2007 DCLB DIY Front and Backup Camera Install

This is my 2nd post, hopefully a payback from all the things I have learned from the TW.

I bought my 07 DCLB in 2011 at a very good price. The truck came with camper shell which made it hard to back out from a parking spot due to 3 layers of tinted glass from the cab all they way to rear, which my wife promptly complained. I set about making it easier to park the truck by installing backup camera system.

When I found out that later model trucks had a factory installed rearview mirror with LCD and backup camera, I set about retrofitting the system until I found out that the kits were about $700.00 then.

I started researching TW and found out that Pop N Lock sells a tailgate handle/lock that was camera ready. Found a used Gentex rearview mirror with LCD screen in eBay for about $150.00 and bought a generic rear view camera from eBay for about ~$16.00.

Made an electrical diagram of my DIY below:



I successfully completed the rearview mirror and backup camera installation within a couple of months of owning the truck but didn't have the chance to install the front camera until a few weeks ago. Here are the results:

Back up camera was from ebay (~$16.00), here is what it looked like prior to installation:





Backup camera installed on a Pop N Lock (PL5XXX series):




Back up camera in use:




A couple of weeks ago I set about installing the front camera.

This is what I bought in ebay back in 2011 (~$12.00):




This is were I installed the camera:





I installed the front camera switch here (bought from Mouser):



and finally a view with the front camera on:



Notes on the install:
- Don't forget to the disconnect the battery before starting the DIY.
- The 2 relays I used are hidden inside the driver's side kick plate.
- The reverse trigger wire can be found under the panel across the threshold of driver's side.
- When putting the gear shift in reverse, the front camera is isolated even with the switch in the on position.
- My Gentex rearview mirror only came with a single video input, I had to use a video splitter and trigger the LCD screen on by sending a signal to the mirror when using the front camera via the rocker switch.

That's it! Cheers!

 

Nice write up. I'm going to do something similar and use this as a reference for a front camera install.

 

Any chance you still have the larger image if your wiring diagram? My old eyes can't make out what's going on exactly.