Backup Camera

[wolfeman131]

Does anyone really like the exercise they get when hopping in and out of your tow vehicle when trying to get the trailer hooked up?

How about getting guided to the trailer by your wife or better yet, your 7 & 9 year old daughters?

Moombadaze posted under his mods a backup camera a few months ago. I had been looking for one and found the same brand he has in a wireless version on clearance at Target for $69.99!

Since my boat stays on the lift 90% of the time, I wanted to set my camera up so I could make easy to set up and use when I needed it versus mounting it to my truck. The local police were sure to pull me over for the camera covering up part of the license plate

Below are the details of the job.

supplies - camera kit, magnets from Home Depot, male flat 4 trailer plug, 8 to 4 pin adapter, heat shrink tubing and screws & bolts which got changed to double face tape b/c the magnets were too hard to drill through! Also had a few small tools such as wire strippers and heat gun.
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd344/wolfeman131/Moomba/SANY0630.jpg

spliced wires together and put double faced tape on magnets
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd344/wolfeman131/Moomba/SANY0631.jpg

used heat gun to shrink tubing
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd344/wolfeman131/Moomba/SANY0632.jpg

stuck magnets to camera bracket
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd344/wolfeman131/Moomba/SANY0633.jpg

[wolfeman131]

plugged 8 to 4 pin adapter into truck and stuck camera on tailgate
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd344/wolfeman131/Moomba/SANY0634.jpg

used dash mount hardware that was supplied with camera and plugged into cigarette lighter
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd344/wolfeman131/Moomba/SANY0636.jpg

great picture of hitch, except missing the trailer and boat! Gotta get it in this weekend!!
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd344/wolfeman131/Moomba/SANY0635.jpg

This was a VERY simple job!

Thanks to moombadaze who helped with the wiring (black from camera to white/ground on plug and red on camera to brown/taillight on plug) as well as a most helpful hint: if you have auto headlights like I do, be sure to manually power on the lights or the camera won't work! :p

[mcdye]

Thanks for the info and guide.

[yearround]

thanks for the info. could this be the perfect pass marriage saver for backing up to the trailer? i will look around and see if i can get one, looks pretty easy.

i hook a trailer 1-2x per week, then the boat hooks too. at least half the time i am alone.

[wolfeman131]

thanks for the info. could this be the perfect pass marriage saver for backing up to the trailer? i will look around and see if i can get one, looks pretty easy.

i hook a trailer 1-2x per week, then the boat hooks too. at least half the time i am alone.

Target online is $99.99 w/ free shipping. You can also look for a store clsoe to you that has it in stock.

http://www.target.com/Wireless-Back-Up-Camera-System-Monitor/dp/B000HWXGOS/sr=1-1/qid=1237314129/ref=sr_1_1/184-9407571-1522922?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=0&index=target&rh=k%3Abackup%20camera&page=1

BTW - this item is $140 in the 2009 Overton's catalog.

[04OUTBACK]

Sams Club has them too.. i think they are $99 at sams..

[moombadaze]

How well do these camera's work?

Can you get the ball under the receiver dead nuts on, where you can lower the trailer and close the latch or do you still have to wiggle the ball forward and back a bit to get the tongue latch to close.


DEAD NUTS ON--Yes

[kaneboats]

I saw one of these on dealtime or dealnews a couple days ago. It was pretty cheap but I couldn't find it again today. I guess I'll just leave the boat hitched up ALL YEAR!

[jasonba1]

I picked one up at pep boys yesterday for 69.95

[moombadaze]

Ed, let us all know how it works for you-i think the term was "dead nuts on"

[meech]

hey ed,
i'm an idiot when it comes to wiring ... how do i wire one of these bad boys? thanks


I have the five pin connector on my truck and a spare trailer five pin connector.

What wires do I splice the camera into?

[wolfeman131]

meech,

I'm no expert, but if you do the temporary mount such as in this thread, it should go like this: camera red wire to trailer pin adapter brown wire (tail light) and camera black wire to trailer pin adapter white wire (ground). This will let the camera be on whether you're in forward or reverse - just in case you need to make minor adjustments as you try to get everything lined up. :)

If you have auto headlights, make sure to manually turn them on when your using the camera outside, during the day. I couldn't figure out why the camera worked in the garage, but kept shutting off as I backed out into the driveway. Told ya', I'm no expert!

[meech]

thanks buddy ... i think this is one i can do. :)


meech,

I'm no expert, but if you do the temporary mount such as in this thread, it should go like this: camera red wire to trailer pin adapter brown wire (tail light) and camera black wire to trailer pin adapter white wire (ground). This will let the camera be on whether you're in forward or reverse - just in case you need to make minor adjustments as you try to get everything lined up. :)

If you have auto headlights, make sure to manually turn them on when your using the camera outside, during the day. I couldn't figure out why the camera worked in the garage, but kept shutting off as I backed out into the driveway. Told ya', I'm no expert!

[TSC]

Awesome info in this post.

The first time I went to hook up the trailer the wife held her hand perpendicular to the ground waving it back and forth making me guess which way. I asked her to point with her finger which direction instead of waving and the response I got was the middle finger. At least she used a finger. :D

Just finished the camera install, works great. Still have to do that last 1/4" creep for the trailer to settle.

[kaneboats]

Ha Ha. I used to back up the trailer when I was about 12 and could barely see over the dashboard. My Dad would spin his finger clockwise or counterclockwise -- I think telling me which way to turn the wheel. Well, watching him in the mirror I never could figure out what the HE77 he wanted. (My brothers and I still do this motion to each other at the ramp- kind of an inside joke) Since those days I am perfectly happy to jump out and have a look myself. Actually, I don't even jump out anymore -- I just back the truck to the same spot every time and pull the trailer a few inches by hand.

[Ian Brantford]

While a backup camera would help, I find that I can get to the correct spot in two tries most of the time. I.e. initial approach, get out and check distance, reverse while watching for same distance passed by looking at ground as it passes the open driver's door, get out and check again. Maybe one more truck movement to adjust.

This usually works out much better then having someone else try to direct me.

That said, I would still like to have a good backup camera. :-)

I am actually thinking of making a battery-powered (and wireless) one that I can stick on the back of the truck when hooking up the trailer, and move to the back of the BOAT when on the road.

It's amazing how many people feel obligated to tailgate behind a boat/trailer... much moreso than behind a regular vehicle. I know a couple of people with destroyed stern drives because the driver behind simply did not comprehend the 3-foot-long object sticking out the back. Eesh.

[kaneboats]

It's amazing how many people feel obligated to tailgate behind a boat/trailer... much moreso than behind a regular vehicle.

The "OIL RELEASE" button cures this. Or just tie a piece of rag or rope so that it hangs loose about 3 feet over the stern and flaps around but won't hurt anything. Amazing how people will give room if they think something loose might come flying out at them.

[mmandley]

Yup exactly or they fly passed you and cut right in front of you because you have that nice space between you and the next vehicle. Like that space is for them, duh you moron thats so i don't rear-end the guy in front of me.

Another thing ive stopped doing is playing nice with people merging into traffic from on ramps on the highway. They lolligag down the ramp and get next to you then hit there blinker and sit there. Like im supposed to slow down or speed up. I just maintain my speed and they better choose to slow down or speed up.

Maybe people do this because they figure you got a nice rig and boat you can afford to pay them if there's an accident. Not knowing the law states of someone hits your vehicle or toe vehicle from the rear or the side while you are maintaining speed and not changing lanes they are at fault. As well as if they cut in front of you taking your safe traveling distance away and not allowing you time to slow down and make a safe distance between you and them and a collision occurs they are still at fault.

Theres a law that specifically states. Its unlawful to change lanes in front of another driver that causes them to adjust there speed based on your changing lanes.