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I wondering if anyone has used one of these Camera Source kits on their truck campers. I will soon be removing my tailgate and picking up a new truck camper. Just curious if this works well. Camera Source Kit for Superduty
I just got one for the same reason. Install was very easy, cables are long so I just zip tied them up underneath and then cut them down when I reinstalled the tailgate. Works ok, not quite as good video as the stock camera but still good enough for parking or hooking up a trailer etc.
Thanks guys! This seems like a good and easy backup camera for the camper. I'll pick one up.
Can I assume the 5' cable length is plenty? Like LabCab, I'm purchasing a Northern Lite 9-6QSE.
Camera's with a view behind the camper are great!
Keep in mind, with campers that have an overhang, a camera that mounts on the pickup license plate almost worthless. I mounted a wireless camera that was similar to the one linked. When we loaded the camper on pickup, the overhang obstructed most of the view. (Camera was mounted before a camper was in the equation). We also found that when driving down the road, we would periodically pickup pictures from business or residential wireless security camera's.
A couple of questions though,
You said you will soon be picking up a new truck camper. Have you picked out your camper yet, or are you still looking? Is it new or used and might it already have a backup camera on it? If it is coming from the dealer, can they install a backup camera for you on a high mount right on the back of the camper?
When we ordered and picked up our new camper this spring, the rearview / backup camera was an option that we included in the order. This camera is hands down, not even in the same class, better than the $175 wireless camera I bought and put on myself. It is also a wireless camera. Picture is high definition clear and there has been no interference from outside sources. The dealership parts store carried the same type camera's in the store. A little more expensive, but well worth the price for me.
A couple of questions though,
You said you will soon be picking up a new truck camper. Have you picked out your camper yet, or are you still looking? Is it new or used and might it already have a backup camera on it? If it is coming from the dealer, can they install a backup camera for you on a high mount right on the back of the camper?
I'm buying a new camper from a dealer in Oregon. The camper is a 2020 Northern Lite 9-6 SE. There is no camera on the camper at the moment but your suggestion is a good one. I should talk to the dealer about installing a high mount camera. What model did you have installed? Do you use a separate screen or tablet when viewing?
I just bought the tailgate wire harness off of amazon for around $35 and added a camera. Since it was fairly inexpensive (around $55 for the cable and camera) I ended up doing one for the camper and one for the truck so that when the tailgate is at home and I've dropped the camper I still have a camera... overkill.. yeah.... but it is nice to have especially when I'm hooking back up to the boat without the camper. You have to cut the end of the cable off and wire it to the camera connectors but it is a lot cheaper and works great. That setup I'm sure works great too and would save you cutting and splicing the wires.
I'm buying a new camper from a dealer in Oregon. The camper is a 2020 Northern Lite 9-6 SE. There is no camera on the camper at the moment but your suggestion is a good one. I should talk to the dealer about installing a high mount camera. What model did you have installed? Do you use a separate screen or tablet when viewing?
Cutting through 2 years of long story, we made a custom order for our Lance 1062 at the RV show in Salem, from a Salem Dealer that we had a long standing relationship with. We had outstanding assistance of the Lance Factory Representative who actually called back to the factory to get answers for some of our questions about options.
We included the Rear View Camper was a part of the custom order.
It is a Voyager Brand (pics attached) with a stand alone screen, To be honest, I do not know if it can pair to a smart phone or a lap top. Never really have had a reason to check into that.
The factory install is not a full factory install. The camper has a back up camera switch in the camper exterior light switch cluster that controls power to the camera. The switch can be used to cut power to the camera to avoid battery drain when not needed.
The screen that came with it is plenty sufficient and it has made hooking up to the boat or horse trailer much simpler. You can also see what is going on behind the pickup and camper while driving down the road and goes a long way in eliminating any blind spot.
I just bought the tailgate wire harness off of amazon for around $35 and added a camera. Since it was fairly inexpensive (around $55 for the cable and camera) I ended up doing one for the camper and one for the truck so that when the tailgate is at home and I've dropped the camper I still have a camera... overkill.. yeah.... but it is nice to have especially when I'm hooking back up to the boat without the camper. You have to cut the end of the cable off and wire it to the camera connectors but it is a lot cheaper and works great. That setup I'm sure works great too and would save you cutting and splicing the wires.
Care to share a bit about your truck and how you figured out the wiring? I've bought a harness and camera, but couldn't find the wiring information necessary to connect the camera. It seems that Ford changes the wiring colors, and perhaps even the pin locations from time-to-time. I put the project on hold until I could take apart the tailgate and scope out the wires.
Thanks, I had seen that website before but couldn't figure out the wiring from that site as the captions didn't seem to go with the images, which were mostly from 2008/9 model year screenshots.
After a bit more searching I think I've figured out the wiring that applies to 2013-2016 super duty model years using tailgate harness - FC3Z-14A412-A
From the powerstroke forum, for the camera end of the wiring harness.
Pin 1 - VT-GY - 12vdc
Pin 3 - GY-VT - Control Mod.
Pin 3 - BN-VT - Video -
Pin 4 - WH-GN - Video +
Pin 5 - BLK - ground
Pin 6 - not used
From the dieselstop forum I also found this, which is almost the same, and is the same if you go by wire colors.
Pin 1 Violet/Grey +12V
Pin 2 Grey/Violet ????
Pin 3 Brown/Violet Video -
Pin 4 White/Green Video +
Pin 5 Black (not used)
Pin 6 Black -12V (grd)
Here's the camera end of the cable and connector that I'll cut off. As you can see, the harness has 5 wires out the back, but it is a six pin connector. The colors match the first pin-out described above. After I've given these pin-outs a try, I'll update this post with my findings.
Camera's with a view behind the camper are great!
Keep in mind, with campers that have an overhang, a camera that mounts on the pickup license plate almost worthless. I mounted a wireless camera that was similar to the one linked. When we loaded the camper on pickup, the overhang obstructed most of the view. (Camera was mounted before a camper was in the equation). We also found that when driving down the road, we would periodically pickup pictures from business or residential wireless security camera's.
A couple of questions though,
You said you will soon be picking up a new truck camper. Have you picked out your camper yet, or are you still looking? Is it new or used and might it already have a backup camera on it? If it is coming from the dealer, can they install a backup camera for you on a high mount right on the back of the camper?
When we ordered and picked up our new camper this spring, the rearview / backup camera was an option that we included in the order. This camera is hands down, not even in the same class, better than the $175 wireless camera I bought and put on myself. It is also a wireless camera. Picture is high definition clear and there has been no interference from outside sources. The dealership parts store carried the same type camera's in the store. A little more expensive, but well worth the price for me.
The one I purchased has all the small brackets to mount or use the plate frame part.
If you have the max camera setup on your 17 up Superduty, Ford makes a camera and connector that is a plug in direct to your in dash screen. If you have the AUX on your camera system its good to go...I think its around $375.
What does the screen look like once you disconnect the tailgate camera (with 360 cameras?)? Just blank past the back end? I figured I could still use that high mount camera in the rear taillight
