Trailer hitch camera

[Water logged]

Has anyone tried out a wireless trailer hitch camera to ease hitching up? I have been looking into it and am intersted in one of the following. Either the Swift hitch, ( swifthitch.com )or the iball, ( iballhitchcam.com ). If anyone has tried either of these units I would be interested in your opinion of them.

Glenn

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Trailer hitch camera

its hard to actually line it up with the camera, i've got two rear mounted cameras in different vehicles. They get you close, but not enough to trust exactly where it needs to go. One the best/cheapest/simplest solutions are the magnetic tennis balls on sticks. Back up until the balls line up/touch, and you are good to go.

 

[skyking897]

Re: Trailer hitch camera

Never used the tennis ball on a stick method so I can't speak to it, but use a rear camera and it works great. I have the camera mounted high on the topper of my truck looking down on the hitch and can see the trailer as I back up to it. Almost always nail it on the first try. I did have it mounted on the licence plate before and it worked ok but is much better mounted up high.

Edit Note: The camera we have can change the view so it is oriented however (left/right) you find it easier to coordinate backing up. Hope that makes sense.

 

[Gun Dog]

Re: Trailer hitch camera

I adjusted the back up sensors on the f250 to sound a solid tone when lined up. Line up the bow to the center of the gate back in. Works every time.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Trailer hitch camera

its hard to actually line it up with the camera, i've got two rear mounted cameras in different vehicles. They get you close, but not enough to trust exactly where it needs to go. One the best/cheapest/simplest solutions are the magnetic tennis balls on sticks. Back up until the balls line up/touch, and you are good to go.

The tennis ball is mounted on something that resembels the old time antennas. They expand and retract. Got mine at Harbor Freight for
$5..00 for a set of two.

 

[JDA1975]

Re: Trailer hitch camera

http://www.harborfreight.com/magnetic-trailer-alignment-kit-95684.html is what he is referring to

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Trailer hitch camera

We use the backup camera that came from the factory on our 4Runner. It is fabulous for lining up the hitch ball to the coupler, but yes it does require some practice. Many of these cameras are mounted slightly off center above the license plate, so you need to take that into account. Also, as mentioned above, the higher the camera the better the vertical view you will have. With a lower mounted camera you will need to back up such that it appears the ball has gone slightly past the coupler opening, when in fact it will be perfectly aligned.

 

[JB]

Re: Trailer hitch camera

I have used the balls-on-telescoping-sticks and I have mounted a mirror on the winch post. Both work. A camera seems to this elderly gent as technological overkill.

 

[nimmor]

Re: Trailer hitch camera

I use the tennis ball sticks with great success.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Trailer hitch camera

its hard to actually line it up with the camera, i've got two rear mounted cameras in different vehicles. They get you close, but not enough to trust exactly where it needs to go. One the best/cheapest/simplest solutions are the magnetic tennis balls on sticks. Back up until the balls line up/touch, and you are good to go.

Ditto. I've got a backup camera that came with a wide angle lens. Any wide angle lens will distort distances so it is difficult to pick out the trailer tongue from any distance and then to judge that distance as it gets close. I also am a fan of the magnetic trailer balls and use them in addition to the camera to help me get lined up quickly. It's an advantage to have both but if I could only afford one, it'd be the tennis balls.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Trailer hitch camera

I use the tennis balls but I also like the v shaped steel plate behind the hitch ball if your driveway or place where you park your trailer is level you just back,bang and drop.

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Trailer hitch camera

Another vote for the tennis balls.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Trailer hitch camera

I use the tennis balls but I also like the v shaped steel plate behind the hitch ball if your driveway or place where you park your trailer is level you just back,bang and drop.

How can you be sure you bounced the tongue in the armored vee instead of somewhere else on your tailgate?

 

[bigdee]

Re: Trailer hitch camera

How can you be sure you bounced the tongue in the armored vee instead of somewhere else on your tailgate?

with the tennis balls if you have trouble lining up....I have no trouble hitting center,it is the depth perception that I have trouble with.

 

[Water logged]

Re: Trailer hitch camera

According to the HF link by JDA1975 the balls would touch about the time you were at the right position. Thanks for the input guy, just gotta decide what I wanna do now.

Glenn

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Trailer hitch camera

According to the HF link by JDA1975 the balls would touch about the time you were at the right position. Thanks for the input guy, just gotta decide what I wanna do now.

Glenn

depends on design, some have a little curve in the bottom of the shaft so that the ball itself sits directly above where the hitch ball is. (both on the tongue and also drawbar) Other designs don't have that curve, so the tennis balls will only get very close.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Trailer hitch camera

depends on design, some have a little curve in the bottom of the shaft so that the ball itself sits directly above where the hitch ball is. (both on the tongue and also drawbar) Other designs don't have that curve, so the tennis balls will only get very close.

That setup doesn't work on a 12000lb rig, because the trailer jack doesn't have wheels on them. That setup, the trailer has to be able to roll.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Trailer hitch camera

That setup doesn't work on a 12000lb rig, because the trailer jack doesn't have wheels on them. That setup, the trailer has to be able to roll.

the tennis balls don't care what is under them...

It shouldn't make any difference, the idea is to NOT have to move the trailer, that's why you are using the balls to start with!

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Trailer hitch camera

the tennis balls don't care what is under them...

It shouldn't make any difference, the idea is to NOT have to move the trailer, that's why you are using the balls to start with!

Originally Posted by bigdee

I use the tennis balls but I also like the v shaped steel plate behind the hitch ball if your driveway or place where you park your trailer is level you just back,bang and drop.
How can you be sure you bounced the tongue in the armored vee instead of somewhere else on your tailgate?



I am referring to the armored vee setup. I use the tennis balls.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Trailer hitch camera

I use the tennis balls--works great for me.