use large convex mirror for backing assistance?

[texasjohn]

I find that it's increasingly hard to back up properly the first time to hook up my:

flatbed 18' bumper hitch
dump trailer..gooseneck
cattle trailer..gooseneck
5 bale hay hauler..gooseneck
1000 gallon water trailer...pin hitch, front steering, 4 wheels
cotton trailer... pin hitch..front steering, 4 wheels
300 gallon herbicide trailer.. pin hitch, 2 wheel

And, I switch trailers maybe twice a day..

My search for a wireless, portable backup system lead me to believe that the Swift Hitch is maybe what I could use. But spending $300 gets into the pricey region for my Scottish blood. It has a magnetic base for the camera and every trailer I have has a place where it could be safely mounted.

However, anybody tried mounting a large convex circular mirror on the trailer and watching it in the vehicle's rear view mirror as you back up... can you see sufficiently to get the job done, or are things just too small?

I'm wondering if I could mount such a mirror on a strong magnetic base for temporary placement on each trailer then move it from trailer to trailer... if it would be functional, it would not require any fancy electronics and not break.

Surely, such a convex mirror system must not work or they would be in general use...but, does anybody have any actual experience with this approach....yes,, I'm cheap...could go buy one and find out ...but, then, would not have any reason to visit TBN

 

[coobie]

I find that it's increasingly hard to back up properly the first time to hook up my:

flatbed 18' bumper hitch
dump trailer..gooseneck
cattle trailer..gooseneck
5 bale hay hauler..gooseneck
1000 gallon water trailer...pin hitch, front steering, 4 wheels
cotton trailer... pin hitch..front steering, 4 wheels
300 gallon herbicide trailer.. pin hitch, 2 wheel

And, I switch trailers maybe twice a day..

My search for a wireless, portable backup system lead me to believe that the Swift Hitch is maybe what I could use. But spending $300 gets into the pricey region for my Scottish blood. It has a magnetic base for the camera and every trailer I have has a place where it could be safely mounted.

However, anybody tried mounting a large convex circular mirror on the trailer and watching it in the vehicle's rear view mirror as you back up... can you see sufficiently to get the job done, or are things just too small?

I'm wondering if I could mount such a mirror on a strong magnetic base for temporary placement on each trailer then move it from trailer to trailer... if it would be functional, it would not require any fancy electronics and not break.

Surely, such a convex mirror system must not work or they would be in general use...but, does anybody have any actual experience with this approach....yes,, I'm cheap...could go buy one and find out ...but, then, would not have any reason to visit TBN

I just bought a swift hitch last month for $289 shipped,best darn money I ever spent.No fights with the wife now hooking up the trailers,LOL.I am very impressed with the quality also.Buy one you won,t be sorry.coobie

 

[MarkLeininger]

I've used convex mirrors to back trailers up against fences when I used to drive a truck, but they don't work at night, or if they're in the shade and you're in the sun, or if they're covered with dust, or if it's raining, or in the morning when they have dew on them. But the other 2 days of the year they work great.

I'm in the queue to buy the camera, may have to wait for Santa.

 

[Builder]

Have you checked out the WalMart back up camera? It ain't perfect, but for $99 it works 1/2 decent.

I really wish there were more alternatives. There's the walmart camera for $99, then there's a jump up to about $500 for the better units.

 

[Reg]

I still think the toilet plunger is the simplest,easiest, cheapest device for gooseneck trailers.
Just put it over the truck's ball, sight it in the rear view mirror and stop when the handle falls over.
Paint it BRIGHT if you need to.

 

[Builder]

I think I just found what I'm looking for. Price is reasonable. I'm gonna try it.

https://www.ruralking.com/Store/detail.aspx?ID=42256

 

[texasjohn]

Good input, every one. Thanks.

Think I'll purchase a plunger and look for walmart model on sale.

 

[MarkLeininger]

I still think the toilet plunger is the simplest,easiest, cheapest device for gooseneck trailers.
Just put it over the truck's ball, sight it in the rear view mirror and stop when the handle falls over.

I tried this but it kept falling over when I backed over my wife.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

I tried this but it kept falling over when I backed over my wife.

She catches you saying that we might find that plunger located up someplace on your body...

 

[schmism]

how about a backup camera for $100

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

 

[Builder]

That's the one I have. The screen is about the size of a business card. The rear camera is kind of quirky. It works, but I need something better.

 

[texasjohn]

Hmm... found this at Fry's... says they are sold out, however..will have to check local outlet.

FRYS.com | Q-See

has 2 outdoor cameras, wireless, 1 receiver...

Kinda close to what I need..have 2 pickups, thus need 2 cameras.
I can only drive one at a time, thus only need one receiver.

 

[LBrown59]

I've used convex mirrors to back trailers up against fences when I used to drive a truck, but they don't work at night, or if they're in the shade and you're in the sun, or if they're covered with dust, or if it's raining, or in the morning when they have dew on them.
z* But the other 2 days of the year they work great.

I'm in the queue to buy the camera, may have to wait for Santa.

Z*L O L .

 

[wushaw]

Camping World use to have a convex mirror that hung off a tailgate or stuck to the back glass, I used one of these for several years untill I lost it....I think it is laying in a ditch somewhere.
It did work just fine for me and at night I placed a flashlight on the ground for general lighting.
It is a cheap mans way to hook up a tounge drawn trailer.

I just placed a order for the one on a pole, I just hope it works just as good as the other style did. $ 33.00 shipped

 

[texasjohn]

OK... here's what I did... have lived with it for about 2 weeks now and applied to numerous of my trailers... and pickups....for me, it is an excellent value...gooseneck, bumper hitch, pin hitch, 2 pickups and a 4 runner... all legit combinations make hooking up require about 1.1 tries on average.

It is the MAGNETIC TRAILER ALIGNMENT KIT that HF has for $8.99 now for those who get coupons via email.

Basically, two tennis balls on a extendable radio antenna with a magnetic base. Put one on the trailer hitch, one on the pickup either bumper hitch or gooseneck hitch making sure that both day-glow bright balls are visable thru the rear window and rear view mirror....

I am very surprised... I line up the two balls in the rear view mirror just like a gun sight... no need to turn around, etc....and back up until one tips over... perfect alignment every time, and proper placement assures that the hitch is over the ball when it tips over...

All said, less expensive and more flexible than any other option... agreed, more difficult when it is dark...

 

[gemini5362]

I just came into the house from doing a temporary install of my new backup camera. I wanted to hook it up to see how it worked before I actually ran the wiring. I bought it at SAMS CLUB the name is Peak Safety View Back-Up camera system. It is one of the best ones I have seen for the price. Not a lot of bells and whistles but does what I wanted. It is a color camera that fits on to your license plate bolts. It has some wedge shaped washers so you can adjust your down viewing to fit your needs. I put the largest wedge shaped washers on it so that I could see the trailer ball. I might go to the lesser ones and see if that still gets it in the picture the ones I have in actually has the ball about in the middle or top portion of the screen. The camera is wireless so no running wires up to your dash. The nice thing is the monitor it is a 7 inch color monitor so you get a lot of viewing area. The monitor also has AV inputs in case you want to run something else through it. There are several mounting options that came with it. I chose the straps that go through the case and let you mount it to the sun visor. The best thing is the price. 109.00 and if you want you can get a three year warranty for 14.95 ( i figure 5.00 a year to warranty any wireless device is cheap. ) I used it to backup to my trailer (something that normally i have to back up then get out of the truck and see where I am and then cut the truck tires and back up some more usually about three trips out of the truck) With the camera I could see the hitch go right over the ball. It is well worth the price to save on the agravation of trying to hook up to the trailer. There are some threads about using a camera on your FEL to see where it is. I might try that one of these days and IF i like the results go get another one at that price here is the unit on ebay. It is the same one I bought but at sams is 109.00 I looked and sams online does not show it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Car,-Truck,-RV-Back-Up-Camera-System-Kit-7%22-LCD-$0-S&H!_W0QQitemZ360105402384QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20081108?IMSfp=TL081108119006r30668

 

[jwstewar]

Our Advance Auto Parts had a back-up system for $59.98 when I was in there on Saturday. Online they have this one for $69.98 While we find your parts, please enter your ZIP Code at PartsAmerica.com

I thought about getting one to help hook our camper up.

 

[Builder]

I just came into the house from doing a temporary install of my new backup camera. I wanted to hook it up to see how it worked before I actually ran the wiring. I bought it at SAMS CLUB the name is Peak Safety View Back-Up camera system. It is one of the best ones I have seen for the price. Not a lot of bells and whistles but does what I wanted. It is a color camera that fits on to your license plate bolts. It has some wedge shaped washers so you can adjust your down viewing to fit your needs. I put the largest wedge shaped washers on it so that I could see the trailer ball. I might go to the lesser ones and see if that still gets it in the picture the ones I have in actually has the ball about in the middle or top portion of the screen. The camera is wireless so no running wires up to your dash. The nice thing is the monitor it is a 7 inch color monitor so you get a lot of viewing area. The monitor also has AV inputs in case you want to run something else through it. There are several mounting options that came with it. I chose the straps that go through the case and let you mount it to the sun visor. The best thing is the price. 109.00 and if you want you can get a three year warranty for 14.95 ( i figure 5.00 a year to warranty any wireless device is cheap. ) I used it to backup to my trailer (something that normally i have to back up then get out of the truck and see where I am and then cut the truck tires and back up some more usually about three trips out of the truck) With the camera I could see the hitch go right over the ball. It is well worth the price to save on the agravation of trying to hook up to the trailer. There are some threads about using a camera on your FEL to see where it is. I might try that one of these days and IF i like the results go get another one at that price here is the unit on ebay. It is the same one I bought but at sams is 109.00 I looked and sams online does not show it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Car,-Truck,-RV-Back-Up-Camera-System-Kit-7%22-LCD-$0-S&H!_W0QQitemZ360105402384QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20081108?IMSfp=TL081108119006r30668

That sure beats my wireless camera with a 3" screen from Walmart!!

How far back does it see? More than 10 feet?

I'm getting one this weekend. Thanks for sharing the great find!!!!

 

[gemini5362]

That sure beats my wireless camera with a 3" screen from Walmart!!

How far back does it see? More than 10 feet?

I'm getting one this weekend. Thanks for sharing the great find!!!!

actually I did not pay attention to how far back it sees. I know without the wedged shape washers that I could not see the ball but I could see the trailer as I was backing up to it. I put them on there just so i could see the ball and tell when the hitch was over it.

I do not know that all sams clubs have them I just know the one in Fort Smith, Arkansas had it and it is a brand new product for them.

 

[Builder]

Gemeni, I would like to hit my local Sams to see if they have the camera you found in stock. The small one from WalMart I currently have comes on with the backup lights.

I'd like to put cameras in both my trucks and my Challenger tractor.

Did you notice if the camera you have could be "constantly on" since my Challenger has no real backup lights? I wanted to be able to use my camera monitor all the time, not just in reverse to monitor whatever equipment was on my 3pt without turning around all the time.

I guess it could be wired into a wire that's "hot" when the tractor is running?