Tractor Cab Video Cameras

The Tractor Part Shop has all of the items that wear out on farm tractors and need replacement, such as seats, starters, tires, exhaust components, and other useful but uninteresting things, but there was one unexpected bit of high technology being added to tractors that surprised me: tractor cab-mounted video observation cameras. Having spent a bit of time driving tractors, I know that it’s hard on your neck since you frequently have to turn around to see what is going on behind the machine, or to see when backing up. Mirrors help, but some farm implements are so large that they would block the view from a mirror in the cab, or even a side-mounted mirror.

Adding a video camera to the top/back of the tractor, combine, or other farm implement with a wireless or cable feed to a monitor in the cab allows farmers to glance at the monitor to check row alignment and see that the path of the machine is straight and proper. The units from CabCam and LUCAM1 cost from $250 to $400 depending on the size and quality of the monitor and number of cameras included, which can be a real bargain considering the added safety in backing up, the enhanced efficiency in guiding the machine, and the potential medical problems associated with all the neck twisting that was necessary before these came along.