Aftermarket backup cameras

[Rob1334]

So my dad is looking for an aftermarket backup camera to add to his f350.

Wondering who here has one, there are a TON of them on ebay and amazon but some look pretty cheap and others like at the ford dealer here were asking WAY to much for what they offered.


I think what would be nice would be a wireless kit, and even thinking about doing the mod like Mule did to the back of his trailer as we have a new one showing up in a few weeks... would be nice to ad a dual camera system if it works out.

So any links to the one you have and what ya like or dislike about it, should be easy enough to piece a kit together for him.

Thanks

[Mule]

Does the truck have a DVD player or other display device with an analog input (or two) already?

I'll tell you now a wired camera is going to be easier than a wireless one, especially if you've already got a display, and the image will be a lot better.

If you have one input and want more than one camera, you'll have to switch the input. Not difficult, but it adds some complexity (and a switch). If there's extra inputs on the back, just plug into those.

The Peak kit I did on my truck/trailer works well, I'd recommend picking up a 25-ft camera extension cord so you can mount the transmitter as close to the receiver as possible.

The cameras themselves are cheap, I don't think ther'es a lot of difference between the chinese ones and a more expensive one from a domestic supplier. If you just want to plug it in and go, look at hte mounting kits... that's going to be the biggest difference between brands. A cheap one might require some modification before it'll work well.

[Rob1334]

No display at all in his truck so this will be an all in one system.

He has the aux switches in the dash so thinning of adding power through those to turn either one on at a time. I pretty much got the wiring figured out on how Imma do it in his truck and depending on the kit how to.make it work.for the trailer. Thinking it would be easy for a wireless on the back of the trailer to keep chords down and be able to switch vehicles with the kit if someone else pulls the trailer like my bro in law. Whatever kit he details ides I will make it work in mine.. the pickpocket DVD tool is already in mine and makes it real easy for mine.

[theultrarider]

Keep this thread updated Rob as I'm thinking of doing the same thing. Would be nice to hear what really works and doesn't. I'm in the same boat as your Dad. I have no displays in my truck currently and would be starting from scratch as well.

[Mule]

With the Peak kit, you'll either need to turn power on to whatever transmitter you want to use and turn the other one off, or switch the channel-select line in the receiver and change the channel on one of the transmitters.
Wasn't too hard for me to figure out, but it'd be tough to explain how to do it to someone else...

There's a few different screen sizes, I got the smallest/cheapest one. The next size up gives you a 5"-ish (i think) screen, but the rest of the kit (camera/transmitter) is exactly the same.

Like you said, the wireless kit is nice if you pull the trailer with a different truck. The receiver comes with a cig lighter adapter, so that moves vehicle-to-vehicle pretty easy.

My trailer's cam is on the default channel. The backup cam on my truck is on a different one you have to rewire the receiver to pick up. I put a switch on mine to toggle between the two, but any unmodified receiver will pick up my trailer's cam.

Switch is a cheap SPDT screwed to the plastic housing and wired to the channel-select lines.

[777]

Just read about one yesturday. The "I Hitch". Wireless. Magnetic camera. Screen plugs into your lighter all for a $130. Might grab one for the ol fordelack. My GMC has all high end stuff and I've been through 2 kenwoods and one Alpine. They dont seem to hold up to extreme weather. Jmo.

[Nick568]

Originally Posted by Mule

With the Peak kit, you'll either need to turn power on to whatever transmitter you want to use and turn the other one off, or switch the channel-select line in the receiver and change the channel on one of the transmitters.
Wasn't too hard for me to figure out, but it'd be tough to explain how to do it to someone else...

There's a few different screen sizes, I got the smallest/cheapest one. The next size up gives you a 5"-ish (i think) screen, but the rest of the kit (camera/transmitter) is exactly the same.

Like you said, the wireless kit is nice if you pull the trailer with a different truck. The receiver comes with a cig lighter adapter, so that moves vehicle-to-vehicle pretty easy.

My trailer's cam is on the default channel. The backup cam on my truck is on a different one you have to rewire the receiver to pick up. I put a switch on mine to toggle between the two, but any unmodified receiver will pick up my trailer's cam.

Switch is a cheap SPDT screwed to the plastic housing and wired to the channel-select lines.

I've heard good things about the Peak systems.
The question I have though is with the license plate mount for the camera, can you see your hitch ball? Only reason I'd want one, really.

[Mule]

Originally Posted by Nick568

I've heard good things about the Peak systems.
The question I have though is with the license plate mount for the camera, can you see your hitch ball? Only reason I'd want one, really.

[Rob1334]

Nice to see this back up on top.


I went with this kit here off of amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o03_s00_i01


So far my father LOVES it. In fact he wishes he would have had one on his older truck.


I decided to go with Mule's advice and get one that was not wireless for better signal and not having to worry about it linking up or whatever. It wired in pretty simple, I put power to it through an AUX switch that comes factory in the F350, so he can turn it on whenever he wants it to, not how I would wire it in my vehicle but it's how he wanted it. The RCA cable was ran to the rear as well as a power wire, ziptied up into the frame rail and out of the way, pretty easy job. Took me about 2 hours to do the whole thing mounting it how we wanted, make sure everything was tied up out the way, aiming, etc. Great kit for the money so far, guess we'll see how it holds up.

[Nick568]

Originally Posted by Mule

Awesome! Thanks for the pics!

Yeah, I generally prefer wired, and haven't decided which I'll go yet. I'm not averse to running wire and hard wiring the system in, but with so many damn systems out there, it's hard to determine which are even worth buying.
Good to hear you're happy with the Pyle system, Rob. I'll be sure to look at that one too.