Dual camera setup advice

[Area13]

Looking for 2 cameras, 1 screen I can toggle back and forth from. Is this a normal option? One for my hitch, I guess license plate frame when hitching up the boat and the TT, one for the back of the TT.

Price and good reliable picture are important. What' a good brand/setup for this without breaking the bank? I plan on installing, wired or wireless? Thanks for any feedback.

[Drew510]

Mine is a license plate frame - Backup Camera. You can adjust the camera up and down to your liking. Night vision is great.

It has a perfect view of the hitch ball. I tell people it's saved my marriage and I am not sure that I am that far off!

[JFNM]

I am using this eRapta backup camera kit. It comes with one display, two side mount cameras and two forward/back cameras. I've not used the two side cameras. The screen allows you to select any of the four cameras or combine them (in various fashions). I'm sure it is not the highest quality option but it is doing an acceptable job for me.

Edit: Maybe worth noting. I recently mounted one of the cameras to my roof so I could see how close I am to tree branches and such. It is not a perfect solution but better than crossing my fingers and hoping! This is not a good photo but it gives you the idea.

[westend]

I'm contemplating a two camera setup.
From the threads on this Forum, I will be direct wiring the cameras, choosing to bypass the current wireless problems. There are multiple posts about wireless cameras losing signal and not operating correctly. Getting wires pulled to the back of the trailer and to the back of my truck is a fairly easy thing, for me.

The nice thing is that this video hardware is becoming increasingly inexpensive.

[Area13]

Thanks for all of the replies, tons of great info.


I'm almost leaning towards 2 cameras-2 monitors at this point. I really want a quality hitch cam since it seems i'm on my own hitching up the boat and probably the TT too. Besides going on weekend beer runs, my truck is pretty much a 3-4k mile a year tow truck!

I see this one is pretty cheap, has 3 license plate cameras and an amazing view while hitching it up. It has good reviews also. Its got a small display I could mount permanently next to my steering column. It is also hard wired, so should be reliable.
https://www.etrailer.com/Backup-Cameras-and-Alarms/Hopkins/HM50002.html

Now for the TT-Not sure I want to deal with wires between it and the TV. I may bite the bullet and get a quality wireless unit for it. Something along the lines of one of these units, budget blown though. Still doing research, maybe a cheaper quality wireless unit out there, Suggestions??
https://www.furrion.com/store/cameras/vehicle-observation/vision-1-wireless-backup-system-with-mount...


I wish Furion mad a license plate secondary camera for this unit, they don't. Only the big standard camera that has no good place to mount. That being said, I really like the first camera (Hopkins) that is made for hitching up. I may get it first, then save up for a quality wireless for the back of the TT.

[handye9]

crazyro wrote:

handye9 wrote:
I've found it just as easy to plug in the cameras as needed. I wired the truck with a plug in the bed, made a bracket (with a camera mounted) that slips onto the license plate, and wired the trailer with camera on the rear. I figured the hitching camera was not much use, once the trailer was hooked up, and less distraction if there isn't a second view to be looking at.

My monitor (like this ) is capable of switching between two video inputs, but, I don't use that function.

I've thought about doing the same thing instead of buying an extra camera and running another set of wires into cab. Do you mind posting pics of your license plate mount? That is my biggest hangup at this time - being able to grab camera from rear of TV and onto rear of TT.

My system is not set up for multiple cameras operating at same time. The monitor is capable, but, I only ran wires to run one camera. Figured switching camera views would be to distracting while driving. I have a camera permanently mounted on back of the trailer (it is wired separately) and one mounted on a piece of aluminum (bent to sit on the bumper and catches the license plate just enough to keep from falling off) for hitching up. Once the trailer coupler is sitting on the ball, I unplug that camera and put it away. Then plug in wires from the trailer camera. The hitch up camera needed to be portable because, I also used it in bed of the truck for loading a truck camper, and for hitching up a utility trailer with the TC loaded up. Had a camera permanently mounted on the TC also.

I wired the truck, from cab to tailgate, with power and video cable that I plug or unplug whichever camera I need to operate.

Sorry, don't have picture of the hitch up camera.

[Drew510]

I have a Pioneer AVH-X5800BHS. It has two camera inputs. Truth be told, I have not yet wired up a second camera. Still trying to figure out how I want to do it. I don't know that wireless is good enough yet. It seems like most of them max out at about 20 feet. I might just run a cable to the back of the trailer and zip tie it to the 7 way plug.

[TurnThePage]

I just unplugged the license plate camera, at the plate, and plugged in the trailer camera at that same location.

[skipro]

Anyone tried a wireless system? I'm thinking of a magnetic mount to use for hitching.

[crazyro]

handye9 wrote:
I've found it just as easy to plug in the cameras as needed. I wired the truck with a plug in the bed, made a bracket (with a camera mounted) that slips onto the license plate, and wired the trailer with camera on the rear. I figured the hitching camera was not much use, once the trailer was hooked up, and less distraction if there isn't a second view to be looking at.

My monitor (like this ) is capable of switching between two video inputs, but, I don't use that function.

I've thought about doing the same thing instead of buying an extra camera and running another set of wires into cab. Do you mind posting pics of your license plate mount? That is my biggest hangup at this time - being able to grab camera from rear of TV and onto rear of TT.

[handye9]

I've found it just as easy to plug in the cameras as needed. I wired the truck with a plug in the bed, made a bracket (with a camera mounted) that slips onto the license plate, and wired the trailer with camera on the rear. I figured the hitching camera was not much use, once the trailer was hooked up, and less distraction if there isn't a second view to be looking at.

My monitor (like this ) is capable of switching between two video inputs, but, I don't use that function.

[crazyro]

I wanted something for my TV and got this setup.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009RIK3EO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Great price, very easy to set up, ran wire along frame and into cab. I am planning on buying another camera (https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-PLCM18BC-License-Distance-Waterproof/dp/B0079R2MH6) and some extension cords (RCA/phono and DC for power) and running it to the trailer. This screen has two inputs and allows you to switch between them very easily (even includes small remote). Here are a couple of pics of my setup. I've since moved the screen a little and mounted it better.







I'll post pics once I have the trailer camera done.