Backup Camera to replace mirrors on cabbed tractor

[EddieWalker]

I bought my first cab tractor last year, and I really love everything about it except the mirrors sticking out the sides. I try hard to avoid hitting branches with the cab, but I'm not so good at not hitting branches with the mirrors. It seems like every time I go out to mow with my 12 foot batwing, my mirrors end up out of whack and pretty much useless. Several times they get bent back so I can't open the door to get out until I get the arm of the mirror pushed forward again. This can be very difficult when I can only open the door a few inches.

I'm thinking about removing the mirrors and putting them on a shelf to sit for all eternity.

I've never had a backup camera, but it seems to me that it would be better then the mirrors for seeing what the mower is doing, and how close I'm getting to things like the fence, trees and the edge of my pond.

The only place that I've looked at backup cameras is on Amazon. They have a lot to chose from, but since I've never had one before, I don't really know what to look for, or which brands are better.

What do you have and why do you like or hate it?

What should I be looking at when making my decision on what to buy?

Thanks

 

[jeff9366]

T-B-N ARCHIVE:

Backup camera site:tractorbynet.com

 

[5030]

I use both actually.

 

[scootr]

Replaced my rearview mirror with a 2 camera set up in my skid steer. The Bobcat SS has rear visibility issues. The mirror view was limited. Now I toggle switch between 2 views on the camera to see normal or wide angle view. 7" viewing screen is a bonus too, All from Amazon.

Amazon.com

And the extra wide 170º angle camera

Amazon.com

 

[2manyrocks]

After reading your post about getting stuck, I'd say stay far, far away from the edge of your pond. Seriously.

 

[LouNY]

I just installed a camera on my Branson last week;
What have you done to your Branson today?

I used a more expensive camera and monitor then many do.
The monitor is a 9 inch which can do numerous display modes from single camera views to multiple cameras at the same time.
I also got digital HD wireless cameras and the nicer part a magnetic mounted battery to power the magnetically mounted camera.
The resolution and picture quality is very good

 

[nybirdman]

I have a back up camera,about useless with the sun glare(it's not a cheap one either).At night it works o.k.
Found the same problem with my outside mirrors,just push them back with the doors.
Maybe try an interior car type mirror.

 

[Omega Woods]

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

I have these two. I like them both. The cheaper one resets all the settings every time I shut it down so I had to fiddle around with it some. The more expensive one is worth what I paid for it but there are cheaper options on Amazon that are probably just as good. As with all cheap Chinese electronics, your mileage may vary from unit to unit and vendor to vendor.

One thing I did was mount all my cameras and monitors with neo magnets. In the case of my excavator, I used the monitor mounting adhesive strip to stick the magnets to monitor mounting bracket so I can move the monitor around at will. Three magnets are plenty strong to hold it and I can still use my flip-up front glass without it hitting the monitor. In my skidsteer, I don't have the space problem with the flip door so I just stuck it the monitor and to the left near a switch block with an empty slot.

I am preparing to buy another one for my RTV to solve some of the visibility problems I have when the bed is full. I'll probably also get a wireless one for my dump trailer.

I feel so much better knowing I'm not backing into a fence post or running over my dog.

 

[RjCorazza]

I use mirrors and a camera. One front, one rear.
I mainly use the front camera for the pallet forks, and the rear for snowplowing.
I bought a wired system once I discovered they are powered right at the fuse box and get to the cameras integrated in the video cable. Very easy install.
This is what I installed 2 or 3 years ago:

 

[kneedeep]

I use a camera(s) on my cab tractor. I can reverse the image on monitor so it is the right image.
I use it on the forks more than as a backup camera.
I prefer the mirrors to watch the mower, planter and corn sheller.
I can also put a camera in the seed hopper if need be.

 

[alexinPA]

I started out with wireless camera. Works fine until i start tractor. It loses signal most of the time. Interference? Maybe...
Changed to wired camera-much better. Still lose signal from time to time. Tried to relocate wiring, no difference. Still using it better than nothing. Good luck!

 

[LouNY]

The newer digital HD cameras don't seem to be bothered like the older analog cameras did.

 

[workinonit]

Eddie, don't go buy cameras thinking they can replace rearview mirrors because they just can't. They do decent for general field of vision viewing and if you can get them close to the objects you want to see they work really good. I have one in the top of my cab rear facing so I can watch my 20' FM. I can watch the decks raise and lower and just generally see everything is okay but not much detail at all. The one I use on the loader is much better because it's closer. I can see the brackets for attaching the loader bucket and forks and for monitoring what I'm going into with the forks and scooping with the bucket. They are really good for that stuff. But that is a wireless battery camera that I don't leave on unless I'm using it. A permanent camera wouldn't last a week there.

 

[zzvyb6]

I used them even for security cameras. I have one at a distance of over 400', not bad for Blu-Tooth supposedly good only for 30' !
They doo need a 1 Amp power supply, though, last only a few days on a car battery.

 

[alexinPA]

The newer digital HD cameras don't seem to be bothered like the older analog cameras did.

Both cameras I used were digital HD. Not top of the line but decent cameras with good reviews.

 

[LouNY]

Both cameras I used were digital HD. Not top of the line but decent cameras with good reviews.

You don't say if gas or diesel, but either one try a noise filter on the power leads;
there are several alternator noise filters.
Or this type can be wired into the power feed,

This is a photo of my wireless cameras monitor with the camera mounted on the fork mount.
taken while the tractor is running.

 

[newbury]

What do you have and why do you like or hate it?

I use my Wyze cams and my phone or other display device. I've written about them a lot.
I generally only "deploy" them for short term monitoring, such as back up cameras, FEL mount cameras.
Usually on a tripod mount with magnet attached.
For display devices other than my phone I've used 7" and 10" Android tablets.
I usually use an AT&T "hotspot", but have used just my phone as a hotspot.
What I like -
Cheap. The waterproof outside cams are about $33, the PAN/Tilt about $35.
The hotspot I have anyways as a backup for my net connection.

What I hate - they keep updating the software.

 

[oldnslo]

Eddie
What is your intended use of cameras?

We have some and they are strictly for reference and not for trying to monitor how to close to an object you are.

Main use is on 1,000 bushel grain cart to show what is behind the cart and one on end of discharge auger as reference to how full the truck is getting.

 

[Xfaxman]

The camera's field of view hasn't been mentioned in this thread. Backup cameras have a wide field of view, not good for seeing detail up close.

For your mower I would recommend a 40 Degree camera on each side aimed a the sides of the decks.

My rear camera is 130° field of view and a 7 inch monitor:

And the front is 50° field of view, mounted over the right front wheel:

The view from the side up to the cattle guard:

 

[EddieWalker]

My main use for the cameras will be to watch the outside edges of the batwing. I've never had a backup camera, so I'm hoping for as much insight from all of you.

When I get on my tractor, I adjust my mirrors so I can see the mower. With the mirrors adjusted, I can only see the outside edge of the mower when going straight, so even when the mirrors are in the right position, I'm limited in what they show me.

It doesn't take much for the mirrors to get moved. Then I just keep on mowing without the mirrors because I don't want to stop and adjust them every time I touch a branch with them.

My thinking is that if I had a camera back there, I could see how close I am to what I'm mowing and either get closer, or do a quick panic stop and not hit anything.

I have several WYZE camera's in my house, but my wife is the one who monitors them. We have them set up to watch our dogs in different areas of the house and out in the yard. I really like them, but it's not what I'm wanting for my tractor.

Thank you for the links, I'll probably chose from one of them.