Chevrolet Colorado Surround View Camera Installation & Review

Tackling the Blind Spots of a Pickup Truck

The Chevrolet Colorado, a long-bed pickup truck, can present parking challenges due to its considerable length. The blind spots, particularly to the rear sides and front, are quite extensive. Many Colorado owners considering a Surround View Camera system are looking to resolve this exact issue. A clear 360-degree top-down view, creating an illusion of seeing your vehicle from above, can significantly reduce parking anxiety. This review shares the experience of an owner who recently had a full Surround View Camera tune-up at Today's Car Gangnam.

Why a Surround View Camera is Essential for the Colorado

Pickup trucks, with their extended rear ends, often make it difficult to properly assess the rear through mirrors, especially during lane changes. Navigating tight parking spaces or narrow alleys becomes particularly challenging with standard cameras. This owner, after purchasing a used Colorado, experienced significant stress during initial parking attempts. Their primary goal was to find a solution for blind spots, and research led them to Surround View Camera systems as the most effective answer.

While Surround View Camera installations vary by vehicle, larger trucks like the Colorado have more blind spots, making the precise placement of all four cameras crucial. Accurate camera positioning ensures seamless stitching and natural-looking video feeds.

What Does a Surround View Camera Installation Involve?

The process begins with mounting four SUPER HD cameras, equipped with Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) technology, at the front, rear, left, and right sides of the vehicle. WDR technology automatically balances bright and dark areas, ensuring clear footage even in strong sunlight or overcast conditions.

Following precise camera placement, a calibration pattern is displayed on the monitor, and a manual calibration process is performed. This intricate step involves adjusting the horizontal and vertical angles of each camera to the nearest degree to ensure the four video feeds connect accurately. Once calibration is complete, a clear top-down view of the vehicle's surroundings is established.

In this specific Colorado installation, the owner wished to retain the factory reverse camera. The original camera housing was utilized, with a new lens integrated after a precise hole was drilled, preserving the factory aesthetic. Though it appears to be the original camera, it now functions as a high-resolution sensor linked to the Surround View system.

As per the customer's request, the original audio system was kept intact. A separate 7-inch portable monitor with HDMI input was added and positioned within the driver's natural line of sight for convenience.

The Clarity of 1080P Surround View: Versatile Viewing Modes

The S-VUE Surround View system offers more than just the standard top-down view. It includes front, rear, left, right, and panoramic viewing modes. For parking, the top-down view provides an overall perspective of the vehicle's surroundings. During lane changes, switching to a side view allows for easy monitoring of adjacent lanes. The driver can select the most appropriate angle based on the driving situation.

The 1080P resolution ensures exceptionally clear video, making vehicle license plates and parking lines easily discernible. A convenient feature is its integration with the turn signals; activating a blinker automatically switches the display to the corresponding side view. This significantly simplifies blind spot checks when changing lanes.

The Hidden Feature: Surround View as a Dashcam

Beyond parking assistance, this system includes security features. It can simultaneously record video from all four cameras, providing continuous recording even when the vehicle is parked.