Tailgate handle camera install

[Matt Todd]

So I purchased a new aftermarket head unit and a tailgate handle backup camera from crutchfield and I’m looking to get to installing them today. I believe the head unit should be fairly straight forward but I’m wondering about the install of the handle camera mainly the routine of the wires from the tailgate to the cab. The diagram they attached vaguely shows it following the bed and “through a small factory drilled hole in between the bed and the cab”. Do the wires just get zip tied to the bottom of the truck? Should I run it in any particular place? Does that factory hole exist?

PS if this project turns into more than I can handle as a DIY I’ll hire a pro.

 

[SOKY_RAM]

I used a fish tape to run the wires through the frame rail and then up through a plastic grommet under the drivers seat. It wasn't too bad.

 

[Matt Todd]

I used a fish tape to run the wires through the frame rail and then up through a plastic grommet under the drivers seat. It wasn't too bad.

So the grommet is on the floor under the driver seat? It sounded to me like it was in between the cab and the bed.

 

[Matt Todd]

Is the frame rail an enclosed metal frame since you had to use the fish tape? I guess I’ll have to just do a scout of the truck to find the best route.

 

[SOKY_RAM]

Yep frame is enclosed. I'm sure you could use a place towards rear of cab just the same but then you have to fish the wire inside or take more of the interior apart.

 

[daveray9]

What kind of head unit.. and camera. Keep me posted this is my next Mod.

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[Elevated 2013]

I replaced my camera and wiring and I ran most of the wire above the frame and cable tied it to another loom or the parking brake cable that was right there and I actually brought the wire into the cable where the parking brake cable goes in. It was quick, simple, and clean, and there wasn’t much to fish through behind the dash and to the back of the radio. You may need an adapter to go from the camera connector to the radio though depending on the inputs in the back of the radio.


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[Matt Todd]

Lot of great advice, thanks guys!

 

[Matt Todd]

What kind of head unit.. and camera. Keep me posted this is my next Mod.

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I got the alpine ILX-W650 and the crux CDR-02 from crutchfield. It seemed like a great price for everything and exactly what I was looking for.

 

[Matt Todd]

So I can’t get past step 2
Apparently I’m supposed to pry open this area marked with a red arrow to expose another screw holding the face plate on but it doesn’t feel like it wants to budge.

 

[Elevated 2013]

There is a little rubber matt in the bottom and back of up that is basically only suctioned there. The screw is facing straight out from the back of it. If you use a flashlight you should be staring right at it if you don’t have that matt.


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[Matt Todd]

I got it off, one more question whilst I’m balls deep into a lot of wires...what are these 2 plugs for. Basically there’s no markings on the back of the old head unit for me to tell if ones the antenna or etc.

 

[Elevated 2013]

The 1 in your hand looks like the radio/XM antenna and the other 1 may be the original backup camera wire if the truck had 1. If not it could also be the antenna for the am/fm radio antenna. Im not 100% on those answers though to be honest. I kept my head unit when I replaced my backup camera.


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[SOKY_RAM]

Other one could be Sirius antenna? Not sure as I also just added a camera and have my original head unit.

 

[Matt Todd]

I got it but I’m not done. There was one wire that came with the harness that was associated with the reverse light that according to tech support I’m supposed to hard wire it to the truck reverse wiring...god bless you guys that have to deal with electronics on a regular basis

 

[Matt Todd]

Which also, backing up a few posts when I couldn’t get the bezel off. It turned out to be stupid easy, just the 2 T20 torx bits in the very top under the RAM tray and then it just snaps in from there. A couple stuff pulls starting from the top and it pops right out of the metal clips(4 I believe).

 

[Elevated 2013]

The only reason there’s a wire that needs to be connected to the reverse lights would be for the backup camera. The radio will be looking for a signal from them to change it from the phone or radio to the backup camera. You should be able to tap into them by the reverse lights in the back. Not sure where it connects to behind the radio but I’m sure 1 of the guys that has done this before will be able to help. Also do a search on here for backup camera wiring. There are a few really good threads that have all of the wiring diagrams and connections.


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[daveray9]

Slick headunit... all the steering wheel controls work?
Also, the connector you were not holding (yellow) I believe is the NAV antenna.

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[Matt Todd]

The only reason there’s a wire that needs to be connected to the reverse lights would be for the backup camera. The radio will be looking for a signal from them to change it from the phone or radio to the backup camera. You should be able to tap into them by the reverse lights in the back. Not sure where it connects to behind the radio but I’m sure 1 of the guys that has done this before will be able to help. Also do a search on here for backup camera wiring. There are a few really good threads that have all of the wiring diagrams and connections.


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The headunit already comes with 2 different plug in outputs already attached in the back for a backup camera and a secondary camera. The “reverse” wire was just a real small gauge wire that came off of the main bundle of wires.

 

[Matt Todd]

Slick headunit... all the steering wheel controls work?
Also, the connector you were not holding (yellow) I believe is the NAV antenna.

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Thanks, There was an option to retain factory steering wheel controls but I don’t have any steering wheel controls so I opted out of that extra.