Front hitch/plow cam questions

[ShadowsPapa]

Two purposes -
I have a front receiver and it's a pain to get the trailer lined up with the ball and not run into the bumper or the winch, etc. (pic below)
and
Now with a snow plow, I need to drive up to the plow and line up the mounting points of the plow with the receivers on the front of the truck (pic below)
I figured hey, love the rear camera! I can back up to my trailer in one shot, get out and connect and I'm done.
The front - I'm in and out at least 3 or 4 times (having no depth perception can be an issue)
The issue I'm running into is - I don't feel like tearing the whole dash apart and spending a full day wiring up an expensive camera for the front that I may use a handful of times a year (more with the plow maybe?? but only 2 or 3 times with the trailer)
WiFi seems to be the big alternative to running cables and tearing the dash apart - but then it takes time to swipe down, turn wifi on on the phone and tell it to connect to a camera, then when done disable wifi on the phone again. What a pain to have to do all that and launch an app each time. May as well get out of the truck and look.
No one does a bluetooth version - likely because of the frame rate and pic quality limitations BT would entail.
I ran across one I really would have likely jumped on - it's wireless at the camera, the camera broadcasts to a unit you plug into your phone's USB port and it simply pops up and works. So you have a tiny device in the cab, plug the phone into it, or rather it into the phone and bingo, you have picture!
The problem? Not currently available. Ugh, that would have been nice. Wireless camera transmits to device connected to phone, no wifi, no fiddling with the phone to connect to the camera. Reviews said it was fast and simply. Quicker than the other wifi versions that actually took time to connect and start transmitting.
Would rather skip the dedicated display sitting on the dash. That's kind of silly for an infrequent use thing and you either leave it there all the time or dig it out of storage and pop it on the dash to use.
So looking for ideas. I bet I've spent a good hour or more on amazon looking around.
Something magnetic as far as camera would be nice - pop it into the bumper, aim it at the hitch or the plow receivers below the bumper and then take it off when not needed. (or mount it and leave it,. what the heck.

Looking for ideas - and has anyone ever really used one of these things?
My Garmin is too old - it's not supported for their cameras and in fact, they dropped support for my old nuvi a while back. So it's not a player. That would have been nice.
Needs to be water resistant or water proof, work in the dark, work in the COLD.

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[Gatorized]

Did you forget the pics?

 

[sarguy1941]

I actually wanted to add the factory camera to mine but not really sure i want to do the work either. But as you I found nothing that really jumped out as easy. I do have the garmin overland so had thought about that camera.

I will say for 20 years I had plows on my trucks. After a bit you will just pull up to the plow, or frame and be right. I could almost do it in the dark and did many times. I definitely dont miss a plow on my truck. Moving south was a benefit for that.

 

[IamPro2A]

I'm just thinking out loud...
if you really only use it a handful of times a year, how bad is it really to open an app and connect to the camera? For that matter, since you mentioned other things like a magnetic cam that you just install when you need it, and a device that plugs into your phone... by the time you get out the camera from wherever you keep it , connect it to power or charge it up, plug in a device (that I'm guessing you also have to get from wherever it's stored) to your phone, it's probably easier to just get out a few times or have someone guide you. Plus like was mentioned above, I know from experience it does get easier to drive into the plow the more often you do it. Easier than connecting a trailer because the plow mounts are usually designed to guide themselves together if you are an inch or 2 off.

I'm all for working smarter, not harder,and doing whatever ya want to make that happen, but sometimes ya just need to weigh the solutions compared to the problem. taking 3-4 shots to get it connected is a pita, but so are all the solutions. <shrug>

 

[Blade1668]

Not what you're looking for but is this out? Mounting a mirror on snow plow that you could see the hitch and plow when lining up to connect? I'd bet you have a few of these around.

 

[Gatorized]

Those magnetic hitch alignment rods might be the simple answer… hook up your plow, set the rods on the bumper and the plow, mark those locations for reattachment for the next storm.
for under $20 it’s hard to go wrong. Works for the front trailer hitch too.
the mirror idea is also a good thought.

 

[IamPro2A]

Those magnetic hitch alignment rods might be the simple answer… hook up your plow, set the rods on the bumper and the plow, mark those locations for reattachment for the next storm.
for under $20 it’s hard to go wrong. Works for the front trailer hitch too.
the mirror idea is also a good thought.

I REALLY like this suggestion. Sounds like it hits everything and then some. Easy, simple, fast to setup and remove, inexpensive and almost foolproof. Low tech - no apps, dongles or recharging to worry about.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Did you forget the pics?

Not much to see - that's why a camera is needed ?

I'm just thinking out loud...
if you really only use it a handful of times a year, how bad is it really to open an app and connect to the camera? For that matter, since you mentioned other things like a magnetic cam that you just install when you need it, and a device that plugs into your phone... by the time you get out the camera from wherever you keep it , connect it to power or charge it up, plug in a device (that I'm guessing you also have to get from wherever it's stored) to your phone, it's probably easier to just get out a few times or have someone guide you. Plus like was mentioned above, I know from experience it does get easier to drive into the plow the more often you do it. Easier than connecting a trailer because the plow mounts are usually designed to guide themselves together if you are an inch or 2 off.

I'm all for working smarter, not harder,and doing whatever ya want to make that happen, but sometimes ya just need to weigh the solutions compared to the problem. taking 3-4 shots to get it connected is a pita, but so are all the solutions. <shrug>

The reason for needed assist is because there's no one to stand and guide me at those times. Often when I'm parking my trailer and hooking up to the front, it's evening and I live in the country - it would take longer to go find someone to help.
The cameras typically charge USB so one thought was to leave it just under the seat with a cord to a rear console USB port. Always there and ready/charged.
I had already thought of how to ensure one was always charged and ready.
You have to be within an inch on the plow receivers.
I have no depth perception so it's even more tricky at times. The issues for me will be something likely none of you experience (I could never play baseball)

The "wings" to guide are about 1" wide. Anything more and it's a direct hit and won't guide it in.

The trailer is even harder because it's down so low you can't see where the tongue is or how close to the truck it is, and I too often end up with the edge of the trailer's tongue ball receiver into the winch or bumper.
So for that it's not just alignment - but need something that shows me a view from the top so I know when to STOP before it's too late and I hear that "crunch".
That's where the rear view camera is perfect - it's a straight down view.
That's what I need for the front - not just alignment, but when is the ball under the trailer's tongue and how far is the tongue from the truck's bumper. I've got only about an inch or two to place with as the front receiver is sort of tucked under the bumper.
Thus - camera - to show not only alignment but when the ball is directly under the trailer and how close the trailer tongue is to the bumper.
Mirrors won't do that - they'd only get me aligned straight. Unless I had several - one somehow showing a view straight down but it would have to sit way up high. And be large.

 

[IamPro2A]

The "wings" to guide are about 1" wide. Anything more and it's a direct hit and won't guide it in.

I must admit I guess I'm spoiled by the setup we have on all our work trucks. As long as you are within 3-4 inches of center, it goes in. Between trucks, I sometimes do it dozens of times a year.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I REALLY like this suggestion. Sounds like it hits everything and then some. Easy, simple, fast to setup and remove, inexpensive and almost foolproof. Low tech - no apps, dongles or recharging to worry about.

For the plow, no reason there couldn't be something mounted permanently on the arms of the plow. Only need something removable on the truck's bumper.
That could resolve the plow issue. You only need to align - you keep driving until you are pushing the plow.
The trailer would be a lot more tricky because alignment is only a part of the issue - when to stop without running the tongue into the bumper. The ball sits close to the bumper and winch hook when the trailer tongue it jacked high enough to clear the ball.
It looks like there's plenty of room in this shot - and there is when the trailer tongue is connected, but when it's high enough to clear the ball when you drive forward, there's a bit under an inch clearance so you have to stop when the hitch is right over the ball. 1/2" or so too far and you've hit things.
And you can't see the front of the trailer as you drive toward it, so I've hit the bumper or winch lead more than once.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I must admit I guess I'm spoiled by the setup we have on all our work trucks. As long as you are within 3-4 inches of center, it goes in. Between trucks, I sometimes do it dozens of times a year.

Yeah, when I was looking I was hoping these had the ultra, but they don't. The defender is a "light" plow and not as nice. The stand is also only on one side meaning the right side sits lower and to get the pin in, I have to wedge the right side up once it's in the receiver part. Pulling the pin is a bitch since the stand only supports the left side letting the right side sag leaving a lot of weight on the pin as you try to pull it out and lock it out.
They really missed the mark on the stand on the Defender line. Their marketing is also deceiving as it leads you to believe most plows come with that ultra setup - wrong.
Only certain models. The ones like I have get a really cheap-ass stand that runs right into the big cable bundle when you try to raise the stand, and not as good an alignment system.
With yours when it locks, the stands retract, too. And there's a stand on both sides keeping it level.

 

[IamPro2A]

The magnetic alignment sticks would work great for the trailer. You stick one on the trailer tongue right over where the ball goes. Then I've seen people do it 2 dif ways,
One, they attach the other stick right to the top of the ball itself, aim the 2 sticks together, and when the tongue goes over the ball, it moves the ball stick over.
Other way, is mount the stick on the hitch right behind the trailer ball. The sticks usually have a pingpong/tennis type ball on top. when the 2 balls touch, you are where you need to be. Simple.

 

[IamPro2A]

There is also someone who came up with something like the ultramount for regulat ball hitches. This might work for ya too.
https://www.tjtrailerguide.com/

 

[IamPro2A]

All that said, I certainly understand wanting a techie solution, even if it's more complicated.

Hell, I'm a huge fan of guns designed by John Moses Browning. Guy was a genius. A century ahead of his time. But the running joke is his motto was "Why do something with 10 parts when you can do the same thing with 75?"
Ever see a Browning Superposed double barrel shotgun? He took one of the simplest, least complicated modern firearms in existence and turned it into a mechanical masterpiece with something like 50+ moving parts.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The magnetic alignment sticks would work great for the trailer. You stick one on the trailer tongue right over where the ball goes. Then I've seen people do it 2 dif ways,
One, they attach the other stick right to the top of the ball itself, aim the 2 sticks together, and when the tongue goes over the ball, it moves the ball stick over.
Other way, is mount the stick on the hitch right behind the trailer ball. The sticks usually have a pingpong/tennis type ball on top. when the 2 balls touch, you are where you need to be. Simple.

I can see that working. And with them being so small, easy to strap up under the edge of the top of the box of the truck with bungee cords when not in use. Always with truck, but out of the way.

I'm an extremely visual person - I'll get the details of a pic real quick - got that from my mother. Once she saw something, she was off and running with it.

All that said, I certainly understand wanting a techie solution, even if it's more complicated.

You sort of "get" my personality, too - I was among the first farmers in our area to have a computer and be using it for field stats and markets. I farmed a fraction of what the other guys around me did - 1/4 of what most did, but had the most high tech stuff I could get my hands on (meaning AFFORD LOL)

Again, my issue is I have no depth perception.

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