Forum Discussion

bkenobi's avatar
bkenobi
Explorer
Nov 15, 2017

Backup camera and rear park sensors

My 2016 Ram 3500 came with a rear camera on the tailgate and bumper mounted rear park sensors. I have a 10'2" NL TC that I haul. I've done some looking and it appears that it may be possible to get a backup camera for use with flatbed installations and mount it to the rear of the camper.

I have 2 questions.
1) has anyone installed a camera and wired it to the stock tailgate connector of a Ram for use without the tailgate. Any thoughts or woulda done differentlies?
2) is it possible to install backup sensors aftermarket to either wire into the stock setup or some secondary module?
  • The camera source solution looks great! For people who have them installed, do you prefer above the door or bumper height? I was thinking bumper height, but then that wouldn't help backing into a gutter.
  • Looks like a winner to me. They also have park sensor kits for $150ish. I don't know how those differ from the ebay units at $75, but I may email the vendor with questions.
  • SideHillSoup wrote:
    Hi
    I ordered my camera from Camera Source and installed in on a bracket I made and attached onto the ladder of my Northern Lite 8-11.
    Ram Cam
    They didn't list a plug and play camera for my 2017 GMC 3500, so I sent them a note and quickly got a reply of the model of camera to order.
    It is a plug and play camera that when I removed my tailgate to load the camper, the camera plugged right into my GMC camera wiring harness under the bed of the truck, and it works great.
    I ordered mine with a 16' cord which leaves me a little coil of cord when it is all hooked up that I just laid in the spare tire under the bed of the truck.
    I also used a 4' section of clear 1" hose to slide the cable through so rocks etc, don't damage the camera cable that is strung out under the camper. The cord with the plugs on the end just fit inside the hose, where I didn't have to cut slit in the entire length of the hose to get the cable inside. I did take the cable to the hardwear store to find the right size of hose.
    Sorry can't help you guys with the back up sensor, however my wife does a great job of backing me up, but you can't have her... ( grin)
    Hope this helps.
    Soup.


    Awesome! Thanks for the link!
  • bkenobi wrote:

    1) has anyone installed a camera and wired it to the stock tailgate connector of a Ram for use without the tailgate. Any thoughts or woulda done differentlies?

    I did it on Ford and it works great with 360 view.
    You will find my thread about it.
    Ford wants like $400 for trailer camera, that would work separately from 360 view and I figure out that since my tailgate not likely will ever go back on the truck, the camera there would be wasted.
    Main problem I had is to make extension cable. I finally bought tailgate harness ($$$) to have extra wire with factory plugs.
    Those cameras have very wide angle, so it goes at the level of 2nd step of rear ladder.
    My bumper sensors disable automatically when I plug the camper in.
    I tried to program blind spot warning to the length of camper, but wings obstruct the radars and did not work.
  • I purchased a salt spreader camera and harness for my 2015 GMC from Camera Source and mounted it under the bumper on my AF 990. I used 2 Rivnuts in the bumper and stainless steel hardware to mount the camera bracket.
  • I purchased a plug and play from camera source for my 2015 Ram 3500. plugs right into tailgate camera plug. works great. I just shut off parking sensors on dash.





  • I ended up getting a camera, cig plug power adapter, monitor and extension cables from Amazon. I mounted my camera on the handle to my camper so it is near the middle of the camper while moving. The extension runs under to camper then on the side of the camper while it is in my truck bed, then into the back door of my truck to my power. I can just hit the cig plug to turn it on and the monitor sits on my dash. I can watch my boat while driving and traffic behind me. All cost was about $80. I use the monitor, cig power plug and extension when I tow my 5th wheel too; I just bought another camera for it. I can switch back and forth. Works great.
  • Hi
    I ordered my camera from Camera Source and installed in on a bracket I made and attached onto the ladder of my Northern Lite 8-11.
    Ram Cam
    They didn't list a plug and play camera for my 2017 GMC 3500, so I sent them a note and quickly got a reply of the model of camera to order.
    It is a plug and play camera that when I removed my tailgate to load the camper, the camera plugged right into my GMC camera wiring harness under the bed of the truck, and it works great.
    I ordered mine with a 16' cord which leaves me a little coil of cord when it is all hooked up that I just laid in the spare tire under the bed of the truck.
    I also used a 4' section of clear 1" hose to slide the cable through so rocks etc, don't damage the camera cable that is strung out under the camper. The cord with the plugs on the end just fit inside the hose, where I didn't have to cut slit in the entire length of the hose to get the cable inside. I did take the cable to the hardwear store to find the right size of hose.
    Sorry can't help you guys with the back up sensor, however my wife does a great job of backing me up, but you can't have her... ( grin)
    Hope this helps.
    Soup.
  • Same rig and questions. Interested to see if anyone has a solution for the Dodge. I haven't taken the time to see about ordering the camera and hacking the wiring for a custom mount. The park sensors is something I hadn't though about. Interesting idea.