Dang I'm Good.

Usually I'm pretty good. Occasionally I amaze myself. But on very rare occasions, I'm simply dumbstruck.

Here I was slightly stewed because without a lot of work developing a new reverse camera mounting scheme, I wasn't going to be able to back my trailer ball right up under a trailer hitch. OK, maybe this is not that big a deal since I've managed to hook up plenty of trailers in my lifetime, but I just had this fantasy of watching through the rear video camera, backing up, and simply lowering the trailer in place. Unfortunatly, even mounted as angled down as practically possible, my backup video cuts off about a foot short of seeing the trailer ball. It just wasn't playing out as well as I had hoped.

A few days passed, then my brain burped out a solution.


This is so stunningly simple to make, quick and easy to use, and compact to store that it simply defies logic.





Back up close using reverse video with tailgate in normal position, take less than 10 seconds to drop the gate to the ideal angle, and back the ball right under the hitch. The cable assembly has a post that latches into the tailgate and hooks around the tailgate striker post using a plate with a keyhole slot in it. It's very secure.



This gives a directly down view on the trailer hitch ball. I can hardly wait to tow something.

Of course this mod relies on having the camera in the tailgate, and I think I'm the only person to have put one there yet. But you future modders should certainly take note.

(Pats self on the back for this one, it was certainly "out of the box" thinking.)

 

ive seen that before, on a f250 with the camera mounted in the keyhole and a hydrualic ram moving the tailgate

 

Well, ya gotta give him 10 points for style on that one!

 

Nice dude, very good mods - keep em coming.

 

Looks good...and now I want a DDX7015. Dammit.

 

Suhweet!!!!!!

 

Myst...you are the king-mod-master! That right there would make my life easier on a daily basis. Nice job.

 

Thanks! I didn't really intend to be when I bought my truck, but this board and some latent "I can do it" tendencies combined to overwhelm common sense.

It's been fun, though.

 

Same here...good thing I'm taking an overseas contract job; that way I can afford it when I get back next year...

 

FYI, the how-to for this mod is now documented on my truck's website. Click picture below and navigate to mods -> Sound and Video -> Trailer Hitch Video Cam

 

That is very cool. Great idea and well executed mod!

 

Wow, That was some creative work!!! very impresive..

 

Thanks for the compliments. It helps keep me motivated!

 

Showed wife your pics & how much fun it could be (and of course the safty aspect) if we would be a little creative and with your impresive display she let me order up a rear view camera to give it a shot!!!
https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?gnum=6238

 

Ehhh, its aight................




Just kidding thats a darn good idea. And great use of your mod. I freakin love when I have an idea and it pans out exactly how I want it too (because so often my idea winds up costing more money,time,sweat, and tears).


FREAKIN AWESOME!!!!