OT - Back up cameras

I have an '06 Dakota which has dinky automotive type mirrors. Which makes it hard for me to judge distance and alignment when backing.

I know some of you here drive older vehicles.
Anyone installed an after market back up camera
to their truck or camper? If so, which did you choose? Anything special to beware of?

Thanks for advice.

Don S.

When I was younger, I could back up ANYTHING to just where it needed to be including grain boxes or hayracks on 4-wheel trailers with the tongue steering the front wheels.

NOT so much, any more. I AVOID those situations, or get one of the young bucks standing by (that would criticize my feeble attempts) and have them "git "er done!

Suggest you try the same... avoid those situations, or have the "pros" do it!

(LOL!)

(On a side note, in the last week, I observed two incidents, one at an auction sale, and one at a firehall open house, where guys would have benefited from the advice I just posted, and less metal would have been bent!)

I don't know anything about cameras but I backed my 2000 Dakota into a trailer parked in the yard. Now I need a taillight.

Have large cab-over camper, mounted miniature "trucker's mirrors" (top & bottom mounted) on the back corners of the camper. When properly aligned I can look in my trucks side-view mirrors & see the reflections in the rear camper mirrors of what is directly behind me. No cameras needed. Hope this helps.


:>)

Have one on the p-up truck, got it at Wally World about 6 yrs ago, 100 bucks. Gets its power from back up lites, wireless signal from camera to monitor, camera mounts on lic plate. Had it on SWMBO's car for a while, but she didn't like it, so now I have it.
Being a retired diesel pilot, I can judge alignment & distance pretty well using mirrors, but is handy in tight spots. When the white line of a parking space meets the bottom of the screen, the bumper is 18 inches away. Also when hitching a trailer, the ball shows in center of screen, can get within 1/4 inch of where I want it, close enuff that don't have to move to get it hitched.
Willie

I installed one on a 2003 Buick about 4 years ago and I like it when doing a trailer hookup. Even though the trailer hitch on a car is under the bumper and the ball is not visible on the camera, I can still judge pretty well with the bottom of the screen. However, with your Dakota a license plate camera should see the ball just fine.
I got my camera from an online source (Can't exactly remember but there are lots). The camera mounts on the license plate and I chose to use a hard wire connection instead of the wireless style after I talked to an experienced installer. Apparently there are always unexpected problems with the wireless signal. The power source comes from the backup lights. The down side is that there is a 1 second (or so) delay from shifting into Reverse and to when the camera comes on. I have got used to that now but if I do another install I may try a manual switch to do a power up as well as the backup light trigger. Sometimes I'd like to see behind even before I start the car.
My screen is the 7 inch size which I really like.
Also, my screen is designed to have 2 camera on it, so I could install a side mount if I choose, but I won't likely do that.

Good luck with yours. It really is not difficult to do a hard wire install and it is very reliable.

I got mine from Walmart on line maybe $80... Pyle View # PLCM7500. It has a 7" screen and is a hard wired unit. I did add a cut off switch cuzz the scree would light up blue when not in reverse. If I had to do it over I would run a extra double wire with the cable to the back and let the back up lights activate a relay to switch it on and off that way it would only be powered up in reverse...

I made a mount to lower the display so it did not block my view while driving... I can hit any trailer ball dead nutz every time

Side note I have installed Pyle wireless systems and they worked as advertised.

I have installed (hardwired 17' cable) on Dodge ram 350's with 4 doors and long bed but you have to run the wires and make sure not to waist any wire and make a straight of a run as possible. I run them from the back and thru the fire wall...
Its about a 2hr job... What I don't like is the instructions OOPS there are no instructions you are own your own .. Hooking up the power is a beach.... I pull it out of the relay box under the hood then thru the firewall :wink: Don't tap into a unknown wire on a modern vehicle :wink: :wink:

Got a Peak last year on sale with rebate for $30. Use it on the front bed rail of my crew cab to see the GN ball.

I just wait for someone to get tired of waiting and come over and guide me, LOL.