Camera backing up system

[Rjpuckett]

Nice setup.

You might want to buy the bolts from Auto Zone that requires a special wench to remove your camera.


I still haven't settled on a camera for the rear of the trailer to be used while on the road or backing into a camp site.


I think it would be good to use a GoPro camera. I have been trying to convince myself I need one of those guys to replace my IPhone picture taking skills. Serving double duty as a backup camera could close the deal. I know they have WIFI and preview mode but don't really know if it would work without issues.

[andreasduess]

The GoPro has a delay of a couple of seconds, even when not shooting. Makes it difficult to use as a backup camera - I had the same idea, but even my new Hero 3 isn't as fast as it would need to be.

Check the gopro forums for more info on this if you're interested.

[RAH]

I use a low tech approach - Hitch Helper mirror from a company in Panama City Florida. $29.95 plus shipping

[switz]

Here is how we mounted the Voyager on the rear of our Airstream. the 12 volt Power came from the light above the street side twin bed. The wireless signal works flawlessly to the display in the truck.

[m.hony]

Originally Posted by Rjpuckett

Nice setup.

You might want to buy the bolts from Auto Zone that requires a special wench to remove your camera.

I still haven't settled on a camera for the rear of the trailer to be used while on the road or backing into a camp site.

I think it would be good to use a GoPro camera. I have been trying to convince myself I need one of those guys to replace my IPhone picture taking skills. Serving double duty as a backup camera could close the deal. I know they have WIFI and preview mode but don't really know if it would work without issues.

I never really thought about someone stealing the camera.
It is pretty inconspicuous. The trailer is generally either at home or in a campground or rolling. I'm sure at home or in a campground or in a Cracker Barrel parking lot a thief would find something better to steal, and if he wants it, let him have it easy, so he don't tear nothin' up!

[switz]

I believe the Voyager camera is useless without it's linked display, except to be a paper weight on a desk.

[carver 1]

SWift hitch's back up camera is now digital and this has all but eliminated the previous interference from surrounding electronics. The only downside is that for some reason the screen has to be tilted slightly back for best picture resolution (Don't ask me how i know).

>>ron<<

[SchuHouse]

Originally Posted by switz

Here is how we mounted the Voyager on the rear of our Airstream. the 12 volt Power came from the light above the street side twin bed. The wireless signal works flawlessly to the display in the truck.

Switzerland. I just ordered the Voyager with a companion receiver allowing me to use a different display, which will be the Garmin 760 LMT. I like your install, very clean,
My question is how did you wire the camera?

[Mixter]

Originally Posted by switz

Here is how we mounted the Voyager on the rear of our Airstream. the 12 volt Power came from the light above the street side twin bed. The wireless signal works flawlessly to the display in the truck.

Setup sounds like a great solution. Got any pics of the camera view? Would it work through the rear window glass, to avoid a permanent mount to the shell?

I'm thinking in terms of dual purpose, since its wireless- move it to the truck for hitching, and then to the rear of the AS for driving and backing....

I originally considered the idea of wireless, but was hesitant because the reviews of the older analog systems turned me away. So hard wire seemed to have the advantage for performance, but it introduces complexity and added cost if you ever want to change tow vehicles or trailers.

This digital wireless concept may be just the ticket. Wonder if there is a digital receiver so that multiple configurations and/or use with larger screen?

[Gene]

Two years + since I posted here (#9) and nothing's changed—I still have other things to spend money on besides a backing camera. Our fairly new FJ Cruiser came with a rear camera with a picture in the rear view mirror that is impossible to make sense of. Looks like the outlines of a tennis court and some funny shapes. If the sun is shining, even harder to figure out what is back there—I hope the aftermarket cameras are better.

Gene

[m.hony]

You can't turn the "guide lines" off?

[Gene]

I looked in the manual and you can turn off the camera, but not the lines. The camera is behind the spare and I can't see where it is exactly, but you'd have to take off the tire to clean it. Now I have to convince Barb to turn the thing off. It might help if I were towing anything with the FJ, but I'm not.

Gene

[switz]

I acquired the Voyager at the factory in October 2012 but did not get around to installing it until we got the Classic. By May of 2013, we had a 27FB Classic on order and later changed to the model 30.

We drilled into the rear roof locker above the beds and tied into the 12Vdc power going to the reading light above the street side twin bed. (That locker has the 120Vac circuit breaker panel on the 31' Classics).

The dash area in the Dodge reminds me of the digital instrument panel on aircraft today. We could have displays from the Dill TPMS, the Voyager backup camera, McNally GPS, factory GPS, DirecLink brake controller module and the Insight Edge engine parameters operational.

I am looking at acquiring a factory display unlock device so may be able to shift more things to that display plus change GPS settings while moving down the road.

[Skater]

Originally Posted by Gene

Two years + since I posted here (#9) and nothing's changed—I still have other things to spend money on besides a backing camera. Our fairly new FJ Cruiser came with a rear camera with a picture in the rear view mirror that is impossible to make sense of. Looks like the outlines of a tennis court and some funny shapes. If the sun is shining, even harder to figure out what is back there—I hope the aftermarket cameras are better.

Have you checked with the dealer on that? The back up camera in our Honda works perfectly in all light conditions - even when we're backing into our garage from the sun, it adjusts perfectly. I'm surprised Toyota's camera would be so bad in comparison to Honda, which makes me wonder if the camera is bad.

[Sbb]

I am new to a backup camera. I travel mostly alone, and I am pretty good at just checking by getting in and out of the car many many times. My question with the camera is.. is the perception of distance the same as real time? My mirrors are not, between being left handed, backing up with mirrors that are not real time space (objects may appear closer than you think), and now a backup camera I am scared to death I will be running right into the hitch. Any advise would be appreciated on the actual use of the camera that came with my 2013 2500 suburban.

[andreasduess]

Originally Posted by Sbb

I am scared to death I will be running right into the hitch. Any advise would be appreciated on the actual use of the camera that came with my 2013 2500 suburban.

You won't. With a camera you've got a live-view, you see just how close you're getting. Take it slow and steady and you'll learn just how the camera reads distance in no time at all.

I get hitched to our Hensley on the first or second attempt with the camera. I could not imagine hitching up without one.

[switz]

Unless one has a very low mounted reverse camera on the tow vehicle (like bumper level or even hitch level), the display information one gets is relative to horizontal alignment (left or right). The vertical issue gets resolved when the two vehicles are close together and one gets out of the vehicle and visually inspects the elevation of the two mating hitch parts.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Skater

Have you checked with the dealer on that?

Actually, no. I guess I don't care that much since I've been driving (and backing up) for almost 60 years without a camera. You, may be right though. When I looked it up in the manual, half of the info is that it may not be accurate, the guidelines aren't very accurate, it is only a supplement to good backing and it isn't very accurate. Very reassuring.

Sbb—if you raise the tongue higher than the ball (which you have to do anyway) and inch backward, you won't hit the tongue unless you go way, way back and hit it with your bumper. I pick something on the ground, keep the door open (or look through the window), figure how many inches I have to back up, pick the point on the ground that many inches back, and slowly back up to it. When I put it in park, the truck rolls maybe 1/2" or a little more, so I take that into account. There are 3 dimensions to work in—up/down (raise tongue to eliminate that variable), left/right and back/forward. As I wrote before, sometimes I get it the first time, others, not so good—5 times. Getting left/right aligned usually comes first, back/forward last. Sometimes when I lower the tongue, the coupler doesn't engage the ball. Then I get in the truck, take it out of park and let it roll very slightly and the coupler usually engages then. It is important to back up slowly and align the truck (as much as possible) straight with the trailer—that's not always possible in crowded campground and you have to back at an angle, something to be avoided if you can. If off center, once on the ball, you may have troubler attaching bars and chains and have to pull out to a place where everything is straight. I think you have to be perfectly straight with some hitches, but I have no experience with that.

Gene

[switz]

The Hensley and ProPride receivers on the trailer need to be correctly aligned with the stinger on the tow vehicle to get the stinger seated properly. One can loosen the lift arms to compensate for rotational issues, but the left/right issue has to be really close and the elevation needs to be correct as well. One may need to get out and check several times.

Hitching up allows for some exercise before sitting for hours on end....

[Reganzo]

[QUOTE="Sbb;1454437"]I am new to a backup camera. Having a backup camera built into my navigation system on my F-350 has been a blessing with hitching up the Hensley that came with our trailer. I put a strip of reflective tape on the stinger and one on the top of the hitch opening that allows me to line up the stinger and receiver so most times I get hitched first try. You get used to judging distances with the back up camera.

Regards,


Reganzo