Does the camera need the GD router?

kb0zke

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2021
Messages
981
The rear-view camera (aka backup camera) has only worked once or twice since we bought the trailer, and never while traveling. According to the dealership either the OneConnect or the Lippert app (they weren't sure which) will connect to the camera and we can use the phone as a monitor. Someone mentioned recently that maybe we should have purchased the GD router the dealership was selling. True?

The trailer will be out of warranty at the end of January, so we're planning a trip back to the dealership to have them take care of a few things. There is only one warranty item that is actually going to be worth the trip (four hours each way). Other than that item everything else I can either do myself or have the local mobile mechanic do for a lot less than what the trip would cost.

The camera, though, is a question. If it can't work without that router, I can buy a better camera system for a few hundred dollars. I suspect that what the dealership would install will be at least that much, and I still have the Furrion camera that will tie up a phone while traveling.
 
The rear-view camera (aka backup camera) has only worked once or twice since we bought the trailer, and never while traveling. According to the dealership either the OneConnect or the Lippert app (they weren't sure which) will connect to the camera and we can use the phone as a monitor. Someone mentioned recently that maybe we should have purchased the GD router the dealership was selling. True?

The trailer will be out of warranty at the end of January, so we're planning a trip back to the dealership to have them take care of a few things. There is only one warranty item that is actually going to be worth the trip (four hours each way). Other than that item everything else I can either do myself or have the local mobile mechanic do for a lot less than what the trip would cost.

The camera, though, is a question. If it can't work without that router, I can buy a better camera system for a few hundred dollars. I suspect that what the dealership would install will be at least that much, and I still have the Furrion camera that will tie up a phone while traveling.

Soooo, this was a huge thorn in my side. And I LOVE how you say that the dealer didn't even know which app controlled the camera. I got really angry with the dealer that I'd just paid a huge sum of money to for what is my HOME, who did not know how the back up camera worked. One person said there is a blue light that comes on, but the camera installed on my rig had no blue light. Every person at the dealer who came out had a different take on how to make it work and they were all wrong. The service manager climbed up on a ladder, unscrewed it and checked the wiring. They even replaced the camera. Still could not make it work. I left the dealer without the camera working. Not one person at the dealer knew how to make it work. Pathetic.

I did finally manage to get it to work, but it is a huge pain. You have to install the One Control app, open it and scan the scan code on the camera, which you need an 8 foot ladder to do. Then after going thru a bunch of other steps to set it up, now you have to use it.

First hitch it to your truck and plug it in. Start the truck and turn on the lights. The camera is powered by the running lights on the trailer. Now open your phone and turn on the app, then log out of any wifi you are logged on to, then log your phone onto the wifi signal coming directly from the camera. Then you try to back up, and you get an error saying that as a safety precaution this feature doesn't work while the vehicle is in motion and to prove it is not in motion you have to go into the trailer and turn on the overhead lights using the soft switch in the control panel. The camera signal will return to your phone app. Now get back in your truck and back up. You think I'm kidding? Try it!

I complained to Grand Design and made a big enough stink that they sent me a replacement camera with a 7" monitor for my truck. Bad news was they lied when they said they'd send it to me, they sent it to the dealer. I was going to have to go in just to have that installed. So I raised a bigger stink and they shipped it to me. I installed it myself.

Now the camera transmits directly to the monitor. I have completely given up on the app for the rear view camera. I have a cell phone holder mounted to my dash from Bullet Point and have the monitor clipped into one of the arms. I have a 12v outlet on the top of my dash so I just plug it in up top, no cord hanging down. Any time I want to see what is behind me I just turn on my lights. It makes backing the trailer so much easier, and I like being able to see behind me when driving.

Oh, and to answer your other question, no, you don't need the GD router. I have a WifiRaner Osprey which is a Winegard product. But the camera does NOT connect to the router. It connects directly to the app or video display.
 
Last edited:
Thanks. Yes, we've been into the app and sometimes have a working camera - as long as we are sitting still. Since I drive with the headlights on all the time, the camera is powered whenever the trailer is attached. I might try hooking up, and when we get the "in motion" error, go back into the trailer and turn on the ceiling lights. I assume that I don't have to leave them on while driving, but, even if I do, that's not a big deal.

We'll probably just get a different camera with a monitor and be satisfied with that.
 
Consider replacing the stock camera with the AMTIFO (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078PDH6Z8). It comes with its own monitor for under $100. Several folks on this forum have installed them.

I bought this exact camera earlier this year and have very happy with it. It's a plug and play and very clear screen. $175 CDN. on Amazon. I wouldn't hesisitate to recommend this camera.
 
I bought this exact camera earlier this year and have very happy with it. It's a plug and play and very clear screen. $175 CDN. on Amazon. I wouldn't hesisitate to recommend this camera.

I’ve got the same one, pretty happy with it. But it has stopped working a couple of times when we’ve been zipping down the interstate in driving rain. Once it dries out, it’s fine. I need to put a bit of silicone on the wiring where it enters the camera.
 
The rear-view camera (aka backup camera) has only worked once or twice since we bought the trailer, and never while traveling. According to the dealership either the OneConnect or the Lippert app (they weren't sure which) will connect to the camera and we can use the phone as a monitor. Someone mentioned recently that maybe we should have purchased the GD router the dealership was selling. True?

The trailer will be out of warranty at the end of January, so we're planning a trip back to the dealership to have them take care of a few things. There is only one warranty item that is actually going to be worth the trip (four hours each way). Other than that item everything else I can either do myself or have the local mobile mechanic do for a lot less than what the trip would cost.

The camera, though, is a question. If it can't work without that router, I can buy a better camera system for a few hundred dollars. I suspect that what the dealership would install will be at least that much, and I still have the Furrion camera that will tie up a phone while traveling.

First is your vehicle one of those that the headlamps have to be turned on for it to work? When I had a Keystone Montana and an F250 that was the case. But now with my GD Momentum and my F350, it's not. Not sure why some wired up and required the lights on and others dont. If it's not a lights on lights off issue, start with an antenna replacement on the trailer.

With the Keystone I had a similar problem with a backup camera and it turned out to be the antenna which is cheap on Amazon and easy to do. I would start there. I 'm pulling 42 ft and have never had an issue EXCEPT when I get into the bigger cities. Seems that the buildings and overpasses tend to cause some interruption.

My camera system has a seperate monitor that sits on the dash. I didn't want to have a system that uses a phone app because I use that for other things and wanted a dedicated, uninterrupted picture at all times because I rely on it heavily before I change lanes, even though I have side marker cameras too. (it's nice to know if someone is coming up behind you fast and might whip around about the same time I change lanes)
 
Last edited:
Yes, the headlights have to be on in order for the camera to work. I normally drive with the headlights turned on, so that's not the problem.

At this point, if the dealership can't/won't fix it I'll just buy what I want and install it myself.
 
I like the halo view RD 10. The viewing screen clips to your rear view mirror which is not used with a trailer anyway. Saves on dash space and intuitive to look there when backing. Includes a forward facing cam too. A great system
 
You shouldn't need any additional hardware if you have the Lippert factory installed camera that Reflections came with for a short while.

They do run through the same Compass Connect app as the Tire Linc and everything else.

Try deleting and reinstalling the app from the App Store to make sure you have the newest version.
 
No joy with making the existing camera work, so I'm going to get something different. I'm looking at this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XKSH8M5?ref=emc_s_m_5_i_n

Any thoughts? Remember that I have a Reflection 315 RLTS travel trailer. I believe that, at one point, there was some discussion about these cameras using the Furrion connection, so that I just replace the Furrion camera with this one. I still would have to have the transmitter mounted on the roof, I guess, no matter what.
 
The previous post was made at the dealer while waiting for them to finish the work. They are submitting a warranty claim to GD for the camera, since this apparently has been quite a problem and GD has been authorizing replacing the Furrion camera that pairs to a phone with a Furrion wireless camera that goes to an actual monitor on the dash. Nacho, the service manager, says that the Furrion camera systems are superior to the HaloVision ones because "you get what you pay for." I suspect that their prices are more than a little inflated, but we'll see. He is asking GD to approve the system with the 7" monitor, since that's the most expensive one. I think that monitor would be too big, and would prefer the mid-size one, about 5.5 or 6" instead.
 
A friens of mine has a LeeKooLuu. Fits the Furrion Sharkfin mount and in my opinion has a better picture than the Furrion. It does not have a microphone though.

+1 for the LeeKooLuu, works great, supports 4 camera's, can even DVR them to MMC memory card if you are wanting to record anything. for 100.00 I got 2 cameras and a 7in display, and plugs right in to the prep mount on my Momentum.
 
We stopped by Holiday World of Las Cruces on our way out of town. They were ready for us, and had a tech checking the camera while the service writer was on the phone to Furrion. A replacement system was immediately authorized. Even though Furrion was willing to give us the one with a 7" monitor we chose to take a 5" one, as even that is plenty big. We were on the road again by 1030. While that was happening another tech crawled under the trailer and got some measurements, I assume for the coroplast replacement.
 

Try RV LIFE Pro Free for 7 Days

  • New Ad-Free experience on this RV LIFE Community.
  • Plan the best RV Safe travel with RV LIFE Trip Wizard.
  • Navigate with our RV Safe GPS mobile app.
  • and much more...
Try RV LIFE Pro Today
Back
Top Bottom