Inexpensive aid for hitching up

[SeaDawg]

Paul found this in today's Harbor Freight flyer. He thought it would be a big help to me in seeing where the hitch and ball are as he's backing up and I'm signalling... It's tough for me to tell sometimes. Would probably be easier to see with a backup camera, too.

I'll let you know how it works out for us.

 

Sherry

 

Magnetic Trailer Alignment Kit

 

Item # 95684

 

Harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95684

[topgun2]

I've got a slightly used set of these.

If anyone wants them - I'll bring them to the 2024 Owner's Rally and they are yours for the price of a beer!

Bill

[SeaDawg]

Yeah. Ours are sitting in a bin somewhere, as well. 

The one on the bulldog kept tipping to the side.

 

[MAX Burner]

We ended up painting a white stripe on the Bulldog which is visible by the backup camera on the tailgate.  We roll down the back aft window of the Tundra and D calls me on her mobile whilst attempting to line-up the hitch ball with the Bulldog (the mobile phone keeps the active "discussion" a bit more private especially when D's commands are accentuated with something like, "...I said turn to your other *&^%ing left!")

[gbergh]

8 minutes ago, topgun2 said:

I've got a slightly used set of these.

If anyone wants them - I'll bring them to the 2024 Owner's Rally and they are yours for the price of a beer!

Bill

I have not received my F-150, built but not shipped.  I am of the understanding the vehicle has a camera with a Cross Hair that assists in aligning the hitch to the ball.  Does not your F-150 have that accessory?   I am not patiently awaiting to go and Hook-up to Mouse..

[topgun2]

On my 2023 F-150 there are no "cross hairs" but there are guidance lines and the ability to "zoom" in once you get close enough to the hitch.

The biggest "problem" is that with the bulldog hitch painted black (from the factory) it can be difficult to see.  This is particularly so if the pavement is asphalt and/or the lightening is not that great.  This is the reason that MB (above) painted a white stripe in his bulldog.  I chose to simply paint the entire front end of the hitch.  However, my first attempt painting it was with fluoresrsent orange paint.  This didn't work too well in that the paint faded in the sun.  Therefore, I switched to "hammered silver" and the results are great as it is easy to see in virtually all lighting conditions.

Bill

 

[gbergh]

Thanks for the information.  I have a flashing LED that attaches to my eBike.  Aproximately one inch square and very bright.  Perhaps that will be an aid.  George

[topgun2]

52 minutes ago, gbergh said:

Perhaps that will be an aid.

Perhaps, but the paint will be easier.

Sooner or later you are probably going to want to paint the Bulldog anyway - it gets nicked and rusted just in the normal course of camping.

Having said this - I've seen a number of Ollies that appear to be well taken care of but the Bulldog is a rusty mess - go figure.

Bill

[John and Debbie]

2 hours ago, topgun2 said:

On my 2023 F-150 there are no "cross hairs" but there are guidance lines and the ability to "zoom" in once you get close enough to the hitch.

The biggest "problem" is that with the bulldog hitch painted black (from the factory) it can be difficult to see.  This is particularly so if the pavement is asphalt and/or the lightening is not that great.  This is the reason that MB (above) painted a white stripe in his bulldog.  I chose to simply paint the entire front end of the hitch.  However, my first attempt painting it was with fluoresrsent orange paint.  This didn't work too well in that the paint faded in the sun.  Therefore, I switched to "hammered silver" and the results are great as it is easy to see in virtually all lighting conditions.

Bill

 

Hi Bill, what kind of prep and paint did you use?  I already am seeing some rust on my 2022 that I picked up in November.

John

[MAX Burner]

2 hours ago, topgun2 said:

On my 2023 F-150 there are no "cross hairs" but there are guidance lines and the ability to "zoom" in once you get close enough to the hitch.

The biggest "problem" is that with the bulldog hitch painted black (from the factory) it can be difficult to see.  This is particularly so if the pavement is asphalt and/or the lightening is not that great.  This is the reason that MB (above) painted a white stripe in his bulldog.  I chose to simply paint the entire front end of the hitch.  However, my first attempt painting it was with fluoresrsent orange paint.  This didn't work too well in that the paint faded in the sun.  Therefore, I switched to "hammered silver" and the results are great as it is easy to see in virtually all lighting conditions.

Bill

 

We painted ours gloss white after trying silver duct tape...  The white paint needs touching up occasionally, but no biggie...  The white stripe really gets your line-up dead-nuts on using the back up camera!

[topgun2]

56 minutes ago, John Welte said:

Hi Bill, what kind of prep and paint did you use? 

Other than making sure that the area to be painted in degreased and the rusty areas/chips are lightly sanded (a Dremel tool is great for this), I don't bother with an undercoat.  Primarily this is due to the fact that I re-spray this once a year and I don't want too much paint build-up.

I started using THIS (Rustoleum) but I do prefer THIS (Krylon) instead since it tends to not run/drip as much as the Rustoleum.  I understand that "caliper paint" might offer a bit more durability, but, since I respray once a year anyway due to chips and light rust the additional durability versus the additional cost just doesn't compute.

Bill

p.s.  I only spray the "nose" (up to the sliding collar) silver.  I leave the collar and the rest of the Bulldog "satin" black and separate the two areas via some blue painter's tape like THIS stuff.

[MAX Burner]

17 hours ago, topgun2 said:

p.s.  I only spray the "nose" (up to the sliding collar) silver.  I leave the collar and the rest of the Bulldog "satin" black and separate the two areas via some blue painter's tape like THIS stuff.

Same here, Bill...  This process seems to bring the Bulldog section of the hitch "back to life."