Back Up camera

[RoyJackson]

I'm thinking about adding a back up camera to my Deere 4052 cab tractor...save some strain on my neck when snow blowing (3PH blower). Also, it'd be good for when I'm mowing the field...although I don't need to constantly watch the flail mower.

For those of you who have installed a back up camera on your tractor...any comments? Experiences (good or bad)? Recommendations?

What brand camera do you have? Would you buy it again?

 

[ctgoldwing]

Roy I installed an inexpensive monitor / cameras package from Amazon - Amazon.com: 9" 4Pin IPS HD SD DVR Recording 2CH Split Car Rear View Monitor + 2x AHD 1P Reversing Backup Camera For Bus Long Truck Vehicle Waterproof 12V-24V: Beauty
The monitor is NOT rated as weatherproof which is no problem for you in a cab nor for me as I'm a ***** and don't go out in the rain. The monitor is 9" which I find is a good size. Both the cameras it comes with are mounted in the rear. One faces downward towards my implement the other straight back. I can easily see how full the box blade is or how much material the back blade is moving as well as using the second camera for backing up. I ended up ordering a 3rd shorter cable rather than the 15m one.
Downsides -
In the sun there is glare, may not be an issue for you. I mounted mine in front of my joystick:

I am thinking about fabricating a shroud around it. In the winter low sun time its an issue. Not sure how its going to be in summer. When its cloudy or the sun not directly behind you its fine.
I wish the camera angle was smaller. You can see the distortion in the image. It takes some getting used to judging distances with this wide of an angle.

Pros - after 2 cervical fusions it has reduced the amount of times I'm twisting in the seat.
Inexpensive, a little over $100
Complete kit includes everything, makes for easy install (as I said I replaced the 15m cable with another 5m one)

Last week it helped a lot using the back blade to plow the driveway.

 

[RoyJackson]

Roy I installed an inexpensive monitor / cameras package from Amazon - Amazon.com: 9" 4Pin IPS HD SD DVR Recording 2CH Split Car Rear View Monitor + 2x AHD 18P Reversing Backup Camera For Bus Long Truck Vehicle Waterproof 12V-24V: Beauty
The monitor is NOT rated as weatherproof which is no problem for you in a cab nor for me as I'm a ***** and don't go out in the rain. The monitor is 9" which I find is a good size. Both the cameras it comes with are mounted in the rear. One faces downward towards my implement the other straight back. I can easily see how full the box blade is or how much material the back blade is moving as well as using the second camera for backing up. I ended up ordering a 3rd shorter cable rather than the 15m one.
Downsides -
In the sun there is glare, may not be an issue for you. I mounted mine in front of my joystick:
View attachment 681129
I am thinking about fabricating a shroud around it. In the winter low sun time its an issue. Not sure how its going to be in summer. When its cloudy or the sun not directly behind you its fine.
I wish the camera angle was smaller. You can see the distortion in the image. It takes some getting used to judging distances with this wide of an angle.

Pros - after 2 cervical fusions it has reduced the amount of times I'm twisting in the seat.
Inexpensive, a little over $100
Complete kit includes everything, makes for easy install (as I said I replaced the 15m cable with another 5m one)

Last week it helped a lot using the back blade to plow the driveway.

Thanks for the response!
I have a couple I'm considering:
Amazon.com: AUTO-VOX CS-2 Wireless Backup Camera Kit with Stable Digital Signal, 4.3’’ Monitor & Rear View Camera for Truck, Van, Camping Car, SUV: Car Electronics
Amazon.com: Wireless Backup Camera Kit with Digital Signal, Waterproof Rear View Camera with 5″ TFT-LCD Monitor, Ideal for Sedans, Pickup Truck, SUV, Minivans (BOSCAM K7): Car Electronics

I haven't figured out exactly how I'd mount the camera...either inside or outside the cab. I'd wire the camera to the cab mounted work lights if I mount it outside high up...that to minimize the camera getting snow covered when using the snow blower.. In the cab would be OK too...if I can figure out how to run the wiring (to power the camera.
What I'm looking for is how these hold up over time...

 

[Cougsfan]

I have a back-up camera on my cabbed Branson and I have a rear mounted snow blower. I bought set-up at Napa and is probably not as good as the ones you are looking at. Mine is mounted outside. Not sure if mounting it outside or inside is better. But in either case, it makes a big difference which way the wind is blowing and the type of snow. Mine mounted outside binds over and becomes worthless in a hurry if wet snow is blowing back at all onto the camera. Powder snow is less troublesome, but still affects vision appreciably. I am not sure mounting it inside would be any better because the rear window gets covered with snow too. And if the cab is warm, even the powder snow can blind over the window. Even if the wind is blowing in the right direction, and it is at night, the glare of the rear lights off the snow still make it impossible to see where you are going. All in all, mine hasn't proven to be that useful for snow blowing with a rear mounted snow blower. I still have to turn around and look. Maybe others have had better luck. I suspect mounting it up high might just make it harder to clean to when it blinds over. By the way, when snow blowing in a cabbed tractor it makes sense to carry a squeegee with you to occasionally clean the snow off the windows.
It does work much better in dry weather, but as goldwing says, it helps to have a shroud to keep the sun from shining into the camera (true on sunny days in the winter too).

 

[Tinhack]

I bought the same set as Ctgoldwing. I don't have mine mounted yet but it seems to be a nice set. I did test it to make sure it would work. I'm still working on the tractor it's going on so couldn't mount it yet. With dual cameras, it allows you to select either for display or do a split screen of both cameras. It also records if you want. And the screen is 9". The 12v power is routed to main display. The included cables handle the video and power from/to the cameras. There's no extra wiring for the cameras.

 

[RoyJackson]

I have a back-up camera on my cabbed Branson and I have a rear mounted snow blower. I bought set-up at Napa and is probably not as good as the ones you are looking at. Mine is mounted outside. Not sure if mounting it outside or inside is better. But in either case, it makes a big difference which way the wind is blowing and the type of snow. Mine mounted outside binds over and becomes worthless in a hurry if wet snow is blowing back at all onto the camera. Powder snow is less troublesome, but still affects vision appreciably. I am not sure mounting it inside would be any better because the rear window gets covered with snow too. And if the cab is warm, even the powder snow can blind over the window. Even if the wind is blowing in the right direction, and it is at night, the glare of the rear lights off the snow still make it impossible to see where you are going. All in all, mine hasn't proven to be that useful for snow blowing with a rear mounted snow blower. I still have to turn around and look. Maybe others have had better luck. I suspect mounting it up high might just make it harder to clean to when it blinds over. By the way, when snow blowing in a cabbed tractor it makes sense to carry a squeegee with you to occasionally clean the snow off the windows.
It does work much better in dry weather, but as goldwing says, it helps to have a shroud to keep the sun from shining into the camera (true on sunny days in the winter too).

I know what you mean about snow covering the rear window and I had to stop and clean off the window on occasion...this was on my previous tractor, a 4520 with the Curtis cab (no rear wiper).
After I sold the 4520, I bought a 4052R cab...and had the dealer install a rear wiper...much handier when snow blowing.

 

[s219]

There are a whole bunch of them on Amazon and you don't have to spend a lot. There is a long famous thread here on TBN titled something like "backup camera for under $50" that I followed and used to install a backup camera and bucket camera on my tractor. I spent about $12 for each camera and $25 for the screen, piecemeal. If you can search to find that thread, read through it (at least the first few pages) and you'll learn a lot.

One thing I noticed is that there are a range of brands that all have the same cameras and screens. Some are a lot more expensive than others, but it's the same stuff. So look carefully at the pricing and products, and don't get ripped off! For a single camera and single screen you should be under $40-50 for sure.

What I like about the $12 camera and $25 screen is that if they get damaged I won't care -- cheap enough to replace. So far they have been working fine after 4-5 years, but it will be cheap to replace if something goes wrong.

I bought the same camera and screen for my last truck (for the same prices) to make a camera to watch the cargo bed and trailer hitch when I was driving down the road.

 

[sodamo]

Roy
I added this

Amazon.com: Backup Camera System with Video Recording, 9'' IPS HD Split Monitor + 2 Upgraded 1P Night Vision IP68 Waterproof Rear View Camera Kit for Bus, Truck, RV, Trailer, Motorhome, Camper: Car Electronics

Pretty happy with it

 

[RoyJackson]

Roy
I added this

Amazon.com: Backup Camera System with Video Recording, 9'' IPS HD Split Monitor + 2 Upgraded 18P Night Vision IP68 Waterproof Rear View Camera Kit for Bus, Truck, RV, Trailer, Motorhome, Camper: Car Electronics

Pretty happy with it

Thanks, David!
That looks really nice! I assume it's been holding up well during rain and other inclement weather?

 

[buck12]

Roy
I added this

Amazon.com: Backup Camera System with Video Recording, 9'' IPS HD Split Monitor + 2 Upgraded 18P Night Vision IP68 Waterproof Rear View Camera Kit for Bus, Truck, RV, Trailer, Motorhome, Camper: Car Electronics

Pretty happy with it
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Cool setup. I would like to more about how it works for loader work and where you mounted the front facing camera.