Adding Backup Cam

[CPT Davenport]

My 2017 Silverado did not come with a back up cam. Now that I will be installing the Hawk, I will need one for sure.

I have looked at a couple options.

I. Infotainment has an option that replaces the "brains" of my factory radio/screen unit for like $600. This comes with the tailgate cam. I will be removing the tailgate so I don't want to pay for that cam/unit combo.

My existing unit has the RPO of IOB. With this being the case, I don't think I need to replace the "brains" but just reprogram them.

2. OBD Genie offers a programmer for $129.00

Anyone have any experience with using the OBD Genie programmer on their IOB radio unit?

What cam and location works best with the Hawk model fwc?

 

[Outnabout]

I use a a camera from Camera Source on my 2017 Ram. Plug and play. Works great. The guide lines don’t turn as they do on the tailgate cam but not a deal breaker for me. I mount it on the license plate holder.

 

[CPT Davenport]

I use a a camera from Camera Source on my 2017 Ram. Plug and play. Works great. The guide lines don’t turn as they do on the tailgate cam but not a deal breaker for me. I mount it on the license plate holder.

Did your Ram come with a factory tailgate camera, or did you start from scratch with everything?

 

[Outnabout]

Did your Ram come with a factory tailgate camera, or did you start from scratch with everything?

Ram came with a tailgate camera. It just unplugs below the tailgate and the Camera Source camera
Plugs in.

 

[BBZ]

My 2016 F150 had a plug and play kit I found online.. I got the license plate version, but found it was too low and easy to kick while getting into the camper, and we carry bikes sometimes and it was useless.. I ran the wire along the door frame and mounted up high above the door and its much better..

 

[Outnabout]

My 2016 F150 had a plug and play kit I found online.. I got the license plate version, but found it was too low and easy to kick while getting into the camper, and we carry bikes sometimes and it was useless.. I ran the wire along the door frame and mounted up high above the door and its much better..

Yes. I thought I would kick the camera but luckily not yet. Bikes are a problem. I may need to run the wire up higher. Luckily the camera came with a long wire.

 

[CPT Davenport]

My 2016 F150 had a plug and play kit I found online.. I got the license plate version, but found it was too low and easy to kick while getting into the camper, and we carry bikes sometimes and it was useless.. I ran the wire along the door frame and mounted up high above the door and its much better..

So you relocated the same license plate cam up above the door?

 

[Vic Harder]

I installed an AutoVox V5Pro and mounted the camera up high (top of the camper door) and love this setup.

 

[BBZ]

So you relocated the same license plate cam up above the door?

Correct and ran the wire in the door trim (exterior) and used clear caulk to hold in place..

 

[JWL]

My 07 Tundra did not have a cam so I got one of the Type S wireless solar ones. It was a license plate mount but I mounted it halfway on the screen door. It’s inside so protected from dust, mud etc and still gets sun. I have had it over a year now and am very satisfied.

 

[JWL]

My 07 Tundra did not have a cam so I got one of the Type S wireless solar ones. It was a license plate mount but I mounted it halfway on the screen door. It’s inside so protected from dust, mud etc and still gets sun. I have had it over a year now and am very satisfied.

 

[JWL]

My 07 Tundra did not have a cam so I got one of the Type S wireless solar ones. It was a license plate mount but I mounted it halfway on the screen door. It’s inside so protected from dust, mud etc and still gets sun. I have had it over a year now and am very satisfied.

 

[CPT Davenport]

These all sound like great options, and the up high seems to be the way to go. I was just hoping to not have to add another monitor (dash clutter) or replace mirror ( mine has on star and other features). It would be great if I could just connect to my radio screen with one of the for mentioned, flash upgrades.

 

[Jon R]

My truck has all the camera options, but I still had to figure out how to replace the tailgate camera when my Grandby is installed. I bought the OEM camera that is part of the tailgate handle assembly (it’s a 1 inch cube, roughly), made an enclosure out of a 45 degree pvc ell, and mounted it on the strip of metal that is installed on the door to prevent damage if you have the rear wall steps option. That put the camera almost exactly where the tailgate camera was, so the view is the same whether I have the tailgate or the camper installed.

 

[Jon R]

Here’s a photo of the camera installation

 

[CPT Davenport]

Here’s a photo of the camera installation

That is slick!!!!!!!! Nice work.

 

[buckland]

Jon I have a 2016 Chevy Colorado. I bought the GM replacement camera (the one in the tailgate) I made a box.... popped it in and attached it below the rear door (as my camper hangs out over truck bed) then plugged it in as the tailgate one and bingo on dash same ole same ole. I suppose with a plug and clip/wire you could mount same above door.

 

[CPT Davenport]

Sounds like a lot of you already had the truck wired and programmed for the camera. Not the case for me. When I purchased the truck, the sales person told me that my truck (as it sits) was not equipped for a camera and I would need to instal a new radio head unit, run a harness and instal a camera.

Good news, he had no idea what he was talking about!!!!

I always wondered what all the 3 digit codes were on the inside glovebox sticker. These codes tell the story of what factory options your truck has. The code for my radio was IOB (7" MyLink).

I reached out to a vehicle interface, upgrade company I found online, OBD Genie. They informed me that based on my radio unit, I should already be set up and wired for a backup camera! All I needed was to upload the programming to my unit and buy a camera. I went out and looked under the dash and located the computer port to plug in their upgrade device. I then looked under the rear bumper and located the factory installed wire harness for the camera (had a dummy plug capping it off).

I just purchased their programmer for $115. When it arrives, I just plug it in the port, let it feed my unit the new programming and bingo, I'm ready for a camera. Once the radio is programmed, I then unplug the programmer.

This is the best option (and cheapest) I have found. This also allows me to use my existing radio and the nice 7" screen as the display monitor for the camera.

Now I'm deciding which camera to get. Camera Source and Infortainment both offer a variety of options that come with various cable lengths for multiple mounting locations. All cables come with the OEM Fit plug to mate with my existing harness.

I'm leaning toward the license plate cam, so I can have the camera even if the fwc is off the truck. I DO worry about the issues of kicking it while entering the camper and also the limited visibility while running the hitch mount bike rack.

 

[Jon R]

If in doing your project you are searching for a cable source, i was very happy with my purchase from Pasternack.com. Pasternack will help you order a custom cable on the phone. They even tied in an electrical engineer to answer my questions about which wire type was best for my installation. My cable was about $36 shipped. I can answer questions about the connectors.

 

[rubberlegs]

Here’s a photo of the camera installation

How did you route the wire from truck to door?