Replacing The Backup Camera Monitor On My Class A Motorhome

It started first when we were out west in the desert heat.

Sometimes I like to keep my backup camera monitor on so that I can keep a passing eye on my Honda CR-V being towed back there while driving. Without the monitor, I can’t even tell if I have a vehicle back there. And….well, is it still back there or did it fall off? 😉

Anyway, I just like to know what’s happening around my rig – and that includes being able to see out the back.

But, this time I was traveling and my screen started flickering. REALLY badly.

It’d start off light, but then over time it would get so bad that I couldn’t see anything.

The only solution would be to turn it off and let it sit for awhile. Then later turn it back on and it would be OK for a little while. But, in time, it would repeat the whole thing.

I ended up just adapting. I would keep it off and only turn it on periodically to check on the car back there. And, of course, when I’m in reverse gear backing into a campsite, the monitor turns on automatically.

The monitor got worse, though. Now the screen looks bleached even when it is working. The image is faded and has a white haze over the whole thing.

Clearly… the original backup monitor in my motorhome is failing and needs to be replaced.

The original backup monitor is made by Voyager. It is a Voyager VOM-78. It is an old monochrome 7″ monitor that uses a CRT (like an old-school computer monitor or TV).

They don’t make the VOM-78 anymore. All the new monitors are now using LCD technology.

So, the questions are:

• What monitor can I use that will fit in roughly the same space as the original VOM-78 and look good in my RV’s dashboard?
• Will the cables for my old equipment work with new equipment?

There are quite a few wireless and portable systems out there, but I wanted something that would go right into the dashboard as a direct replacement.

Plus, I figure if I stick with Voyager, I’d have an easier time with compatibility with the cables and the rear camera. These things tend to be rather proprietary.

My search quickly led me to RVCams.com.

Tim at RVCams has a nice selection of backup camera systems. Not only that, he has done most of the work to ensure compatibility with older systems. He makes it really easy to find compatible, direct replacements for your rear backup monitors on older motorhomes like mine.

Plus, aside from camera and monitors, he sells cables and adapters to make most any system work.

At one point, I considered an off-brand monitor that I had found on ETrailer. I didn’t pull the trigger on it and eventually they removed it from their site. Plus, I’m sure I would have had to probably deal with RVCams anyway in order to find the right adapter to make that off-brand monitor work with my Voyager camera.

So, I decided to simply buy the whole kit from RVCams. Tim sells a plug-and-play replacement: Kit to Install 7″ Voyager LCD in Place of VOM78, VOM7SN, AOM70, and AOM78.

I ordered it on Sunday and had the kit in my hand by Wednesday morning.