Give me some tips on using the backup camera to hitch up a trailer.

[terrapin]

I recently purchased an LX570 for towing and quickly noticed that the backup camera is offset to the drivers side instead of smack dab in the middle like my 100 was. This makes it much more difficult to line up the hitch ball with the trailer coupler. It was a piece of cake on my 100 with the camera in the middle.

Does anybody have any nifty tricks or ideas to make this easier. I know that there are aftermarket cameras and other gadgets for doing this, but I don't really want to add another camera (the trailer also has a backup camera) and the upright flags, etc. seem redundant when I have a camera.

I'd like to know if anybody has figured out how to deal with the lopsided perspective. If an additional camera or flags are the best solution so be it.

 

[TimCFJ40]

Is the LX camera significantly different than the LC? What year? on my 2008 LC I can see the ball and back it right up under the coupler and hitch them up. The perspective is not quite as good as my Tacoma was, but still very usable. Is it possible your camera got damaged and maybe needs to be realigned or replaced?

 

[terrapin]

I'll check, but I don't think it's damaged. Since it is viewed off to the side I can get the front/back distance OK, but left/right alignment is difficult. It's a 2010 LX570. On my 100 I can look straight down on the hitch so the F/R and L/R alignments are easy to judge.

 

[CharlieS]

I have a LC, not a LX, but having the camera makes it as easy as I've ever had it lining up trailers.

With prior vehicles, I used to use these magnetic telescoping yellow balls, and I suppose they'd still work (I find them unnecessary now).

 

[coleAK]

I tow a lot and You will get used to it. Try and center the trailer with the digital guidelines on the screen not the hitch ball when you are farther away and the ball/tongue will line up better when you get closer. I will say the stupid offset camera and subsequent blind corner is the #1 thing I hate about my 200, only thing I can figure is it was an afterthought.

 

[cboyd]

I also tow nearly every weekend and it took a little getting used to from my 100 which is straight on. I line up the center of the trailer in the mirror and just go slow backing in using the camera. At first it looks off to the side, but once you get a couple of trials, you figure out the offset visually Now I nail it just about every time with the camera

 

[GordJ]

I tow a lot and You will get used to it. Sort of. Try and center the trailer with the digital guidelines on the screen not the hitch ball when you are farther away and the ball/tongue will line up better when you get closer. I will say the stupid offset camera and subsequent blind corner is the #1 thing I hate about my 200, only thing I can figure is it was an afterthought.

I find that I line the truck up with the brake light on the tailgate until I get close and then try to get the offset right on the camera. The biggest problem I have is on uneven ground when the distance above the ball changes and you can’t tell how far the offset should be.

 

[TTownEP]

Try and center the trailer with the digital guidelines on the screen not the hitch ball when you are farther away and the ball/tongue will line up better when you get closer.

My 2011 does not have digital guide lines on the reverse camera display. I guess the later models with the wide screen display have this?

 

[coleAK]

My 2011 does not have digital guide lines on the reverse camera display. I guess the later models with the wide screen display have this?

Are you sure? My ‘13 has different settings for the camera.

 

[Sandroad]

I found it’s a matter or practice and getting used to the view. I’ve 5 trailers and the only thing about which I now have to guess some is the vertical alignment. If I’m in a tricky situation in a campsite hitching my camper, the ace up my sleeve is a spouse experienced in trailering who knows how to cuss into a radio.