Backup Radar Sensor self-install summary

[vertrkr]

I bought Guardian Alert doppler radar system for $299 here:
http://www.sensetech.com/guardianalert.htm

I got the Direct Connect 2 inch Trailer Hitch Mount Model 1601B. I installed the wiring when I did the camera so it was real easy to bring it in thru the back. If you want to do it this way follow the instructions for the camera install. Otherwise you'd have to run it under the body and come in thru the engine firewall.

The hitch mount was not a good fit as the spacing was off for their connectors into the Honda hitch reciever. Easily fixed by drilling new holes closer to the front on the sides which did not have any holes in them and I drilled closer to the front by 1 diameter of the existing holes, had to use the other side otherwise I would have ended up with a slot since the edge of the new hole would touch the older one. The piece I'm talking about is just the plastic piece that slides into the trailer hitch, really easy.

Then you have to tap into the reverse light wires for power. The reverse light green wire is hot and splices to the red wire. The orange wire is ground and splices to the black wire. Use a tap splice or solder directly which is what I did.

Not much else to it except running the wires.

Difference between radar & ultrasonic sonic sensors (like Honda offers). The radar system is not effected by wind, rain, dirt, works in all conditions unlike the ultrasonics. The radar also only detects moving objects so it won't go off unless you are moving or the object is moving towards you. This unit goes into full warning (constant audio tone) when you are 3 feet from an object. So then, the radar system isn't good if you are using it as a parking aid trying to squeeze out the last inch parallel parking. I don't know the minimum distance for the ultrasonics but they'd be better suited in this situation as a parking assistant. Read their promo material for more details on the differences.

I also have the rear camera so these two systems really work well together. I don't backup watching the camera screen, I only check it before I start out. If my radar sensor goes off then I'll stop and check the camera screen to see what's behind me. It's a great system and I have full confindence now when backing out I'll never hit anything unexpected. Specially since I live on the end of a culdesac and the there's about 12 kids always in the court playing games of sorts.

PS. the pic is a little deceiving making it look like it sticks out kinda far, it really only sticks out past the bumper by no more than an inch.

[JulesK]

Once again your courage to attempt is admirable. If my wife saw our truck taken apart like that, she would go through the roof.
My hat is off to you once again
Jules

[zero]

Good job once again, Vertrkr.

What did you do with the other back-up sensors that you had installed (the wireless ones)?

[bellteck]

Wow .. thats the first time Ive seen one of those. Does that thing pick up funnel clouds too? Thats pretty cool and small to boot. Amazing what they come up with these days !!

[vertrkr]

Thanks guys. I can only tell if it's going to storm behind me I removed the wireless ultrasonic backup sensors I had, it was a fun and educating $99 experiment. The only downside is I'm left with the holes in my bumper so I left just those sensors in place but removed all the wiring.

[HenryHonda]

Originally Posted by vertrkr

I bought Guardian Alert doppler radar system for $299 here:
http://www.sensetech.com/guardianalert.htm

I got the Direct Connect 2 inch Trailer Hitch Mount Model 1601B. I installed the wiring when I did the camera so it was real easy to bring it in thru the back. If you want to do it this way follow the instructions for the camera install. Otherwise you'd have to run it under the body and come in thru the engine firewall.

The hitch mount was not a good fit as the spacing was off for their connectors into the Honda hitch reciever. Easily fixed by drilling new holes closer to the front on the sides which did not have any holes in them and I drilled closer to the front by 1 diameter of the existing holes, had to use the other side otherwise I would have ended up with a slot since the edge of the new hole would touch the older one. The piece I'm talking about is just the plastic piece that slides into the trailer hitch, really easy.

Then you have to tap into the reverse light wires for power. The reverse light green wire is hot and splices to the red wire. The orange wire is ground and splices to the black wire. Use a tap splice or solder directly which is what I did.

Not much else to it except running the wires.

Difference between radar & ultrasonic sonic sensors (like Honda offers). The radar system is not effected by wind, rain, dirt, works in all conditions unlike the ultrasonics. The radar also only detects moving objects so it won't go off unless you are moving or the object is moving towards you. This unit goes into full warning (constant audio tone) when you are 3 feet from an object. So then, the radar system isn't good if you are using it as a parking aid trying to squeeze out the last inch parallel parking. I don't know the minimum distance for the ultrasonics but they'd be better suited in this situation as a parking assistant. Read their promo material for more details on the differences.

I also have the rear camera so these two systems really work well together. I don't backup watching the camera screen, I only check it before I start out. If my radar sensor goes off then I'll stop and check the camera screen to see what's behind me. It's a great system and I have full confindence now when backing out I'll never hit anything unexpected. Specially since I live on the end of a culdesac and the there's about 12 kids always in the court playing games of sorts.

PS. the pic is a little deceiving making it look like it sticks out kinda far, it really only sticks out past the bumper by no more than an inch.

Thanks vertrkr for the advice on the wireless sensors on the other thread.

Originally Posted by vertrkr
Don't bother with the wireless ones, I bought them and put countless hours into them only to rip them out. Too many false signals and sometimes didn't work when they were supposed to. I'd say they had about a 50% reliability. Stick with the Honda ones or the radar hitch or bumper mount ones:

I checked out the site for the doppler radar kind. Sounds like a better system. Any shortcomings crop up yet?

I also looked at the install instructions for the backup camera as you suggested above. I still have a problem about dismantling half the truck to run the wires into the cab.
I had an idea about running the wires inside the bed, along the underside of the RETRAX rails (ordering the cover soon) and mounting the Notification Display unit onto the bottom of the RETRAX cover canister near to the rear-sliding window.
Can you tell me how loud the warning buzzer is? Do you think I'd be able to hear it from inside the cab with or without opening the rear window?

[vertrkr]

Originally Posted by HenryHonda

Thanks vertrkr for the advice on the wireless sensors on the other thread.
I checked out the site for the doppler radar kind. Sounds like a better system. Any shortcomings crop up yet?
I also looked at the install instructions for the backup camera as you suggested above. I still have a problem about dismantling half the truck to run the wires into the cab.
I had an idea about running the wires inside the bed, along the underside of the RETRAX rails (ordering the cover soon) and mounting the Notification Display unit onto the bottom of the RETRAX cover canister near to the rear-sliding window.
Can you tell me how loud the warning buzzer is? Do you think I'd be able to hear it from inside the cab with or without opening the rear window?

No shortcomings other than the enherent differences bewteen radar & ultrasonic as noted above in the 1st message, works just as advertised with excellent coverage and not one false alarm.

The beep volume is not loud like Honda's sensors, just perfect I'd say, so you will have to mount it inside the cabin, I don't think you'd hear it if mounted outside.

Installation for this or the backup camera looks overwhelming but it's really not that difficult. It just takes a long time is all. If you follow the camera directions, my shortcut notes for the camera install (link below) and take your time you should not encounter much difficulty. I think the foglight install was the most difficult of all of them, this one took longer but was easier.
Backup Camera self-install summary

[ridgekat]

vertrkr,
Excellent and timely info. Just wrapping up my negotiations/purchase of RTL Nav. Your radar/video backup sensors look like the way to go.
I inquired about dealer "internal pricing" for video cam and they quoted $1,000 ... ouch ! $500 part and $500 labor. H&A is $358 for part only, so DIY can save $600 on video alone !

[DLRidgeline]

Vertrkr,

That looks like a great product!

Now that it has been a few months, how is the Guardian Alert Backup Warning Device working out?

Did you choose the Trailer Hitch version because it was easier to install? While doing one of your many installs, have you ever had the bumper skin off and do you think there is enough room for the Bumper Mount version (or maybe it could be installed in the tailgate)? I looked under the vehicle and there does not seem to be any room between the crash bar (I think it’s the crash bar) and the bumper skin. I’m not sure if it would work through the crash bar (the metal piece attached to the bumper) and the bumper skin. It would be nice to have the device hidden.

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[vertrkr]

Originally Posted by DLRidgeline

Vertrkr,
That looks like a great product!
Now that it has been a few months, how is the Guardian Alert Backup Warning Device working out?
Did you choose the Trailer Hitch version because it was easier to install? While doing one of your many installs, have you ever had the bumper skin off and do you think there is enough room for the Bumper Mount version (or maybe it could be installed in the tailgate)? I looked under the vehicle and there does not seem to be any room between the crash bar (I think it’s the crash bar) and the bumper skin. I’m not sure if it would work through the crash bar (the metal piece attached to the bumper) and the bumper skin. It would be nice to have the device hidden.
Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Still working great, I love it. I have had the bumper skin off for other things and it should not be a problem to install that version, you might have to make a small cut out of the styrafoam that sits in the bumper but it should be doable.

I choose the hitch mount for two reasons. Simplicity of the install and I tow my boat from time to time so I was afraid with the bumper install one would be going off all time if I towed as it would sense the trailer, there's no off button for the system although I suppose if you did tow it would be simple enough to pull apart the wire connector adapter.