Towing w/out rear camera

[billtex]

Occasionaly tow our 17' Classic Whaler, or a Boy Scout trailer behind the TC.
Currently do NOT have a camera back there.
Am not comfortable not being able to see what is going on...
Are there many others towing behind a TC that do not have a camera?

If you previously did not, and have added one, was it worthwhile?

I am thinking of the iball

Anyone using one of these?

Tx, B

[toptentech]

billtex wrote:
Occasionaly tow our 17' Classic Whaler, or a Boy Scout trailer behind the TC.
Currently do NOT have a camera back there.
Am not comfortable not being able to see what is going on...
Are there many others towing behind a TC that do not have a camera?

If you previously did not, and have added one, was it worthwhile?

I am thinking of the ***Link Removed***

Anyone using one of these?

Tx, B

Yes iball camera is good here you can read ***Link Removed***

[Simplygib]

starcraft69 wrote:
I never use a cam and have been towing a boat for years. I dont need another thing to worry about or look at. I try to focus on whats up ahead. I try to keep up on all maint. So i dont have to worry as much. I have debated getting one but always go with "If it ain't broke dont fix it"

Off topic - Starcraft69, how long have you had that boat and how do you like it? I had an 18' aluminum Starcraft many years ago and loved it. Best runabout I ever owned. Lightweight, very responsive and roomy. It was an open bow with a 100hp Johnson on it, a 1970 model I believe. Did a lot of water skiing, fishing and camping with that thing. Still kicking myself for selling it (and that was 30 years ago).

[Ski_Pro_3]

You can use your iphone with a bluetooth camera. That way you don't need cellular service to view the camera. You could install a local wifi hub and use that as a local internet connection for the signal too.

[Homeless_by_Cho]

I seen several comments about using the iphone. I am only guessing but I think that you would have to have cell service in the area to use the iphone as a monitor. Am I correct? If so, then the backup camera won't work in remote area where I need it the most for blind hooking up to the trailer.

Please respond to my guess.

LeRoy

[billtex]

JoeChiOhki wrote:

billtex wrote:
Occasionaly tow our 17' Classic Whaler, or a Boy Scout trailer behind the TC.
Currently do NOT have a camera back there.
Am not comfortable not being able to see what is going on...
Are there many others towing behind a TC that do not have a camera?

If you previously did not, and have added one, was it worthwhile?

I am thinking of the iball

Anyone using one of these?

Tx, B

Towed a couple different trailers over the years behind the camper, no camera.

With the little 4x8 chuckwagon, I called it faith-based-towing, because you pretty much couldn't see it while driving unless you jackknifed.

Faith based...too funny!
That is exactly my concern. Even with tow mirrors, the Scout trailer or the Whaler can't really be seen...they are both narrow.
I have towed all over the country (we still tow our Airstream all over...) but having something you can't see behind you is a bit...unnerving...IMO.
Any way...seems to be a toss-up...some do/some don't.
I wish that iphone camera got better reviews...I would like to go that route. Hate to have another gadget taking up space in the truck.

Thanks all for the feedback.

Bill

[starcraft69]

I never use a cam and have been towing a boat for years. I dont need another thing to worry about or look at. I try to focus on whats up ahead. I try to keep up on all maint. So i dont have to worry as much. I have debated getting one but always go with "If it ain't broke dont fix it"

[rlb8s]

I just ordered this one -

Voyager Digital Wireless 7" Backup Camera System

It is on sale for $540 thru RVCAMS.com. Amazon has it on sale for $996.48.

[JoeChiOhki]

billtex wrote:
Occasionaly tow our 17' Classic Whaler, or a Boy Scout trailer behind the TC.
Currently do NOT have a camera back there.
Am not comfortable not being able to see what is going on...
Are there many others towing behind a TC that do not have a camera?

If you previously did not, and have added one, was it worthwhile?

I am thinking of the iball

Anyone using one of these?

Tx, B

Towed a couple different trailers over the years behind the camper, no camera.

With the little 4x8 chuckwagon, I called it faith-based-towing, because you pretty much couldn't see it while driving unless you jackknifed.

[Reddog1]

My wired camera has one cable approximately 3/8 inches in diameter. It is smaller than a TC coax cable, and more flexible. The single cable has several wires in it. When I unload the TC, I simply unplug the cable at the rear of the cab of the truck. I could run a second cable ran inside the TC to use the monitor in the TC, but never got around to it.

[bikerdib]

I'm looking into adding a camera to the camper just for reverse operation. Traveling forward I can see enough in the side mirrors (even though I don't have foldout tow mirrors) by leaning slightly and also by using the window in the camper door.

What I'm looking into is getting an OEM camera and the wiring harness that is inside the tailgate. My truck came with a rear camera so my intention is to unplug the tailgate camera like normal when I remove the tailgate. I'll mount the additional camera on the back of the camper and just plug in the harness to the factory plug in the truck. I prefer not to have an additional monitor in the cab.

[wintersun]

I get by fine without a backup camera. I realized after researching them that there were two options for a reliable setup, wiring in the camera from the rear of the camper to the dash area of the truck with a double harness, or buying a high end wireless camera and monitor for around $700.

My Lance was supposed to be wired for a camera to be mounted over the door but it is not so I would have to power it off my running lights and have them on and conversely no way to turn off the camera and still have the truck light on.

My truck and my Prius both came with backup cameras as both are virtually worthless if the sun is behind the vehicles or there is bright open sky. Best cameras have a sun shade to shade the lens of the camera.

What I would not be without are my camper/tow mirrors extended all the way out. I added a 4" convex mirror on each mirror and it greatly expanded my view with them and helps whether I am towing anything or not.

[Possilian]

I went with a voyager rear camera with 7 inch screen. I have a 102 inch wide x 20 feet long pj trailer I haul everything on. I bought the camera mainly so I could check the deck out for items that may have come loose or wiggles too much. I really like the combo wireless camera and I mounted it right above the door. The power I stole from the rear light switch. And at night I move the screen into the camper for a security cam to see who is at the door before I get out of bed.

[campingken]

For us towing is not the problem as we can see with our mirrors.. However hooking up the horse trailer by yourself isn't easy, especially with the camper on the truck. How do the wireless cameras work for this?

[Grit_dog]

Just towed a 20' long trailer from WA to AK with no camera. Couldn't see the trailer unless going around a curve. No problems. Actually kept me from looking back every cpl min like I usually do w a trailer.
Make sure the tires and bearings are good and don't worry about the trailer!