Hi,

I just wanted to know if there is any company selling a back-up camera/trailer camera combo? as in 2 cameras (on for hooking up the trailer and the other inside the horse trailer) and 1 LCD display?

Any ideas?

If there isn't such a combo anybody know about just a good camera for a horse trailer (maybe with sound and maybe wireless, trailer is alluminum if it makes a diff)

Thanks

 

In a psudocode kinda way.

Mount a camera to the truck.

Mount a camera (with the appropriate length wire to run all the way up the hitch with the same amount of slack as your power harness)

Waterproof video switcher mounted under the frame, or if you want to make a connect/disconnect point for the cable at the back of the truck have the switcher in the cab.

You can feed the horse trailer camera off of the 12v aux power of your 7pin. If your horse trailer has a different connector i imagine you can easily convert your trailer to 7pin so you can use the 12v line.

 

The trailer camera could be either wireless or wired -- each has advantages and disadvantages.

For a wireless camera, it would be best if the antenna (generally either a plain wire or something build inside the camera body) had a clear path to the monitor that wasn't blocked by metal. If the horse trailer has a plastic front window, that would probably work ok.

For a wired camera, you need to route the wiring where it won't snag etc, and provide a plug that you can unplug when you unhitch the trailer.

One other thing you will need to consider with a camera for inside the horse trailer is the amount of light available. You eyes have a lot more ability to adapt to bright and dim light than many of the video cameras on the market (especially the less expensive ones).

Try to find a place where you can try out the camera before you buy - or at least a place with a good return policy.

 

I just did this on a 2008 King Ranch F250. I replaced the stock rear view mirror with a Gentex GENK-352 video monitor auto-dimming mirror. The 3.5" mirror monitor only has one video input but I needed 4 inputs since I have 4 cameras. I started by placing two cameras on the pickup truck and two more on the horse trailer. The first camera on the pickup truck was via a factory tailgate handle bezel (OEM bezel with camera hole bought from Tasca Ford parts online) with aftermarket 170 degree bullet camera. This provides for conventional backup monitoring when not trailering or when hooking up a bumper-pull trailer. The second camera is a flush-mount wide-angle camera mounted next to the high stop lamp on the back of the passenger cab giving a view of the whole bed box and allowing full view of the gooseneck ball and hitch while hooking up. The third camera is a nightime IR capable model on the back of the horse trailer for backing up and checking traffic. The fourth camera is the same IR type inside the horse trailer for monitoring the horses en route. The first three cameras are rear-view signals and the horse camera is normal view since it's in the rear of the trailer looking forward toward the stalls.
Between the horse trailer and pickup truck I installed a separate 7-pole round camera plug kit sold by Intercept Inc allowing video signals to pass between trailer and vehicle via dedicated removable harness. This kit allows for 3 trailer cameras but I only used two of the leads. If I ever go for another camera on the trailer it will be ready for that with the spare camera pigtail.
In order to accomplish video switching between the cameras I used a Jensen KSW-41 four into one mobile video switch ($20). I modified it's wired remote so I could place a small momentary switch on the dash for toggling between camera views instead of using the large ugly stock remote. While I was at it I also wired a DPDT relay to upfitter switch #1 (Aux) so the monitor could be activated any time, not only when in reverse. A very handy feature for the driver to be able to check on things on the go.
I tapped into the vehicle fuse box under the hood with some Add-A-Circuits for reverse signal and accy power and ran those under the truck along the chassis to beneath the rear seats where I mounted the video switch. I ran the video and power cables for the high cab camera down the rear pillar to the video switcher. The other three camera cables come up into the passenger compartment with the aforementioned power/reverse wires through a large existing rubber grommet under the back seat carpet adjacent to the video switcher. The only interior wire runs from under the back seat to the dash were for monitor mirror (harness), video select switch (2 wires) and upfitter anytime switch (one wire). The "anytime" upfitter switch relay is located under the rear seat to one side of the video switcher.
I plan on doing a better write-up as time allows. I'm very happy so far.
As an aside, the Gentex monitor mirror, while the same as Ford's OEM monitor mirror, was $399. That kind of money is more than the cost of many double-din vide/dvd head units (like Pioneer AVH-P4000DVD) and could also go a long way towards a fancy GPS/DVD head unit (like Kenwood's DNX-6140) providing a much larger in the dash display compared to the mirror. Alas, I could not talk the woman into allowing for that so the mirror it was with stock radio staying put.

 

Wow. Impressive!

 

jliltd,
Very nice write up!
I have always wanted to set up a camera system for the back of the horse trailer and for viewing the horses. Now I know how it can be done.

 

No kidding... 1st Class!

 

Very nice, keep 'em coming!

 

I did the same thing, however my new to me truck came with the jensen vm9512 hd stereo. with the flip out screen, I added the back up camera to the bumper. for backing up to my landscaping trailer.... IT'S GREAT, then I noticed that I needed to check the trailer sometimes while driving down the road, " I have employees that steep over the trailer hitch a lot" so I installed a switch, then I noitced I was haveing a problem with employees NOT putting on the break on the mowers. there ZTR'S. " for those who dont know, these are 10,000.00 lawn mowers. by NOT doing this there is a chance they can roll around a bit and get damaged.

SO I added a camera inside the trailer baskett, with a plug so I could switch that too.
I only have the 2 camers with 2 switches. it's GREAT...

 

jliltd! i am impressed especially for a first post! sounds like a really good idea. we have always wanted to put a camera in the horse trailer. It would be really nice on those trips up to maine

 

Have sytem from Extreme Survalance installed in Sun Downer 2Hr, BP, Monitor accepts up to 4 camera inputs; system is wireless, work around for problem with transmitter / metal wall is to mount transmitter on outside of front wall of tack room. drill hole just large enough to pass wiring through, since transmtter housing is sealed and pass through holes is sealed with RTV. Direct line of sight to monitor is established and weather isn't a problem.
Additionally the installation of a camera mounted on a license plate frame aids in truck / trailer hook-ups, image is dispalyed in after market rear view mirrow, only activated when truck is in reverse, down side is that on very bright sunny day the mirrow image is hard to see.

System has been operational for several years now.