ProjectsInMotion
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I decided to tackle adding a cargo camera to my 2020 Ram 1500. Based on the instructions that @Jimmy07 posted here, it seemed fairly straightforward. I purchased the following parts:
The total cost for the parts, including taxes and shipping, was $444.46. I bought the RCA pigtail that plugs into the 4th Gen radio connector in the hopes that the terminal sockets would be the same for the 5th Gen. They're not.
The OEM LED third brake light has a molded feature that seems like it was designed for a cargo camera, but they don't (yet?) offer a version with a cargo camera built in. Consequently, the hardest part of this project will be installing the camera into the third brake light housing. Start by marking the exact center of the domed portion of the feature
Take an accurate measurement, ideally with calipers, of the width of the mounting collar for the camera. The collar for this specific camera measured at just over 17mm. The closest drill bit size I had, in a stepped drill bit, was 11/16", which is about 17.5mm. With the center of the plastic dome marked, drill it to size
Clean the hole up and test fit the camera collar
Now cut an access hole in the back side of the third brake light housing. I used a cutoff wheel on a Dremel. Don't worry about the fact that the third brake light will be open, if you cut within the boundary of the gasket. There are already other intentional holes in the back of the housing. This is what it looks like removing a rectangular portion of the back side of the housing, across from the hole that was just drilled:
You can see that there's a direct path from this now open chamber to where the LED elements are.
I found I had a lot of plastic dust in where the LED elements are, as a result of drilling and cutting the housing, and had to blow it out with compressed air.
Test fitting the full assembly looks like this
Everything looked good so I used marine adhesive to seal the camera collar in place and then threadlocker between the camera and the collar. This ensures a watertight seal.
When I tested the camera, after it was installed and the adhesives had all dried, I found that it was just slightly off from level. This is because I used the mark on the body of the camera that indicates which way is up. That turned out to be too imprecise. If I was to do it again, I would assembly everything with the adhesives, and as soon as it was assembled, test the camera and dial it in to make sure it was level before the adhesives dried. Because I used threadlocker between the camera and the collar, the camera can still be removed, the threads cleaned, new threadlocker installed, and then the level dialed in. That was too much effort for me, for how little the level was off.
This is the installed assembly
Unfortunately, this is where the project ground to a halt. I have a 1500 Limited, with the 360 Surround View cameras. @Jimmy07 and I discovered, frustratingly after I had finished the hardware, that there's no set of configurations with AlfaOBD that will actually allow me to view an analog cargo camera feed on my UConnect. If I didn't have the 360 Surround View cameras, this would have worked.
Thanks again @Jimmy07 for all your help!
Cheers.
| OEM LED Third Brake Light | $372.68 |
Mopar Center High Mounted Stop Lamp 68444540AB | Auto Parts2021 Ram 1500 68444540AB - Center High Mounted Stop Lamp | Auto Parts
www.bamwholesaleparts.com
|
| 12V Backup Camera | $21.66 | |
| 12V Outlet Circuit Splitter | $27.73 |
Amazon.com: RED WOLF 12 Volt Power Adapter Wire Harness Switch Connector for Chrysler Dodge Ram 2001-2021 Cigarette Lighter Power Outlet to Add Backup Camera CB Radio Radar Detectors Portable GPS : ElectronicsBuy RED WOLF 12 Volt Power Adapter Wire Harness Switch Connector for Chrysler Dodge Ram 2001-2021 Cigarette Lighter Power Outlet to Add Backup Camera CB Radio Radar Detectors Portable GPS: Power Adapters - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com
|
| RCA Pigtail | $13.32 | |
| Radio Connector Terminal Sockets | $9.07 |
The total cost for the parts, including taxes and shipping, was $444.46. I bought the RCA pigtail that plugs into the 4th Gen radio connector in the hopes that the terminal sockets would be the same for the 5th Gen. They're not.
The OEM LED third brake light has a molded feature that seems like it was designed for a cargo camera, but they don't (yet?) offer a version with a cargo camera built in. Consequently, the hardest part of this project will be installing the camera into the third brake light housing. Start by marking the exact center of the domed portion of the feature
Take an accurate measurement, ideally with calipers, of the width of the mounting collar for the camera. The collar for this specific camera measured at just over 17mm. The closest drill bit size I had, in a stepped drill bit, was 11/16", which is about 17.5mm. With the center of the plastic dome marked, drill it to size
Clean the hole up and test fit the camera collar
Now cut an access hole in the back side of the third brake light housing. I used a cutoff wheel on a Dremel. Don't worry about the fact that the third brake light will be open, if you cut within the boundary of the gasket. There are already other intentional holes in the back of the housing. This is what it looks like removing a rectangular portion of the back side of the housing, across from the hole that was just drilled:
You can see that there's a direct path from this now open chamber to where the LED elements are.
I found I had a lot of plastic dust in where the LED elements are, as a result of drilling and cutting the housing, and had to blow it out with compressed air.
Test fitting the full assembly looks like this
Everything looked good so I used marine adhesive to seal the camera collar in place and then threadlocker between the camera and the collar. This ensures a watertight seal.
When I tested the camera, after it was installed and the adhesives had all dried, I found that it was just slightly off from level. This is because I used the mark on the body of the camera that indicates which way is up. That turned out to be too imprecise. If I was to do it again, I would assembly everything with the adhesives, and as soon as it was assembled, test the camera and dial it in to make sure it was level before the adhesives dried. Because I used threadlocker between the camera and the collar, the camera can still be removed, the threads cleaned, new threadlocker installed, and then the level dialed in. That was too much effort for me, for how little the level was off.
This is the installed assembly
Unfortunately, this is where the project ground to a halt. I have a 1500 Limited, with the 360 Surround View cameras. @Jimmy07 and I discovered, frustratingly after I had finished the hardware, that there's no set of configurations with AlfaOBD that will actually allow me to view an analog cargo camera feed on my UConnect. If I didn't have the 360 Surround View cameras, this would have worked.
Thanks again @Jimmy07 for all your help!
Cheers.
Last edited:
