Thread: Back-up camera for hooking up boat to truck

Originally Posted by mrdux

My knees have finally told me I have to get something to make hooking up my trailer to my truck less painful. I am looking to buy an aftermarket camera so I can line up and hook up my trailers. I have read hundreds of reviews on all sorts of brands and it seems to be love/hate with most all of them.

Anybody have an aftermarket camera you installed? What brand has worked best for you? Would you buy it again or another brand?

I'm not going to buy one of the $29 deals but I also don't want to spend $2-300 for one that will never be used except to hook up trailers. My wife's 2015 Ford Escape Titanium has one and I never look at it in normal driving situations. She absolutely loves it.

here is the one I got and love it !!!!

Pyle Audio 3.5" Monitor Wireless Back-Up Rearview and Night Vision Camera System - Walmart.com

I bought from Advance Auto Parts. Sorry I don't remember the brand. I remember that they were on sale for about $100. They make life a lot easier. I was so impressed, I put one on every vehicle we own. I can back my ball right under the coupler first try every time. All I have to do is back up, lower the trailer, engage the lock and hook up the lights.

I got one on sale from NAPA for about $50.(Peak brand, I think) My SUV has the back up lights in the fender and license plate is on the tailgate, so I powered the camera off the license plate lights. Kind of like having it on anytime I need it whether I am in reverse or not. Easy to see if I hooked the chains and knights up while going down the road.
I can turn it on by turning the lights on and if you want it off just hit the button on the screen and turn off.
Works great by the way.

Not saying this is the answer to your prayers but... a long time ago, my grandfather had issues backing up and getting aligned. Unlike the younger crowd, he simply couldn't get close and push the trailer over or lift it up to put it on the ball. Obviously this was before cameras. So, what he did (which is pretty simple), every time he parked the boat and took it off, he put a board behind the rear tires of the boat and his truck. On the drivers side, he would put a stake with a flag on it. This way he knew exactly how far to back the truck up (when the wheels hit the board) and how to align his truck (by the marker flag). Worked pretty darn good too.

Just a cheap idea. Good luck with the camera.

Just in case you or someone else don't want to spend much money here is another way to line up with trailers. These do extend up to where you can see them above the tailgate of truck.

Magnetic Telescoping Trailer Hitch Alignment Kit Balls RV Boat Utility Trailer


Magnetic Telescoping Trailer Hitch Alignment Kit Balls RV Boat Utlity Trailer | eBay

Originally Posted by scrat

Just in case you or someone else don't want to spend much money here is another way to line up with trailers. These do extend up to where you can see them above the tailgate of truck.

Magnetic Telescoping Trailer Hitch Alignment Kit Balls RV Boat Utility Trailer


Magnetic Telescoping Trailer Hitch Alignment Kit Balls RV Boat Utlity Trailer | eBay

Been using these for a couple of years now, they work great! I do like the backup camera though, I would have to get one that fits over my rear view mirror, because my GPS is on my dash.

Harbor Freight has the Tennis Ball Alignment do-hickey for $10 which means $8 when you use your 20% off coupon.
Magnetic Trailer Alignment Kit

They make a camera specifically for the purpose of hooking up trailers which has a magnetic attachment for the camera and the monitor mounts in the cigarette lighter of the truck.

iBallhitchcam.com - iBall Wireless Trailer Hitch Camera

The camera has a built in rechargeable battery. The added benefit is if you mount a small piece of steel on the back of your boat you can mount the camera there when you are backing the boat into the garage.


Watch the second video on the website for a code for Free Shipping = CASH

Thanks for the input guys. The iBall hitch camera was exactly what I was looking for and with a $30 discount and free shipping it was $139.95. Got one on the way.