Apeman front and rear dash cam rear cam install

Thanks to @boogie3478 I keep finding awesome stuff on the Amazon Gems thread.
Well I bought the Apeman c550 on amazon.
Pics and tips to follow...
Here is the stock photo from Amazon

The Front Camera installs easily using 3m Tape and an included mount. I placed it just on the passenger side of the rearview mirror and it has a great angle (adjustable) from there.

The Dashcam also comes with a rear facing camera and a cable to attach it to the main unit as well. I chose to run the wire:
1. From the main unit
2. Tucked along the headliner to the A pillar
3. Tucked along the doorside of the trim panel (the handle area) then down
4. Along the trim to the door sill, lifted the door sill and ran to the B pillar
5. Up the passenger front door side of the B pillar trim, tucked in
6. Around the top of the B pillar trim and then under the weather seal/trim to the rear headliner
(about 10 minutes of work while drinking a Duvel)

The next problem was the rear camera mount. This model is setup to mount and hang or sit above the surface, like on a bumper or below an overhang. This does not mate well to the rear window. I tried just tucking it in to the trim with the 1/4 lip form the mount point, but this gave a VERY angled view that I did not care for.

Tonight, I set out to build a mount for the rear camera.
I started with the idea of a hobby or angle bracket that I could bend and drill...This proved to be overkill. Angled brackets were too thick, while the hobby plate snapped when bent (pictured)

I then headed to three hardware stores looking for plastic sheets or strips to bend and drill. I only found one option that was more than I wanted to spend for some plastic.

I then, decided to go the dollar tree and find the largest, most durable hunk of plastic for a dollar!

I found a black paint roller tray and decided to try to make a mount. My first one was too short, too narrow, and I bent it too far.

I then decided to make a new cut out with two layers and wider base to tuck in to the trim.


With the right heated bend, and the proper alignment, the image is much straighter and seems secure.

I will update with pics and images form the Dashcam in the daylight.

 

Lol I was literally sipping a hot drink when I saw this.

 

@Devir7

 

I don't think @MESO has to worry about me as competition though! HAHAHA

 

Great Minds

 

I dunno... he might. The first batch run is always the least refined!

 

That’s an awesome idea and looks great.... I think I’ll have to copy that as well...

I may even have plastic already... kid has plenty of things that I could barrow lol.

 

I ended up cutting a piece of the license plate frame from the dealer, heating a bending it slightly. Seems like it’ll work well

 

The camera saves the front and rear captures as different files (full size for both). Here is one, the front is even clearer, now, since I removed the lens protector!
Front

https://youtu.be/Rk7kiJcOMSg

Rear

https://youtu.be/GcqS2s7JDmo

 

That looks really good. I’ve got mine it but have not checked it yet lol.

 

Fantastic idea, I was about ready to return mine as I couldn’t come up with a mount option- heading up to the dollar store this morning!!

 

Well it has been awhile but the cam proced very useful.
This is actually from the 20th, I need to reset the date and time. I went out to lunch with some friends from work went back out to my truck after lunch and was letting it warm up and somebody decided to reverse down the one way and run right into me. Luckily they hit my trailer hitching ball and tore their car all up to where the pieces and then drove off after we talked instead of pulling around to exchange info.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DR-DciX_y_wETLkR8TXaaDK8piA6CMCe/view?usp=drivesdk