Hitching Tool

[jamman]

Originally Posted by dbailey

The best tool I've found for hitching up when I'm by myself: a little bit of patience...

I back the truck up centered on the hitch as best I can judge using my mirrors, and stop when I'm still 6' out. Get out and check. Back up a little more, get out and check... Back up a little more, get out and check... Typically I'm in and out of the truck 6 or 8 times before I'm ready to drop the hitch onto the ball. That's fine, I'd rather not rush.

Ditto. But I back to about 3'. Until I get a new truck with a built-in backup camera.

[dbailey]

I work in high tech, but I'm a self professed "not a gadget guy"... If I can do it myself with minimum fuss, that's what I prefer. A tool that makes a job easier is fine, but the savings in effort must be weighed against added complexity (of installation, use and maintenance).

[gbaglo]

I was given a backup camera ( cost about $99 ). As I recall, it was wireless, except you still had to run wires from the license plate, through the hatch to the remote transmitter, (which got power from the tail-light ).
Being a sissy, I called a recommended audio installation shop. They quoted me about $300 for the install and said they don't recommend the cheap wireless cameras, because they hadn't installed one that actually worked as advertised.
The camera went back to Costco and I got a Swift Hitch camera.

[Jim Bennett]

80% of my hitching trailers is done without any aid. I just back up close, see what correction I need, make it, then check one more time. Most times it is up to 3 goes, maybe 4. If I can hitch up straight on, it is 1 or 2 times to get out.

The other 20% of the time is with my Pilot which has a backup camera. It is nice, but I really don't think I would add one unless it came with the vehicle.

Rarely do I use my wife, and our relationship is all the better for it.

[pkgman51]

Rarely do I use my wife, and our relationship is all the better for it.

Exactly! I'm left brained and she's right brained and our alignment process is a comedy of errors. I can't say the process is going to get us to divorce court but counseling is still on the table.

[rbryan4]

I'm thinking that using my wife to help me hitch up is a non-starter. She's an amazing woman with many talents, but those talents do not include spatial awareness and giving directions.

[Klem]

Get a set of balls ...


Reese Towpower 7012900 Solo Hitch Alignment System

[iamunique127]

Originally Posted by jamman

Ditto. But I back to about 3'. Until I get a new truck with a built-in backup camera.

Jamman: When I moved from my Toyota T-100 to my Tacoma (both with caps) the lines of the Tacoma were taking me a long time to become comfortable with and I was scratching up my corners going in and out of my tight spot in the garage. So I ordered a wireless backup camera and wireless rearview mirror with ~4" LCD screen from China via eBay for about $50 CDN.

They were dead-simple to instal. The wireless transmitter on the license plate camera connects to the reverse light wire in the taillight. The receiver for the LCD screen in the mirror attached nicely to the interior light above the rearview mirror, inside the headliner. Voila, back-up camera in my 2005 Tacoma. Installation took me a couple hours.

It was cheap and lasted the 2 years until I sold the truck. As far as I know it's still working as it should. Somehow the height and visibility in the Tacoma was just difficult for me to get used to. Now that I have a 2010 Tundra it feels like home and I have no issues with knowing where the corners are and don't need to use the included sonar at all. The stock backup camera is real useful though.

[Sandra L]

While I have a back-up camera in my '05 Sienna, it is off center, so while it is somewhat helpful, I have not been able to judge whether everything is in correct alignment. The hitch camera does help though.