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Fit/retrofit backup camera?

dyeager535

dyeager535

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Has anyone done this?

I started with the idea to install one of those backup warning setups where it starts beeping faster the closer you get to an object in reverse. And I was going to install one of the later model Gentex mirrors with auto-dim, compass and temp display. Of course, I already have both, multiples of the mirrors.

But now, having had backup camera-equipped vehicles, and having to hitch a trailer up myself, I'm thinking a camera would be nice to have. Not necessary, but nice.

(Un)fortunately, they now have things like this: https://visiontechamerica.com/colle...compass-temperature-and-auto-dimming-features

What I like about the aftermarket mirrors is that some will work with at least two cameras. While I'm no hardcore 'wheeler, fairly often I get into situations where I have to do a 30 point turn, and squeezing as much room out as is possible without having to worry about physically contacting something, would be nice. (at some point the truck is supposed to be nice enough that I care) I can see having a camera up front and one in the rear, which would work well for those situations. Would be really trick if I could rig a front camera to turn on from 0MPH to something like 2MPH.

The mirrors GM uses that have the video in them, appear to all have onstar and eliminate compass/temp, which is kind of irritating, as I like the temp function. I could work around that, but I'd rather it all in one. Kind of the point of these mirrors.

But all that is neither here nor there. My problem really is, if anyone has done this, how have you mounted the cameras? Going back to the "nice truck" fantasy I have, it would have to be without modification to the truck. I've seen mounts for the top of the license plate frame, but no idea if that is up high enough to do much good for the rear corners of the bumper. Anything higher and I can't think of where you'd be able to mount it and run wires that didn't involve cutting holes in things. The front I suspect would be fairly easy, just mount it to the grille somehow, but that wouldn't be as critical as getting the rear one mounted and operable.
 
A lot of factory setups sink it into the tailgate by the handle. You could snake the wires thru the tailgate by going in at that joint as well. Might be worth a look.
 
Smokinthehippies said:
A lot of factory setups sink it into the tailgate by the handle. You could snake the wires thru the tailgate by going in at that joint as well. Might be worth a look.
Click to expand...

Considered that, guess I'd need to make a plate that sits under the handle, requiring an additional seal (which realistically probably isn't real critical to be watertight). From what I recall of the electric tailgate "handle" there is enough threads on the back that a plate would fit if it weren't too thick.

Only problem I've seen is that it might be hard to find a camera that is fairly inconspicuous. Most of the aftermarket cameras are kind of bulky. I don't know what the OEM cameras that fit in the tailgate handles look like on the "back" side, but if there is a real trim camera, that could work.

Not opposed to using something bulkier, mounted to the license plate frame, just no idea if a camera mounted in that location would be effective as if it were mounted higher.
 
It won't be. My added on camera on my 07 is on a license plate frame. It's good to see if I'm backing into something on center but does nothing for the sides. They do make some pretty lopro cameras these days I saw while shopping on crutchfield.
 
dremu said:
I got a kit of mirror + camera, and the camera had a bracket to put it on the license plate. Looks like it's very similar to the one you linked to, and yep, two camera inputs. On mine, the rear one comes on with the reverse light, so it's automatic, and the front one comes on by manual toggle. See

https://ck5.com/forums/threads/74-k...winter-still-good.209791/page-24#post-3558112

-- A
Click to expand...

Hell, that's one of the old ones! lol

Thanks for linking me to that. Do you find the same issue, the camera isn't high enough to get the corners?

I'm sure I saw one of them that would do two camera outputs at the same time, I suppose worst case one could use three cameras (or four?) and toggle them front to rear as necessary, displaying both rears or fronts at the same time.

But if possible, mounting up higher would probably be preferable to more cameras.
 
I've been thinking of the same thing for hitting the trailer hitch. Toying with the idea of a WiFi or Bluetooth camera that can display on a phone or tablet. Don't really want a dedicated screen just for the camera, will probably have a Nav/OBDII tablet on board anyway. Also will keep the stock head-unit in the GMT800 because it's integrated with the rear seat controls, DVD player, steering wheel and has BT/USB/Line-in adapter already integrated.

Seems like the most common implementation these days is to use a 2-DIN head unit with LCD display and integrate the camera there. Not good positioning in a square body, though. How about a sun visor LCD?
 
I'd seen the phone linked setups, but at that point I figure I might as well install some sort of screen in the truck permanently, the mirror would seem an ideal solution to keeping something out of the way like that.

Sun visor isn't a bad spot either, but I'm not keen on having to move it all the time. I like the seamless aspect of the rear view mirror implementation. Even an overhead console sort of display would be ok, but the mirrors are basically a "bolt in" application, that isn't going to require a lot of thought, except the cameras. :)
 
dyeager535 said:
Hell, that's one of the old ones! lol

Do you find the same issue, the camera isn't high enough to get the corners?
Click to expand...

Yeah, the joy of technology is that it changes all the dang time.

Didn't think of height. My truck on 37"s and with the license plate on a custom carrier, it's way up. Prolly about top-of-tailgate height for a stock truck.

-- A
 
I just measured to where the tailgate "handle" is on mine, and came up with 45". I have to assume that is at least as tall as some of the stock full size trucks out there.

Anything you dislike about the setup? Any problems or unexpected benefits you've come to discover since you installed it? Any problems with dust/water over time, especially in terms of the lens?

Since they are easily $200, you'd think they would last and be decent quality, the company seems reputable, agreed?

I may have even run across that post of yours and forgotten about it, but I do recall hearing the image reversal issue, and the line generating "feature" that is pretty much ubiquitous on the cheaper cameras.

If I could find at least one camera that was not much bigger than what is visible on the OEM apps, the handle/bracket idea might be doable. They all look to be about this size:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCEDES-BE...ash=item25a4795e8d:g:bmIAAOSwBLlVAgC3&vxp=mtr
 
On my K5, the rear camera is ~46" off the ground, and the front ~40". For comparison, the cameras on my F250 are 58" (!) in back and 38" in front, and the wife's RAV4 are like 29" in front and 44" in back.

Anyway, point being that I think you have some leeway on mounting position.

-- A
 
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Might as well update this.

Ended up buying this mirror off a vendor on ebay, paid just over $200: https://visiontechamerica.com/colle...compass-temperature-and-auto-dimming-features
Oddly, while I don't think it's supposed to, it mounted to the stock mirror button on the windshield. Saved me some hassle there. The wiring is a bit thick up to the mirror, but with no headliner, I cable clamped it to the roof next to the windshield gasket using the stock trim screw holes, and it blends in very well. I *think* it could be made to fit under the metal trim piece if you have a headliner. I bought a cheap fish for the project, and fished the wires through the A pillar on the passenger side (went in up top through the cutout for the sun visor) , and out one of the numerous holes above the kick panel back into the cab.

The temp probe comes with PLENTY of wire. I made a bracket and attached it to the front leaf spring mount on the passenger side, which is where my auxiliary fuse panel and wiring is, and I'm running all the wiring for EFI through the heater wire grommet. I just added these wires to that passthrough.

The temp probe has pretty stiff wires that are molded into it (they terminate in a plug after about 8", mirror also includes about 20' of wiring that plugs into the probes connector). One of them looked a bit "weak" where it was molded into the probe housing, and sure enough, broke. Vendor was no help, but called the company in the above link, and they were extremely helpful. Even able to answer a question about potentially using a GM temp probe (possible, but readings might be slightly off) instead of theirs. Sent me a new probe (and another wiring harness for it), no charge, and got it in two days. Works fine.

Not a big fan of the wire/wiring any of these setups use. Most of the connections are RCA, and IMO those don't have a place on a vehicle, especially such as where the camera connects, which is exposed to the elements. Not to mention that the cable jacket is not rated for automotive use (not even the temp probe as far as I can tell), so it's not going to withstand much heat. With no positive lock, I can see water getting into the RCA connections over time, if they don't just come loose completely. I plan to use dielectric grease then shrink tube the connectors together once everything is wired up. I'd rather they use a proper type of wire/connector for automotive, but I'm guessing OEM's are the only ones doing that.

Ordered a $5 camera off ebay. Works fine, only downside is it has to be mounted horizontally. Not hard to work around (nor expensive), but based on the pictures I thought it could be mounted vertically. Which may be an issue depending on how someone else may want to mount it.

Don't plan on screwing around with mounting the camera higher at this point. Haven't mounted it "permanently" yet, but will see how useful it is mounted over the license plate. It will at least help with connecting the trailer by myself, which was one of my main goals.

Still have to complete the camera mount, run the wiring up the frame, make a harness for the reverse light trigger, and wire the whole thing through the auxiliary fuse panel. Will take a couple of pics once it's done.
 
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I know you're opposed to drilling holes, but if it were me I'd mount it on the topper just above the window. IIRC the window sits in a fairly large lip that you could drill through without the possibility of it leaking and run the wires behind the window felt. Again, don't remember how much if any room there is behind the felt but might be worth a look.
 
rampage said:
I know you're opposed to drilling holes, but if it were me I'd mount it on the topper just above the window. IIRC the window sits in a fairly large lip that you could drill through without the possibility of it leaking and run the wires behind the window felt. Again, don't remember how much if any room there is behind the felt but might be worth a look.
Click to expand...

Mounting on the tailgate won't be any more difficult (ok, maybe slightly more) than the license plate setup I already have, if I feel I have to mount it higher up, I'll just make a bracket to clamp beneath the tailgate window mechanism.

My one concern, especially mounted higher, is how much detail I'm going to be able to see with a 4.3" screen. That isn't tiny, but it's not huge either, so if it were mounted higher, I'm not sure I'd be able to see smaller sticks/rocks and determine I need to watch out. Obviously for cars or trailer no difficulty at all, but I don't really drive this thing in town.
 
Had a chance to take some pics.

Adapter I made to feed power from the reverse light switch. I hate cutting factory wiring. It's a disease. This goes in between the trans reverse switch and the plug that normally connects to it. The one green wire going off picture is what feeds power to the camera/signals the mirror the vehicle is in reverse. I'm sure the reverse light circuit is fused somehow, but I'm going to run that power wire through the auxiliary fuse panel with a very low amp fuse, just in case.
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My phone sucks, but this shows the mirror "on" (temp/compass) and the camera image, as the trans is in reverse:
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Closeup of the camera image in the mirror. That is where the ball would be, but this one is mounted upside down on the stinger. That's a very small gas can, not a 5 gallon one. :) I mounted the camera up against the license plate as close as possible so that I'd get more viewing area. It does not obstruct the license plate, there is a fair bit of space above the plate. Camera has to be offset here because the license plate light is dead center and hangs down too far to put the camera under it. BTW this is supposedly a 170* camera, which appears to be the widest common (read: cheap) angle. I could bend the camera down some if needed, I'll wait and see what I think of it in operation before I do that.

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Still haven't removed the protective clear plastic off the mirror, so the pictures I took are probably a bit degraded because of it.

I'm thinking I can probably remove the backup lines in the image since this mirror has two inputs, one from a rearview mirror camera, and another generic input, I guess in case you wanted to watch microscopic movies while you were driving? Would be cool to display some of the ECM data on there when testing a tune I suppose. As the lines can be moved around on the image with the mirrors remote (yes, it has a remote lol) I'm guessing the generic input won't have lines. Both inputs use the same RCA type connection.

Oh, had this pic too. It's the temp probe. Drill a couple of holes, clip it onto a flat edge somewhere, or make a bracket and drill holes in that to mount it like I did. You can see the one wire is broken right at the probe. These wires are flexible, but springy. Not sure why they made them this way. I looped them back on themselves in a decent arc, and cable clamped it to hopefully take the load off the wires as the vehicle rattles and vibrates, and in case somehow the wiring connecting to the plug accidentally gets yanked on.
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real world testing...awesome
My Sister and I had one installed in my Mom's car for her birthday last year and she loves it.
It is an add on that sits in the corner of the dash (where she wanted it instead of below the existing mirror, which we both agreed would create a black hole in windshield visibility).
 
Don't know if the link will work correctly to take you straight to what they are selling that is pertinent, but you could probably put one together quite a bit cheaper. Likely wireless if you really wanted to.

Monitor for $30 as best I can tell (kinda cool with the USB charger in it):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Portable-7-...hash=item1c89570681:m:m5xLrI4ALevEMi1SLqCYlbg
And I know the camera in the Amazon link is less than $10, most likely $5 all over ebay.

I doubt any of this stuff is made anywhere BUT China, if you pay more you are probably just paying the middle man and someone to bundle it all together for you, taking some of the guesswork out of it.

By the way, this is the same as the Amazon kit, no, for $30 less? http://www.ebay.com/itm/PLCM7700-7-...226620?hash=item3d233d533c:g:KWwAAOSw14xXFPqw

I do like the larger screen, and functionality that brings, I just wanted to keep my dash as clean as possible. Something like that on the back of the seat(s) for kids movies though? Heck yes. lol
 
the one i used to want cant find, had flush mount camera and had display in rear view mirror was only 50-60 bucks on ebay
 
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