Back up camera for hitching to my TT ??

[Dakota98]

When my ATV is loaded in back of the truck, I can't see anything. I'm usually alone when attempting hook up jumping back and forth trying to get distance & center.

I am totally clueless as to what camera I would need. IE: viewing angles etc.

I do not want to spend much, since this is only needed occasionally, 10-15 times each year.

What do you have ? Does it work well ? & where did you get it ?

[wintersun]

The camera is the easy part. First you need to decide on the display and its size and where you want to have it mounted in the cab.

A good source for components and kits and information is at www.tadibrothers.com

Auto security and stereo shops can do the wiring for you.

I wanted to avoid two displays on my dash so I went with the Garmin RV 760LMT GPS with its 7 inch display that includes a BC-20 backup camera. Not a super high resolution camera but good enough for me to backup to a trailer tongue with my truck. At $500 on Amazon for the kit it is a very good deal.

[Dakota98]

:):) One Happy Camper :):)

Just completed the install for the YADA backup camera. It's better than expected. I haven't actually tried it yet, but will soon. The image is great & angle view appears to be dead on. I mounted the monitor high up centered above the steering wheel, I wanted to try it here first. The camera rotates vertically up & down in 3-positions & locks into place, I have it in the bottom position in the pic. The last two photos I just added. I discovered that when I measure 231/2" from the ground to the "lip" of the tongue it works best. I painted the "lip" of the TT tongue & you can see in the last photo that the ball now lines up perfectly with the graph guide line when directly under the tongue.

[Dakota98]

The responses so far seem to indicate that camera location is a key to good viewing. Having said that, one poster indicated that a "high" position is best looking down, and others direct line of sight, as the "iBall" shows.
I think the "point of view" may also be influenced by the location of the ball & camera in relationship to the rear bumper, depth perception, etc.
DutchmenSport has a high mounted camera & the ball is far below & very much back because of his step type bumper. Maybe my observation makes sense & maybe it doesn't.
Last night, I purchased a Yada, model # Bt30681F-1 ($54.95 delivered) on Ebay. They seem to have fairly high reviews & good customer support. It is a "Refurb" but that doesn't bother me & the seller offers a 30 day return policy. It is primarily a License plate mount, but comes with an optional mount, if needed.
The top of my license plate bracket is almost dead even with the top of the ball. I'm going to install the camera & re-post in a few days with my conclusions.

[2012Coleman]

Another option is the iBall Camera. This works great and no longer necesary for the wife to help hook up. I upgraded from the item rockhillmanor posted - it worked OK and is inexpensive. You can get them at Harbor Freight as well. I now use it to tell me how much to jack up the TT - expand it to the top of the ball and then set it on the ground ni front of the TT receiver and juack up untill there is enough clearance for the ball to go under. You really don't need to see the ball if you place the camera directly over it.

[IndyCamp]

I have the iBall camera and it works great.

http://www.iballhitchcam.com/products/iball-wireless-trailer-hitch-camera?CAPCID=37621756289&cadevic...


I still get out to check (no more than two times so far), but for $150, I'm pleased with it.

[rockhillmanor]

I train horses and when my new clients buy there first horse trailer BP or goose neck I buy them these. Magnetic and works for all trailer situations Works like a charm for backing up especially if you are driving solo.

I found the back up cameras don't provide a real good view of the hitch because it is below the bumper.

Cheap, easy to use, no installation required!:C

_

http://magnet-tool.com/magnetic_hitch_aligner.html

All the camping stores now carry them also.

[Wrace]

dahkota wrote:
swift hitch

Can be used in other places, too.

This is the one I use as well, purchased it from costco about 5 years ago. I tow 3 different trailers with my truck and use my trucks front hitch to park some of the trailers as well. I just stick the camera on the hood or the tailgate and can easily see well enough to hook up.

Drawbacks include you have to keep the batteries charged on the camera (plug into cig lighter to charge). The receiver can be plugged into the cig lighter and of course stays in the cab so having a dead battery is not an issue when you go to use the system.

[DutchmenSport]

Dakota98 wrote:
... Where is the camera mounted on your truck ?

[RoyB]

My new 2010 Ford F150 came with the OEM BACK UP camera...

This one is mounted in lowed part of the FORD EMBLEM on the rear tail gate...

The round black object shown here at the bottom of the Ford Emblem


The camera screen is the FORD information panel and shows a nice large view. The View also has one foot markers on it and sounds a increasing BEEP the closer it gets to the rear of the truck and finally goes to a solid TONE when closer than the ONE FOOT marker. The rear view also has a built-in center line. I can see my trailer mounted ball in the view and can watch it disappear under the trailer hitch on the first try. It is one time back-up for me everytime. Could not be any easier... This camera only comes on when you go to REVERSE.




The camera lens also has night vision and is very sensitive to external lights. Your RED STOPS lights really show what is behind you at night. The only drawback is at night when backing up the camera will flare up big time when a bright light hits the lens...


I probably would have never got a rear view camera but I use this one all the time. Probably at the point I can't do anything without one now haha...

Roy Ken

[tvman44]

I also have the Swift Hitch and really like it, I also use it to back the 5er into the big carport to get as close as possible to the rear wall. 🙂

[Heap64]

I use a cheap ebay license plate mount backup camera that is wired to my Edge monitor that I have on my truck. They work great together. You can pickup cheap wired backup camera's and monitors online that would work well.

[dhust]

spoon059 wrote:

I would suggest you get one that mounts up higher and looks DOWN upon the hitch ball. My FIL has the iball camera and seems to like it. Its magnetic, so he slaps it on the tailgate of the truck or the jack of the trailer and looks down upon it. Hitches up easy.

The iball is wireless and magnetic. Really easy to toss on the truck when you need it and throw it in the glove box when you don't. I've been meaning to borrow it from him and try putting it on the back of the camper so I can see behind me when backing into a site. Haven't remembered to ask yet.

That's what I have, the IBall camera. I slap it on the back of the TV when hitching up, and I slap it on the bumper of the TT when backing into a site. The only issue is that depending on the angle I have to turn when backing up, sometimes the signal comes and goes when it has to send through the TT. I don't know if it is distance, or just interference with the big hunk of metal/wood/plastic/etc that is causing the issues. I still can see good enough to not back into a tree (or campground utilities).

[Dakota98]

DutchmenSport wrote:
My new truck (2014 model) came with a built in back-up camera. The image appears in the rear view mirror when shifting in reverse. At first I thought, "Wahoo!" when I learned it came with a back-up camera.

Then I started using it. Well, I got the truck in April, and its now August, and we've been on several trips this year, some long, some short. And you know what?????.....

I still can't hitch up by using the back-up camera! The angle of the camera throws off the view between the trailer tongue coupler and the ball of the hitch. When they are directly in place, the back-up camera makes them look like they are still a foot apart. You'd think I'd finally get use it and just like a Kentucky riffle, would use "Kentucky Windage" to adjust my sites! But even with that, the more I try, the more I'm "off".

So, although the camera is nice to get a feel for what's back there, as far as hitching?.... I still get out a dozen times and check! No shortcuts!

Unfortunately, I cannot move the camera to a more usable location. Hope whatever you end up with has a better angle.

Where is the camera mounted on your truck ?

[spoon059]

I have an aftermarket camera that mounts the same way the OEM one would on the Tundra. It is AMAZING. I can be surgical when I back up. Hooking up to the trailer is very simple. I was at the lake 3 years ago and 2 old guys were watching me back up to the hitch, they were STUNNED when I backed up perfectly the first time.

After I dropped the trailer and was putting on the WDH bars one of them came up to me. They were both retired truckers and were amazed at how good this "kid" backed up. I wanted to just take the compliment and drive away, but I had to fess up to the camera.

I would suggest you get one that mounts up higher and looks DOWN upon the hitch ball. My FIL has the iball camera and seems to like it. Its magnetic, so he slaps it on the tailgate of the truck or the jack of the trailer and looks down upon it. Hitches up easy.

The iball is wireless and magnetic. Really easy to toss on the truck when you need it and throw it in the glove box when you don't. I've been meaning to borrow it from him and try putting it on the back of the camper so I can see behind me when backing into a site. Haven't remembered to ask yet.