I had a wireless one that worked OK

But you are right, there is huge variations in sensors and you got to get a good one --- which is not the cheapie off ebay.

If you want to get real cute --- get an old digital camera you have lying around that can take a 12V input (so you can power it off the car).

Then, set it to video mode --- and transmit the pics.

Even a 3 year old $100 camera have far better sensors and light sensitivity than the best back up camera.

 

I searched all over before settling on the setup I did. Ideally, I wanted a system that was a camera and audible warning in one. But, there were very few of those and were very pricy, so I put in two separate systems. I wanted the audible warning because I don't intend on using the camera every time I back up so the bumper sensors was an added layer of safety.

I've performed numerous tests on numerous materials such as brick walls, concrete walls, wooden garage doors, plastic milk crates, bushes, high grass, cars, and people and it has never failed to "see" them. I also did a check on the distance accuracy on the milk crates and it was always within a few inches up to the advertised 5 feet. So, "old technology" or not, it still seems to hold its own.

The camera is nice, but it tells me nothing about how close I am to something. Sure, it has those green/yellow/red lines in the display, but the bumper sensors tell me how many feet away I am. I use it alot when backing up to walls and once parallel parking. The camera works great for hooking up the trailer though. First try every time.

I have about $130 total in both systems and so far I couldn't be happier. The camera and sensors both seemed to work well through the nasty, salty winter we just had. Time will tell how long they hold up.

 

Forget backup sensors, this is what I'd get or something similar. They make several Wireless systems as well. Most can be had for under $200. I bought a system called the iBall, 9volt camera with magnetic mount and the cctv plugs into the power source, $115. I use it when hooking up my trailer.

 

Decisions, decisions. I do have backup camera on my motorhome mounted 10 feet above the pavement and I can hook up trailer using it with no need for correction.
Trucks have limited places for camera mount, so this is another story.
Than ... I still have 8-track in my motorhome

 

The best way to do it is to use both, audible sensors and a camera!

I have the factory backup sensors and an indash pioneer navigation deck with a pioneer camera in my tailgate and one on the back of my trailer. I like the sensors because they get your attention then you can look at the screen to double check what is back there.

Having the camera on my trailer is great, it makes manuevering a piece of cake because you can see exactly how close it is to anything as well as seeing how close the traffic is behind you when your on the road!!!

 

I could not use audible sensors. Whenever it would beep I would probably raise my hand like I am taking a hearing test, and accidentally crash my truck into whatever I was avoiding backing up into in the first place.

 

Agreed! I usually don't look at the camera unless I know something's back there. If something's back there I don't know about, the audible sensors tell me.

I do wish mine had the factory system though. Would've been a much cleaner install and I would've only had to buy the camera system. I looked into buying the parts to retrofit the factory system and they came to around $400, even from Ed.