fitting.
 
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