OVERVIEW:
Do you ever wonder what horses are doing in the trailer while you’re cruising down the road with them on board? Unless they are stomping and kicking the trailer can be pretty quiet back there behind your truck…and you hope for it to be. Trailer cameras are notoriously expensive…as anything with the “horse” or “equestrian” label on it.
A couple years ago my friend looked for a way to avoid the “equestrian” tax and went with an off-brand camera system. It was marketed as a backup camera and was a reasonable price. Our first time using it was during our trip to Kentucky for the American Eventing Championships. We loved it so much that she got me one for Christmas. I had a chance to finally use it during our voyage to South Carolina this year and I’m excited to share it with you.
Check out this camera here:
The EWAY backup camera is a really handy 2-piece system. The camera itself is magnetic so you can place it anywhere that’s metal. The magnet is VERY strong so there’s no need to worry about it falling. The base mounts anywhere and the camera itself can swivel to get the right position. The camera lens captures a 150 degree wide angle view. If you have an aluminum trailer don’t fret! We used these in aluminum trailers too and I’ll show you our solutions. The camera is waterproof, so you can use it inside, outside. You can use it to hook up to your trailer then put it inside the trailer.
NIGHT VISION
The camera is usable in the dark hours too for all of you who like to leave in the wee hours of the morning. Infrared LED lights and infrared sensors allow you to see just as well as daytime and the camera automatically switches modes as needed.
QUALITY IMAGES
The screen has a 5 inch 1080P HD display. The night view looks great and the daytime view is full color. The monitor can be mounted on the windshield with a suction cup and plugs into the cigarette lighter. The suction cup mount can swivel 360 degrees so you place it where it feels best for you. The monitor is capable of pairing with up to two camera and has a 100ft range. It’s best recommended to use this with rigs that are no longer than 60ft in length.
There’s an upgraded option the brand sells that comes with TWO cameras that feedback to a split screen if you need more eyes in different places.
BATTERY LIFE
I was curious about the battery life. Both mine and Suzanne’s camera seems to have a lifetime of 5 hours. Although we haven’t done it yet, we have considered attaching it to an external charger in order to help it last longer on those long hauls…but we don’t have those types of hauls very often.
ALUMINUM
So…about the aluminum trailer.
These days not everyone has a steel trailer. You may have steel frame…but that limits you to where you can hang the camera and it may not be the most ideal. The BEST way to do it is to use metal screws and attach a piece of metal to the wall where you want the camera to be mounted. It’s not easy but it’s the best option. What I did was purchase a Rubbermaid Track System. The tracks are steel, so they are magnetic. I mounted the track to the passenger side wall just above the windows. There’s no risk of them hurting themselves the way I mounted the tracks. During rides when horses are loaded I have the plastic sheathing removed and the camera mounted, that camera sticks nice and firmly to the track and hasn’t budged once during hauling. Once we are parked and can use the horse area for additional space I can holster the track with the plastic sheath and pop on hooks that will hang anything I want. This will be incredibly handy once I go camping! I will review those tracks later on.
PROS:
- The magnet is very strong
- IR sensors to detect and turn on night vision
- Easy to use, mount to any metal
- Can use up to two cameras
- Good battery life
- Good value for the price tag
CONS
- Aluminum trailers need a little “hacking”
- Battery lasts 5 hours, dies on long hauls
- Can’t adjust angle or position remotely
- No sound
Final Word:
I’m really pleased with the value I got with the EWAY Backup Camera. I have a feeling of luxury being able to see into the rig and it didn’t break the bank. I needed to do some extra work in order to make the camera hang in my aluminum trailer, but the solution was incredibly worth it. The camera is easy to use, has a good battery life, I can see all 3 stalls in my trailer with one camera, it gives color vision in the daytime and gives night vision. It makes me happy when I take my horse somewhere and I see him casually eating his hay. I also like seeing if there’s something wrong or simply seeing how they adjust to the driving. It provides good driver feedback!
If you’re looking for an affordable camera give this one a shot. For the price it provides a great value.
Check out the Camera Here:
The Green Horseman 
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