Loader Camera (pics)

[JLwoodworks]

Macgregor those look to be pretty handy and versatile. I think aeblank would benefit from one on his open station.

Mangus that's not too far from macedon. Let me know when you'd like to stop out.

GinNB I can imagine not wanting to poke a fork into the wrong place in that situation.

Thanks guys glad I could be some inspiration.
Skindaddy this is the kit I bought for the weatherpack plugs. There weren't instructions with them so I would suggest finding a video or something. I managed to figure them out but didn't take and pics of the steps.

4 Position Square Weather Pack 3-pack - 20 to 18 Gauge Delphi Weatherpack by DIYAutoTune https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005OS5E40/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_1uXvwb3W8G6S1

I also suggest silicone electrical grease and heat shrink tube on everything. I've prevented so many problems over the years that way. Like for the rca connections for the video feed. Filled then with grease and covered them with heat shrink.

Tom the new gopros do have that feature, but I'd be worried about accidentally destroying such an expensive camera

 

[Willie B]

I have a full sized Tractor/loader/backhoe. The front bucket isn't near as useful as a skidsteer bucket. With a skidsteer you can see the cutting edge. I've wanted this for years. The neigh sayers in my world said it wouldn't work. I'm tickled to see yours.

 

[npalen]

Don't the newer go pro's have the ability to transmit to your cell phone? They have a ton of mounts available. Not exactly cheap but it could be used for other things as well.

Tom

I stuck the GoPro on the closed tailgate with a magnet mount and pointed down to the hitch ball. Yes, the newer GoPro's transmit to your cell phone. This is a temporary thing as a person wouldn't want to be haulin' the GoPro around. It could mysteriously disappear.

 

[bumperm]

This mount has been changed some. It was made out of 3/4" square tube, the replacement is 1" (so the camera plug fits through the tube. Also the tube now has a forward bend and it not quite as tall (the height is adjustable within reason using a sliding bracket at the base).



The big wing nut on the left adjusts clamping pressure on the loader cross tube so the camera boom can be set so it would be pushed out of the way if something impacts it. The clamp also allows for forward and aft adjustment. The small screw clamp on the right is for adjusting mast height.



Clamp bracket parts before painting:

 

[skyhook]

I like it.:thumbsup:

 

[jmc]

This mount has been changed some. It was made out of 3/4" square tube, the replacement is 1" (so the camera plug fits through the tube. Also the tube now has a forward bend and it not quite as tall (the height is adjustable within reason using a sliding bracket at the base

The big wing nut on the left adjusts clamping pressure on the loader cross tube so the camera boom can be set so it would be pushed out of the way if something impacts it. The clamp also allows for forward and aft adjustment. The small screw clamp on the right is for adjusting mast height.

Good job on getting the camera height just right to barely cover the bucket width. Does the camera vibrate with the engine running?

 

[bumperm]

No vibration at all, even with the 3/4" tube shown. As mentioned, I later modified it to 1" tube, mainly 'cause I put a radius bend in the tube for spacing purposes, and then had a camera glitch. And like all good plans that don't work out, the bend prevented me from pulling the dang plug back out to swap cams. Scratch head, scratch butt, start over!

 

[aeblank]

I think aeblank would benefit from one on his open station.

I've been thinking about this......
For $50, for the ENTIRE system, I don't think another solution is worth it. Sure, a $350 gopro would do it, but why...... I can get 7 replacement screens for that kind of moooola. I think I'll one day put one on my loader. Mount the screen where ever I can, and remove it in the winter (loader comes off in the winter anyway). I park my rig inside 99.9% of the time (or the wife has a cow) overnight. If I can help it, I don't use it in the rain either (it is an open station, after all). I can toss a bag over the display if I need to and/or make it easily removable. I can suction cup or mag mount mount it to my hood. Heck, I *could* get a magnetic latching connector, so I can literally just rip it off there.

 

[JLwoodworks]

I've been thinking about this......
For $50, for the ENTIRE system, I don't think another solution is worth it. Sure, a $350 gopro would do it, but why...... I can get 7 replacement screens for that kind of moooola. I think I'll one day put one on my loader. Mount the screen where ever I can, and remove it in the winter (loader comes off in the winter anyway). I park my rig inside 99.9% of the time (or the wife has a cow) overnight. If I can help it, I don't use it in the rain either (it is an open station, after all). I can toss a bag over the display if I need to and/or make it easily removable. I can suction cup or mag mount mount it to my hood. Heck, I *could* get a magnetic latching connector, so I can literally just rip it off there.

sounds like a good plan. I saw a thread on here at one time with guys doing this on an open station. Also, the screen has only a single, around 24" cable with a connector on it. so it could be removed without much fuss

 

[s219]

Yeah, I've had one on my open station tractor for almost a year now. The screen was $25 or so, and I am not worried if it craps out -- just buy another. But so far it's been doing fine. I keep a baggie in the toolbox of my tractor, and can throw it over the screen if it's raining.

 

[zmansmac]

I was inspired by JL when I first read this thread and so went to Amazon and bought the display and camera. But I set it up as a back camera, mostly for snow plowing because I also have a back blade on. I now have the display and camera mounted and it works great. What I didn't realize until I actually got the display and hooked it up first on my dining table is that it is capable of having 2 video inputs. And there is a button on the front of the display to switch between the two. So now for another $13 I can set up a front camera. Just thought you guys would want to know that in case you have a need to set up 2 cameras somewhere on your tractors. Good choice in parts JL.

 

[s219]

I was inspired by JL when I first read this thread and so went to Amazon and bought the display and camera. But I set it up as a back camera, mostly for snow plowing because I also have a back blade on. I now have the display and camera mounted and it works great. What I didn't realize until I actually got the display and hooked it up first on my dining table is that it is capable of having 2 video inputs. And there is a button on the front of the display to switch between the two. So now for another $13 I can set up a front camera. Just thought you guys would want to know that in case you have a need to set up 2 cameras somewhere on your tractors. Good choice in parts JL.

There's another long-running thread on here from last year, titled something like "backup camera for $50" where a bunch of us setup up front/rear camera systems with the monitor switching between cams, and it works well. Hard to believe you can do all this for so cheap. No doubt I had way more time involved in the labor and custom fabrication!

Here's the setup I used for my front camera:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ckup-camera-50-a-post4042463.html#post4042463

Scroll down to post #219 on that page.

 

[gwstang]

I was inspired by JL when I first read this thread and so went to Amazon and bought the display and camera. But I set it up as a back camera, mostly for snow plowing because I also have a back blade on. I now have the display and camera mounted and it works great. What I didn't realize until I actually got the display and hooked it up first on my dining table is that it is capable of having 2 video inputs. And there is a button on the front of the display to switch between the two. So now for another $13 I can set up a front camera. Just thought you guys would want to know that in case you have a need to set up 2 cameras somewhere on your tractors. Good choice in parts JL.

Thanks for covering the part about the button to switch from the front to rear on the screen. I was wondering about this. I have a plate in my neck and have a very difficult time turning my head enough to back up to an implement for hook up. I can get close but then have to horse the implement around some to get it lined up to hook up both sides. I use a breaker bar for this but a camera would be perfect...might help me not to back into anything too.

 

[dstig1]

Nice work!

Also check out Waxman's thread on his camera install. REALLY nice job.

 

[greif]

Jl is the screen waterproof

 

[JLwoodworks]

Zman, glad it's working for you.

S219, that's the thread I was referring to earlier. There's a lot of guys doing this mod.
It's funny when I tell people I put a camera on the tractor and they look at me like I have 3 heads. (They're the same kind of people that ask why someone would need a tractor)

Dstig, of course. Everything waxman does is really nice

Grief, no, I don't believe it's waterproof

 

[aeblank]

Dragonpad 7" TFT LCD Color 2 Video Input Car RearView Headrest Monitor DVD VCR Monitor With Remote and Stand & Support Rotating The Screen https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007SLDF7O/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_Izevwb2P5WJEE

Front View Camera,Chuanganzhuo Universal Normal Image Car Reverse Backup Rear/Front View Camera For All Car,Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RD05MOO/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_HKevwb49WA685

So, these items were on my christmas list, and I got them! Actually, I think the camera is "the better one" (so I've been told), but the same form factor and manufacturer.

Anyway, the directions leave a little to be desired. Can you shed any light on the wiring?
It *seems* as though the camera and the screen have constant power source (so (+) and (-) for both devices).
Then the screen has an "enable" maybe, for each input (if so, which enable is for which input?!).
The camera is weird though too, because there are 2 wire loops that look like they're meant for cutting into to attach some sort of signal or *something*.

Anyway, short of just guessing and seeing if it works..............
Any advice?

 

[Jim Timber]

I went a little different route after all you're talking about these things.

I got a Ion wifi air pro 3 camera and will run it's view finder app on my phone to see what it's doing while wirelessly attached to my loader as needed.

 

[newbury]

I went a little different route after all you're talking about these things.

I got a Ion wifi air pro 3 camera and will run it's view finder app on my phone to see what it's doing while wirelessly attached to my loader as needed.

Your just bragging, we need pics!

 

[Jim Timber]

They're on sale for $139 on amazon right now. Mine has been preparing to ship for 5 days and supposedly will actually make it out of the warehouse tomorrow.

So for now, I don't have anything to share.

I had a Hero 3+ silver for a couple days a couple years ago (it's low light capabilities were awful so I returned it), and it too had the phone app for remote control and view finding. So I do know the theory is sound. Ion says the Air Pro 3 is good for 2.5 hours recording. I'm not sure how long the battery will last while transmitting video, but it's easy enough to run a 12v power supply out to it.

Another option with the wifi camera is to use a cheap tablet like an old model galaxy or such. You can get remote cameras for wifi all over the web cheap enough. The Ion just fits the bill for making more youtube videos for me, so it's a multi-purpose purchase right now.