I bought the Trailer Eyes system and I loved the monitor but I had a lot of problems with the camera.
So now I am thinking maybe I could just buy some kind of monitor for the trailer and and check it with my iPhone or an iPad. Has any one tried something like that? Any advice for me? I need a KISS type of solution!
Not what you want, but we have an Iball and have not had any problem whatsoever with it?
Ours is the older model, we had it for a while now:
We stick it anywhere in the trailer and the camera in the cigarette lighter and we can see the inside of the trailer just fine.
The advantage, with that one you can use your Iphone for other and still see the horses in the monitor.
Not to be cynical. I am 60 grew up hauling horse around. Spent many a trip in the back of a horse van. Nothing much ever happened. I’ve thought about putting a trailer cam in ours because they are cheap these days. But based on years of hauling horses around without issues I figure why “add” unnecessary “visual stress”, distraction to the “drill”. If something “bad” is going on I can feel it from the driver’s seat and pull over.
Gumtree, i understand your point. I have had two experiences, with a horse going down in the trailer, that make me want a monitor. In one instance I arrived at my destination and the 17 warmblood was wedged on his side into the neck-head area of my two horse straight load. Miraculously he was okay, just needing stitches, but it was frightening. I didn’t feel anything in the truck! The second time i did feel the horse go down. Now, everything i feel the trailer jerk, I want to know why.
Bluey - I checked out the eye ball and it does look like a neat solution. Does it see both horses? Does it attach via a magnet? How long does the battery last? Is the battery easy to change?
With my trailer eyes, every time I changed the batteries the wires inside broke. the company told me I could just get someone to wire it in, but I took it to two trailer companies and both declined.
[QUOTE=Helicon;8779058]
Gumtree, i understand your point. I have had two experiences, with a horse going down in the trailer, that make me want a monitor. In one instance I arrived at my destination and the 17 warmblood was wedged on his side into the neck-head area of my two horse straight load. Miraculously he was okay, just needing stitches, but it was frightening. I didn’t feel anything in the truck! The second time i did feel the horse go down. Now, everything i feel the trailer jerk, I want to know why.[/QUOTE]
I can definitely appreciate what you are saying and wanting to get one. Most would feel the same. I think a lot of people would get “spooked” with every rumbling and banging and want to stop and check on things for peace of mind after having those 2 experiences.
Your warmblood must have had a pretty good mind. Most horses would have been throwing themselves all over the place to get free.
[QUOTE=Helicon;8779898]
Bluey - I checked out the eye ball and it does look like a neat solution. Does it see both horses? Does it attach via a magnet? How long does the battery last? Is the battery easy to change?
With my trailer eyes, every time I changed the batteries the wires inside broke. the company told me I could just get someone to wire it in, but I took it to two trailer companies and both declined.[/QUOTE]
It is wireless, the batteries are as easy to change as any other such gadgets.
The batteries last several hours, so for longer trips, take spares with you.
It works with a magnet, has never been bumped off, always was where we put it.
You can see the whole stock trailer we use, don’t know how large a trailer or concealed by divisions your horses may be?
Those cameras are very popular around here, maybe someone else has one and can tell you more?
Trailer eyes never worked for me. I got the wireless system on Amazon that has worked like a dream. Monitor is 9" and I put a cigarette lighter plug and when I hook up I plug in the monitor and go. I get color and low light detail. I can look it up on Amazon for you, but I just googled a horse trailer camera with 2 cameras. I put one in with the horses and the other one is off the back so I can see behind me when backing, etc. I love it and have one in both my trucks and both trailers.
We went to our local car detailing place and presented this problem. We have a new system that is GLORIOUS. They replaced our rear view mirror with one that has cameras built into it. When we are hooked up, the rearview mirror functions as the cameras. When we are not hooked up, it is just a normal mirror. We have one camera in the trailer at the front, looking over the horses. A second camera is mounted on the back of the trailer–great for parking and when driving to see who is behind you. Our truck has a cover on the bed that folds back, making it difficult to hook up our gooseneck so the third camera is just in the back of the bed looking at the ball–makes hooking up as simple as it can be.
I don’t know the exact name of the mirror but any car detailing place should be able to do it. For the cameras (which are infra-red for nighttime driving), mirror and installation, it was $1500.
Ktm, would love that if I used the same truck every time! Sounds wonderful!
Aaagghhh, this is so frustrating! People describe the best solution and don’t give any names/brands!! :-/
@Bluey just checking in to see if you’re still a fan of the iBall system? My horse hauled like a saint from CA to WI, and from WI to VA, but ever since he had a bad exit from a friend’s ramp load he is terrible in the trailer and I really want to see what exactly he’s doing. For safety reasons I’ll have DH or a friend haul so I can watch the monitor. 
I also use the iball. My mare slipped and fell in the trailer and it spooked me (she doesn’t seem bothered). I like having it. Inexpensive and gives a good view of both horses. My husband put an extra magnet underneath it to make sure it stays up.
Still working fine for us, nice to see the horses just standing there.
Thank you!
I use the SwiftHitch 4 in my trailer. Really handy. I have a couple spots I can put it where the horses can’t get to it and it’s nice to be able to check on them if there’s some excess movement from the trailer. Was pretty affordable and works with my iPhone and other android phones too.
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