So after finally replacing my old trailers. Goose-neck horse trailer and a 20ft flatbed bumper pull, it is time to make it easier to hook up.
I still have my tricks for hooking up the flatbed without having to get in and out multiple times. The goose-neck tho... not so easy to see the hitch ball in the bed.
So i am looking for a backup camera system that will allow me to see both in bed and bumper hitch depending on which I am using.
looking for an installed setup that either has its own monitor that isn't too big of a screen or, to give me a better reason to get a new head unit, something that would work with an in dash stereo.
There are tons of setups out there...kind of. Just looking to find what has been proven reliable.
I had thought about a magnet mount camera that goes to my phone and thought of using my go-pro but knowing my luck, I would forget it and end up losing it going down the road.

Recommendations?

Thanks all!

 

I went with this one I already had the Pioneer head unit but you can also just buy a separate monitor if you're not ready to upgrade the head unit. I found that the angle of the tailgate latch camera is perfect for lining up the hitch ball as it looks down on it and I can get it perfect every time with no helper.

 

Sorry I just noticed you needed it for a gooseneck, the tailgate latch wont work for that. For my work van I just bought a simple stand alone camera with a small monitor that I stuck on the visor, it was wired all the way because I had trouble with the wireless one but from the back of the cab to the dash a wireless would probably work fine. One note, most modern head units have multiple camera inputs so if you go with one you could get 2 cameras and just switch back and forth. You can even have a split screen with a camera on each half if you want.

 

I was gifted a standalone wired system for our 5th wheel. Yeah the separate screen is nice in theory but dealing with hooking it up, and putting it away every time sucked. That was the final straw to push me to a new head unit. Went with the Atoto A6 like many on here.

So I'd recommend finding a head unit, then buying the cameras for much less online. Way cheaper than buying the stand alone and getting frustrated with it then buying a head unit that you were debating anyways

 

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...ID=20015012602
this is what I have and I love it

 

How often would you be using it? I have a dash cam with bluetoof or WIFI connectivity to my iPhone. I haven't used it for that yet but figure I will.

 

Ok. So a $200 head unit, that does navigation, Android auto, 2 camera inputs, touch screen , blue tooth hands free and all...and sounds decent? I'm not looking for it to sound like the system in my car but decent sound? And you can switch from one camera to the other?
How long have you had it? Reliability?
Almost sounds too good to be true?

 

I am looking at prolly 4 or 5 times a month. Maybe as little as twice a month.
Although I do already have a dashcam. But that has no display. Just records when I am driving to protect myself in case of incident.

 

I believe mista Sous has a large thread on it. I've only had mine about 9 months. I can switch between the 2 wired trailer cameras and the dash cam as easily as switching between apps on a phone. I think the radio part works good. Lot of unnecessary settings on it. I usually have mine on volume 12 or 14 on my daily work drive.

​​​​​​Be careful ordering it, the devil is in the model number details. With or without hands free gesture on that detail

 

All of your questions and more are in the thread linked below. There is a lot of content there though, so proceed cautiously.

ATOTO Android Head Unit Project...

My adventure toward acquiring a head unit started when the Joying Android head units came out years ago. They were OK, but they were not what I wanted to count on for navigation, OBDII, etc... SkySkiJason bought into the ATOTO A6 Pro and we had a discussion about it at one of the north GA GTG's. I decided this was the route to take.

Now, if you do NOT need dual bluetooth receivers like I thought I did, you do not need to go with an ATOTO head unit. I don't think the A6 Pro units are available for purchase any longer, although a few FTE'rs have purchased S8 models with some success and some frustration.

This is NOT Android Auto, this is and off brand Android operating system, just like a Samsung tablet or an LG smartphone would have. They take the base Android operating system and tailor it to their needs and applications. Same thing here with the ATOTO. The reason why I selected the ATOTO A6 Pro was due to the reviews and 1st hand experience provided to me by a trusted source and friend (SSJ). Another primary reason was it is the only head unit in that price range with dual bluetooth receivers. At the time, I was going to run an OBDLink MX+ via bluetooth for FORScan Lite and a smartphone for phone calls connected bluetooth. In order to do this, you need two bluetooth receivers on the head unit.

I since swapped to a OBDLink SX which has a USB hardwire connection, so I am only using one bluetooth receiver in the head unit. This is my preferred method of connection to the ODBII port as it is fast, secure and hardwired. If I had known I was going this route when selecting the Android head unit, I may have selected another brand, make or model. Although, I have zero regrets concerning the ATOTO A6 pro that has a dash camera, back up camera, live Google Maps, Pandora, FORScan Lite and a web browser on the home screen. I have used the live Google Maps to tow the 5th wheel ~10,000 miles thus far and it has been FANTASTIC!

All you need is an Android head unit that has as many A/V RCA inputs you require for your cameras. Be it 1, 2, 3 or whatever... You will/should be able to switch between the camera views/inputs as you please based on the apps installed in the operating system. Think of this as a tablet that is mounted in your dashboard, but has wires coming in and going out from it instead of everything being wireless.

I hope this helps sir!

 

In addition, I am looking forward to what you figure out as I have been contemplating switching to the Goosebox hitch from the Andersen Ultimate hitch. But, I am spoiled and accustomed to using the AUH. It is extremely easy to hook up and unhook, but the Goosebox has peaked my interest. Same idea in hooking up, but the AUH is at bed rail height and in view even when looking in the rear view mirror.

 

With the head unit that Wes444 mentioned... that will cover the bed. And for the bumper hitch. looking at tailgate handle cameras. thanks!!

 

The tailgate latch camera that I linked is still for sale on Amazon, here's a sample of the video from mine and here's a link to my install: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...oneer-avh.html

 

I have an Alpine Ilx-w650 that has two camera inputs. The best thing about it I'd that it's roughly 1.5" deep.

 

I have used a magnetic Bluetooth camera with a very strong magnet on it. Worked really really good, and it was very versatile. Forgot to take it off at the cattle auction, and it found a new home.