Any here ever used one of these? Do they work?

JohnWhayne · May 14, 2015

4570Man · May 14, 2015

I would be surprised if it actually worked as advertised.

JohnWhayne · May 14, 2015

Been thinking about trying one.....noticed they have a money back guarantee.......I've watch the video several times and it looks pretty slick......

2458n · May 15, 2015

When you watch the video notice the trailer jack. Might as well get a new trailer jack because you are going to wear out the one you are banging into. Boats do not have a great deal of tongue weight. My tractor and trailer do not take shoving around very well. Handles up and down okay very unforgiving on the sideways stuff.

Wagtail · May 15, 2015

There's a second video there for a similar product "Never Miss Hitch". Both are interesting.

Or you can do what I do and duct tape a couple of long sticks to the ball & hitch. Use them to line up as you back up and, when the one on the ball bends over = you're there! Ta-DA!!!

bcp · May 15, 2015

Do they work?

Not as well as a new truck with a backup camera.

Bruce

Sysop · May 15, 2015

Those work well enough. Just got to get them placed straight and where they're not in the way. Extra 30 seconds to adjust them just so-so saves ten minutes of checking and rechecking.

Diamondpilot · May 15, 2015

A backup camera is 100 times better and only $50.

This is 80's technology.

Chris

Sysop · May 15, 2015

bcp said:
Not as well as a new truck with a backup camera.

Bruce

Diamondpilot said:
A backup camera is 100 times better and only $50.

This is 80's technology.

Chris

What new trucks come with $50 backup cameras?

Concordriver · May 15, 2015

I have one. Been using it for years. Works great. Eliminates the need for me to keep jumping out of the truck and checking for perfect alignment. I also find that getting the hitch close to the ball is helped by putting the tailgate down when backing into position.

Thomas · May 15, 2015

Like the idea.

LD1 · May 15, 2015

Might work, but I agree, hard on the jack.

For the BP, I have gotten it down. Just get close enough to gauge what is needed, hop back in truck make that final adjustment/correction, thats it.

But I like my GN, I can see the ball from the seat

Bird · May 15, 2015

In the past, the only backup camera I've had was on the motorhome we had in the early '90s, but now even our 2014 Ford Escape has one.

Diamondpilot · May 15, 2015

Sysop said:
What new trucks come with $50 backup cameras?

None, but Amazon, Walmart, Auto Zone, Target, Ebay, ect all have them for that or less and they work very well.

Chris

ovrszd · May 15, 2015

I guess I don't get it? 99% of the time I can back up to my bumper hitch aligned the first time. I simply use my mirrors and center the trailer behind me. :confused3:

Diamondpilot · May 15, 2015

ovrszd said:
I guess I don't get it? 99% of the time I can back up to my bumper hitch aligned the first time. I simply use my mirrors and center the trailer behind me. :confused3:

Some people just can't do it. I swear I was in my hotel room on the 6th floor last night and watched a Oriental Man attempt for 5 minutes try to back a small car into a spot with nothing on either side of him. At one point he was 60 deg off. I could have put on my shoes, rode the elevator down, and parked it for him in less time.

This was just a small car like a Accord. Image him with a trailer.

Chris

KevT · May 15, 2015

Diamondpilot said:
Some people just can't do it. I swear I was in my hotel room on the 6th floor last night and watched a Oriental Man attempt for 5 minutes try to back a small car into a spot with nothing on either side of him. At one point he was 60 deg off. I could have put on my shoes, rode the elevator down, and parked it for him in less time.

This was just a small car like a Accord. Image him with a trailer.

Chris

Well Chris, most of the people that know me laugh, but I can back any trailer anywhere and keep it square to a dock. For the life of me I can't back my PU square. I am better than 60 degrees but one side of my bumper is touching and the other is 2 inches off. I think it comes from having to put equipment away as a kid on my Dad's farm. I learned to back trailers (age 12) long before I learned to drive forward (age 14).

KevT · May 15, 2015

ovrszd said:
I guess I don't get it? 99% of the time I can back up to my bumper hitch aligned the first time. I simply use my mirrors and center the trailer behind me. :confused3:

Which is how I still hook the Equinox up to the little trailer (6x10) but the backup camera on the truck does make it much nicer for all the other ones

Coyote machine · May 15, 2015

Diamondpilot said:
Some people just can't do it. I swear I was in my hotel room on the 6th floor last night and watched a Oriental Man attempt for 5 minutes try to back a small car into a spot with nothing on either side of him. At one point he was 60 deg off. I could have put on my shoes, rode the elevator down, and parked it for him in less time.

This was just a small car like a Accord. Image him with a trailer.

Chris

Forget the trailer; imagine him on the road.

FWIW, the PC term is Asian man. Oriental left with Disco.:confused3:

davesl708 · May 15, 2015

ovrszd said:
I guess I don't get it? 99% of the time I can back up to my bumper hitch aligned the first time. I simply use my mirrors and center the trailer behind me. :confused3:

I don't either. Have a friend that is backup challenged. I put a piece of masking tape in the center of his tailgate to help him find the center. Still somewhat challenged.