Community Forums

triker guy · 12-09-2015, 11:04 AM

Hi All, I am looking for a reasonable cost camera. I have a 99 Itasca class C with a 7.3 powerstroke & I am towing a 14 ft. trailer. As I am a Newbie I have jack-Knifed the trailer twice. Learning curve, I will need a new bumper [oops]. Could anyone please suggest a camera? I am on information overload. Wireless sounds easier but, wired seems more dependable with better Quality. Decisions Decisions. As soon as I get packed up I will be leaving Kenosha, WI. for Great Falls MT. Then south till the temperature gets above 70. All I have left is put the trike in the trailer, then bubble wrap the windows & install a camera or cameras.Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank You All and have a Great Holiday Season. Jim aka: triker guy it would be nice to have a camera to the rear of the trailer that I could switch back and forth as needed, Thanks.

Ray,IN · 12-09-2015, 09:33 PM

A number of wireless cameras are on the market. You'll get what you pay for usually. Amazon is probably the best source for the best pricing on all BU cameras.
I have a wireless Voyager, it's one of the cheaper brands on the market, has a good picture day or night. I've never experienced a transmit or receive problem from the unit, but I have lost 12V power to the camera or the receiver a few times. That is/was due to the initial poor wiring job from Camping World.
If you prefer a hard-wired camera(s) vs wireless, there is a wiring harness that may be bundled with your trailer umbilical cord plug to place a camera on the rear of the trailer.
Good luck going to Great Falls, according to the weather channel it's kinda rough there right now.

Waiter21 · 12-16-2015, 09:18 AM

I installed one of the inexpensive wireless units. Great, and less than $50 for everything.

Rear View Camera | 2001 Coachmen Mirada 300QB

..

Wayne M · 12-16-2015, 09:58 AM

Triker,
Use the mirrors. If the back up camera ever goes South when you are going North you will have to depend on the mirrors.

Tip: when backing place the hands at the bottom of the steering wheel, If you want to go left, turn the wheel left, if you want to go right, turn the wheel right. It is just the opposite when you have your hands on the top of the steering wheel.

Another two things. Go slow, use a ground guide like DW or GF, or....

Don't forget to keep the shinny side up.

MotorPro · 12-16-2015, 10:15 AM

If you are jack knifing the trailer while backing up a camera is not going to help. Take you truck and trailer to a large parking lot and practice. Go slow and don't be afraid to stop ,pull forward and go again. Until you know what your doing looking at a screen will make it worse.

jrusselltx · 12-22-2015, 02:23 PM

Back when we were using a travel trailer and pickup, I got a system from Tadi brothers with a wireless camera for the trailer and a wired license plate camera for the truck. The monitor had two inputs. I put the license plate camera (wired to the back up lights) so that if if came on it had priority in the monitor. That way I could see to back the pickup to the trailer and align the hitch. When going forward that camera went off and the wireless receiver became active. There were occasional glitches on the wireless camera for just a blip so it wasn't a huge problem. It was a 26 foot aluminum skinned trailer with the camera on the rear wall so there was some shielding of the signal. You can put the transmitter anywhere on the toad if you need it closer. Good luck.

triker guy · 01-26-2016, 04:02 PM

Thank you all for your valuable input. I have run into a few glitches, I have an exhaust brake that has frozen up but, I have it in the open position and will disconnect the actuator so as not to harm the system. Waiting for backup camera, I think will go to Great Falls,MT. ASAP Got to see my Big Brother! Thanks to all the info I have gathered on this great Forum I will be much better prepared. As I do not want to fill my water tank I will be carrying as much water as possible in MH and in the trailer. I have a whole lot to learn and being a rough 70 I will take er slow and easy. If anyone has any other suggestions please don't hesitate to contact me. Thanx again Jim=trikerguy