Trail Camera - Experience with Aftermarket Options ?

[JWAustinVTX]

Looking to add an aftermarket trail camera. Besides Z automotive and Amazon ,are there any other good options?

Overall is it worth getting for the trail even if the video quality isn't the best?

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[jludave]

Besides Z automotive and Amazon ,are there any other good options?

None that I'm aware of.

Overall is it worth getting for the trail even if the video quality isn't the best?

Not worth the effort, in my opinion, compared to the OEM camera. This is just my opinion. Others will likely feel otherwise.

 

[TEAMSLO]

I know youre asking about other aftermarket options, but I will say that my z automotive on the jlu isnt clear. Neither was the one on my JT but it was slightly better.

However, I use it for night runs and also when coming up and over hills/obstacles and I would never do without one. Even though it isn't crystal clear its good enough to work for what I need.

 

[JWAustinVTX]

I know youre asking about other aftermarket options, but I will say that my z automotive on the jlu isnt clear. Neither was the one on my JT but it was slightly better.

However, I use it for night runs and also when coming up and over hills/obstacles and I would never do without one. Even though it isn't crystal clear its good enough to work for what I need.

thank you for the reply. I feel like some help especially when going uphill would help, just curios if it’s practical on the trail.

 

[Apples491]

I've used my trail cam a bunch. The OEM one obviously has some advantages; clarity, the washer nozzle, and the tire guide lines.

Aftermarket options can still be useful, though personally if was going aftermarket, I would opt for one over each tire tied to a feed switcher, rather than a single centered camera.

 

[TEAMSLO]

thank you for the reply. I feel like some help especially when going uphill would help, just curios if it’s practical on the trail.

It absolutely is, when I hit the dirt, I put suspension in soft, 4x4, disconnect sway bar, air down, then put the front camera on for the rest of the trip.

 

[C.Sco]

I don't have one on my wrangler yet (I bought the JT camera from Zautomotive, just haven't installed it yet), but I had one on my GC before this and it came in pretty handy sometimes. Certainly it's not something you're going to be looking at all the time, but occasionally when you're cresting a hill it's really nice to be able to see what's on the other side without having to stop to get out and look.

Far more valuable, to me, was an undercarriage camera that allowed me to keep the undercarriage clear of rock impacts.

Personally I've been looking at the Stinger 4-camera DVR system and a 7" screen mounted somewhere on the dash, and tying all my cameras into that rather than using the Mopar camera in the 8.4" infotainment. I just haven't figure out where I can mount that monitor yet, there's not a lot of real estate on our dashboards.

Stinger's HEIGH10 infotainment system can use the Stinger 4 camera system natively, but I confirmed with Stinger support that it will not feed video to the factory 8.4" head unit. And I don't really want to replace my perfectly good 8.4" infotainment with an aftermarket one. So it seems like an extra screen is the only way for me to go - but on the plus side it means I could leave my cameras displayed on one screen and use the OEM 8.4" to do other stuff, like offroad pages or navigation.

 

[lashlee]

I put one of the Z automotive camera's on my wife's JLUR and my best friend has the OEM one on his JTR. There is a huge disparity between the OEM camera and the aftermarket, but in most cases it's handy to have. When we hit trials at home, or on our trip to Moab it helps. It's the first option that I would look for if I were to buy another JLUR.

 

[C.Sco]

I put one of the Z automotive camera's on my wife's JLUR and my best friend has the OEM one on his JTR. There is a huge disparity between the OEM camera and the aftermarket, but in most cases it's handy to have. When we hit trials at home, or on our trip to Moab it helps. It's the first option that I would look for if I were to buy another JLUR.

There is a thread here (https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...trail-camera-to-gladiator-diy-writeup.111134/), where someone posted up a tutorial for retrofiting in the factory trail camera system on a wrangler that didn't come with it. It's a lot of work and costed him about $1500, which is a lot for a factory option that was only $795, but it's perhaps a good option for those of us like myself who were unable to find a JLUR in stock that had it.

The problem with doing ANY of the camera options that use the "cargo camera" hack, is that the head unit severely restricts the video quality on the cargo camera input. So it doesn't matter how good the camera is, the video will suck. The only way around that is to buy and install the (expensive) parts listed in that thread I linked. Or just decide that you're not going to use the factory 8.4" display to view the trailcam anymore, and either upgrade the head unit to a HEIGH10, or just add a second screen somewhere.

 

[JWAustinVTX]

There is a thread here (https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...trail-camera-to-gladiator-diy-writeup.111134/), where someone posted up a tutorial for retrofiting in the factory trail camera system on a wrangler that didn't come with it. It's a lot of work and costed him about $1500, which is a lot for a factory option that was only $795, but it's perhaps a good option for those of us like myself who were unable to find a JLUR in stock that had it.

The problem with doing ANY of the camera options that use the "cargo camera" hack, is that the head unit severely restricts the video quality on the cargo camera input. So it doesn't matter how good the camera is, the video will suck. The only way around that is to buy and install the (expensive) parts listed in that thread I linked. Or just decide that you're not going to use the factory 8.4" display to view the trailcam anymore, and either upgrade the head unit to a HEIGH10, or just add a second screen somewhere.

Thanks for the feedback and I understand how difficult it would be to retro the OEM unit. I'm looking at options for something aftermarket that will work the factory head unit.

 

[Corey_schissler]

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...to-gladiator-diy-writeup.111134/#post-2309532

 

[JWAustinVTX]

I went with this option and so far it's been good.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y3TSWLK?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

 

[rohdawg]

Forward facing GoPro streaming to your phone/ipad.
An iPad sized trail cam display would be fantastic.

 

[Chadrad]

I’ve tried a few brands over the years, and honestly, the Magic Eagle trail camera has given me the best bang for the buck. Easy to set up, decent battery life, and the motion detection is pretty accurate.

 

[Wabujitsu]

I’ve tried a few brands over the years, and honestly, the Magic Eagle trail camera has given me the best bang for the buck. Easy to set up, decent battery life, and the motion detection is pretty accurate.

Jeorge, the folks above your post were talking about the “trail camera” that mounts on the front grill of your Jeep, to give you a close-up of the trail you are driving on, to navigate obstacles safely.

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