Alright, so you’ve been driving around Hamilton for a while, maybe in a trusty Honda Fit or a Nissan X-Trail, weaving through all the road works on Kahikatea Drive or creeping past the roundabouts near Chartwell. One thing you start noticing, especially on those grey, foggy mornings or in the blinding summer glare down Victoria Street, is how tricky reversing is getting. Maybe that old Toyota Estima doesn’t have a reversing camera, and you’re tired of nerves every time you back towards the kerb outside your mate’s place in Te Awamutu or have to parallel park up in Morrinsville. Good news – fitting a reversing camera is easier and cheaper than most folks think, and it makes a real difference for everyday driving in NZ.
What’s a Car Reversing Camera, Really?
Basically, a reversing camera is a wee camera unit that we attach right at the back of your car, plus a display that goes at the front, either on your dash or built into your rear-view mirror. Some newer Skodas and Mazdas already have them as standard, but if you’re driving an older Suzuki Swift or one of those Volkswagen Passats – no worries, we can sort you out. Most systems show you what’s behind, sometimes with guidelines showing where your car’s headed, and a few flash up warnings if you’re getting close to something – real handy for squeezing into awkward parks near The Base or negotiating the potholes down Avalon Drive.
Why Bother with a Reversing Camera?
- Visibility is miles better, especially on those damp, misty winter mornings when everything’s fogged up and you can barely see the wheelie bins.
- Makes parallel parking a breeze, especially if you’re trying to fit a Corolla into a tight space on Victoria Street during lunch rush.
- Way safer dodging kids on scooters, pets, or that rogue recycling bin lurking behind you after collection day. More stats on safety over here.
- If you’ve got a sore neck or back, you don’t have to twist and peer around pillars every time you reverse – the camera sorts it for you.
- Straight-up reduces your risk of bumper dings and insurance headaches. If you do end up with a biff in Hillcrest or Cambridge, at least you know you did everything right!
What Sort of Displays Can You Get?
- Built-In Displays – Some cars, like the newer Kia Sportage or the flash Hyundai Ioniq, already have screens factory-fitted. If so, we can usually hook a new camera up to what you’ve got.
- Rear-View Mirror Displays – These display units clip right onto your mirror. A lot of people like these because you just flick your eyes up, same as you always would, instead of looking down at the dash. Super handy if you’re always juggling deliveries around Rototuna or rural runs out to Cambridge.
- Dash Mount Displays – Cheapest and easiest for most older cars. We’ve slapped these on everything from a Subaru Forester to a Daihatsu Terios for folks around Hamilton East. Only con is you need to look down to check the view, so takes a bit of getting used to.
- Multi-Function Display Systems – If you want the works, some units let you control your music, Bluetooth, navigation, and the reversing camera all in one. Usually found in newer rides, but there are a few solid aftermarket options too, which we’ve fitted for owners in Raglan and Tamahere.
Types of Cameras We Install
- Mini Butterfly Cameras – These are tiny, flexible cameras we tuck into the bumper with a small hole. You can adjust the angle so it gets a good view whether you’re dodging kerbs in Pukete or reversing up steep driveways in Flagstaff.
- Bumper Cameras – Same deal as above, just a bit chunkier. Good brands even have infrared for seeing through that pea-soup fog on winter mornings when you’re heading past Dinsdale. Tough little units, plenty of different models to suit most cars.
- Number Plate-Mounted Cameras – These pop right onto your number plate so you’re not drilling into any bodywork. We’ve mounted these on heaps of cars, from Mitsi Lancers to the odd Peugeot 308. Easy to install, easy to remove if you swap cars.
- Heavy Duty Cameras – If you’re running a Hiace van out to Ngaruawahia, or you haul a big Hyundai Staria, these rugged cameras are built to handle getting knocked about, stones kicked up, whatever the Waikato weather throws at them.
Need a Hand Picking a Reversing Camera?
If you’re not sure which system’s best, swing by the workshop or flick us a call. At Grimmer Motors, we fit reversing cameras to just about anything – Euro, Japanese, hybrids, you name it. One of our technicians can show you options on the spot, sized up for your own car and driving habits. Once you’re happy, we’ll get it fitted proper with all the wires tucked neatly away, so you’re ready for the next pothole, busy supermarket park, or that tricky driveway you keep missing after dark.