Front camera: The less invasive method?

[RBAT]

I didn't want to get into the CANBUS and didn't want to spend a ton of money for a front camera. I drilled two holes in the truck. One for the camera and one for a rocker switch. Power taps off of the front power outlet wiring under the console using a 2 amp fuse for the feed. Monitor is mounted with the adhesive pad.

I turned off the mirror image since it was for the front. Haven't decided on the grid lines yet so I have not cut that loop. If I decide to go with an interface to the 8.4 later everything is in place. I would just have to switch the video feed cable and pull the control voltage from the new harness.

 

[jackaz]

looks good. I'm about to put together a less invasive kit myself. i don't wanna get involved with pinning harnesses etc etc. Im going to get a smaller 3.5" lcd monitor and mount it above the key slot. Going to grab a cheap and proven light bar wiring harness for the camera connection so i can switch it on in the cab thus directing power and signal to the screen when i need it. I'm not sure on camera location yet though, I have a front bull bar so may have some plying around to do. All in I calculated this setup should cost me less than $60.

 

[TonyMM]

Sorry to ask but why do you need a front camera?

 

[Krein]

Sorry to ask but why do you need a front camera?

Not sure where you live but here in the great state of PA we have Sheetz gas stations which have a 3ft bar between the front of the store and the parking spaces to keep people from jumping the curb and hitting the store. Well for me having a lifted truck i cant even see those bars at all and it would help to have a camera to see how far i am away from it. Plus countless other places that have gaurd rails, cars, etc... near parking spots.

 

[muddy12]

I’ll have to get pictures later, but I did something very similar. Started out with one of those license plate mounted back up cameras. The screen that came with it had two video inputs. I already had a second camera, so I mounted it at the front.

I’ll get pics of cameras, screen, and switches after work tonight.


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[prairieboy]

Curious as to what you ended up using for a camera. I was going to do the same and ordered a camera and monitor off of amazon. Said it was 170 degree FOV but when I tested it on the front in different places, I couldn't get a good FOV - I'm more concerned about the front corners of the bumper when pulling into parking spots (not that I'm inept but like the rear camera helps to maneuver a little easier).

 

[kad]

Curious as to what you ended up using for a camera. I was going to do the same and ordered a camera and monitor off of amazon. Said it was 170 degree FOV but when I tested it on the front in different places, I couldn't get a good FOV - I'm more concerned about the front corners of the bumper when pulling into parking spots (not that I'm inept but like the rear camera helps to maneuver a little easier).

I've done some testing on a number of ebay/Amazon cameras looking for one for this very purpose, the thread is linked below. The main thing I've discovered is that most of the cameras listed as 170° or 180° fov are nowhere near that. Most of them are 100° at most. I even looked into the front camera off of a 2019 RAM, which is a true 180°, but that one turned out to be part of a $1000+ module. From the experiments of others, the rear camera off the 4th gens isn't usable either. While it's a true 180° fov, it requires canbus connectivity to work and the mirror mode can't be turned off for forward facing use. I have one more I want to try out, it's gotten good reviews as being at least 170° fov, but it's the most expensive of the "cheap" ones at $60 and I haven't gotten around to ordering one yet.

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/using-cargo-camera-inputs-for-front-camera.130214/

-K

 

[John Jensen]

I just installed:
Crimestoppers CAM-300 Camera, Full License Plate Bracket and Wire Harness. Had to slightly modify/trim the Ram license plate mount to make camera bracket fit flush
Waiting for:
Custom RCA Pigtail Pinout Harness to Connect front Camera wiring to Radio (Ram Forum-M2Mods)

All less than $100.00 for quality stuff.

Used AlfaOBD to change the software to control the front camera via radio screen "Cargo Camera".

 

[kad]

I just installed:
Crimestoppers CAM-300 Camera, Full License Plate Bracket and Wire Harness
Waiting for:
RCA Pigtail Pinout Harness to Connect front Camera to Radio (Ram Forum-M2Mods)

All less than $100.00 for quality stuff.

Used AlfaOBD to change the software to control the front camera via radio screen "Cargo Camera".

Any pictures of the view from that camera/location?

-K

 

[jackaz]

@John Jensen where are you getting the harness from and what is involved installing it?


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[novelmike]

Sorry to ask but why do you need a front camera?

I use mine when take my Ram off road. It’s great when going up a steep hill and you’re about to get to the top and you wanna know exactly what’s in front rather than getting out and parking on the hill.
Also for the few times I pull in to the garage.

 

[JB1]

I just installed:
Crimestoppers CAM-300 Camera, Full License Plate Bracket and Wire Harness. Had to slightly modify/trim the Ram license plate mount to make camera bracket fit flush
Waiting for:
Custom RCA Pigtail Pinout Harness to Connect front Camera wiring to Radio (Ram Forum-M2Mods)

@Mpgrimm2 do you make this harness or is this Deereguy?

 

[ramrocker]

@Mpgrimm2 do you make this harness or is this Deereguy?

Want to know also, looks interesting.

 

[GIJoe2010]

I just installed:
Crimestoppers CAM-300 Camera, Full License Plate Bracket and Wire Harness. Had to slightly modify/trim the Ram license plate mount to make camera bracket fit flush
Waiting for:
Custom RCA Pigtail Pinout Harness to Connect front Camera wiring to Radio (Ram Forum-M2Mods)

All less than $100.00 for quality stuff.

Used AlfaOBD to change the software to control the front camera via radio screen "Cargo Camera".

Since some of us don’t run front plates, I wonder if you could remove the camera from the plate frame and retrofit it elsewhere?

 

[John Jensen]

kad & jackaz,

No view pics yet as just received the RCA pigtail pinout harness and need to finish wiring when the rain stops.

The harness comes from M2mods. Here's the thread that covers it all.

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/m²-mods-intro-project-list.98332/#post-1458159

This one is more specific to a front camera.

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/using-cargo-camera-inputs-for-front-camera.130214/

 

[John Jensen]

Since some of us don’t run front plates, I wonder if you could remove the camera from the plate frame and retrofit it elsewhere?

There a lot of cameras available. I used Crimestoppr's for the quality and positive reviews. If you google their site they have several models available depending on how or where you want to mount them.

Since I don't have mine wired up yet I cannot comment on the camera itself.

 

[Mpgrimm2]

@Mpgrimm2 do you make this harness or is this Deereguy?

Want to know also, looks interesting.

Yes, I have more parts in now to make the RCA video pigtail for the radio to use cargo cam/video 2 input as a front camera. ($20)

See @kad 's thread
Using Cargo cam input as from camera.
and
Post 1165/1166: My 13Ram Front cam install.

M² Mods.

 

[ramrocker]

I'm in the early stages of this, rxed the RCA pigtail.
I'm thinking I could run the existing cargo camera and one from the front thru a switch/video switch, then the switch's output into the radio display so I could watch either camera one at a time on the screen.