Backup camera install

This install is for the Master Tailgaters brand tailgate handle with integrated back up camera. I wired it to a Pioneer head unit that accepts a camera input.


torx bit T40 I think


Carefully remove the two rods that go to the latches from the plastic clips.



Remove the two bolts with a 10mm socket.


Here is the new handle in place.
The holes in mine did not line up very well. I used a drill bit to ream the holes out a little, and then I was able to sneak the bolts in.


I really tried to make sure I wasn't hung up on something. This is the best I could get it in there. You can see the dirt line. This handle is either slightly smaller than OEM or it has something to do with my holes not lining up.

But this is very minor. I'm still happy with it.



You can see here I routed the cable to the left side and out the bottom. It's easy to fish through here by hand.



You will have three cables coming out your tailgate. I fished power and ground up through the passenger tail lamp. Tapped power into the reverse lamp(red and blue wire for these aftermarket lamps) and grounded at the bolt for the trailer module.

Then the last cable,the video signal I followed the factory harness along the left side frame all the way to the cab.


Here I pulled my driver seat out. It's easy, Four bolts and one small plug. Under the carpet here is the rubber grommet you will fish your video cable through.


From there it's up to you how you get to your head unit. I followed the harness along the door sill then over the driver kick panel to the head unit.


Here looking at the same section of harness, you need to tap into your rear brake light wire, again. Here it's the red with black stripe wire.


You will have a wire like this coming from your head unit. This will trigger the screen to display the camera view. Fish this down and splice into the red and black wire.

Once all hooked up, you should be good.Here is what it looks like at night.

 

I like to look of that handle with the camera integrated better than the rest. How’s the picture during daylight?

 

Hopefully better than the night-view. I hope that pic is like that just from your camera taking a picture of your head unit screen. If your screen has that much noise/granularity in RL, somethings wrong with your setup/gear.

 

It is more grainy in the pic. But maybe it can be improved more with a better ground. I can get a picture of it during the day too. Although, someone has posted that before.

 

I just went out and looked at my 08 oem HU/BU camera thru my phone, looked crappy too so it's probably just the phone camera (not that my 13 yr old tech is all that good either ). With an a modern aftermarket HU and backup camera, I'd expect it to have a better picture than mine at least though.

 

Does this setup have a connector near the camera so that if I want to remove the tailgate I can unplug it? I keep eyeballing this because while mine works, it’s not perfect

 

The license plate lights play with he backup camera image too at night. Guys on tacomaworld wire up a relay to kill the license plate lights when in reverse that works well to improve camera quality

 

That's actually a decent idea.

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The issue with wiring one up is the camera wire is shielded. It can be done. But it’s a headache to make a connector on shielded wire. Without the shielding the image will have a fair bit of “noise”

 

mine has a better image with the license plate lights on. But my camera is right above the license plate, and i dont use it. The screen lives in the center console, unless i visit grandpa.

 

There is a disconnect near the tailgate. The way I have it routed, the disconnect is inside the tailgate near the removable panel. I don't plan on ever taking my tail gate off. If I have to for some reason I'll just have to deal with that. If you want to be able to disconnect the harness to remove the tailgate, you will want to fish the harness down the middle of the tailgate.

 

about to do this myself tomorrow, one question tho, i have the purple wire too, but im unsure as to which red/black wire you are referring to...

Many thanks in advance

 

Yours is different as it's a 2006. You won't have to run a wire and tap into the reverse light wires like mbreed2 did. You can use the signal wire that's already behind your headunit. Check the two wire plug behind the radio. It's probably tucked back there unless you had Nav, but it's there. My 05 AC was red/green, but you can verify on the FSM/EWD that's stickied in the Info thread for 05-06.