IBall Hitch Camera - Anyone using one?

I'm a newby to driving a full size pickup truck (Man! They're making 'em big these days!) I'm also a newby to RVing. I had a camera put in the tailgate handle of my truck. First I wanted to be able to avoid backing over the neighbors kids, then I realised how good it is for hitching the trailer. It's taken practice but I've gotten better and better. I only have to get out once or twice for a GOAL - more if I'm backing at an angle. Since I'll be traveling alone I thought I could use all the help I could get.
I'm sorry I can't tell you what brand I got. I had it installed at an audio specialist shop. The view has the hitch ball at the bottom center of the screen and the ends of the bumper are just at the side edges of the screen. I can tell you that the camera doesn't pick up everything you could hit while backing in a really tight curve. You can also see if you're about to jackknife the trailer while trying to park it.

rustycopperballs wrote:
Had a camera (still do) don't use it, it's more of a pain, I hook up by myself, wife is at work when I hook up. A while ago I painted a center mark on the inside of my tailgate. once hooked up painted a mark by rear D/S tire, when trailer is parked I have it marked on either side with paint marks, when I back it in that's where it goes, so when i hook up, everything matches up takes me about 5 minutes. this is only useful if you park in the same place all the time, got this tip on here a few years ago. hope this helps Rusty

I agree the camera is a pain. I made one myself with a magnet and all and used it a little but hated it...

I use this now and love it easy to setup and works like a charm.

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/hitch-ball-finder/32410

what about that gadget that has a V plate and it just moves the hitch over the ball?
bumpy

I'm gonna chime in here as a first time travel trailer owner.

I'm a city slicker and after many many years of tent camping we sprung for a 21' BH but honestly it was a pain to hitch up. A buddy of mine told me about switch hitch / let me use his for a trip!!! Wow talk about a marriage saver.

My wife and I stopped fighting because she had no clue how to guide me back, would hide to much or I could not see her arm moving.. Either was we used the SH on one trip and I was hooked.

I asked my buddy why he had it he had sold his TT years ago - said he uses it for more than backing up, he checks is gutters / roof / said with the IR he sets it up on Halloween to see what kids mess with his stuff.

Now side note - it's just a camera and it is expensive but makes it a lot easier - not full proof but I love mine !!

My experience:

After *8* attempts backing up my TV to my TT, even using those "magnetic ball" things - which didn't work at all - I bit the bullet and got an iBall.

I got everything hooked up the first try!

I'm sold...
(Shrug)

I love my electronic gadgets, so I'd love to have one of those cameras. But I just can't seem to convince myself to spend $150-$200 for one....

Although the hitch cameras are great, I have had great luck with a simple mirror that only costs under $40. Only have to get out of the truck one time to check on the height.
Barney

And I do use the iBall - love it. I used to have the two yellow poles, which worked well, but this is so much better.

Not a camera, but I've used one of these backup mirrors for several years. It hooks on my pickup's tailgate (it includes suction cups for use on a back window, too) and gives you a view of your hitch as you're backing up to your trailer. I can back right up to my trailer on one attempt, as long as I raised it up high enough to begin with.

I was lucky to get a hitch camera pre-installed in my 2011 F150 Supercrew. I say lucky because I really didn't want it but it came with the truck that had all the other features and colour I wanted. I'm really glad I got it. It has 4 levels of zoom and guidelines.

I really impressed the guys at the RV dealer when I backed right to the hitch the first time we picked up our new trailer.