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Towing And Hitch Cameras

D

dvc

Charter Member
SM 2003
Full Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2002
Messages
134
Location
San Jose
Hey guys,

I was inspired by Gandolphxx to check into the ReverseAid from Donnelly. It is totally cool. I want a camera that can help me with backing into the hitch of my trailer because my wife is not the best at providing instruction. The camera mounts on the back and goves a beautiful picture in an LED that mounts under the rear view mirror.

You don't want the ReverseAid because you would need to swap out the dimming rearview mirror, and I for one do not want to give this up, thus I checked into it and they have a product called TowChek, it has the LED and the camera without having to replace the rearview mirror. I added a second camera so that I can watch as a back the trailer up as well.

This is the best thing since sliced bread.

From there website: https://www.donnelly.com/shopdonnelly/towchek.asp
$449.95

We all know the problem.

Without an outside observer to guide you, hitching a trailer is usually a hit or miss proposition. Most likely what gets hit is your bumper or license plate. You know the drill ? take your best aim, back the vehicle, check how close you are ? try again, this time a little more to the right ? okay, try again, oops, too far that time.

Now we know the solution.

Donnelly ingenuity now makes it possible for you to say goodbye to the guesswork! You?ll be able to watch your hitch slide right under the trailer tongue without leaving your seat. Long the leader in automotive camera technology, Donnelly introduces TowChek?, an innovative new video application combining an miniature exterior-mounted CMOS video camera and an internal LCD display screen mounted on the windshield allowing the driver to see the hitch and trailer tongue while backing up.

Only one thing left to guess about . . . our guess is you?ll wonder how you got along without it.

TowChek? fits most vehicles, attaches easily and includes all materials and wiring. You can order the kit online complete with installation instructions* or contact a retailer nearest you.
 
Show us and tell us how this was installed. I have been thinking about this too. :0: :0: :0:
 
fellow modder addict dudes: I am with ya, I love electronic gismos and I love modding the Av, so I am powerless over this rear camera mod! Plus, how cool would it be to have the rear view going when pushing through really deep mud? Not to mention the fact that I already have studio-quality lighting for the rear of my Av. ;D

gonna have to bite on this one I think, plus I need to get out ahead of xrover. carrierdealer wired up the trip computer so he is simply in another league - I told Jason I would wait to see what his kit looked like on that one. and then of course goo and all things sound and lighting.
 
I will post pictures as soon as I can figure out how. I am writing the instructions now. It is fairly straight forward and I only had to call Donnelly once for help. They are very good about helping you out.

This is becoming a very popular item.

Dennis
 
I guess if you have this there is no need for the back up warning gizmo huh?
 
ygmn said:
I guess if you have this there is no need for the back up warning gizmo huh?
Click to expand...

If you already have one, don't throw it away, it can still act as an alert in case your not looking, or don't have the LCD flipped down.
 
Great Suggestion! I have a similar gadget on my motorhome. Never thought about it on my AV. The websites provided above don't provide pictures of the LCD screen in the cockpit or the camera. Curious about the size of each one of these.

Anybody have pictures? Bueller? Bueller? :p
 
So I found some pictures of Towchek on the 'net. Couple of concerns, from all the pictures, looks like it replaces the rearview mirror. the camera looks small but wonder where a good place to mount it on the AV

towchek.jpg


Comments? Bad Jokes? ;D
 
Yea Great Mod. I would want to be able to do both. Check my tow hookup when needed and display stuff behind me when I back up. (I backup more than tow)

I think the screen can mount to the existing Av mirror.

But where to put 2 cameras. 1 to tow or 1 to backup....

I was looking at www.x10.com and they had some exterior cameras. A wireless one on the tailgate would be sweet.

Doogie
 
Gandolph, me thinks you need one of these rear view live video cameras so you can see the looks on the faces of all those car guys that are getting dusted of by your 3 ton + rocketship! I'll bet you would see lots of teary eyes back there!
 
DoogieDobe: good idea about the x10 stuff. I have been using x10 around the house for quite some time. You might also want to look at this site since they are usually cheaper and have a better selection:

www.smarthome.com

anyways, I have an x10 wireless camera. It can run off of batteries or 120V (adapter). quality is ok...just ok, not great. The tests I had done were from about 100 feet away and I know I was getting interference frmo other things in the house. These setups involve the wireless camera - big ass antenna on it and a receive module that hooks up to the monitor. I would be concerned about the placement of the camera and how to conceal the antenna??
 
I have the x10 camera and a lcd screen in my av. The other day I hooked up the camera on the bumper, but it was not wide angle enough to function as a backup aid. That is why I installed the poron system. Now with this thread I may try the camera as an aid to backing up my jet skis. Where would be the best place I wonder, may try some places out tomorrow.
 
backed into a post in my company's friggin parkin garage yesterday, came up to my office and immediately signed on, searched for "Towchek" and ordered it from american secuurity (thanks orboater!) for $399. p.s., Towchek does not replace your Av's mirror, which is good since you would loose the temp function if you went with Donnelly's mirror, which comes with the reverseaid, babyvue, horseyvue, etc. kits

I am getting this thing for the reverse assistance, I do not tow so often that I need a camera back there to line up the ball, but that will be nice too when I do tow :) Plus you just gotta love a remote camera and vid screen gadget that flips down from your mirror. Now I most certainly will finally get laid right! (please refer to the grammar quiz appearing elsewhere on this board, and take no offense)

Unlike all my other mods, I PROMISE to take all kinds of step by step pics so you can play along with me if you want . . . personally, I hate running wires and I see two separate wire-running jobs on htis one - (1) from the rear view mirror on down to behind the dash and (2) all the way out to the camera (location yet to be determined) in back. Oh well.

more to come, should be a mod on the schedule for this weekend . . . ? >:D shhh, don't tell the wife, and especially don't tell her about the $399 part, I pretty much stick to the "not too much" response when asked about the cost of my mods ?:rolleyes:
 
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