Need Help Backing Up To Hook Up Trailer.....

[FishingFool]

When you're alone?

My old Lund, I could roll that badboy anywhere I wanted by hand. So it wasn't an issue where I parked. I could always roll it to the truck.

With the newer Lowe boat, I can't move or roll the setup. It's too heavy. I may be able to wiggle a few inches here and there, but that's about it. I could push it from the back, but then no way to match up the coupler to the hitch. So now, when I back up the truck, I always have to get in and out to see where I'm at. Don't want to punch a new hole through my truck.... I've thrown down blocks of wood to act as markers. Hard to see, but I'll get relatively close. At least close enough, but still a workout to get the coupler on.

Oh man, how did I live without this for so long!

http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive ... 95684.html

link to coupon

Received an email for the ad and noticed this item had a coupon. Never knew such devices existed. The reviews said it works and for $10, sure, why not.

So I picked it up today. I installed some new LED lights. In order to test and make sure they work, I had to back up to the trailer and attach the wire harness. Perfect time to use the new guides.

About 1' long with a foam ball on top. Extend the antenna. Be careful not to bend the antenna. Seems pretty flimsy, but should be fine if you're not too rough with it.

Attached 1 to the coupler and other to the hitch. Look out rear view mirror and be amazed at how fast and easy it is to line up the balls! I didn't make a hard effort to line it up exactly so all I had to do was drop the coupler down. But it was so close, I could have easier wiggled the trailer into place.

This thing is great. Nice and compact when done. Easy to store in a compartment.

Yes yes, I know it's from HF, but some of their cheap stuff works great!

[Amx]

That's a cheap and good way to do it.

[tnj8222]

Thats pretty cool

[Bodofish]

I've looked at those many times thinking it would be a cool deal. Well I got to thinking I have barn doors on the back of my Sub, I'd have to open them. How do I take care of the problem? I put my boat in exactly the same spot every time when I park it. I line up the center of the doors on the anchor and backup till I get to the reference spot marked on the drive. I'm normally with in about 2"s, well unless someone is helping..... They look like an awesome deal if you can look out the back and see them.

[FishingFool]

I've looked at those many times thinking it would be a cool deal. Well I got to thinking I have barn doors on the back of my Sub, I'd have to open them. How do I take care of the problem? I put my boat in exactly the same spot every time when I park it. I line up the center of the doors on the anchor and backup till I get to the reference spot marked on the drive. I'm normally with in about 2"s, well unless someone is helping..... They look like an awesome deal if you can look out the back and see them.

I guess they arent for everyone. :(

[MarkFromSea]

Slick! I've just been doing it by brail! LOL Many a license plate has been sacrificed over the last 2 1/2 decades in the name of pleasure!

[Amx]

Slick! I've just been doing it by brail! LOL Many a license plate has been sacrificed over the last 2 1/2 decades in the name of pleasure!

Use to do it that way years ago.

I then used a piece of metal about 1/4" thick and about 10 x 12 and put it between the ball and the license plate to shield the license plate. I also put a thick piece of folded up vinyl from an old fender cover between the license plate and the shield. The trailer hitch would then hit that shield instead of the license plate.

[Amx]

This is what I use;

Concering the bosses that hold the pins on the wedge plate: I installed that plate that is under the ball so those bosses are down, as the trailer tongue can hit them depending on the design of the trailer tongue/depth of the ball socket.

http://www.ezhitch.biz/

[Matt]

That's not a bad deal for 10$, I would probably lose them, haha. I usually just line it up to the center rib on the tailgate of my truck. I get within a foot every time, then get out and look for the last little bit.

[reigndawgs]

Great idea! :colors:

[MarkFromSea]

This is what I use;

Concering the bosses that hold the pins on the wedge plate: I installed that plate that is under the ball so those bosses are down, as the trailer tongue can hit them depending on the design of the trailer tongue/depth of the ball socket.

http://www.ezhitch.biz/

That's a slick deal also!

[Bodofish]

I've looked at those many times thinking it would be a cool deal. Well I got to thinking I have barn doors on the back of my Sub, I'd have to open them. How do I take care of the problem? I put my boat in exactly the same spot every time when I park it. I line up the center of the doors on the anchor and backup till I get to the reference spot marked on the drive. I'm normally with in about 2"s, well unless someone is helping..... They look like an awesome deal if you can look out the back and see them.

I guess they arent for everyone. :(

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a real cool deal. Thought long and hard about how to make it work. In the end I just couldn't see around the barn doors. It would be great if the doors were open but about 50% of the time it's raining and I don't want to open them and drive around.

Very ingenious product!

[Amx]

I've looked at those many times thinking it would be a cool deal. Well I got to thinking I have barn doors on the back of my Sub, I'd have to open them. How do I take care of the problem? I put my boat in exactly the same spot every time when I park it. I line up the center of the doors on the anchor and backup till I get to the reference spot marked on the drive. I'm normally with in about 2"s, well unless someone is helping..... They look like an awesome deal if you can look out the back and see them.

I guess they arent for everyone. :(

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a real cool deal. Thought long and hard about how to make it work. In the end I just couldn't see around the barn doors. It would be great if the doors were open but about 50% of the time it's raining and I don't want to open them and drive around.

Very ingenious product!

Do your barn doors have windows?

If so hook up the trailer,

pull forwards so everything is straight,

take that ball type thing and make longer shafts so the balls are at the TOP of the window in height,

bend the shafts so they end up in line with the middle of the window

make it so the balls are touching as the original purpose intended

there, it'll work.

Or get the type I use.

[Bodofish]

Sorry not a tailgate, barn doors. You can't make it go high enough to miss where the doors come together, all the way to the roof. There's about 4" in the middle where the doors come together where there is no window.

But thanks for trying.

[Nik]

The Tahoe has a back up camera. Sort of take the fun out of it.

[Amx]

Sorry not a tailgate, barn doors. You can't make it go high enough to miss where the doors come together, all the way to the roof. There's about 4" in the middle where the doors come together where there is no window.

But thanks for trying.

No,

bend the shafts at an angle to the SIDE so they come up behind the window. Then you can see them thru the window. They don't have to be in the acual center of the trailer ball, as long as the truck and trailer are in line with each other. The balls will still line up with each other, and so the ball and trailer tongue will also line up.

[FishingFool]

So I would like to update this thread.

My wands and balls lasted for a little over 2 years. Last month, when I was backup, I somehow caught one of them between the ball and coupler and bent it! I was able to bend it back, but now I couldn't collapse one of them all the way in and now it had a slight angle to it.

Was able to still use it for a while, but I started looking at options. I could go and get another set or see what else is available.

I know for my vehicle on the newer models, there's a backup camera option. I could go the OEM route but that's $$$$$. Not to mention, the camera doesn't seem to have a proper angle to hook up the hitch.

Started looking on Amazon to see what's out there. I was surprise by how cheap the aftermarket is actually. I settled for a license plate camera. Price was fair and I believe the low angle would be best. Reviews were positive for the most part, but some people complained about water intrusion. So when I got mine, I put some marine silicone around the openings.
Found the best price on Ebay actually. It was $37 shipped.

I don't have a navi/dvd system in my vehicle. So I had to look for a monitor. Couldn't decide on a size. Was between the 4.3" and 7". Eventually settled with the 7". Was only about $30 shipped.

Now comes the hard part. Figuring out where to put the monitor. I couldn't put it anywhere on my dash. I didn't want to advertise potential problems, even though it's just a poverty screen. I thought about having it hooked up in the glovebox and pull it out when I need it. Then I thought maybe it might fit in my sun visor.

I installed the camera first, since that was easiest. You do have to run the A/V cable to the cabin. Fortunately, I've done a similar project a while back, so I had a good route. Next was to power the camera. I just tapped it into my reverse light bulb wires, so the camera only turns on when I'm in reverse.

I decided to take a chance and cut up my sun visor. Wasn't exactly sure how to do it. Wasn't sure what's inside the visor, but I was very lucky. My cuts lined up well with what I had to do by chance. I think it took me less than 1hr of actual work. I didn't use any glue or epoxy. The monitor fits nice and snug. Everything works and looks pretty good to me. Tomorrow will be my 1st test with the trailer. We'll see if it works as well as I hope.

[AJ's Dad]

Looks great! Maybe you can get a job working on the pimp my ride show!

[Gringo Pescador]

Nice! I want to know how it works for you!

[racfish]

I got the same problem. When I had my 15 ft Duraboat it was light enough for me to pick up. Now with the 17' Smokercraft its way too heavy for me to jostle and hook it up. My back and ribs are so messed up I have a boat I take out when someone comes over to help me set it up on the Ball.
Backing up is another horrible job for me. I can turn to the left real easy but not to the right.Are you putting this camera on the back of the boat or the truck? Im curious to know how it works.