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So, I need to get access to the lower part of my tailgate. Two reasons:
1. I want to install a backup camera that looks down at my trailer ball, and
2. Maybe create some tool storage, with a hinged access door.
I took a look under the upper panel (closest to the top of the tailgate) and
there not much there, but the lower part looks interesting. Problem is it
appears to be a sealed area. No obvious access to see what's in there.
Does anyone know what I would find in there if I take a cutoff wheel and
cut through it? Any structural members that I should try to avoid?
there is a tailgate handle with the mounting in it for the Ford camera. Later trucks used the Ford oval to mount the camera. You might could adjust one of the other to look directly at the ball.
you should be able to take a mirror and flashlight to look down into the tailgate to see what is there.
Even though mine already has a backup camera built in...I didn't like the tiny image that shows up in the rearview mirror, so I bought another backup camera.
The camera mounts behind the license plate and looks directly at the ball and hitch....works great.
I just ran the wires behind the bumper and then up into the left turn signal...there's plenty of room in there to mount all the other "gear" to make the camera work.
I have one of those 'behind the license" cameras that talks to my Garmin Nuvi GPS. It's wireless between the transmit module and the GPS. However, I don't care for that low angle looking backwards. I use the camera mostly to back up to a trailer, and it's really hard to see the trailer coupler simply getting 'bigger' on the screen. But, if I can do a nice clean mount at a taller position, and look down more, It will solve that issue. I also have another vehicle that has a factory camera that is mounted higher, and it really helps.
But, I still want to mount that camera in the lower part of the tailgate, so I want to find out what's inside there.
I'll probably mount some LED backup light in there while I'm at it.
the lower panel that you would have to cut IS structural. You could maybe cut a couple of small openings but I don't think you would gain enough storage to be worthwhile.
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