Using a camera on tractor

[D2Cat]

I posted a question under "Projects" and only Mikester responded. Does anyone else use a camera for using implements?

Here's the question.

I'd like to find an inexpensive camera to install on my tree sheer. I've made a modification to be able to pull smaller growth brush and tree instead of shearing and spraying. Since I'm working with small sprouts sometime I need something to aim right at the shear.

Wireless would be nice so I could us it other places, but it's not an absolute on my list. Don't think I need a big screen, but my main concern is will be able to see the screen in the daylight since the monitor would be on the dash of an open station tractor.

Give me some idea of what you have used for a camera, pluses and minuses. What you liked, disliked or would do different. Thanks.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I use an older wired back up camera for things like this.
There are a lot of new wireless cameras that either go to a small screen or to a smart phone.
Here's one example:

4.3in LCD Car Monitor IP69K Rear View Backup Camera HD Parking for Van Bus Truck | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 4.3in LCD Car Monitor IP69K Rear View Backup Camera HD Parking for Van Bus Truck at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[D2Cat]

On that model would I need to add to the shade on the monitor to be able to use it on an open station tractor (and see in the daylight)?

 

[GeoHorn]

I use an older wired back up camera for things like this.
There are a lot of new wireless cameras that either go to a small screen or to a smart phone.
Here's one example:

4.3in LCD Car Monitor IP69K Rear View Backup Camera HD Parking for Van Bus Truck | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 4.3in LCD Car Monitor IP69K Rear View Backup Camera HD Parking for Van Bus Truck at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

The Title of that link is to a “Wireless” camera…but the actual description is “wired”.

Question: Can the image be reversed ? (so that when pointed aft, the right side of the mown-area appear on the right side of the monitor screen? IE: if a camera is pointed aft…. ordinarily the image will be the right side of the mown area would appear on the left side of the monitor-screen.)

 

[GreensvilleJay]

All 'backup' cameras show the right side of the world on the right of the screen,same as all cars that have cameras.
You'd have to see IF a camera system HAS the 'horizontal flip' option.
If the shear's on the loader pointing at the shear, then you do NOT want a 'backup' camera, just a normal 'security' camera .
Nowadays, tons of 'WIFI' versions...interface to your smartphone through an 'ap'.

A picture of your 'shear setup' would help to decide on where to put the camera.
An 'old' Gopro would work ....

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

If you are looking for non OEM, AgCam is a model that is very common around here.

Wired or wireless, single or multi camera, flipable screen aspects, with or without DVR recording built in, etc....

Not sure how you define inexpensive but you can get into one for around $500 for wired single monitor going up to well over $5k for the 4 camera DVR recording system good for snow moving equipment in residential areas where we have to operate in tight quarters and people bitch about damaged cars / fences, etc....

 

[mcmxi]

I'd like front cameras for pallet fork use. I find it near impossible to see the ends of the forks on either tractor. It's hard to tell if the forks are elevated or angled properly since I can't see them.

 

[GeoHorn]

I'd like front cameras for pallet fork use. I find it near impossible to see the ends of the forks on either tractor. It's hard to tell if the forks are elevated or angled properly since I can't see them.

I have a vision of knocking that $5K Ag-Camera off in a brush-pile encounter with the pallet-forks….

 

[mcmxi]

I have a vision of knocking that $5K Ag-Camera off in a brush-pile encounter with the pallet-forks….

I watch a YouTube channel filmed on a dairy farm in Ireland and the farmer added a camera to his loader for pallet fork use. He installed it out of the way but I was thinking that a camera inside the cab in the upper left or right corner of the windshield might be all that's needed, or even next to the work lights outside the cab.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

My monitor has the ability to swap the image around however it needs to be, so the camera doesn't matter.

 

[D2Cat]

Here's a few pictures. First two pictures shows the shear. Third show the bracket I started to go over the cutting edge on both sides. Fourth is on the tractor showing how I have to stand to see what's going on. Fifth show a tree I pulled this afternoon. It's actually bigger than I plan on using the thing for, but I worked fine. The last shows what I see from the tractor seat....not much.

I'm thinking about mounting the camera on the guard about a foot about the quick attach plate. I don't really need quality, I just need to see where I am aimed and elevation.

 

[D2Cat]

I watch a YouTube channel filmed on a dairy farm in Ireland and the farmer added a camera to his loader for pallet fork use. He installed it out of the way but I was thinking that a camera inside the cab in the upper left or right corner of the windshield might be all that's needed, or even next to the work lights outside the cab.

Here's a YouTube video where the guy describes what he did and how it works for his cabbed tractor.

 

[mcmxi]

Here's a YouTube video where the guy describes what he did and how it works for his cabbed tractor.

I don't see a link.

 

[Chanceywd]

I have a wired one on my kubota and the camera is mounted in my brush guard. my screen is mounted by the steering wheel and while in bright sunlight it is not great I can see the forks somewhat better. Some of the wired ones have 2 wires with a loop of each, one white and one green sticking out of the wire assembly. You can cut one them to reverse the image so it is what you want going forward and one eliminates the colored guide lines. These were inexpensive ebay setups.
I have had one on the back of my 8n for several years before the Kubota purchase that would let me monitor the fire wood pallet or logs on the forks as I moved them out of the woods.
One thing I worry about is if I get caught in the rain with an open station if it is going to ruin the monitor. I have been thinking about some kind of visor over it but haven't done that yet.

 

[D2Cat]

I don't see a link.

Sorry about that!

 

[D2Cat]

I have a wired one on my kubota and the camera is mounted in my brush guard. my screen is mounted by the steering wheel and while in bright sunlight it is not great I can see the forks somewhat better. Some of the wired ones have 2 wires with a loop of each, one white and one green sticking out of the wire assembly. You can cut one them to reverse the image so it is what you want going forward and one eliminates the colored guide lines. These were inexpensive ebay setups.
I have had one on the back of my 8n for several years before the Kubota purchase that would let me monitor the fire wood pallet or logs on the forks as I moved them out of the woods.
One thing I worry about is if I get caught in the rain with an open station if it is going to ruin the monitor. I have been thinking about some kind of visor over it but haven't done that yet.

How big is your screen? Is there anything you would change if you could? How did you mount the camera and the monitor?

 

[Chanceywd]

How big is your screen? Is there anything you would change if you could? How did you mount the camera and the monitor?

It is probably the smallest screen maybe 4-5 diagonal. I wanted to try the idea before spending money on a better one. The camera isn't anything like the ones in the video linked. I think the camera is about 3/4" in diameter and I mounted on a piece of strap so I could move it around on my guard. I figured too it could get wasted by a branch in the woods. The camera is in the lower guard here.

Bill

 

[D2Cat]

It is probably the smallest screen maybe 4-5 diagonal. I wanted to try the idea before spending money on a better one. The camera isn't anything like the ones in the video linked. I think the camera is about 3/4" in diameter and I mounted on a piece of strap so I could move it around on my guard. I figured too it could get wasted by a branch in the woods. The camera is in the lower guard here.

Bill

View attachment 96315 View attachment 96316

Thanks, I appreciate the ideas. Is the screen mounted with velcro?

 

[GreensvilleJay]

hmm... could you just mount a mirror at the top of the 'A' and adjust to see the cutter ?

 

[Chanceywd]

Thanks, I appreciate the ideas. Is the screen mounted with velcro?

No I mounted it with a couple screws in the black area between the rubber on the steering column and the dash plastic, it just fit. I didn't want to use the sticky stuff because it wiggles quite a bit with the vibration.