Ford's Trailer Mounted Camera
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2009
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Ford's Trailer Mounted Camera
Is anyone that has the Ford trailer mounted camera happy with the quality of the camera? Has anyone replaced the camera with something high quality? I have one mounted on the back of a enclosed car trailer and the only time that is half way acceptable is in full day light. Low light, night, and rain conditions its not even worth looking at. I just bought a new trailer and am considering a wireless set up from Voyager instead of the Ford setup, but I'm not crazy about another gadget on the dash.
Thanks
Thanks
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2018
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From: Frederick, CO
The advantage of the Ford camera is the integration. That's a big plus for those who already have the Ultimate Tow Technology package.
The disadvantage of the Ford camera is utility. The camera on my trailer is on during driving ... it's the Furrion Observation camera. While it can help when backing up, I find that 95% or more of my camera's utility is actually when driving. It's knowing what's behind me, what's coming up on me, and my trailer's relative position in the lane/traffic that is most helpful. Makes it super easy for lane changes and comfortable driving ... it restores the rear-view mirror function when driving while towing a trailer.
That's a big deal-killer for me. If I can only use my trailer camera when backing up (or low-speed), I'll take a pass and spend my $400 elsewhere. Yes, I know there are some aftermarket devices that can activate Ford cameras to work while driving. But, from what I've seen and read, they're clunky, at best ... and they're way too expensive for me.
Until Ford solves the use problem, there's no way I could buy that camera.
The disadvantage of the Ford camera is utility. The camera on my trailer is on during driving ... it's the Furrion Observation camera. While it can help when backing up, I find that 95% or more of my camera's utility is actually when driving. It's knowing what's behind me, what's coming up on me, and my trailer's relative position in the lane/traffic that is most helpful. Makes it super easy for lane changes and comfortable driving ... it restores the rear-view mirror function when driving while towing a trailer.
That's a big deal-killer for me. If I can only use my trailer camera when backing up (or low-speed), I'll take a pass and spend my $400 elsewhere. Yes, I know there are some aftermarket devices that can activate Ford cameras to work while driving. But, from what I've seen and read, they're clunky, at best ... and they're way too expensive for me.
Until Ford solves the use problem, there's no way I could buy that camera.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2018
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I went back and forth trying to decide to get the Ford camera or a FURRION FOS07TASF. I ended up with the FURRION FOS07TASF, it has a 7" color monitor that I leave on all the time while driving, I look at it as another safety device. I'm very happy with it. It's wireless so no wires to run from the camera to the screen.
Research before you buy, good luck.
Research before you buy, good luck.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 872
Likes: 4
From: Greene, NY
I've got Ford's on my horse trailer and my snowmobile trailer. They both have pretty good backup lights, so nightime isn't bad. May end up adding a couple extra floods to my horse trailer to help even more since that's the one that I do most of my nighttime backing with. Thinking if I just turn night into day, no issues.
Rain is a problem for most any camera.. if the lens is wet, it's distorted. I do wish Ford's came with a hood to keep it dry when not backing up. I had this on my last camera and it worked well for keeping the lens clearer. But all-in-all, I'm happy with it, since it keeps another monitor off my dash (already have 1 for cameras inside the horse trailer that I like to keep on all the time.
Rain is a problem for most any camera.. if the lens is wet, it's distorted. I do wish Ford's came with a hood to keep it dry when not backing up. I had this on my last camera and it worked well for keeping the lens clearer. But all-in-all, I'm happy with it, since it keeps another monitor off my dash (already have 1 for cameras inside the horse trailer that I like to keep on all the time.
New User
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Is anyone that has the Ford trailer mounted camera happy with the quality of the camera? Has anyone replaced the camera with something high quality? I have one mounted on the back of a enclosed car trailer and the only time that is half way acceptable is in full day light. Low light, night, and rain conditions its not even worth looking at. I just bought a new trailer and am considering a wireless set up from Voyager instead of the Ford setup, but I'm not crazy about another gadget on the dash.
Thanks
Thanks
Posting Guru
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Posting Guru
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documentation of this or just making an assumption?
I remember seeing documentation that they were IP67 (as most OEM car mounted cameras are since they are exposed to the elements - IP67 would Protected from immersion in water with a depth of up to 1 meter (or 3.3 feet) for up to 30 mins) but cannot find it.
Never seen a car camera not IP67 - just hard to find the spec from Ford so your comment is useless unless you have documentation.
I remember seeing documentation that they were IP67 (as most OEM car mounted cameras are since they are exposed to the elements - IP67 would Protected from immersion in water with a depth of up to 1 meter (or 3.3 feet) for up to 30 mins) but cannot find it.
Never seen a car camera not IP67 - just hard to find the spec from Ford so your comment is useless unless you have documentation.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 200
Likes: 2
I've got Ford's on my horse trailer and my snowmobile trailer. They both have pretty good backup lights, so nightime isn't bad. May end up adding a couple extra floods to my horse trailer to help even more since that's the one that I do most of my nighttime backing with. Thinking if I just turn night into day, no issues.
Rain is a problem for most any camera.. if the lens is wet, it's distorted. I do wish Ford's came with a hood to keep it dry when not backing up. I had this on my last camera and it worked well for keeping the lens clearer. But all-in-all, I'm happy with it, since it keeps another monitor off my dash (already have 1 for cameras inside the horse trailer that I like to keep on all the time.
Rain is a problem for most any camera.. if the lens is wet, it's distorted. I do wish Ford's came with a hood to keep it dry when not backing up. I had this on my last camera and it worked well for keeping the lens clearer. But all-in-all, I'm happy with it, since it keeps another monitor off my dash (already have 1 for cameras inside the horse trailer that I like to keep on all the time.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 872
Likes: 4
From: Greene, NY
I loved the hood on my old one.. it was motorized and actually closed when not in use. Tied the motor control into my backup lights. Kept all the slush off the lens since it was on my snowmobile trailer. Heated too, so that was great. But can't say I've really had much of an issue with ford's camera on the snowmobile trailer either. Could be with my new trailer my mntg location is better and just keeps it cleaner..
Cross-Country
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 75
Likes: 2
I went Furrion, as I wanted it on all the time. Also was WAAAY easier to install. I wired it to the clearance lights. took 5 minutes. Only caveat is you need the lights on for power to the camera (which is AOK for me as I tow with at least parking lights on anyway.
I find the Ford cameras while useful, annoying at the same time. To get the 3rd brake light camera going to line up the gooseneck, its 3 presses, camera, then view, then zoom. If you have to go forward to reposition, you have to do it all over again. I feared this "clugyness" for the trailer camera, so thats why I went with the Furrion. You can even have additional cameras (trailer side view etc), that can be viewed full screen, or set up as a quad view.
I find the Ford cameras while useful, annoying at the same time. To get the 3rd brake light camera going to line up the gooseneck, its 3 presses, camera, then view, then zoom. If you have to go forward to reposition, you have to do it all over again. I feared this "clugyness" for the trailer camera, so thats why I went with the Furrion. You can even have additional cameras (trailer side view etc), that can be viewed full screen, or set up as a quad view.
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