Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I want to get a back up camera for connecting to the trailer and/or backing the boat on a tight ramp. I will not be relying on the camera system for getting down the ramp but mostly for monitoring immediately behind the boat at the ramp. I've tried a search on the forum but only found one post last dated 2011.
Something that is wireless would be nice if the video quality was good. Don't know if I want this for a permanent setup on the truck but it might be nice. It is a 2003 Silverado 2500HD that I will use the camera system on.
Pros/cons on different systems are appreciated.

I've never had or used one of these systems but I know there has to be a better way that getting in/out of the truck to see how the trailer/ball are aligned. I most times am doing this by myself.

I tried it on a 16 foot enclosed trailer and it wouldn't work, to far away, maybe they gotten better, but I doubt it.

You can buy back up cameras online and at most national auto parts stores. Camping World also sells'em for RV's.

I first saw back up cameras used in combines and cotton pickers--to check on the load as it goes in the hoppers/baskets. They also use them to see where they're backing up.

i see a lot of different brands of systems online and at auto parts stores. Probably wil go for a middle priced system but just didn't want to buy something that was problematic. Guess I'm looking for experienced reviews of systems. OEM was not available on my truck. I think I am looking for something with a small separate monitor, probably 3.5" to 7". Unsure of which type of camera would be best; license plate frame type or something else, and brand mane would be helpful.

I use a pair of those magnetic telescoping things with the yellow styrofoam balls on top. Put one on the hitch and one on the trailer tongue. When I back up and the two yellow balls touch, I know I'm all lined up. I use these for the pontoon trailer and for the travel trailer. They have saved my marriage because now I can hook up to the trailer without her assistance - that makes the wife really happy.

Overtons has a wireless backup camera system.

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product ... ra&i=58448

My son has one on his truck and it works really well. It's in the way that you adjust the camera. He works on electronics for a living and put it on his truck a few years ago. He can load his boat trailer, my boat trailer and his jet ski trailer on his hitch faster than I can by about 5 min. The picture is just a clear as my flat screen Sony t.v.

I have a Roadmax GPS/backup camera that works very well. It originally was wireless, but that quit working. Once I ran the cable from the camera on my license plate to the screen, it works fine. I ran the cable in through a vent in the back of the cab (F150 Supercrew) under the seat and into the back of the console. I left enough slack to connect it to the screen when in use. When I am not using it, it all stores in the console. I went with the Roadmax because I wanted one device to do both - serve as a GPS and a backup camera. I have had it for over a year and it still works fine.

it is good for hooking up the trailer, but I never tried it at the back of the boat. I don't know of one that can be used for that.

fwood....

I drive a tundra. here's what i did. i went to a tundra forum, and did a search for what people were doing about backup cameras. my 2008 truck was set up for camera, but i didnt get one installed when i bought it. soon, they stopped making the cameras, and they were unavailable. some company came across a bunch of them, and sold them for stupid low price... i think that if you had it installed by factory/dealer, they were like $800.00. i got mine for just over $200. the monitor mounts in a overhead storage thingy - it replaces the sunglasses holder. the camera mounts in the tailgate handle shroud. luckily, my truck came pre-wired for it, but if it didnt, there was an option to buy the wiring harness also.

ANYWAY, here's my suggestion - go to a silvarado/chevy truck forum. do a search there. surely, if one company makes backup cameras for their vehicles, yours probably does too. and i'm betting, that unless you bought a 'base model' truck, you might already have the wiring harness in place, and not even know it.

Thanks for all of the comments. I've found this one that looks like it will do the backup fine. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BsC6ead ... re=related This is a basic camera, wireless and could also be used on the boat. I am also looking into the Go Pro Hero series of cameras. I think I could use the GoPro Hero and stream video to my smartphone or iPad and use it for a lot more uses than just backing the truck. It would be more money of course but much more versatile. Just a thought.
That thinkin' gets me in a lot of trouble sometimes.