I was thinking it would be cool to DIY a camera in the cargo light area. Would be nice to flip on a separate screen for to see your trailer load or even blind spot views! Anyone ever try routing any cable from the cargo light area down into the cab? I really don't want to screw up my headliner!! At a quick glance, everything in the back above the rear window looks really neat and sealed up!! I don't see any easy way to access it. I haven't looked underneath the cargo lamp area, but on a video it looked like it was wide open under the lens leading to the headliner!! Any thoughts would be appreciated!!
Anyone ever put a camera in the cargo light??
Koop
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I was thinking it would be cool to DIY a camera in the cargo light area. Would be nice to flip on a separate screen for to see your trailer load or even blind spot views! Anyone ever try routing any cable from the cargo light area down into the cab? I really don't want to screw up my headliner!! At a quick glance, everything in the back above the rear window looks really neat and sealed up!! I don't see any easy way to access it. I haven't looked underneath the cargo lamp area, but on a video it looked like it was wide open under the lens leading to the headliner!! Any thoughts would be appreciated!!
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Something like this might work, but you'd have to leave the cargo light circuit on, place the screen some place and do something about the red lens. Rather expensive also. I'm not seeing it as a good solution, but you asked for "any thoughts."
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There are so many backup camera options out there, I am sure you could find something that would work. Just a quick glance and I would think one way is to find a small one, like on the tailgate. Then drill a hole above the brake light area in the cargo lamp. Mount it there, then it is just a lot of tedious work running the wiring back to the front of the truck.
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Think I seen somewhere they sell a camera cargo light together
I was thinking something like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083QV516P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
That way there is only 1 wire to the camera. It gets power from the monitor. I guess my question was not worded well. What I was mostly curious is how to get the wiring through the cargo lamp area into the cab. It just looks like the headliner area is so tight and sealed up. Almost as if the headliner fabric is glued to the metal!! I really don't want to screw up the fabric.
That is what I am curious about, running the wires. The camera system I think I will use only needs one wire to the camera. The power comes from the monitor setup. So I just need one wire from the camera to the dash. Once I get below the back seats, it is no big deal. I put in a powered sub-woofer, and wiring to the front for that was really easy! I have to look a little more for some videos. The camera install/mount should be fairly easy, it is just getting the wire down into the cab from above that I am worried about!! Too bad there are no aftermarket camera/lens replacement products for the Colorado. I saw several for other truck models, just not one specifically for the Colorado!!
I saw lots, but nothing for the Colorado that I could find. I really think the DIY mount is pretty simple since most of the cameras are super small. Should be an easy mount! Thanks!!
I was originally thinking that, but I had thought the transmitting module was large. After looking on Amazon, I found a wireless camera that has the transmitter in the camera. I will just have to find the hot wire within the cargo area!
Thanks for the suggestion!
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Why not just the cargo light, assuming it has one? You'd have to forego the cargo light, but I've never had mine on. Actually I'm not even certain it has one, but I think it does. I have a hard T-cover so it's sort of pointless if I do have one.
I will probably leave the light plugged in and just tap into the hot side. I haven't used mine either, but I will leave it so it still works just in case!
I would be ok to have to turn on light to get camera on. I really want it there to see trailer load. I have a smaller 10ft aluminum trailer and it is so low, I can never see anything on it while driving!! I will check out the headliner stuff as well. Thank You!
I have a 2020 WT extended cab. Super generic electronically speaking!! I do have the 7 inch infotainment with Android Auto. Not a whole lot of extras trim wise...LOL!! I will check to see if there are any camera options on the screen tonight after work on my way home!
There are several diy options you can do.
I have seen some that use a small camera (no night vision or led) and drill the 3/8" ish hole in the 3rd brake light so they can easily backup to their gooseneck.
A camera that has a bolt on mount, attatch above or below the 3rd brake light with good double sided tape, and run the wires through the seal on the bottom of the 3rd brake light, put on good led lights on 3rd brake light and alittle silicone to the gasket for light
Just acouole ideas.
I have seen some that use a small camera (no night vision or led) and drill the 3/8" ish hole in the 3rd brake light so they can easily backup to their gooseneck.
A camera that has a bolt on mount, attatch above or below the 3rd brake light with good double sided tape, and run the wires through the seal on the bottom of the 3rd brake light, put on good led lights on 3rd brake light and alittle silicone to the gasket for light
Just acouole ideas.
So here is my final product!! I ended up just modifying the camera bracket and then using some JB epoxy to attach it to the cargo light lens. I may regret the epoxy if I every take it off (probably not possible) but I guess I can always get a new cargo light assembly (probably costs a fortune!!) I went ahead and loosened the rear corner plastic trim inside the cab and ran a fiberglass wire pulling pole throught the outside lens hole to the corner of the cab on the inside. I pulled a string through, and then attached the power and ground wire to the string and pulled it through. I ran the wires inside the trim down to the back seat. I have a powered compact subwoofer under the seat so I picked up the switched 12v and ground for the camera there. The dash monitor was quick and easy. I just used a small block of wood to raise the monitor above the dash plastic and mounted the wood with some double stick 3M stuff that came with the camera. Anyways the wireless cam works great and not more blind spots at all. It is very strange when you are looking at the backwards view in the camera view while you are driving. I will say it is pretty awesome to see all around the truck though. I am very pleased with the result!!
Gj.
On some of the bigger work trucks, like freightliner grapple truck, I mounted the camera around 7' up, can see everything, and came in really handy seeing where bumpers wher at so I could merge.
Does that monitor have quick touch buttons to adjust brightness ?
On some of the bigger work trucks, like freightliner grapple truck, I mounted the camera around 7' up, can see everything, and came in really handy seeing where bumpers wher at so I could merge.
Does that monitor have quick touch buttons to adjust brightness ?
Yes it has contrast and brightness settings. It is not high end and seems like a cheaper brand, but it works good for what I wanted ( Amazon.com: LeeKooLuu F13 HD 1080P Digital Wireless Backup Camera High-Speed Observation System Hitch Rear View Camera Front View Camera 5‘’ Monitor Two Video Channels with Grid Lines DIY Setting: Car Electronics ). Having the camera mounted on the cargo light gives a pretty good backwards view. It has a little bit of lag on the screen but not enough to cause any issues. My main goal was to see blind spots. I used to own an F150 and I ran some poor girl into the median wall moving into the left lane! I had no clue she was beside me. Every since that accident, I have been really careful about blind spot issues. This completely eliminates any blind spot!! In hind sight, I only bought the wireless because I didn't know if it would be hard to get a wire from the cargo light into the cab, but it was actually easy!! I ended up pulling the power and ground into the cab because there is no hot in the lamps without touching the brakes, or turning the light on (which won't come on until you are in park). If I ever replace it, I will get a wired one to eliminate any lag. The seller messaged me about how I liked the camera and I mentioned the lag. They are sending me a different antenna to try so I thought that was pretty cool on their part. The lag is not enough to cause any issues for viewing, you just notice it a little in the background like when the trees go by!!
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