Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/320559
the dash or console. Installation is a bit harder because the headliner has to be pulled loose from around the windshield to run the wiring. But once that's done the new mirror slides into the same mount as the factory rearview mirror and no one knows the difference when looking inside your pickup. If you like a screen larger than the 4.3-inch-wide ver- sion found in rearview mirrors, other camera systems of- fer either 5- or 7-inch monitors that can be used as stand- alone on the dash or the camera system itself integrates directly into the truck's audio or audio/navigation system using the existing touch screen. There are lots of camera mounting choices, from cam- eras designed to replace the OEM tailgate handle sur- round to ones mounted in the license plate frame to ones that can be mounted anywhere there's a fl at surface. (See sidebar "Tailgating camera mount.") The mounting location will have a lot to do with what camera you choose and how you intend to use it. Again, choice is personal preference. For example, if you want to use it to help line up a trailer on the hitch ball, the ver- sion mounted under the tailgate handle is ideal. There are literally dozens of reverse/backup cameras and camera systems on the market including the ones in our roundup on the following pages. The better ones come from well- known brand names such as those who already make audio, radar and GPS systems. No matter what style you select, having "eyes" in the back of your pickup will be a safety feature you will soon fi nd invaluable. pro pickup | continued June 2014 | EquipmentWorld.com 72 High Output grilles LED Grilles by Rigid Industries are the new way to customize your rig with high output Rigid lights. Not only do these new accessories mount Rigid lights in your grille but they give your vehicle a whole new Rigid look. Visit RigidIndustries.com for more information. N EW GRILLES FOR CHEVY, FORD ® , GMC ® , POLARIS ® AND TOYOTA ® ® Tailgating camera mount The traditional reverse camera mounting in pickups is in the tail- gate handle or in the license plate frame. But if you have a camera that is designed to be mounted on a fl at surface, bolt it to the bottom of the tailgate so the lens just peeks below the bottom edge of the tailgate face (where its both protected and stealthy). I used two 1/2-inch-thick alumi- num spacers between the camera mount and the tailgate core to get it in the right position and bolted it down. Then I ran the camera wires through a rubber grommet under the back of the bed sheet metal to their respective connections. The camera is almost invisible to passerby, yet provides an excellent view of everything from hitch ball and beyond.