Adding Backup Cam

[CPT Davenport]

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.

Good to know Jon. I will keep them in mind if I need more wire length in the event I move the camera to a higher location.

 

[CPT Davenport]

I ordered the license plate cam from Camera Source yesterday. It comes with 5' of wire. I believe this would be enough if I decide to mount the camera up the door a bit. I will start with the license mount and see how it goes from there.

Total cost:

Camera Source cam- $199
OBD Genie programmer- $115

Not too bad considering I can use my existing display monitor for the OEM vibe. (dealer wanted over twice that amount)

 

[Jon R]

If you look at the photo carefully you can see at least some of it. The wire is slightly less than 1/8 inch outside diameter. It’s black, but I have it covered in white electrical tape to match the camper in exposed areas.

The wire exits the pvc fitting on the opposite side from the direction I routed it because the right angle FAKRA connector was clocked that way, so I was stuck with that (Pasternack might have been able to orient it the other way, but I didn’t know enough to ask at the time I ordered the wire and I made do).

So the wire exits the pvc fitting toward the latch, but is immediately bent around to dive under the 1.5”x0.125” aluminum strip on which the pvc ell is mounted. At the hinge line the wire comes upward out from behind that strip and has a stress relief loop to handle the door opening motion. I then ran it down the door trim, which had a slot into which it fit snugly. I have a couple of pieces of white tape holding it in, but if you look closely you can see a few spots where the black wire shows. It then drops off the bottom of the camper below the hinge line trim (more white electrical tape), and dives behind the bumper, where I zip tie a little excess near the truck’s connector. I imagine I’ll need to touch up the electrical tape in the future, but i bought high quality 3M tape and so far it’s held up well.

 

[fish more]

I was able to purchase a camera from Ford dealer and install into lower rear bed panel with a home made bracket. It plugged into factory harness where the tail gate camera plugged into.

 

[rubberlegs]

Pasternack will help you order a custom cable on the phone.

Thanks for the cable answers. So was there a part number or another place to start at Pasternack? Or is calling the only way? I assume you said you had "x" truck in "y" year with rear view camera... etc.

We installed our camera at the bottom of the camper, which works. But not great because the field of view isn't as designed. I like the idea of an aluminum bar across the door, which looks easy to install. Those are easy to find at big box hardware stores.

 

[CPT Davenport]

I'm thinking I will screw my came to the door if the low down mount becomes an issue. My only concern is the wire fatigue from the hinge point.

 

[Jon R]

Pasternack has an extensive web site with many wire and connector types, but I had difficulty finding the connectors I wanted and wasn’t sure of the best wire type to order (i wanted thin, able to handle exterior exposure, and handle repeated flexing. I ended up calling and they were very competent and helpful.

GM currently uses FAKRA connectors. They have multiple keying options identified by the color of the connector, or you can order universal non-keyed connectors. The attached photos are of my tailgate camera connector behind the bumper. The camera uses the same connector, but with the black connector keying. Do you know if your 2017 uses the same connector?

I ordered a straight connector on the bumper end of my cable and a right angle connector at the camera end to reduce the depth of the camera/connector assembly for mounting purposes.

 

[CPT Davenport]

Pasternack has an extensive web site with many wire and connector types, but I had difficulty finding the connectors I wanted and wasn’t sure of the best wire type to order (i wanted thin, able to handle exterior exposure, and handle repeated flexing. I ended up calling and they were very competent and helpful.

GM currently uses FAKRA connectors. They have multiple keying options identified by the color of the connector, or you can order universal non-keyed connectors. The attached photos are of my tailgate camera connector behind the bumper. The camera uses the same connector, but with the black connector keying. Do you know if your 2017 uses the same connector?

I ordered a straight connector on the bumper end of my cable and a right angle connector at the camera end to reduce the depth of the camera/connector assembly for mounting purposes.

My connector under the bumper has way more pins than that. Camera Source is supplying the proper cable for my truck. They also offer various lengths if I need to move the unit.

 

[Jon R]

On the current trucks there is a large connector for the tailgate that has many pins, and the camera connector is that separate FAKRA connector. They must have changed it after your year.

 

[mobilelists]

Is there a blank (no wiring) cover to reseal that large connector feeding the tailgate when removed? Something better than a plastic bag.

 

[PaulT]

May depend on your truck brand. My 2010 Tundra came with covers for the truck side and tailgate side camera connectors and a strong admonition to install the dust covers so as to keep both ends clean and dry in the event I removed the tailgate.

There was a bag in the glove box with those parts and instructions.

I would check with a dealer or a body repair business.

Paul

 

[Vic Harder]

Is there a blank (no wiring) cover to reseal that large connector feeding the tailgate when removed? Something better than a plastic bag.

There is on my 2015 Chev

 

[penner]

My 2017 Chev came with a blank in the glove box. Traded to a 2020 , no blank, and the connector was 4 times bigger and a pain to seal off. Ordered the harness with the tailgate camera last week. ($95 CDN) I will make a box and mount it under the door.

 

[CPT Davenport]

My 2017 has the 8 pin connector behind the bumper. It currently has a factory cover on it as my truck was not equipped with the tailgate cam. Here is the cam I have on order. It comes with a 8 pin harness that plugs into the factory provided plug. The camera can be mounted with a license plate bracket or with the provided smaller bracket for the location of your choice. I will initially instal on the license plate. When I receive my camper, I will instal it up on the door with the smaller bracket.

 

[CPT Davenport]

It works!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just received my programer from OBDGENIE, plugged it into the truck, put it in reverse, and just like that my radio turned into a backup camera display!

Just to recap:

-Truck did not come with any BU camera.
-Dealer said my trucks system was not wired or compatible with a camera. (Wrong!)

-I located harness under truck
-Installed and plugged in Camera Source, license frame cam
-Plugged in programer

Now I have a back up cam! When the Hawk arrives i will move the camera up on the door.

Epic when things come together

 

[Lighthawk]

Very cool! I checked out OBDGENIE and asked them if I could add a second camera for our 2021 RAM. You'll love having one on your camper.

 

[CPT Davenport]

I just wish it was hooked up last week. Last Friday it was raining, I got in my truck, looked in my rearview mirror and proceeded to reverses. Crunch! There was a little Honda hiding out of sight under my tail gate. Dooooh! Would have seen it with the cam.


Where would you mount a second camera?

 

[Vic Harder]

I am eagerly awaiting a new head unit for my 2015 Silverado. It will have 4 camera inputs! One will be the stock backup camera, and two will be front mounted such that I can see wheel placement for driving on rougher roads/trails.

 

[CPT Davenport]

two will be front mounted such that I can see wheel placement for driving on rougher roads/trails.

Ahhh kinda like a built in spotter! Nice.

 

[Vic Harder]

Ahhh kinda like a built in spotter! Nice.

exactly. My significant other enjoys rougher roads a LOT less if she has to be running ahead all the time....