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12-14-2014, 11:01 AM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Phoenix Metro Area, Arizona
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 767
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Quote:
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.
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Ditto. But I back to about 3'. Until I get a new truck with a built-in backup camera.
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12-14-2014, 11:08 AM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
Posts: 743
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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).
__________________
Doug
2013 Escape 19 ("The Dog House") , 2018 Ford F150
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12-14-2014, 11:27 AM
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#23
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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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.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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12-14-2014, 01:20 PM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,550
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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.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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12-14-2014, 01:32 PM
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#25
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Des Plaines, Illinois
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19 (TV: 2007 Chevy Tahoe)
Posts: 208
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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.
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12-14-2014, 09:15 PM
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#26
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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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.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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12-14-2014, 09:17 PM
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#27
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Port Angeles, Washington
Trailer: 2014 19'
Posts: 534
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Get a set of balls ...
Reese Towpower 7012900 Solo Hitch Alignment System
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12-15-2014, 09:21 AM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Trailer: 2015 5.0TA, Toyota Tundra CrewMax
Posts: 624
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jamman
Ditto. But I back to about 3'. Until I get a new truck with a built-in backup camera.
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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.
__________________
Lyle
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12-15-2014, 02:53 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Antelope, California
Trailer: 2009 17B "Suite Escape" pulled by a 2020 Toyota Sienna
Posts: 1,565
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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.
__________________
Peace and Sunshine
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