Back-Up Camera Install

[wannabang]

Just received the back-up camera I ordered from Amazon. It only took 3 days for it to arrive! This is the camera: http://www.amazon.com

 

It doesn't have any LEDs/infrared for night vision, but I have back-up sensors and maybe it'll give me a reason to upgrade my reverse lights.

 

 

And for a size comparison:

 

Double AA Battery

 

Shot Glass

 

I'm still recovering from doing Insanity tonight, but if I feel up to it, I might get around to installing it when it cools down. Hope to fix my steering wheel controls and finish debadging the truck, too. I'll keep a log of the steps I took to install this (with pictures)

 

[wannabang]

By now you must know that I'm a procrastinator. I finally got it done. Here's the write up.

 

First, the tear down.

 

Remove the four screws from the lower, interior trim panel of the trunk lid. (Two in each handle). Pull (hard) around the edges to remove the friction clips (11).

 

Then remove the upper, interior trim panel from your trunk lid. It's held on with 7 friction clips. (no picture)

Remove the driver's side, interior panel to get the the back of the driver's side tail light. Then remove the tail light by unscrewing the screws (There's 2 and I believe they're 7/16") and the lights with a simple twist.

 

Now, remove the exterior trim panel above the license plate (that houses the license plate lights) by unscrewing 6 screws on the interior of the trunk lid and undoing two clasps.

I used pliers to pinch the sides in and my other hand to pull the panel away.

 

After the panel is detached, remove the license plates lights so the panel comes away from the trunk further. My lights weren't able to be removed, but it didn't create too much of a hassle.

 

Next, pop the piece between the two lights out by pushing the two plastic clips on the driver's side in and pulling out on the piece with a screwdriver. (This was really hard to get a picture of, so I didn't LOL)

Drill a hole big enough to fit the video out and power connectors through and screw the camera into this piece.

**note** The paint on my finger nails is from spray paint. I'm one of the guys that leave the flyers on your door telling you that I'll be around the next day to paint your address on your curb.

 

I chose to run the video and power wires next. I used quick splicers to attach some leftover 22 gauge speaker wire to the positive (green) and negative (black) of the reverse light. Connected the speaker wire to the + and - of the camera with butt connectors. I cut away some of the camera wires' jackets and folded them over, and stuffed each in the butt connector with its coinciding speaker wire into the same end of the connector.

The camera's supplied power and ground wires were the thinnest things I have ever seen, so be gentle with them and don't expect the quick splicers to work.

 

After this, I ran the video wire through the rubber grommet used for the stock wires between the cabin and trunk lid. This was probably the most difficult part of the process, and I opted to leave the wires exposed, but utilizing the grommet's holes. (Don't worry, the rubber conforms around the wires). Then it proceeds under the headliner, down the rear pillar, through the driver's side panel, and into the door sills to be run up behind the pedals to the "RC IN" (I think is what it's labeled) on the HU. (I'm not sure if this connection exists on all HUs, but the camera did not work when plugged into the "Vid In" connection).

(Yes, that's Ron Paul's Liberty Defined. I highly recommend it.)

 

After running the wires, I pushed the camera (attached to its new plastic base) back into place in the exterior trim panel. I shoved the video wire connection into the cabin and left the power connector in the trim panel. I got the wires into the cabin through the holes for the screws. (Don't worry, I tightened the screws fully. The camera still works and it seems water tight.)

 

Now, you're all set. It's clean and looks pretty great from the back.

(Those are grass clippings on the driveway) Oh, and each of the lines are about 2 feet from each other.

[Cellbine]

Nice install, looks clean. I have always wondered how people felt in Edges without rear cameras. If you plasti-dip it, it would almost be invisible when looking at it! Haha.

[wannabang]

Thanks! That might be an idea. I felt like I had an obligation to get one after almost backing over the neighbors dogs that neither I nor the back-up sensors picked up...

[Dingo]

If that camera ever fails, this one is my all - time favorite of the inexpensive ones.

 

http://www.echomaster.com/index.php/lip-truck-mount-camera-vm-110

[wannabang]

I'm not sure how much that is, but it might not work. The piece I mounted the camera on isn't flat, it's slanted about 30 degrees, so that camera seems like it would look directly down.

[wannabang]

Just a little update after a little time of use. The camera is great, and even though it doesn't have night vision features, the reverse lights are plenty. I've backed up in utter darkness and it picks up light extremely well.

[Ron Bemberry]

I hav the the top sony cam and I mounted it under the wing