A backup camera for $50!!!!!!!!!!!

[kthompson]

There are some units sold by some true ag dealers on line. If I were buying again would go that route and think might have been in your price range. You need both forward and back or rear view cameras. Forward looking I found hard to find. No idea if you can do anything to take a rear view camera to make it show the front view correctly. If not it will be flipped side to side on you.
I bought for $100 a Pyle brand off ebay and waiting to reinstall the monitor. Had issue with it and might be solved, image would fade out after being on for say 20 minutes which for a back up system is fine but not one you need to use as you do. Turned out monitor had a protective film on it that had not been removed, no idea if that will solve the problem or not. Also watch the connections type, know that at least with Pyle they use different fittings from package to package or model to model and you can not use a camera from one package with another monitor even with specs the same just no way to connect them Also Pyle comes with very poor instructions on how to wire it. Oh, if a part is bad or broken you pay for shipping it back for replacement. The cameras seem to be in a very heavy metal case which I think would protect them very well. But being very clear, if I were buying it again would not buy the Pyle brand, would rather paid the higher price ones I found on the true ag web sites. May not be any better but not pleased so far with Pyle product in real use.

 

[s219]

I am still using the system I put in, with a $12 camera at both front and rear, and a $27 screen. Been a few years now and it's held up to some heavy use as well as dust and rain.

Some folks spent a lot more money on a name brand system and I swear the stuff looked identical. I say buy the cheap stuff knowing you can replace it for peanuts if there is ever a problem.

I sure wouldn't spend even more money on the specialized ag stuff, at least not for my open station tractor. Maybe in a cab tractor where it's more protected and lower risk of damage.

But bottom line, I don't see a reason to spend more than $50 or so based on my experience.

 

[Utopia Texas]

Plan on fabricating some type of lens shroud for the camera for a consistent picture. Mine is mounted inside my tractor and gives a great picture until I mow in and out of shade to sunlight in my orchard. Also working with the sunlight shining at the rear of the tractor washes out the picture quit a lot. Yes there are adjustments on the screen but it is a huge hassle fiddling with the gain and color dozens of times per hour depending on which way the tractor is positioned to the Sun.

 

[PILOON]

I am still using the system I put in, with a $12 camera at both front and rear, and a $27 screen. Been a few years now and it's held up to some heavy use as well as dust and rain.

Some folks spent a lot more money on a name brand system and I swear the stuff looked identical. I say buy the cheap stuff knowing you can replace it for peanuts if there is ever a problem.

I sure wouldn't spend even more money on the specialized ag stuff, at least not for my open station tractor. Maybe in a cab tractor where it's more protected and lower risk of damage.

But bottom line, I don't see a reason to spend more than $50 or so based on my experience.

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Totally agree, mine ($50.00 import) has been installed for 7 years now and my CUT lives outside braving the hot and cold.
While not quoted in specs my system has survived the temp range of -20 to + 90.
OK, so I'm cabbed and that helps and I did mount the rear camera under my cab overhang.
Mine is used mainly for snow duties to save my neck from looking backwards.

 

[Diggin It]

Linked from another thread .... but on a quick scan, I still don't see a way to protect the monitor without a cab.

 

[tomplum]

Linked from another thread .... but on a quick scan, I still don't see a way to protect the monitor without a cab.

I extended a cover more so for glare though it will protect it in the rain to some degree. It wouldn't be hard to fab something better than I stitched together for rain.

 

[brenth561]

For those without a cab, is this actually worthwhile doing?

 

[George2615]

May or may not be needed on an open station. I installed one in my cab tractor with F&R cameras. Also bought extra monitors and cameras and installed them on previous pickups that didn't come with back up cams. Current truck came with factory b/up cam.

 

[s219]

For those without a cab, is this actually worthwhile doing?

Been great on my open station tractor, both rear and front cameras.

 

[Fallon]

For those without a cab, is this actually worthwhile doing?

I didn't use my bucket cam much on my L3200. When it broke I didnt bither fixing it until I sold the tractor. I've thought about putting in a bucket & rear view camera on my new cabbed L4060hstc, but not that motivated.

 

[Threepoint]

I didn't use my bucket cam much on my L3200. When it broke I didnt bither fixing it until I sold the tractor. I've thought about putting in a bucket & rear view camera on my new cabbed L4060hstc, but not that motivated.

Fallon, I started an FEL camera installation on my cab tractor a couple of years ago following your lead, but got sidetracked and never got back to it. From your post, it sounds like procrastination may be rewarded. Curious why you didn't use it much.

 

[atsah]

I put the same one on my tractor thinking it would be good for snow blowing and just being able to see behind me but I found that the picture was just to far away. The only thing I really used it for was looking at it while driving up the road to see vehicles coming from behind, other than that it wasn't of much use to me. Maybe they make better ones that have a close up.

 

[usnfiveo]

This thread has been up for a REALLY long time and I'm finally installing my system. Got two cameras and monitor for around $80. I am most interested in the front camera for being able to see the front edge of the loader bucket for scraping dirt and not digging it. Has anybody got a GOOD mount solution to that kind of issue. Definitely gonna be mounted to a magnet so I can move it to the pallet forks which should be very simple mounting. Just trying to find the best place to mount for the loader bucket. I'm assuming ON the bucket would be a very bad idea since dirt/snow would cover the lens. Was probably going to weld 1" square tube to back center of bucket rising about 12 inches above the bucket to see the cutting edge. Any ideas or experiences appreciated.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Mine is on a HD magnet. I mount it on top rail of my grill guard.

 

[usnfiveo]

Mine is on a HD magnet. I mount it on top rail of my grill guard.

And you can see the cutting edge from there. I'm not near the tractor at the moment but I figured from the grill guard you would get a great view of the back of the bucket. I'm on a JD 4066.

 

[PILOON]

Mine is on a HD magnet. I mount it on top rail of my grill guard.

Yep, great way to go.

I also mount my work lights on 3" magnets as that makes them easy to relocate as well as if they get snagged by a branch I simply re position them from where they dangle.
I now only use LED work lights in cast aluminum mounts. No more rusted out tin ones for me.

 

[usnfiveo]

Yep, great way to go.

Excellent, thanks

 

[Xfaxman]

I put the same one on my tractor thinking it would be good for snow blowing and just being able to see behind me but I found that the picture was just to far away. The only thing I really used it for was looking at it while driving up the road to see vehicles coming from behind, other than that it wasn't of much use to me. Maybe they make better ones that have a close up.

Backup cameras have a wide field of view. You need a camera with a narrow field of view:

The one I have on the front is 50 degrees and works gooder .

 

[atsah]

Okay, I didn't know much about them but I figured for $50 I would try it, that's what I get for not knowing about them before I spent any money on one..

 

[lostcreekranch]

And you can see the cutting edge from there. I'm not near the tractor at the moment but I figured from the grill guard you would get a great view of the back of the bucket. I'm on a JD 4066.

I've got a level indicator rod for the bucket so, I know where the front edge and PTB is. I use the camera more for when I'm using the tree / post puller, to see where it's teeth are, when pulling out yaupons around the base of oak trees. I need to make sure I'm not scarring the base of the trees.