I am going to add Powerfold mirrors to my Excursion and for reasons that take too long to explain before I spend that kind of money, I need to know whether the area circled in yellow would accommodate a small camera. Does anyone know what is behind it? I will need space for a 10mm hole, about an inch into the body. Or is it all electrical behind that?



Has anyone ever peeked inside?

Thanks,


Charlie V

 

I have the mirrors on my 2011 F350.

On the back side/outer edge is a marker light. I’ve never taken it apart (or figured out how to), but my guess is the bulb base and wires are in that spot where you want to drill.

It looks like you would have room to do it, but I’m just guessing


edit: this YouTube video shows the space a bit

 

Very helpful; thanks for linking that video. When he pulls the light out it looks like it wedges front to back, with a little space at the edge where the plastic blank is on the face of the mirror. I'll study the cameras carefully but I might be able to sneak a little narrow field bullet camera in, then bring it in to a small screen through the existing loom. The only other alternative is to hang one off of the bottom of the mirror and that would both ruin the look and increase the chances of a waterlogged camera.

Also, now knowing how to remove the light helps alot; I can study the space non-destructively and return the mirrors if they won't work. The mirrors are QUITE expensive so I don't want to make a grave error.

I have a recent visual impairment in my left eye and it is not good for me to be checking my left side mirror with only my right eye--consequently, I often don't--so I'm looking for a solution.

Much appreciated.

Thanks again!

 

I hear ya’ re: vision problems. I have limited vision in my right eye and am nearsighted, so trying to do close up work in tight spaces is always a challenge.

For what it’s worth, you may want to test using the camera in that mirror location first just by temporarily taping the camera to the mirror close to that spot and seeing if it does what you want it to do before doing all of the permanent install work.

I say that because I always wanted to put rear facing spotlights on the mirrors of my plow truck, thinking that would give me really good side and rear lighting when plowing. I tried it by hanging the lights off the mirror and wiring them temporarily to a spare battery in the cab. End result is the light was terrible; just didn’t provide good results so I didn’t bother installing them.

 

Very good point and that suggestion is worth alot. My thyroid very suddenly went bad and will soon be removed, but has resulted in me having very bad problems with my left eye after doctors speculated then rejected everything from glaucoma to brain cancer. How's brain cancer for a GUESS?! That guess heaped worry and cost alot to dispel. My vision will probably return to normal with time and possibly surgery, but for the time-being I basically have to see through my right, only. This came on in very few short months. I quickly installed a rear camera, and a double DIN stereo with a big screen for backing up and seeing that camera, but my left mirror is a big issue changing lanes and backing into and out of parking spots and other places. I also did a lift, myself, Easter weekend, that changed where my mirrors are and in present circumstances makes me nervous about hitting things for some reason. In truth, the doctors did not know what was wrong with me for some time but I was unable to drive or work normally, so I stayed home or had a driver for a few weeks and did alot of work to the truck as an encouragement to get better from whatever was wrong, thinking I was either dying (it also affects your heart and other things) and/or going blind while taking medications that gave me boundless energy and kept me awake all of the time. There, I said it; thought something was ending me. That's truth.

I have several vehicles for my own use and the Excursion is my favorite now but I also had just gotten the new truck bug early thjs year and when I test drove a couple the prices made it okay to spend money on the Excursion to just make it nicer and more modern. And I had the time and needed something to do. And in my circle putting a lift on a vehicle is a jackasssed thing to do and I never shy from those things, either. Having mud tires and black wheels and working in my own vehicles (always done that) while my peers never drive anything over a year old? Haha well let's say I am becoming a legendary jackass. Haha.

It isn't big.




More than you wanted to know, but that's to explain why I am going to use the power/everything mirror and the oddball left camera if it will work. I also have a front camera now, for parking against walls with little current depth perception. It would just be handy to have the power fold/extend for parking spots and the incredibly narrow bank drive through, and it is all cheaper than a new truck.

When I reviewed and showed my install of the backup camera and stereo (I'm in my 60s and have never done either before), mentioning my visual issues, the manufacturer contacted me out of the blue and sent me free cameras, an extra standalone screen and some other things to have and review that I haven't opened yet! I sent some parts left over from my lift to another member and he sent me a new billet grill to have, for free. So projects are underway and I still have time to do them, then weeks and months of eye recovery, so why not? I had planned to use one of the free cameras just as you described--somehow attached to my towing mirror, but when I saw the new style mirrors with that little space next to the convex one, having seen little bullet style cameras and having two unused video inputs on the new stereo plus an extra screen, then watched a video about the powerfold and power extend... then here I am. This little tinkering is keeping me going and filling the time, all while emptying my wallet.