Back Up Camera for Trailer

[ColoRockiesFan]

I'm thinking of adding a back up camera to my trailer. Has anyone installed the Boyo (or similar) license plate camera? Pros? Cons? Other suggestions?

[cpaharley2008]

My new FJ came with one installed, great for solo hitching!! License plate may be too low, mine is about tailgate height.

[ColoRockiesFan]

I'm installing a Brand Motion backup camera for my F150. The monitor is in the rear view mirror. Cool! But I need a camera for my trailer ...

[cpaharley2008]

You mean for the rear of the trailer, not the rear of your tow vehicle? Jon Vermyle has that set up over on the Escape forum, had Reace wire in the camera wire during construction and a special hookup for the camera plug between the two.

[ColoRockiesFan]

Yep, sorry for the confusion. I meant a backup camera for the back of the trailer.

I remember now that Jon Vermyle has the Voyager system. I was thinking about the license plate camera (cheaper). BTW, where is the license plate on the Escape 19'?

[cpaharley2008]

on the street side lower rear, maybe 12" up from bumper, but under the tail lights. Possibly you can mount one higher, perhaps suction install inside on the rear trailer window for better viewing coverage. You would need to tell Escape to run a wire from the front dinette back to the rear window, do not know type of wire, but at least it would be pre-wired.

[Jon Vermilye]

Here is what I posted at the Escape Forum:

I played with a wireless back up camera & had problems with signal strength & interference. When I bought my trailer I sent Reace a back up camera system from Rear View Safety. The camera is mounted above the rear window & has been useful as a rear view mirror. I have not found it as useful for pulling into a campground space - the view is too wide for accurate backing. It is great if you have to back up at a gas station, etc since you can check what is behind you. Also good for seeing the idiots that tailgate inside the view of your rear view mirrors & for pulling in when passing.

I purchased a 2 camera system (although mine came with a 5" monitor and doesn't seem to still be available) & mounted the other on the back of the RAV4. Great for hitching. The kit included a plug/cable system to go between the trailer & tow vehicle. Overall, I/m very happy with the system.

[Per Walthinsen]

I have struggled with this for a few years, but I may have hit on the answer. A system such as suggested by Jon seems to work. I purchased one some years ago and installed it in our Honda Ody, wired so that I could switch from the camera behind the car to the one behind the trailer. It did the job.

For me the Achilles heel became clear when the screen was stolen, probably because the "gentleman" thought it was a GPS. I replaced it but never got the slightly different model to work properly. By that time I had realized that such a screen is a bait for thieves.

We recently changed tow vehicle, and I have now reinstalled the unit. The difference is that the car already has a backup camera, so the screen is only up when we tow the trailer. Lessens the theft chance.

Fortunately the compartment the screen now gets put into was already there on the car, so the installation is fairly neat and very easy to empty and close.

The pictures illustrate what I did.

[GMike A]

This is the one that I bought off of ebay. Maybe a bit of overkill but boy was it nice. I left it on my other camper. Should have taken it off in retrospect. I can send the link via private mail as one time I posted a link and guess I wasnt supposed to? Night vision, autoback up start up. etc etc.

[mconnorsr]

Good morning Jon, I have a question about what you said about backing up into a campsite and that the camera was too wide for that. I was going to get the same system as yours and what I need it for is backing into our driveway which has a wall to watch out for on the drivers side but I live on a small 1 way street so I wanted the camera to be able to see how far the camper is from the wall. I also wanted to use it to back into campsites when it is dark because we don't get out of work till 8:00 pm. As long as I can see the road I will be ok. Would it work for that?

Mark

[GMike A]

As an adjunct and possibility you can add sensor alerts with a 1 foot to 7 foot range indicator. They are on my wish list.
I am only showing this site as one example I dont own it or sell anything.

Engineered Auto Devices: Backup sensors, parking sensors, car backup safety

[Jon Vermilye]

As to "seeing" in the dark, the camera comes with a set of IR LEDs that provide quite a bit of light. I still feel it is not ideal for backing other than to insure that no one is behind you. The wide angle makes it difficult to judge distances (although I do find it useful for determining how close you are to something directly behind you). Still, it is better than nothing, and a useful addition when combined with extended rear view mirrors.

[Eric Heinz]

Are these systems useful as rear view cameras while towing or are they only used for backing up?

[GMike A]

The one that I showed a picture of I kept on all the time and could watch traffic coming up behind me. Took me an hour or so the train my eyes or brain for the new pictorial relationship but after that it was a pleasure to watch or really peripherally glance at it. It did aide at night with the IR and as I had it angled down towards my back bumper hitch and I could watch it clearly (although the picture was a slight concave or fish eye view but not enough be distracting). Just my opinions. I think specs called for 26 feet at night but I dont think it truly was that much but it was enough with that eery greenish light to do the job.

[Jon Vermilye]

I also leave mine on all the time & can switch between the trailer camera & the one on the rear of the RAV4 (great for hooking up). I mounted my monitor on the dash in the left most corner - it is easy to track to it as your eyes head for the outside rear view mirrors. I find my set up most useful as a rear view mirror while driving, checking behind the trailer if I have to back up in a gas station, etc, and to know when I'm clear when passing (not that I do much of that since I tow at 57MPH!)

[mconnorsr]

Thanks Mike

Mark

[mconnorsr]

Thanks Jon

Mark