rediculously small backup camera monitor

since this place can find everything.....

trying to find the smallest practical monitor for a backup camera in my silverado. the backup camera i put in my wifes car uses a small screen in the rearview mirror that i find more than acceptable size wise. in looking around for standalone monitors, im not finding anything that tiny. my goal is to put it where the rear AC controls were for the overhead console from a suburban. the space is about 2 inches tall by 6 inches wide (haven't bought the console yet, so don't have exact dimensions). ideally id find something about 3x4 or 3x5 overall outside dimensions to put there, and make a blanking plate for behind it to cover the hole and double as a mount. the smaller the better (within reason) so it doesn't hang down into line of sight. i don't want to spend a lot, either. 

briefly searching has yielded me not much. lots of things listed as 3.5 or 4.3 screens, but no data on actual outside dimensions. i did find a store that listed outside dimensions, but everything there was well into three digit prices. im hoping to stay under 30 bucks, as this is more of a backing up to trailers or parking in the garage that is marginally bigger than the truck aid. not an everyday use kind of thing. 

can you get one built into an aftermarket radio?

https://www.tadibrothers.com/products/7-monitor-with-wireless-120-backup-camera-economy-kit

Something like this work?


E: How hard would it be to get one of these to work in a different vehicle than the one they came in? 

What about one that connects to your phone?

This is the first one that shows up, but I bet there are cheaper options out there.

-Rob

Hmm I bet you could buy one of the rear view mirror monitors and strip the screen out for your project.

Google and YouTube search 3.5 TFT LCD.  3.5 is the screen diagonal measurement.  I have no first-hand experience with them but that looks like what you're looking for.

In reply to klb67 :

That looks like what im hunting. Anyone know how to hook them up for this kind of usage? Im not an electronic genius by any stretch of the imagination. 

How about just swapping a mirror from a car that has one in the mirror. There must be cars in the JY by now that have them. Suppose it could be a real challenge to do the wiring if the vehicle it is going in is not set up.

I have an aftermarket backup camera system with the monitor in the mirror. If you're interested, shoot me a PM

In reply to DrBoost :

I appreciate the offer. However, im trying to stay out of the rearview mirror option. Just can't get used to the one in the wifes van. Trips me out for some reason.

Good ol' Pythagoras and a bit of algebra can be your friends here.  If you know the diagonal measurement and the length-to-width ratio of the screen, you can figure out the length and width.  Assuming a 16:9 ratio (which I THINK is the current standard), my math gave me 1.72 by 3.04 inches for a 3.5 in. diagonal screen.

Looking at it the other way, once you know the dimensions of the available space you can easily figure out the relevant diagonal, but that number may not be the perfect shopping guide if the shape of the space doesn't match the shape of the screen.

Interested in this as well. My truck needs one, but I'd like to have a small suction cup screen next to my rearview mirror. 

Smallest one I've seen is in the rear view mirror. That's what the accessory guy usually installs at the place where I work..

https://www.amazon.com/3-5-Inch-TFT-LCD-Monitor-for-Car-Automobile/dp/B0045IIZKU/ref=cm_cr_srp_mb_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8

This one has decent reviews and one reviewer has photos of his lower right side  of dash install...

Edit for da hotlink:

I have been wanting a backup camera for my car but the Saab has an amp making a 2 din headunit not really a viable option. I don't really want a monitor on my dash either. The rearview mirror might work but I don't love that idea. 

Do they make rearview mirror screen thingers that actually replace the whole mirror rather than clip on to the stock one?

Derp, they do, here's one.

How about a head unit with a backup camera built in. I have seen some single DIN that have little screens in them.

How about a head unit with a backup camera built in. I have seen some single DIN that have little screens in them.

I have been looking at some dash cam websites. It looks like the clip on mirrors that sit over your stock mirror cause a lot of vibration issues. 

Y'al gave me an idea that i just mockup. 

Windshield mount the monitor. 

Fits perfectly between the headliner and rearview mirror with the included monitor! Meaning no more money spent! Doesnt obstruct vision, easy to see, and unobtrusive.  All the attributes that i needed.