09-style backup camera on an 08 complete

I've had a backup camera on my license plate since I bought the truck in April, but the angle wasn't great for depth perception (useful for backing up!). So... I retrofitted an 09-style backup camera in the tailgate location.

09 tailgate handle ~ $70 shipped from Toyota of Dallas
Pioneer ND-BC2 Camera ~ $170 from eBay

Here's the result. By the way, you can see light through the handle because I still had the tailgate back off... looks much cleaner with it all put back together.


The handle has two threaded holes for the stock Toyota camera to mount onto. The Pioneer camera has a simple gimbled monting bracket with double-sided adhesive tape. I bent a simple metal bracket to stick the camera to that fit the existing threaded bolt locations. I also had to dremel the bottom side of the handle where the camera fits to be able to get the correct angle.


The camera's wire is really really thin and easily damaged, so I ran it through some irrigation drip tubing from the camera through the tailgate and under the truck. The wire exits the tailgate about 3 inches off center on the bottom and goes underneath the truck through the spare-tire winch access hole. Seems to work out very well and doesn't interfere with anything (spare winch or moving the tailgate up/down).


The rest of the install was standard... running the wire to the cab along the frame rail, in through the grommet under the driver's seat, etc, etc. Since I had to remove the old camera it was twice as much work! I'm very happy with the results.

If anyone wants to buy a lightly used Boyo VTL300, PM me.

 

Nice job! I just installed the 8120 and was thinking about trying to connect the '09 stock camera to the 8120, just hadn't gotten there yet...

 

Good job!

 

It's helpful when hooking up to a trailer, for one.

Or maybe seeing small children playing while backing out of your driveway..or bikes maybe? Just a thought.

 

Put it this way, the MORE you can see, the less chance you have of hitting something, Stinger.

 

looks good how long did it take " roughly"

 

Looks great!!! Might be a future mod.....

 

Probably 3-4 hours... the most time consuming tasks were figuring out placement for the camera on the bracket and soldering in a quick-disconnect in case I need to remove the tailgate. Included in that is also removing the old camera.

 

I like it and the idea, swing by this way and you can do one for me

 

nice job i was going to ask about removel of the tail gate

 

looks good man! Great job!

 

I prefer the sonar types (beeps faster as you get close to something). With a video screen in front of you, your head is turned forward. With sonar, I can just look back like I normally would while listening to the beeps if there's something I don't see. Mine's pretty sensitive. It'll pick up curbs or even small shrubs. The only time it doesn't function right is when the tailgate is down (it thinks something is behind me), but that would be no different than the tailgate camera.

 

great thread.it should be a sticky.i am def doing it.i'm getting a cap after the holidays and really want a back up cam

 

That looks really good. I would love to do this to my truck, but I need to keep my tailgate lock. I wonder how long until someone offers a tailgate lock for this kind of handle...

 

does anyone know the part number for the tailgate handle. I'm about to add a rear view camera to my 07. Can't find the handle online though.

 

PM sent. Email Toyota of Dallas through their website: http://trdparts4u.com/ I got a response within 12 hours. I don't have the actual part number, sorry.

 

90105-A0063 BOLT, FLA 115H 2 0.43
69090-04020 HANDLE AS 0 1 63.08

Here are the part number and quotes for the handle and the screws. I'm going to go by my local dealer see if they can get it for me. Rep said handle wouldn't ship for at least a week.

 

I did mine last week. Hardest part was fabricating the bracket to hold the camera in place. I ended up using zip ties to hold on the bracket. I don't have a picture of it, but here's the finished project.

 

Nice! I agree - the bracket is the hardest part... just a lot of trial and error.

 

how often do you use your backup camera? I find it's usefull for getting into tight areas (like my garage when I need to work on my truck), but otherwise it's easier to just look behind me.

I can turn it on manually, so sometimes I like to look at the person behind me (especially if it's a hot chick) at a stop light.