200 Series Hitch Receiver and Rear Camera Surprise

[Mooterman]

Great responses--appreciate the thoughts. I was thinking on the way back from the dealership about a painting new "line" on the a frame of the trailer hitch. Maybe I'll try that till I get irritated and then go the aux or camera relocate route. Watching the ball and hitch alone on this initial hook up didn't give me enough time to course correct.

As for the rear end support, on my Tacoma I went all out with a Firestone onboard air and remote bags and it ended up being more problems than it was worth for me. I sacrificed a lot in rear end ride quality--granted it was a truck box, and was it was constantly adjusting air which never really gave the combo a solid ride. While revisiting what I might have done differently, I am starting out with the 200 on a "path of least resistance" with having added Sumo Springs on all four corners--truck rake sunk to level with no bars, which is a good sign. If that meets my needs to keep a comfy ride in check, cool. If not, I may step it up to the Timbrens. (I don't offroad the 200--I have an FJ40 for that.) My trip home from storage with the LC with no WD engaged was actually a more controlled ride than any with the Taco since starting to tow the trailer in 2015--I'll see how the Sumo Springs work with a load later this month. An ARB compressor is in my future, but only for inflation.

For anyone that's interested, here's the link for the Sumo Springs--I found lots of intel and review online for trucks, Expeditions and Suburbans going with this solution, but I seem to be in new ground here among the 200 community:

Product Search - SuperSprings® International, Inc.

#JourneyBetter

www.superspringsinternational.com

Thanks again for the thoughts!

First I've heard of the SumoSprings. Please provide your thoughts after installed. I'm also looking for a simple solution. Currently have aibags on the 100 but feel the daily ride quality has been sacrificed although they do work great with the trailer hooked up.

 

[Heckraiser]

Coming from the 80, having a camera at all is a revelation! The fact it's not in the center doesn't bother me at all. I can see the ball, I can see the coupler, I can put the two together without getting out of the car 5 times!

 

[rscoleman]

I noticed this first time I hooked up my boat. But as I had never had camera before figured it was normal. I learned the offset and have hit it perfect every time the last 3+ years. When I use my old 97 truck I have to just guess at it or I have spotter.

 

[linuxgod]

I find the offset to be terribly frustrating. I often park where I have to elevate the trailer tongue up almost to the limit of the jack to level it and the offset makes trying to get the two lined up almost impossible. This isn’t a operator problem, I have a commercial drivers licence originally issued in the 70’s and have quite a bit of experience towing my jet boat, 16’ travel trailer, 25’ travel trailer and my utility trailer with my 200’s. I have to try and guess how far the offset is to estimate how far to the right the ball has to be to ma5ch up. I guess if you park on level ground all the time it’ll be okay but I don’t. And those line up lines on the LX end up going across the screen right where the ball is, especially if there is sunshine.

I'm with you. If the tow ball is *just barely* below the hitch height then it's not too hard to mentally compensate for the difference when I get close (though at a distance I'll misalign yourself when backing up). If the hitch is several inches higher though I'll overshoot and then I'll end up trying it a half dozen times before the alignment is right.

 

[Capital E]

Anyone else find it odd that the cameras on the Tacoma/Tundra/Sequoia are way better than the flagship LC? Not just the off-center placement but the resolution is much better. The back-up cam on the Land Cruiser seems like an afterthought.

 

[grinchy]

the camera system on the 200 was designed in 2006, is low res, and screen runs at 15 fps. You can fix the resolution with a $10 analog drop in, but not much can be done about the 15fps.

 

[gaijin]

If the hitch is several inches higher though I'll overshoot and then I'll end up trying it a half dozen times before the alignment is right.

Then... why not just lower the hitch a little less than "several inches" to make hookup easier?

 

[linuxgod]

Then... why not just lower the hitch a little less than "several inches" to make hookup easier?

When your vehicle is ~10' away from the hitch, you just kind of guess the right height for the hitch. If you guess too low then your tow ball hits the hitch when backing up, which is not ideal. I often guess too high, back up, it's way off, then I have to lower the hitch to the correct level (which is obvious once the ball is next to the hitch), get back in the truck, and try again. Typically I get it on the second try. If I'm someplace where the ground is not level for the vehicle, or when I used to park the trailer in an alley space which meant I was hooking up with the truck at a ~30 degree angle, it might take a third attempt.

 

[gaijin]

When your vehicle is ~10' away from the hitch, you just kind of guess the right height for the hitch. If you guess too low then your tow ball hits the hitch when backing up, which is not ideal. I often guess too high, back up, it's way off, then I have to lower the hitch to the correct level (which is obvious once the ball is next to the hitch), get back in the truck, and try again. Typically I get it on the second try. If I'm someplace where the ground is not level for the vehicle, or when I used to park the trailer in an alley space which meant I was hooking up with the truck at a ~30 degree angle, it might take a third attempt.

It sounds like you're man-splaining... or maybe just whining In either case, I just don't see the big deal Sounds like a case of either getting used to the new (to you) backup camera "offset" and carry on, or spend money and time replacing/modifying/augmenting a system that seems to work pretty well for most folks.

Sorry, I don't mean to cause any offense, really. I just view this as an example of one of the many things I would simply deal with.

 

[CharlieS]

First I've heard of the SumoSprings. Please provide your thoughts after installed. I'm also looking for a simple solution. Currently have aibags on the 100 but feel the daily ride quality has been sacrificed although they do work great with the trailer hooked up.

Do you drop the pressure in the airbags when you're not towing? I always assumed that that was what happened, so I'm surprised to read that there is a sacrifice in ride quality. I thought the appeal was that they didn't change normal ride quality, but can be pressurized to help with periodic extra loads.

 

[kcjaz]

My blood pressure goes up just from reading about it.

In fact, mine is problematic and probably needs to be replaced. I wonder if I can relocate it into the bumper cover somewhere...

It sounds like you're man-splaining... or maybe just whining In either case, I just don't see the big deal Sounds like a case of either getting used to the new (to you) backup camera "offset" and carry on, or spend money and time replacing/modifying/augmenting a system that seems to work pretty well for most folks.

Sorry, I don't mean to cause any offense, really. I just view this as an example of one of the many things I would simply deal with.

my daughter calls this "first world problems". This is definitely a "get to" vs. a "have to" situation. I have relo'd my camera and the current graphics annoy me and I "get to" try to figure out how make it less annoying. Pretty awesome place to be.

 

[sadovnik]

Do you drop the pressure in the airbags when you're not towing? I always assumed that that was what happened, so I'm surprised to read that there is a sacrifice in ride quality. I thought the appeal was that they didn't change normal ride quality, but can be pressurized to help with periodic extra loads.

I don't know about the OP, but I have airbags in mine and find them to be absolute game changers. I usually set them to 35psi when towing and then I just drop them to 8psi (so they don't get pinched) when not needed. After 10,000+ miles with them, I find that it has ZERO effect on ride quality when they're at 8psi.

 

[RET2]

my daughter calls this "first world problems". This is definitely a "get to" vs. a "have to" situation. I have relo'd my camera and the current graphics annoy me and I "get to" try to figure out how make it less annoying. Pretty awesome place to be.

Coming from the 80, having a camera at all is a revelation! The fact it's not in the center doesn't bother me at all. I can see the ball, I can see the coupler, I can put the two together without getting out of the car 5 times!

Maybe you could hold clinics for the trailer challenged? I hope your feelings don't get hurt when some don't get it because they never will.

 

[RET2]

I find the offset to be terribly frustrating. I often park where I have to elevate the trailer tongue up almost to the limit of the jack to level it and the offset makes trying to get the two lined up almost impossible. This isn’t a operator problem, I have a commercial drivers licence originally issued in the 70’s and have quite a bit of experience towing my jet boat, 16’ travel trailer, 25’ travel trailer and my utility trailer with my 200’s. I have to try and guess how far the offset is to estimate how far to the right the ball has to be to ma5ch up. I guess if you park on level ground all the time it’ll be okay but I don’t. And those line up lines on the LX end up going across the screen right where the ball is, especially if there is sunshine.

Please correct me if I am wrong but the offset doesn't change depending on trailer.

 

[kcjaz]

Maybe you could hold clinics for the trailer challenged? I hope your feelings don't get hurt when some don't get it because they never will.

I’ll be ok. As I live in the first world I can go to my therapist to help me get over the trauma caused by this camera thread.

 

[linuxgod]

It sounds like you're man-splaining... or maybe just whining In either case, I just don't see the big deal Sounds like a case of either getting used to the new (to you) backup camera "offset" and carry on, or spend money and time replacing/modifying/augmenting a system that seems to work pretty well for most folks.

Sorry, I don't mean to cause any offense, really. I just view this as an example of one of the many things I would simply deal with.

Eh, the prior person commented, I agreed. It’s a dumb design. I’m used to it after 6 years but even still after 6 years and hooking up probably 100 times still I rarely get it right in the first attempt.

I’m in the process of painting my new rear bumper so when I install it I will actually fix the camera alignment. If I wasn’t going to relocate the camera anyway I likely wildly bother though.

 

[Leelanau]

Count me in; it’s annoying. I’m actually happy to see someone ask a dealer and make a post about it. The first time I towed my wakeboard boat I got lucky and nailed the hook up in one try. The next couple times, it took me many attempts and getting out of the car several times to get it right. I thought something happened and the camera guide lines got mis-calibrated.

Yes, not a life changing problem, but I don’t believe discussing little quirks in the tech forum makes you a whiner. Come on @gaijin take it easy on us!

 

[Mooterman]

Do you drop the pressure in the airbags when you're not towing? I always assumed that that was what happened, so I'm surprised to read that there is a sacrifice in ride quality. I thought the appeal was that they didn't change normal ride quality, but can be pressurized to help with periodic extra loads.

I run 7-8 psi when unloaded. Had them installed 175K ago and it just seems the rear end has been harsher since day one. Also, had one spring a leak on a road trip which was really annoying. Firestone did send a replacement kit for free though. This is on the 100 so no experince with them on the 200. Might be different. Seems these Sumos might be a good solution for a light weight trailer pulling and the maintenance free aspect is appealing.

 

[GordJ]

Please correct me if I am wrong but the offset doesn't change depending on trailer.

No but if the trailer tongue is 1/2 “ above the ball you line them both up almost exactly and if the trailer tongue is 6” above the ball you have to estimate how far to the drivers side the ball has to be. The amount of offset varies with the difference in heights. And, yes, I could go out and measure the height of the ball and then lower the trailer to line up better (I use three different inserts for the trailers) but we are talking about a first world problem here and complaining about tv reception in our cars. They can put lines on the screen to tell us where our truck is going to back up to but they don’t have an alignment system for hooking up trailers.
Now that I’m thinking about it I wonder if one could hang a plumb bob on the trailer? Hmmm.

 

[GordJ]

It sounds like you're man-splaining... or maybe just whining In either case, I just don't see the big deal Sounds like a case of either getting used to the new (to you) backup camera "offset" and carry on, or spend money and time replacing/modifying/augmenting a system that seems to work pretty well for most folks.

Sorry, I don't mean to cause any offense, really. I just view this as an example of one of the many things I would simply deal with.

You don’t see it as a big deal but you are willing to jump right in and criticize people who tow and do find it annoying? New to you camera? WTF?