Cargo camera install

littlebiscuit · Mar 25, 2023

Thought post up here little quick install on this after market cargo cam from crutchfield. This is for 2018 ram tradesman. I purchased the RCA from Mike at M2Mods. Pretty much plug and play. You do have to find 12 volt power if you want to be able to turn camera on if your not in reverse. No instruction came from aftermarket camera but was worth the money. All I had to do was grab 12 volts of the cigarette lighter port to power camera and plug RCA into back of radio connector pins 24 and 25 unless you all ready have wires in connector. I just finished the 8.4 upgrade and my connector wasn't wired. I replaced a 3.0 RA1 for the 8.4 w NAV. Using alpha obd 2 pics of what I did to activate on radio screen. Link to camera: https://www.crutchfield.com/p_249CDR03C/Crux-CDR-03C.html?omnews=14856427.

Mpgrimm2 · Mar 25, 2023

Great install I'm interested to see how that one holds up for the weather down there in Florida keep us updated

For anyone else stopping by here....

If you have a 2013-15 8.4 radio, with BuCam displayed on it, you likely can't add the second cargo Cam input due to SW version limitation of the radio. (It's one or the other only). There was a brief version released, 17.11.x, that allowed it before Stellantis removed it in later SW updates.

2016+ radios don't have this limitation.

Edit: enable the Cargo Cam input/menu button and see if you retain both?

The Alfaobd settings are below

VehConfig 1 - CHMSL Camera
"Yes"

CBC Features - LED CHMSL Lamp Present
"Yes"

Mike G.
M2 Mods (on Ramforum)
www.M2Mods4Ram.com

littlebiscuit · Mar 25, 2023

Keep you posted

jdeere5105 · Mar 25, 2023

What software version is your radio/nav? Also what is the website for the rca. I googled m2mods but got a lot of BMW stuff lol.

littlebiscuit · Mar 25, 2023

I have to look up version and will get you Mike email for M2Mods. I no the radio is out of a 2017 with nav. M2Mods gave me help with my upgrade.

littlebiscuit · Mar 25, 2023

4th and 5th Gen Ram Truck OEM Upgrade Harnesses | M2 Mods | South Carolina

Various custom upgrade harnesses for adding OEM upgrades on 4th and 5th Gen Ram Trucks from M2 Mods

www.m2mods4ram.com

littlebiscuit · Mar 25, 2023

My version is 18.45.01

jdeere5105 · Mar 25, 2023

I’ll check my version when I get off work. I would really like to add a cargo cam.

littlebiscuit · Mar 25, 2023

I just did a practice run backing up to 5th wheel what difference cargo camera does for ya. My truck is 3500 dually 6.4L.

Justthebutler · Mar 25, 2023

That's a cool addition, I've never seen those before. I like how it gives you a full view of what's going on, rather than just what's right behind your bumper.

I'm also planning on adding a cargo cam this week, but I'm going to try retrofitting an after market button cam into the third brake light.

SitKneelBend · Mar 25, 2023

jdeere5105 said:
What software version is your radio/nav? Also what is the website for the rca. I googled m2mods but got a lot of BMW stuff lol.

Forum member @Mpgrimm2 is M2Mods. You can reach him here on the forum too.

Mpgrimm2 · Mar 26, 2023

littlebiscuit said:
Keep you posted

Before your OP (post1) or post 3 gets locked from future edits... Can you post up the AlfaOBD BCM changes you made to enable the Cargo Cam input for others?

& Maybe Add a link to the camera you bought if you can...

Crux CDR-03C

Cargo camera installs under third brake light location of select 2014-17 RAM pickups — connects to aftermarket radio

www.crutchfield.com

riverchick · Jun 8, 2023

I am looking to add a cam to the back of a truck camper to integrate into the 12" Uconnect screen - would this set up work?

Mpgrimm2 · Jun 8, 2023

riverchick said:
I am looking to add a cam to the back of a truck camper to integrate into the 12" Uconnect screen - would this set up work?

I'm not terribly familiar with the 5th gen 12" radio vs earlier 4th gen.... @Jimmy07 may be able to confirm

unclelala · Jan 30, 2024

haleme · 2024-04-24T23:05:45-0400

I just wrapped up my cargo camera install using the harness and guidance from Grimm. Put the smallest diameter camera I could find directly into the CHMSL and then cabled to the radio. Also replaced all three lights with LEDs to keep the heat in the stop light area down. Easy as that.

Side note.
I don't normally like to rag on companies that are trying to support our community, but I did originally purchase the cargo camera kit from Tailgatecamera.com. They took a $45 Dorman replacement CHMSL, replaced the stop light with a very weak LED, drilled a hole and glued in a $15 camera, then called it a day. Upon delivery, I was completely disappointed with the quality of the work and immediately returned the cargo camera for a full refund. The original Brand Motion cargo cameras were custom molded to hold the camera and only cost $150 two years ago. Unfortunately, Brand Motion has discontinued this cargo camera. If the tailgatecamera.com kit was $100 to $125 tops, I would have been inclined to keep it and use it, but they charged me $300. Complete rip off. Be careful with them.

I think I might be a degree or two off, but I will recheck in the morning.

GTyankee · 2024-04-25T00:48:33-0400

I seem to remember .......

The Heavy Duty Rams at some year, had both a tailgate cam & a Cargo Cam.
The 1500s in the same year, only had the tailgate cam.

Ram 2500 CHML with cargo camera - Google Search

I saw it here first

Cargo View Camera - Must-Have Options and Which to Avoid for the 2017 Ram 2500 - Part 5

A review and evaluation of the "Center High-Mount Stop Lamp w/ Cargo View Camera" option for the 4th gen Ram aka Dodge Truck line.

www.youtube.com

SitKneelBend · 2024-04-25T07:58:31-0400

haleme said:
I just wrapped up my cargo camera install using the harness and guidance from Grimm. Put the smallest diameter camera I could find directly into the CHMSL and then cabled to the radio. Also replaced all three lights with LEDs to keep the heat in the stop light area down. Easy as that.

Side note.
I don't normally like to rag on companies that are trying to support our community, but I did originally purchase the cargo camera kit from Tailgatecamera.com. They took a $45 Dorman replacement CHMSL, replaced the stop light with a very weak LED, drilled a hole and glued in a $15 camera, then called it a day. Upon delivery, I was completely disappointed with the quality of the work and immediately returned the cargo camera for a full refund. The original Brand Motion cargo cameras were custom molded to hold the camera and only cost $150 two years ago. Unfortunately, Brand Motion has discontinued this cargo camera. If the tailgatecamera.com kit was $100 to $125 tops, I would have been inclined to keep it and use it, but they charged me $300. Complete rip off. Be careful with them.

View attachment 541804
I think I might be a degree or two off, but I will recheck in the morning.
View attachment 541805

Mine from Customtronix is pretty much identical to this setup and has been running strong for almost 10 years. I can't see it in your pictures, but if it's not sealed with silicone or something similar on the back side then just put a rubber o-ring on the camera between it and the light (on the outside).

haleme · 2024-04-25T14:04:06-0400

Not sealed yet. I need to adjust the camera in the daytime before I set it with silicone.

SitKneelBend · 2024-04-25T15:47:01-0400

haleme said:
Not sealed yet. I need to adjust the camera in the daytime before I set it with silicone.

My opinion, just use an o-ring. That way if it needs adjustment it's easy to remove. With time, the camera will lose focus but you can pop it out and thread it back into focus then re-tighten the set screw. I thought mine was silicones because it never leaked but when I went to refocus realized it was an o-ring doing all the work.

Cargo camera install

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