The tabs that hold the housing in the lift gate, or the camera to housing mount?
Back-up camera with intelligent tracks (1 Viewer)
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The tabs that hold the housing in the lift gate, or the camera to housing mount?
I have been using a camera that replaces license plate light for years, and been very pleased. The backup camera image on my 2000 LC with a Kenwood head unit is far superior to the factory camera in our 2004 LX470! I highly recommend this type of camera, and to properly run the wiring through the factory rubber channel between the cargo door and the interior of the car, and add RCA connectors. Mine is similar to this:
For those with lifted trucks or want to adjust the angle, I think the adjustable one on Amazon would work GREAT (they have fixed, adjustable, and fisheye). The adjustable one sticks out a little further, but looks like it would work fine: Amazon product ASIN B07MWC5CWF (you could probably find the same thing cheaper on ebay or aliexpress)
The hard part is pulling the wires through the rear cargo door and through the rubber boot that contains other wiring from the door into the interior of the cargo area. I used wire pulling grease (didn't know it existed until I found it on the internet) and a stiff wire to fish and pull it through, and this made it much easier. I also put RCA connectors on the wiring, making it SUPER easy to swap this type of camera!
Regarding LED illuminators on the camera: I have tried both and I don't think the LEDs on the camera make that big of a difference (they are pretty small and aren't that bright). I currently do NOT have one with LEDs. If you need more light when reversing, you would be better off replacing your reverse lights with something brighter (I use LEDs).
Regarding the intelligent track lines:
@phatdragon I thought I wanted these intelligent track lines too, and actually bought two different cameras that had this, but as others have said the camera does NOT use input from the steering wheel (the factory ones that use feedback from the steering wheel are great). Instead, these aftermarket cameras use an accelerometer (I think) that sense changes in momentum as the car is turning and tries to draw the lines accordingly. The problem is that if you are not moving (stopped) there is no change in momentum and the lines are straight, and as you move the lines try to guess based on momentum (which is different depending on how fast you are going) and if you aren't very smooth, the lines (in my opinion) are not accurate, not very useful, and really more of a distraction. I ultimately switched back to the camera without intelligent lines.
The good thing is that, if you do the wiring correctly and add RCA connectors, these cameras are inexpensive (cheaper on ebay/aliexpress) and use the same RCA connectors, therefore it is really easy to change cameras out that fit into the license plate light hole. I have changed mine a few times...
Mine is working perfectly and I couldn't live without it (I think my current camera claimed a 170 degree field of view, similar to the fisheye in the Amazon link).
Hope my experience helps.
Lee
For those with lifted trucks or want to adjust the angle, I think the adjustable one on Amazon would work GREAT (they have fixed, adjustable, and fisheye). The adjustable one sticks out a little further, but looks like it would work fine: Amazon product ASIN B07MWC5CWF (you could probably find the same thing cheaper on ebay or aliexpress)
The hard part is pulling the wires through the rear cargo door and through the rubber boot that contains other wiring from the door into the interior of the cargo area. I used wire pulling grease (didn't know it existed until I found it on the internet) and a stiff wire to fish and pull it through, and this made it much easier. I also put RCA connectors on the wiring, making it SUPER easy to swap this type of camera!
Regarding LED illuminators on the camera: I have tried both and I don't think the LEDs on the camera make that big of a difference (they are pretty small and aren't that bright). I currently do NOT have one with LEDs. If you need more light when reversing, you would be better off replacing your reverse lights with something brighter (I use LEDs).
Regarding the intelligent track lines:
@phatdragon I thought I wanted these intelligent track lines too, and actually bought two different cameras that had this, but as others have said the camera does NOT use input from the steering wheel (the factory ones that use feedback from the steering wheel are great). Instead, these aftermarket cameras use an accelerometer (I think) that sense changes in momentum as the car is turning and tries to draw the lines accordingly. The problem is that if you are not moving (stopped) there is no change in momentum and the lines are straight, and as you move the lines try to guess based on momentum (which is different depending on how fast you are going) and if you aren't very smooth, the lines (in my opinion) are not accurate, not very useful, and really more of a distraction. I ultimately switched back to the camera without intelligent lines.
The good thing is that, if you do the wiring correctly and add RCA connectors, these cameras are inexpensive (cheaper on ebay/aliexpress) and use the same RCA connectors, therefore it is really easy to change cameras out that fit into the license plate light hole. I have changed mine a few times...
Mine is working perfectly and I couldn't live without it (I think my current camera claimed a 170 degree field of view, similar to the fisheye in the Amazon link).
Hope my experience helps.
Lee
I love the OE look and mount location of these.
Request for this to be stickied!
Request for this to be stickied!
The unit I ended up with is not a good fit at all, but I used some rope caulk (like a sticky clay) to angle it out and then pack it in. I'm not sure if that's a long term solution and I'll keep an eye on it over this winter for sure. Maybe a bead of silicon caulk once it's been placed correctly would be a good idea but I'm not committed yet to that action. I have gone from disappointment with the angle and concern about water to being pretty pleased with a very affordable no-drill solution.
