X213 & Furrion rear camera mounting problem

[Candorson]

Has anyone else encountered the utter stupidity of the rear camera mount on the Jayfeather X213, wherein the rear rain gutter impedes the swivel function of the Furrion camera when you try to install it in the factory-drilled mounting holes?

[sturgissteele]

Does it look like this or something different?

[Candorson]

No~ the X213 has a rear slideout, so they put a metal gutter all the way across above the slideout, and the gutter is located just close enough to the factory mount for the dummy camera that when you try to install the real thing, the real camera is wedged into the gutter and can't pivot. If Jayco knew about this, the simple fix would be for the factory to mount their dummies an inch higher. There's plenty of room under the roof peak.

[sturgissteele]

Curious if the rear camera prep is for a different make of camera? Maybe the Furrion doesn't fit correctly?

[Candorson]

No~ It was a Furrion-labeled dummy designed to be replaced by a real Furrion camera. The dummy fits fine because it doesn't have the swiveling camera protruding out the bottom.
I figure the factory guys have just never tried installing a real Furrion camera in the mounts they drill for the dummies. If they did, the conflict with the gutter would be obvious.

[sturgissteele]

Well, that's a bummer. Can you remount it just high enough for proper clearance? Or notch out the gutter to accommodate?

[Candorson]

I considered mounting the real camera a little higher, but that's a problem because it forces you to also move the rubber mounting gasket higher, and that exposes the 3/4" hole for the power cable. Also, I'd have to drill 4 new mounting holes for screws in the exterior wall above the slideout, and who wants to do that?
So I started notching out the gutter with a dremel, but it then occurred to me that rainwater will be channeled out the new notch right onto the center of the slideout roof, which is not optimal either. So I got a little disgusted and posted here to see if anyone else had come up with better solutions than moving the mount or notching the gutter.
It's frustrating that we should even have to invent a work-around, just because Jayco didn't think to mount the dummy camera a tad higher. I figure everyone who owns an X213 will have the same problem if they try to mount the real camera.

You have any idea how to contact the factory directly to report the issue?

[Candorson]

Also, thanks very much for your thoughts, John.

[dmatt]

Mine is a 2021 x213 and the camera looks to be a little higher. I had them do it before I drove off the lot with it so I can't even say what it looked like before it was installed or what they did to install it.

[Candorson]

Wow~ yes, it looks like the factory mounted your dummy camera where it should be, about an inch higher than mine; the top of your real camera is almost touching your center running light.
Your X213 is 2 years newer than ours, so this means either the factory figured out the mounting problem before they built yours, or you just got lucky and a tech randomly mounted your dummy a little higher.
Thanks for your contribution!

[sturgissteele]

Originally Posted by Candorson

Also, thanks very much for your thoughts, John.

Sure thing. I would figure out how to just raise it up and maybe not too high as to expose the hole, if that's possible. Otherwise, raise it up and figure out how to plug/fill in the hole. As long as you screw into something that will hold the housing, I wouldn't worry about the new holes. Seal up the housing and it should be good. Just my 2 cents.

I had the same thought in regards to notching the gutter, too. I would avoid that.

[2021JayFlight28BHS]

HAve a 3d printer or know some one who does, could make a adapter plate than mounts where the old one was at the bottom but stretch it so you could mount the new one on top of it higher…. And then seal it all up and good to go.

[Dkastner]

Originally Posted by 2021JayFlight28BHS

HAve a 3d printer or know some one who does, could make a adapter plate than mounts where the old one was at the bottom but stretch it so you could mount the new one on top of it higher…. And then seal it all up and good to go.

This or a plate that pushes the camera out and away slightly from the wall. Just enough to allow the camera to swivel to the proper angle. Although, it is difficult to determine from the picture how wide that gutter is.

A good waterproof material for that would be the white plastic (Starboard) used in the marine industry. You can get varying thicknesses for what you need, is relatively easy to work with, use your existing holes, and the final result would not be that obvious.

Good luck!

[Candorson]

We're leaving for a cross country in a week, and I really wanted the new camera to be operable, so I bit the bullet, moved it up an inch, and caulked the 2 exposed screw holes and the 3/4” hole for the power cable (white silicone exterior-grade caulk). I'm not thrilled, but it's not too obvious, it's secure, it's adjustable, and it works great, both for a back-in (view extends all the way to bumper) and for a rear-view camera while driving (view extends from bumper back 20 yards or so.)
I considered installing an over-sized cover plate to cover all the holes, but the only material I had on hand was some old 1/8” plexiglass that was pretty scratched up, so decided just to go the "move up and caulk it" route.
Thanks for everyone's thoughts on this install challenge!

[Candorson]

I'll clean up the black rubber stains around the camera and top off the caulked holes as the caulk cures and shrinks. We'll see how it does over time.
But it sure would be nice to be able to notify Jayco of this functional issue...

[Candorson]

And I replaced Jayco's #8 steel mounting screws with #10 stainless steel screws~ the 8s were already pretty rusted, so I didn't want to reuse them.

[Candorson]

Also, I replaced Jayco's #8 steel mounting screws with #10 stainless steel screws. The 8s were already pretty corroded on the head end, and I figure the SS screws will be more durable. I plan to use SS screws for any exterior fastening I have to do, whether new or replacement...

[2021JayFlight28BHS]

Originally Posted by Candorson

I'll clean up the black rubber stains around the camera and top off the caulked holes as the caulk cures and shrinks. We'll see how it does over time.
But it sure would be nice to be able to notify Jayco of this functional issue...

Honestly that doesn’t look bad at all, a little rubbing compound on the black trim to get it all closer to the same color and on the white around the camera and I think it would be barely noticeable at all.

[Candorson]

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[sturgissteele]

Originally Posted by 2021JayFlight28BHS

Honestly that doesn’t look bad at all, a little rubbing compound on the black trim to get it all closer to the same color and on the white around the camera and I think it would be barely noticeable at all.

Agreed! Looks good! Little touch-up and it looks factory finished. Way to go!