I am trying to replace side clearance lights with the Furrion side marker lights/cameras on our ORV 5th wheel. My issue is I don't have power to the marker lights unless the headlights are on. So during the day when headlights are off, no power, no camera. I have checked the 7 pin connector and there is no power to pin 3 tail/running lights. I have tried with DRL's on and off.

 

I have the same problem with my factory supplied Furrion rear camera on my Northwoods camper. I have to turn on the headlights.

 

I don't have on of those fancy backup cameras but understand from others that the camera wiring is tapped into the trailer lights. So, you have to run with , at least, the parking lights on. or run a dedicated power wire all the way to the back of your trailer

 

I think every truck is this way. Marker/Clearance lights are only on when headlights are on.
Your truck should have a headlight switch position that is running light only. I think that will also energize the trailer running lights. But personally I would just run with the headlights on. It's good for safety while towing anyway.

You can also do some wiring in the trailer if you want so they are always hot. Make it as simple or as complicated (with switch for example) as you want.

 

This is totally unacceptable. The 2024 Lariat gasser we had before worked as it should without having to have lights on. Clearance marker lamps are supposed to be on ALL the time to be DOT compliant. WTF FORD???? I haven't had to turn on or off headlights in over 30 years.....

 

Simply not true. Not in the US anyway.

 

Oh it's true. I haven't turned my headlights on/off in over 30 years. That's the nice thing about automatic headlights.

 

I think you are missing the point. Illuminated clearance lights are not required during the day. The clearance lights are required, but not required to be on (illuminated). They are required when the headlights are on. In most states headlights and by extension clearance lights are required when raining. Your truck has a headlight switch with 4 positions; OFF-Parking Lamps-Autolamps-Headlamps. I've never owned a truck or trailer with always ON clearance lights. They do whatever the truck clearance/marker/parking/tail lamps do. They are all on the same control.

 

Guess I'm hallucinating then. Not too surprising.......I'm returning everything and going to go with this instead LC3Z-1A189-CH.
A bit more work to run the cable but will only have the one factory screen

 

If you use the factory trailer camera system, you will have to run the camera wire all the way from the front of your 5th wheel all the way to where you mount the camera. I elected to go with a wireless camera and use a transmitter/receiver to get the camera views to my main screen in my truck. I can post the link that explains how I did this and it was way cheaper than buying a OEM trailer camera.

 

There are pros and cons to each.

The main pro for the Ford camera is that it displays on the main dash stack. And it is a large display. Cons are that you have to run a wire to the rear, the system is expensive, and to be honest the camera control is annoying. It is constantly changing when you shift into reverse, which is when you want the trailer camera. They should change it so that, if a trailer is connected, and if a trailer camera exists, it switches to that camera instead of the tailgate, which is obviously useless at that point.

Pros for the wireless are obvious, no wiring. Cons are having another gizmo on your dash, the display is always going to be smaller, and if you want them to work you have to either run with headlights/clearance lights turned on (what most people do) or run separate power wires.

Personally I'm glad to have the built-in Ford trailer camera. But that Haloview system with trailer side marker cameras is really nice too. They just keep improving it. I think they can even offer a TPMS integration as well as dash cam.

Pro tip: You can get your headlights/clearance lights to always be on by tossing a hat or something over the sunload sensor on your dash. Truck will think it is dark. And it holds that over restarts too.

 

That's how it works on my 2017. Trailer connected, transmission in reverse and it shows the trailer camera not the tailgate camera.

I have both the Ford camera and a Furrion wireless camera (OEM from the trailer mfg, mounted up top). I mounted the Ford camera just barely poking out through the bumper, so that the bumper protects the camera. That was a recent install so I haven't figured out which camera view I like better.

I have the Daytime Running Lights on my truck, so I've never felt the need to run the headlights during the day. But your suggestion about covering the sensor sounds reasonable.

 

I'll have to check the settings. But I don't recall that being an option on my '24. That is how it should work IMO.

 

And then you have a dark dash because it switches to the night view.

I guess I just need to figure out which path to take. Obviously having just one screen would be ideal Has anyone used one of these? 7 pin adapter

 

Be sure to setup your trailer and save the settings. But I'm sure you've got that part covered