Portable Tractor Camera System

[bdhsfz6]

Clever setup @bdhsfz6. I have trouble seeing and have been thinking about adding a camera system. I like this ability to set the cameras where I would want them. Doing front loader work and need two angles - put both cameras out front.

- Or - need to see details at the back? put both at the back.

- Or - need to see front and back? Like when I am doing trail work using the bucket with a ratchet rake and a back blade? Problem solved.

Since the setup can handle 4 cameras, one could go crazy with this idea. I really like your solution.

Care to give the source of your magnets?

Thanks for the note about care being required to not dislodge the cameras. I was thinking that would be a problem which could damage one easily.

The magnets are available on Amazon: Neodymium Cup Magnets, Strongest Round Base Magnets, Hold up to 95 Pounds - 12pack: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

The secondary magnetic mount isn't necessary but I find it's easier to adjust the camera angle in certain locations. The magnet isn't as strong as the ones linked above though. The parts are available from RAM: RAM Mount AMPS Plate Magnetic Base Mount



The system is indeed flexible. The possible camera locations are almost endless. I sometimes mount them off the tractor on a tree, rock or other object near the work site.

Damage is always a possibility but at $80 apiece, the cameras aren't super expensive. If you use the Yakry system:

Amazon.com: Yakry Y28 FHD 1P Digital Wireless 2 Backup Camera for RVs,Trailers,Trucks,Motorhomes,5th Wheels 7'' Touch Key Monitor with Recording DVR Highway Monitoring System Super Night Vision: Car Electronics

Spare cameras are available here:

Amazon.com: Yakry Upgraded Digital Wireless Backup Camera 1P for 7 inch Monitor with Record Function Waterproof IP69K: Car Electronics

 

[LouNY]

Looks like they would be handy.

 

[davedj1]

I have a fairly cheap wireless camera system I use on one of my tractors. I occasionally need to use a camera on other equipment as well. Rather than buy multiple cameras, I converted the one I have into a portable rig. Although the camera video is wireless, both camera and display require power. I used cordless tool batteries with adapters (in my case DeWalt), a few strong magnets and some 3" aluminum channel to make camera and display mounts that are truly portable and can be attached to any metal surface. These inexpensive battery adapters are available for most cordless tool battery brands. Even small 2 AH batteries will power the camera & display for several hours.

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With the cameras hard wired to the tractor cab, general viewing is fine but I often can't see enough detail for some types of work. Lining up pallet forks or FEL SSQA implements can be difficult. Without any wiring, these cameras can be mounted almost anywhere. To increase flexibility, I added a ball / clamp combination from RAM products along with another magnetic base. I store the cameras & display in a case which I carry on the tractor. It can be set up in seconds anywhere it's needed.

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Although quite sturdy, these magnetic mounts aren't meant for permanent use. For general purposes, I rely on the cab mounted cameras and use these for temporary work operations.

Yes, there are portable camera systems available but they are expensive and most aren't meant for heavy duty farm equipment use. They also have proprietary batteries which must be kept charged. This rig costs less than $50 (excluding battery) and uses the camera I already have. I always have a supply of cordless tool batteries charged and ready to go.

Nice! Care to share the camera and monitor info? Thanks

 

[bdhsfz6]

Nice! Care to share the camera and monitor info? Thanks

I use this fairly inexpensive Chinese made camera / monitor system from Yakry:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FM58K2W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Extra cameras are also available:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TPHRD9...olid=1KERB770YRAW3&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[Tinhack]

The problem with cameras, expensive or not, is they have no depth perseption. Nothing beats the view of human eyes. If you need precision, cameras won't work for you. But they do help keep things from sneaking up on you.

 

[TractorGuy]

The problem with cameras, expensive or not, is they have no depth perseption. Nothing beats the view of human eyes. If you need precision, cameras won't work for you. But they do help keep things from sneaking up on you.

Not sure if it's an option on these since none of the owner posted pictures show it on Amazon but I like the distance bars typically shown on screen with backup cameras. If you angle the camera correctly they will tell you exactly how far not to get to an object.

I looked at all the customer review photos on this camera setup and nothing impressed me to the $200+ mark. My less than $50 dash cameras look like they have higher resolution but I only have one of those that will display on my dash screen. I guess this is all about the portability of the system.

 

[OzKioti]

I set up my camera system a few weeks ago (before I saw the clever magnetic mounting idea), and I'm using an inexpensive wifi reversing camera sitting on top of a 5Ah gel battery. The camera is for an Android app called W-Car, and I have a Samsung S6 clamped in a suction-cup mount off the windscreen.

I made up a small box from plywood which is bolted onto an angle-iron strip on the loader crossarm. This arrangement is great for driving into an implement to hitch it up. I've painted the top of the hooks and the side wings white, so even on the small screen, they're quite visible. As you can see from the screen view, the angle of view is pretty good. For use off-tractor, the camera and battery just lift out and can be placed anywhere.



Cost of the bits worked out to around less than 100 Australian dollars (about 78 USD), not counting the phone.

I had some issues to start with. Namely, even though W-Car is an Android app, it didn't work at all well on either of the two tablets I have, nor on a Samsung S5. I then bought a new supposedly high-end Android phone with a magnificent high-res screen, running Ver 10, but still no go. The problem on all those was that there was an initial lag of a few seconds before the app showed what was happening (not much chop for a reversing camera :thumbdown: ), followed by a longer lag of about 20 seconds, followed by a complete freeze of the app. So I tried it out on a mate's S6, and all good with that phone, so I bought a good used S6 for a decent price, and now everything's sweet!

Maybe the app developer only tried his app out on an S6!

 

[pumasong]

This is all very interesting, I struggle with orienting the loader sometimes, when grading or moving compost etc.

I built a similar wireless camera system mounted behind our caravan (I think you guys in the US call those campers - the type you tow behind a vehicle) so I could see behind the towed vehicle from the tow car, super useful when reversing and also when overtaking on the motorway/highway.

The components worked out cheaper than those on Amazon I think:

Waterproof 18 ir led 12 degree rear view backup reverse camera car truck 12v 24v Sale - Banggood.com
Eachine ts832 boscam fpv 5.8g 48ch 6mw 7.4-16v wireless transmitter for rc drone fpv racing Sale - Banggood.com
Eachine moneagle 5 inch ips 8x48 5.8ghz 4ch diversity receiver 1lux fpv monitor with dvr 36deg full view hd display built-in 4mah battery for rc drone radio controller Sale - Banggood.com

Requires a bit of wiring and messing about but it's another way to achieve the same thing!

 

[bdhsfz6]

I set up my camera system a few weeks ago (before I saw the clever magnetic mounting idea), and I'm using an inexpensive wifi reversing camera sitting on top of a 5Ah gel battery. The camera is for an Android app called W-Car, and I have a Samsung S6 clamped in a suction-cup mount off the windscreen.

I made up a small box from plywood which is bolted onto an angle-iron strip on the loader crossarm. This arrangement is great for driving into an implement to hitch it up. I've painted the top of the hooks and the side wings white, so even on the small screen, they're quite visible. As you can see from the screen view, the angle of view is pretty good. For use off-tractor, the camera and battery just lift out and can be placed anywhere.

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Cost of the bits worked out to around less than 100 Australian dollars (about 78 USD), not counting the phone.

I had some issues to start with. Namely, even though W-Car is an Android app, it didn't work at all well on either of the two tablets I have, nor on a Samsung S5. I then bought a new supposedly high-end Android phone with a magnificent high-res screen, running Ver 10, but still no go. The problem on all those was that there was an initial lag of a few seconds before the app showed what was happening (not much chop for a reversing camera :thumbdown: ), followed by a longer lag of about 20 seconds, followed by a complete freeze of the app. So I tried it out on a mate's S6, and all good with that phone, so I bought a good used S6 for a decent price, and now everything's sweet!

Maybe the app developer only tried his app out on an S6!

Another good idea to do the same thing. In your case, the heavy battery is the mount. This would work well when setting the camera on the ground.


You can spend as much or as little as you want on the video system. The trick is to get the camera as close to the work as possible using a portable, easily movable mount. Most have wide angle lenses which are all but useless at a distance. I can't believe how much easier it is to pick up a pallet at max FEL height with the camera mounted on the forks!

 

[rstod]

I decided to palletize my cordwood this year...after many years of throwing it in my trailer to bring inside to my woodstove area, as needed throughout the burning season....a lot of handling. The palletization was a huge success....but the forks on my tractor are hard to see while loading the pallet onto the forks.....so...I decide to install a camera system on my Kubota. Maybe the cheap camera I bought is the problem but I find it very hard to see what I am doing because of the outside light/snow brightness..etc. dunno...maybe there is something I need to know...?? I use the camera image a little but find it just takes practice and doing it by 'feel' is the best way so far... Does anyone have a similar experience?