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Old 11-29-2013, 01:49 PM   #1
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Wireless back up camera.. Recommendation

I have just restored a 1960 airstream overlander and I want to install a wireless back up camera. I want it to work well so what are your recommendations.

Brian
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Old 11-29-2013, 02:02 PM   #2
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My son-in-law has an IBall. Works great. I'm getting one for Xmas.
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Old 11-29-2013, 02:18 PM   #3
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Avoid the yellow one...the black one is a $99 Walmart special.

I got them to help hitching with the Hensley...to be honest, I don't really use it much anymore.

Bob
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Old 11-29-2013, 02:34 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lothlorian View Post
I have just restored a 1960 airstream overlander and I want to install a wireless back up camera. I want it to work well so what are your recommendations.

Brian
Do you want to mount the camera on the back of the tow vehicle, as an aid to lining up to hitch up the trailer, or to mount on the back of the trailer as an aid to backing into a campsite or parking space and to see behind the trailer in traffic? You're likely to get different recommendations depending on which application you intend.
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Old 11-29-2013, 03:23 PM   #5
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I want it for backing my trailer up into campsites. Honestly it will be when my kids use the trailer (both are adults). I don't feel confident with them backing up. My fear is they would feel horrible if they put a dent in it and so would I.

Brian
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Old 11-29-2013, 03:59 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS View Post
Avoid the yellow one...the black one is a $99 Walmart special.

I got them to help hitching with the Hensley...to be honest, I don't really use it much anymore.

Bob
I am inclined to agree with Bob.

I have the yellow one (Swift Hitch) and even using it to hitch up, the signal often seems to break up.

Even if that does not happen, depending on the time of day /direction of the sun, it can be a bit tough to see the opening in my Hensley hitch as I back up.

I can see the end of the stinger on the truck, but on the trailer end often everything is just a field of blackness and I cannot differentiate the hitch box.

I still continue to fiddle with it to get the best I can out of it and have found a few tricks that do help.

The screen is very small too and that doesn't help.

One trick I have found that helps is to lay a 1" wide bright yellow tape measure on the ground leading to the hitch box and I line the stinger up with that and follow it back!

I doubt very much if it would give you any decent signal at all if the camera were to be at the back of your trailer - unless there is something wromng with the one I have.

I'll be interested to see what other suggestions come up - even though I have this one, I would consider buying a different type if there is one that is highly recommended at a fair price.

Brian.
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Old 11-29-2013, 04:12 PM   #7
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For lining up to hitch I just put a couple small strips of blue tape parallel to each other on the middle of the back window of the TV and the same on the top of the LPG tank housing, line 'em up and backup. DW tells me when to stop. I bought an iBall but returned it before using it.

I am interested to hear about cameras on the back of the trailer. Seems like it would need to be wide angle to be useful.

Poppy
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Old 11-29-2013, 04:22 PM   #8
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I have a backup camera on the truck- works great for hitching up- now i want one on the back of the Airstream for backing into campsites...
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Old 11-29-2013, 07:42 PM   #9
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A post of mine from a few months ago....
I just finished installing a Magellan Road-Mate 9055 wireless backup camera in my 1995 21ft Sovereign. It was a breeze. Behind the black housing that holds the license plate is all the wiring to hook it up. A white ground wire and a the black reverse light wire, tap in to those wires and you are good to go. Camera comes on when you put the car in reverse and displays on the Magellan. The cam mounts in the two screws that hold your license plate. The only glitch was weak signal strength, I had to let the small two inch black transmitter rest outside of the trailer beneath the black license plate box. I originally had it hidden in the insulation behind the box, but the signal would not reach the Magellan in my tow vehicle.

Now if I can only convince people all the dents in my Airstream were there when I bought it!
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Old 11-29-2013, 07:47 PM   #10
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Swift Hitch... Any one else using one? I thought they looked pretty good so I put it on the wish list. Want it mainly for hooking up. Any other feedback would be great.
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Old 11-29-2013, 08:01 PM   #11
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Here's my write-up on a rear of trailer backup install. At the time of my parts search, there was no digital camera and monitor available. There is one now...I think it is called Voyager. Digital signals pass through aluminum and longer distances better and don't get interference from bluetooth and wireless modems...but they are expensive. I am still happy with my setup, albeit with some camera unit fix-ups. (A longer story)

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f450...ras-83497.html
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Old 11-29-2013, 08:10 PM   #12
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I let my adult children use my T@b, it came with a million sticky notes of instructions including campsite was chosen ahead of time and had to be a pull thru. I am afraid I am going to dent back of my new to me AS so lending out is even harder. They did not travel, more stayed in one plAce, all was ok.
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Old 11-29-2013, 09:13 PM   #13
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Talking backup camera

Wingeezer,
I have the inexpensive camera from Sams club that mounts on the truck liscense plate bracket and it works just fine for hitching up to the Hensley. I also had the problem trying to be exact when backing up because everything was dark when approaching the hitch. I solved the problem by painting a 2" or so white mark on the top of the stinger, right on the top end. Then I painted the square around the hitch box white also. Now it's very simple to get it right every time. Hope this helps solve your problem.
Chip
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Old 11-30-2013, 06:45 AM   #14
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Thumbs down

Quote:
Originally Posted by Silverflames View Post
Swift Hitch... Any one else using one? I thought they looked pretty good so I put it on the wish list. Want it mainly for hooking up. Any other feedback would be great.
I got one, first one junk..sent back, second one junk...sent back.

Third one...



IMHO...don't take the chance.

Bob
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Old 11-30-2013, 07:04 AM   #15
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Wingeezer,
I have the inexpensive camera from Sams club that mounts on the truck liscense plate bracket and it works just fine for hitching up to the Hensley. I also had the problem trying to be exact when backing up because everything was dark when approaching the hitch. I solved the problem by painting a 2" or so white mark on the top of the stinger, right on the top end. Then I painted the square around the hitch box white also. Now it's very simple to get it right every time. Hope this helps solve your problem.
Chip
Thanks Chip,

Coincidentally, I just did the white paint thing! Haven't had chance to try it yet though.

When I hook up our Hensley, I have a 2"x2" wooden dummy bar I stick in the trailer hitch in order to ensure that I have the angles correct to match the stinger when Ihitch up.

The wooden bar was painted black! Realizing that didn't help when using the camera, I just finished painting the end of the bar white!

Brian.
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Old 11-30-2013, 07:09 AM   #16
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Swift Hitch... Any one else using one? I thought they looked pretty good so I put it on the wish list. Want it mainly for hooking up. Any other feedback would be great.
As posted above, I have one. It works - sort of - but just not as well as I hoped. Pretty small screen, sometimes broken up signal that always seems to break up just at the wrong time, sometimes hard to see depending on sun direction that can wash out the screen or leave everything in dark shadow.

Does seem well made though - quite rugged!

I probably would not buy again - but then I don't know if any of the others are much better.

Brian.
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Old 11-30-2013, 08:04 AM   #17
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Thumbs up

This is whats' pretty much taken over for the b/u camera when hitching the haha.

Bob
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Old 11-30-2013, 08:21 AM   #18
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This is whats' pretty much taken over for the b/u camera when hitching the haha.

Bob

Yep,

I've got me a set of those too! Not too many tricks I haven't tried!

So far, what seems to work best for me is the combination of:

(1) back up camera.

(2) one of those yellow magnetic hitching rods but not using it vertical. Rather, I place it lying on the ground parallel to the trailer axis and lined up right with the centerline of the trailer hitch so i can use my backup camera and line up the stinger to follow the rod right back to the trailer. (I think I'm going to start using a long bright yellow tape measure lying on the ground instead of the rod!)

(3) finally, a dummy wooden 2"x2" bar stuck into the trailer hitch and extending out about a foot so that when my TV gets close I can verify that the angle of the stinger and the hitch box are adjusted to be a perfect match.

I stop the TV when backing leaving just enough distance so i have room to remove the wooden bar - go back and adjust my angles/height on the trailer hitch, remove the bar, then continue backing.

With this method - and taking my time rather than trying to rush things - I usually get it hooked up on the cost try.

Generally the only time it doesn't go well these days is when i have several people all standing around watching and trying to "help" and I get all flustered and wish they would leave me to it!

Brian.
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Old 11-30-2013, 08:39 AM   #19
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I use an I-Ball wireless camera and I use one of two ropes to guide me into the ProPride. Both ropes have a magnet on one end and a weight on the other. The magnet sticks to the hitch and I just keep the black stinger over the rope. Really works well when hitching up at an angle to the trailer such as at state parks with the tight circular sites where hitching at an angle is the only way possible.

One rope is yellow, the other is blue. Which rope I use is dependent on the surface and time of day. Blue is best on sunny concrete, while yellow is best in the dark.

BTW: if your tow vehicle has Bluetooth like my new Silverado, the image on the I-Ball and on some other wireless cameras will break up since they also use Bluetooth. Without my phone, my I-Ball is totally unusable with the image constantly rolling. With the phone connected, there is just an occasional blip as the Bluetooth polls the camera. I can live with the I-Ball as long as my phone is with me and turned on.
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Old 11-30-2013, 09:07 AM   #20
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Brian,

I tried one from TST, but ended up sending it back because of lost signal and interference from the 34' of trailer. There are a couple of installs which used a booster to get the image to the TV cab, but haven't seen one that sends a clean signal for a reasonable price, Airstream is marketing one in the parts store for about $800. That is the only one I know of that works.
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