Anyone have experience with a rearview mirror backup camera set up?

[JEM Motorworks]

It is a full time camera, meaning no mirror function. The glare isn’t too bad, it’s noticeable when you are at a stop light. The screen does get whited out. That is due to the camera at bumper level.
It is a shift from your standard mirror, but I quickly got used to it. Having a wide open rear view is well worth that inconvenience personally.

[Rich69shortfleet]

Originally Posted by JEM Motorworks

It is a full time camera, meaning no mirror function. The glare isn’t too bad, it’s noticeable when you are at a stop light. The screen does get whited out. That is due to the camera at bumper level.
It is a shift from your standard mirror, but I quickly got used to it. Having a wide open rear view is well worth that inconvenience personally.

Could you possibly post a couple more pictures to show how and where you mounted the camera at the back?

[dmjlambert]

Is this piece what you fabricated? And can you share any details or pictures of how you did that?

[JEM Motorworks]

Yes I fabricated the bracket out of 3/16th mild steel. I copied the square mount on the mirror and drilled thru holes for the screws and wire. I cut out a triangle shaped arm with a 3/16ths thru hole for the arm screw. Then I tacked them together and mocked up in the truck. I gently tipped the mirror to a comfortable viewing angle, removed the mount and TIG welded it. Painted it semi gloss and assembled it all together. Pictures attached for sizing.

It’s been a fantastic addition. It’s a “dash cam” as well, hopefully I’ll never have to use it as such.

[dmjlambert]

That is just beautiful work! It looks to me like you have the best solution. Was there any fabrication involved with mounting the rear-facing camera?

[JEM Motorworks]

Thank you! Well worth the time and $. Going to do it on the next truck. I think I flipped the camera mount 180. The system is very user friendly, and piece of mind.

[Rich69shortfleet]

I didn't realize the V5 Pro wasn't a regular mirror as well, that it is a dedicated camera monitor.

I wish there was a practical way to mount the rear camera at a higher point than the license plate. I have a retractable tonneau cover that has a metal crossbar/handle at the back I could mount a camera to but then it would be sticking up and be easily knocked off not to mention wiring on a moving platform would be a trick to work out. I also guess you could mount the rear camera to the top of the rear window looking rearward but then that kind of defeats the point of having it function as a backup camera.

I DO like the ability to not wire it to the reverse light and just being able to use it as a backup camera naturally and being able to turn on the lines manually if you really want them.

Where did you mount the GPS module?

['68OrangeSunshine]

Perhaps a Camera mounted in the Cargo Light?

[Rich69shortfleet]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Perhaps a Camera mounted in the Cargo Light?

That might work pretty well, but I don't have one on the truck.

[Lokin4AReason]

dont they have a factory mirrior w this option on the aftermarket market

i remember seeing something on another forum at when they put it in reverse , a smaller image or the whole mirror would show up on the backup camera . . . ?

[Rich69shortfleet]

Originally Posted by Lokin4AReason

dont they have a factory mirrior w this option on the aftermarket market

i remember seeing something on another forum at when they put it in reverse , a smaller image or the whole mirror would show up on the backup camera . . . ?

There are plenty that are just backup cameras that are a true mirror and when reversing a panel illuminates inside the mirror to show what the backup camera sees. The V5 Pro we've been discussing is a front and rear looking dashcam device built into a rearview mirror body. If all you want is a backup camera, the true mirror w/backup feature would be fine and work as a regular mirror when not in use.

[MARKDTN]

Originally Posted by Lokin4AReason

dont they have a factory mirrior w this option on the aftermarket market

i remember seeing something on another forum at when they put it in reverse , a smaller image or the whole mirror would show up on the backup camera . . . ?

I said Gentex 983 in my earlier post but it is actually a 657. Sorry. I think 983 is 10pin with CAN that you don't want but 657 is 14 pin without CANBUS that you can use in a retrofit.

The Gentex mirror I used is this. Full time mirror and shows backup when you go in reverse on about half the screen. You could fab a bracket to get from mirror to existing roof mount or just glue a mount to the windshield like the cars it came from. It has a bunch of functionality like OnStar that you don't need, but with a few wires you can have a backup camera and an autodimming mirror. You just need ignition power, ground, reverse signal, and video at the mirror.

At the back you can use a license plate style camera. Hook both power and trigger to the reverse lights. Use an RCA camera cable (with a trigger wire) to get up to the mirror. Routing the wires up the A-pillar and over is probably the hardest part. This one could be pretty inexpensive. $15 mirror at the pick-a-part, $22 for a camera on Amazon, and $12 for the RCA cable on Amazon. So roughly $50 and some time. You could buy a custom cable on Ebay that would drive the cost up or splice on to the mirror cable from the donor car (or just use the donor plug and buy pins from Mouser).

[Rust_never_sleeps]

You might also scavenge an in-mirror setup and camera from an 07-10-ish F0rd Expedition/Lincoln Navigator.
No idea what you'd have to do for mounts, but if you can supply power it'll work

[nightmare]

Extending what Rust_never_sleeps said, my sister's 2012 Ford F150 has the backup screen in the rear view mirror. Turns on when in reverse, and is a regular mirror when not.

I was also looking at the Jeep Gladiator tailgate for the camera. It's a flat area that has an angled mounting surface for it. Thoughts?

[dmjlambert]

I'm confused about Auto-Vox V5 Pro discussed above. Is it not reflective at all and is not a mirror, just a non-reflective blank screen when the camera is not on? Or just the way JEM Motorworks wired it makes it on all the time?

[Rich69shortfleet]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

I'm confused about Auto-Vox V5 Pro discussed above. Is it not reflective at all and is not a mirror, just a non-reflective blank screen when the camera is not on? Or just the way JEM Motorworks wired it makes it on all the time?

It is not a mirror at all. Just a monitor for cameras. Search for it on Youtube and you can see examples that are not powered on, it us just a blank dark screen when not on.

[Rich69shortfleet]

I just ordered the Auto-Vox V5 Pro. Will be making a mount like JEM made to fit it in the same manner. Bought it directly from Auto-Vox, about $179 shipped.

[Rich69shortfleet]

The dashcam/backup camera/mirror kit arrived today. Really nice looking equipment.

[sixty8HDC30]

Originally Posted by Rich69shortfleet

The dashcam/backup camera/mirror kit arrived today. Really nice looking equipment.

Sweet! let us know what you think when you get it setup. This might be the only piece of modern tech that I will eventually install in my 68 c30 which has a flat bed with a headache rack with expanded metal so its not easy to see through with a mirror anyway.

[Rich69shortfleet]

Since it will be a while before I can get the system installed I tested the mirror/monitor and camera to make sure they actually work. They turned on and worked fine, picture from the rear camera was very clear and sharp.

[PbFut]

One note about the A Pillar. I added running lights and needed to run one single +12v wire in the A pillar. I spent a full day attempting to do so. Using the speedo cable method and the compressed air method. I tried both left and right and was not able to get anything down the pillar. On the B pillar there is plenty room to get a shop vac hose up the B pillar fairly high. The shop Vac moved enough air to pull dental floss and complete the run. Using dental floss I got it to feed through the hole for the sun visor inside the cab attach the wire and feed using the floss to guide the way. The roof pinches down pretty tight going towards the back but it was the only way I could get a wire to feed. It did take a bit of working to get it past the obstacles. I have no idea why I was not able to get something to work into the A pillar. Give yourself plenty time.

[Rich69shortfleet]

Well, my first attempt seemed promising but then didn't work. I tied a nut to the end of a string and was able to push it over the lip and into the hole at the top of the A pillar but it only fell in about an inch and stopped. Not sure if the opening is offset or just not big enough for the nut. I then thought I might be able to feed a stiff wire up the pillar from inside the fresh air plenum but found that the air plenum behind the kickpanel vent does not open into the space where the A pillar resides.

I'll have to try the compressed air or speedometer cable trick next time. Too cold out in the garage to work on it for very long.

I wish I could get my boreoscope down the hole at the top to see what is below it for reference.

Now that I think about it a little more, I'm not sure the compressed air trick will work since there isn't a hole at the bottom for the air to exit. If the air can't exit, it can't draw the string along. I guess I'd have to drill/punch the hole first. Not sure exactly where to put the hole.

[Richard]

Like having the regular rear view for driving. Positioning a camera with the same view as the rear view seems kind of pointless to me. Need front/rear cameras to help with parking for my lifted 4x4. I picked up a display to recess into the back of my drivers sun visor. It has 4 camera inputs with trigger wires for each camera, view can be switched manually as well. Monitor also has recording capability. Two cameras were purchased as well to install front and rear. About $70 for everything.

[Rich69shortfleet]

Some success. I tried a smaller nut on the string and got it to go about halfway down the A piller. Not sure why it stopped, perhaps just friction on the string. Metal in there has a lot of patina and are no longer smooth surfaces. I will pop a hole into the kick panel area and then try the compressed air method to help move it along.

[Rich69shortfleet]

So I got the rear camera mounted and ran the video cable all the way up to the cab. I also gave the string with a nut on it a shot with compressed air and I think it went down to the kick panel. I'll have to drill an access hole tomorrow.

I mounted the camera on the lip of the bumper above the license plate. It fit so snug with the license plate light holding it in place I didn't have to drill any holes or use and bolts or screws. This turned out to be the best place and way to mount the camera since my license plate hinges up to allow access to a hidden hitch receiver behind it.