Best thing on new tow vehicles .

[Lager]

A back up camera !
Just bought a new SUV that has a rear camera. I can see that trailer ball clearly and now its Sooo easy to guide into the hitch all by my self.No need to rely on my wife or son in law,who cant tell the difference in left or right, much less distance.
My life is now slightly easier.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Best thing on new tow vehicles .

When I back mine up all I see is the sky thru the camera! With the tailgate up its easier to see the whole trailer than using that little camera.

 

[four winns 214]

Re: Best thing on new tow vehicles .

I use these:

hitch alignment - iboats

Work great. Last a long time.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Best thing on new tow vehicles .

I use these:

hitch alignment - iboats

Work great. Last a long time.

Never bumped into the trailer tongue before I tried using these things. I can usually get within 2-3" on the first try just through practice. I hated these things and threw them out. Now I need to explain to all my friends what the half-moon slit in my license plate is

 

[jbetzelb]

Re: Best thing on new tow vehicles .

I had a couple people compliment me last year on how good I get the truck lined up with the ball right under the coupler. They watched me a couple days in a row at the resort we were staying. I had to be honest and told them there was a factory high def camera in the tail gate.

 

[PS94]

Re: Best thing on new tow vehicles .

Indeed, thought they were useless, had one on my Escalade, it was junk....the one on the Raptor is amazing...i look like some manner of god when i stop the ball directly under the raised, waiting coupler....

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Best thing on new tow vehicles .

One of the biggest problems with backup cameras is that they distort distance due to them using wide angle lenses. I have found my results are improved through the use of reflective tape on the base of the ball and hanging orange visibility ribbon off the hitch to help discern what part of what I see is actually the ball.

I've pretty much stopped using the tennis balls on the magnetized stick since I brightened up the terminus of the trailer hitch.

 

[jbetzelb]

Re: Best thing on new tow vehicles .

Indeed, thought they were useless, had one on my Escalade, it was junk....the one on the Raptor is amazing...i look like some manner of god when i stop the ball directly under the raised, waiting coupler....

Maybe Ford has the edge here. Mine is a 2011 F150 and it can be adjusted right from the steerring wheel controls for a standard view, wide angle, or long distance. Agree with the post above this. The wide angle doesn't work well for getting right under the ball. The other nice thing is it survives being completely under water. When I run my jet ski in and out of the box of the truck I have to dunk the tail gate. Camera works good for under water views in that case.

 

[ZacUSNYR]

Re: Best thing on new tow vehicles .

I had one in my Murano, it was great. Could just see the round of the ball in the bottom of the camera, had distance lines, was accurate.

I miss it. I got a '12 Frontier and the 13 was released 3 months later with back up cameras

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: Best thing on new tow vehicles .

I have one on my '14 Ram 1500, love it, and won't own another large vehicle without one. I know how I lived without it before, but it sure does make backing up and hooking to a trailer easy.

 

[dan02gt]

Re: Best thing on new tow vehicles .

I have one on my Pathfinder and love it. I can put the ball right under the hitch the first time every time. They will definitely spoil you.

 

[Lake Lizzard]

Re: Best thing on new tow vehicles .

We always have someone near when loading our boat so we just go old school and use two sets of eyes. The backup camera is a great idea if you do it alone. None of our vehicles are new enough to have one though. I wonder how the aftermarket cameras work and if they're worth the money or time.

 

[GRUMPN]

Re: Best thing on new tow vehicles .

I'll try to do this in a Reader's Digest version. Got into competitive shooting for 12 years and the boat never saw water for all of that time. Now I'm back and at 67 the eyes and backing/towing skills aren't what they were. Was wondering if anyone has tried the new wireless cameras for boat launching and hiway towing to get a clearer view of the back end of the boat. I tow a 17 foot Sea Nymph on a low slung custom Shorelander trailer but with the cover on I don't see much out the back of my Town & Country. Side view is adequate. Its really not about safety but this old guy's comfort level and clearing the launch as quick as practical without loosing potential friends. Ric

 

[HMcClard]

Re: Best thing on new tow vehicles .

I'm an engineer and wife says I'm a little strange. I bought a set of those tennis ball things but they made backing up worse and didn't have a rear facing camera. Then I sat there a long time thinking it through... ended up using paint dots... two on the boat bow and painted two of the pickup bed tailgate screws in the middle... that way it's like parking an airplane... mate-up the dots through the rear-view mirror... simple but it actually works.... at least for me (also a Scottsman and too stingy to buy a rear camera).

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Best thing on new tow vehicles .

Does anyone use a aftermarket unit? If so, what kind? Price? Are you happy with it?

Thanx.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Best thing on new tow vehicles .

No backup camera, but the backup radar is just as good! Centering isn't hard, I can usually get that on almost exactly, but distance is always difficult to judge. The backup radar on my current vehicle just happens to go to a solid tone at the exact right distance for the hitch to drop on the ball.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Best thing on new tow vehicles .

A back up camera !
Just bought a new SUV that has a rear camera. I can see that trailer ball clearly and now its Sooo easy to guide into the hitch all by my self.No need to rely on my wife or son in law,who cant tell the difference in left or right, much less distance.
My life is now slightly easier.

You may have been better off keeping the old SUV and getting a new son in law

 

[toms26t]

Re: Best thing on new tow vehicles .

I got a portable camera the monitor for the cab and the camera plugs into the lighting plug adapter that I use for the little boat trailer 4 prong. You need to turn on the running lights for the camera to turn on, but it comes with an adapter cable you can wire directly to your wire harness.

Master Lock Wireless Backup Camera and Hitch Alignment System Master Lock Electronics 4843DAT

 

[Lager]

Re: Best thing on new tow vehicles .

This post went farther then I ever thought.
Started out as just a ramble in my mind and I was so darn excited I had to tell someone.
UI think the worst suggestion came from member Home cooking when he suggested to get my self a new Son in law.
Ive been divorced 3 times, Ive a butt load of Son in laws, DO you know what that costs? LOL
The cost of a new SUV was way less then a new Son in Law.
Now I just tell him, "Stand way over there and dont touch anything" Boy cant pick his own nose without hurting himself.
Boy is 28 years old and I dont let him handle a hook.

 

[sphelps]

Re: Best thing on new tow vehicles .

Well I just get plenty of exercise .. I may get in and out of the vehicle 2 or 3 times before I get it right ! :facepalm:
Good thing I am trying to lose some weight ..