Review on 📷 Rear View Backup Camera with Tailgate Handle for Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra (2007-2013), Black by Instructor Niederhaus

My 2012 Chevy Silverado had a stereo when I got it and no backup camera. Shortly after receiving the truck, I installed a Pioneer AVH-4100NEX head unit with the ability to run a backup camera and an auxiliary camera. I needed a backup camera and after looking around I found that I could get either a license plate camera or a replacement tailgate bezel with a built in camera. I chose the bezel style for two reasons: it looks like the OEM camera that came with the truck from the factory - (more importantly), the higher position of the tailgate instead of the license plate gives a better angle and a better depth, which makes it more practical to connect to the trailer. In box, parts and tools. The kit comes with everything you need to connect the camera to your stereo yourself, but that's about it. The cables come with cable bundles pre-installed to protect the cables, which is a nice touch. For your peace of mind, the cables are long enough to give you some slack on both the tailgate and the main unit. Finally there are instructions but they are not very detailed so below I give you my steps. The kit does not include any other parts or tools to complete the actual installation. You will need the following tools: a set of sockets, a flat-head screwdriver, an electric drill, a drill that goes through sheet steel, fishing rods or fishing line (or another way to run the cord through the back door), pliers (dykes). - wire cutters - stripping tools - wire pliers. You will need the following supplies: - Grommets (highly recommended for protecting cables from sharp steel when drilling new holes) - Anti-corrosion grease (to protect steel from corrosion when drilling new holes) - Cable ties (I have 11" wire used and trim off the excess but you could probably trim it down to 4 inches) - Wire butt connectors (I used red ones) Installing on a 2012 Chevy/GMC Silverado/Sierra. I found a video online that was very helpful in figuring out where to drill the holes and how to route the cables through the back door, from the back of the truck to the front and then into the cab. They used a different (OEM it seems) camera, but the position of the holes they drilled and the way they routed the cables matched my truck perfectly. Here are the steps to install this on a truck like mine: 1) Use a socket set to remove the existing tailgate handle frame. You only need to remove the bottom of the 3 screws on the inside of the tailgate - the other 2 can stay in place. Once the screw is removed, the bezel can be carefully removed from the tailgate. 2) Using a flathead screwdriver, loosen the tethers on the truck platform that connect the tailgate to the platform. side of the tailgate of his pillar and shifts everything to the right of the left pillar. I recommend having a second person help you with this maneuver. 4) Install the back door in a stable place and watch the video to see where to drill the hole. Use a drill to drill a hole. 5) Use a fishing rod/line to pull the cable connected to the camera down through the hole in the rear door handle and out of the new hole drilled in step 4. 6) Bring the grommet and protective grease into the new hole.7 ) Before reinstalling the tailgate, thread the camera cable through the hole in the bottom center of the truck bed. The cable comes out from under the truck between the license plate and the spare tire. 8) Install the tailgate and connect the wires that attach the tailgate to the body. (Reverse action of step 3 and 2) 9) If you have a locking tailgate, use the flathead screwdriver on the old bezel to remove the retaining spring that holds the lock barrel in place. The lock cylinder should pop out. Then install the lock cylinder in the new bezel in the reverse order that you removed it from the old bezel. The lock cylinder only fits one way, so don't worry about it being in the wrong position. 10) Insert the new panel into the rear door handle hole, push to latch and replace the screw from inside. back door. (Reverse action of step 1) 11) [Optional] My head unit can overlay custom lines on the video image including setting parking guidelines according to my specific application. The new camera also shows lines, but as far as I know they are not configurable. I wanted the adjustable lines from my stereo and wanted to remove the lines from the new camera. The cable from the radio has 2 green wires near the connector (now hanging under the truck). One of them has a sign that says "Park Line". If you want to remove the camera's default park lines from the screen, use wire strippers to expose the copper of the two green wires, then use crimping pliers and a butt connector to join them. It's better to solder them together and use heat shrink tubing to protect the connection from corrosion, but I just used a butt connector and lots of tape. 12) Connect another very long cable to the end of the cable coming from the camera. Be sure to align the arrows on the 2 connectors. Also, remember that when properly connected, it snaps into place. I didn't fully insert it the first time and spent a lot of time trying to figure out why the camera isn't showing up on my screen. Tensioning the cable from the back to the front of the truck. Watch the video for a good guide. I followed the main wiring harness that runs along the frame of the truck on the driver's side. Secure the cable to this main cable with cable ties and cut off the ends with wire cutters. Insert the cable and install the grommet/grease. 15) Disassemble the dashboard and remove the stereo from the dashboard. To do this, I needed a set of sockets. 16) Route the cable under the steering wheel up behind the dashboard and from where the main unit came from. I used my line to make it easier. 17) Gather the pieces you removed to access the firewall under the steering wheel. 18) Connect the cable to your stereo. It depends on the stereo. On my Peony, the rear camera input is brown, but there is also an input for an additional camera. I connected mine to the brown input. Connect the cable's black wire to a nearby ground wire (usually black or green). Connect the red wire of the cable to a 12 volt power source. Depending on your setup, this may be a power cord that only turns on when the vehicle is backing up. I wanted to be able to use the camera when it wasn't reversing, so I hooked it up to the mains on my stereo. 19) [Optional] I bought a parking bypass that allows me to see the camera even when I'm not reversing. (Let's say while driving down the street so I can quickly check the trailer connection on the fly). The bypass was very easy to install and inexpensive. If you have such a bypass, install it in this step as well. 20) Reinstall the stereo on the dashboard and verify that the camera is working properly. 21) Go back to the hinge under the tailgate and secure it under the truck with zip ties, cutting off the ends. Took me 2-3 hours from start to finish. You are done and now you can enjoy your camera!