Caravan or Trailer and Rearview Cameras: Beware of Interferences

Attaching a trailer or a caravan can significantly disrupt the operation of rear sensors, making them virtually unusable.

Increasingly common, rear sensors are now an essential part of safety and comfort equipment. However, their effectiveness can be seriously compromised as soon as a trailer or a caravan is connected to the vehicle.

The principle of these systems is based on ultrasonic sensors integrated into the rear bumper. Their mission: to detect any nearby obstacles during maneuvers. However, a trailer is precisely a permanent obstacle located just a few centimeters from the sensors. The result: as soon as the reverse gear is engaged, the sensors emit a continuous sound signal. An annoying alarm that does not differentiate between the trailer and an actual danger.

Manufacturers Anticipate

In this context, several situations arise depending on the level of equipment of the vehicle. On the simpler models, it is often necessary to manually deactivate the sensors via a dedicated function. The problem is that this function is often well hidden! Fortunately, newer vehicles equipped with a factory or approved towing harness generally benefit from automatic deactivation of the rear sensors. This mode activates as soon as the trailer’s electrical connector is connected.

The rear camera, when available, then becomes a valuable ally for continuing to maneuver safely. Some more advanced models even offer specific driving aids for towing, such as steering or parking assistance.

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However, beware of electronically incompatible towing installations: they can prevent any interaction with driving assistance systems, rendering their use unpredictable and dangerous.

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