While I don't necessarily need a backup camera, my wife's main gripe, so far, is no backup camera. I see lots of options out there and am curious what approach others have taken in this area.

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2011 Ranger Sport;
1969 F100 LWB;
1971 F100 Flareside (project);
2016 Ford Explorer;
2010 Harley Ultra Limited

Easiest looks to me to be one of the ones that puts the camera at the top of the license plate frame, and a double din deck in the dash. That was my plan, but I can't quite bring myself to replace a functioning radio when I don't really drive it that much.

That's what I have and it works great.

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That is EXACTLY what I have planned Bob! Glad it works for you!

First camera only lasted a couple of years, but there only less than $20.

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I have one similar to what Bob has but its the whole frame which I liked because it is held down better and lock tight the screws and so not so easy to steal. Mine actually came with a bolt and nut.
Like his works great.

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Yellow 2001 Ford Ranger Edge 4x4 Ext. cab, 4.0 Automatic, Rancho Shocks, OHC w/buggman leds, mustang dome, Pioneer AVH-X4700BS, Hertz components up front,Rockford fosgate in the rear doors,Sony XM-GS400 4ch Amp, Sony XM-GS-100 Mono Amp. Line-x

Here's a pic of where I located and settled on mounting mine. Wire is inside the tailgate, a wireless unit was used for the video, and the cam bracket was bent so as to move the cam to the left as far as possible and remain under the tailgate handle. IMO, on a pickup, the camera not only needs to show objects below the top of the tailgate, but also the hitch so as to facilitate easy alignment.






Night shot below with projector LED backup lights.

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2004 Ranger FX4 Level II, 5R55E, Sonic Blue Pearl

Proudly JAP/RICE free since March 2000

Billy I believe mine has a tilting option.So far I don't own a trailer, so aimed mine straight out.Good suggestion on your part.

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Bob C, I am guessing one gives up their sirius, etc. with that type of head unit.
The license plate bracket approach seems the most common. I know for a while in Texas, they started enforcing rules against frames which blocked access to the whole license plate.

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2011 Ranger Sport;
1969 F100 LWB;
1971 F100 Flareside (project);
2016 Ford Explorer;
2010 Harley Ultra Limited

Not sure on the Sirus,but I believe it wouldn't create any problem with this head unit.It has Pandora built into it.

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Dec.2013 TOTM

1993 XLT with Century Cap

The cap adds a lot of bizarro reflections in the rear view mirror and even looking back, especially if the glass is dirty. Adding a backup camera IS a bit of work, but well worth the effort IMHO.

Here's the camera, mounted high on the cap so I can see around my tiny little trailer ... helps that the lens angle is adjustable.



It's a license plate version, but I mounted it with 3M tape and a couple dress screws ... it ain't goin' nowhere, eh.



Only complaint I ever had about those little guys is they're prone to leak. I sealed the seams and hole where the wire goes in with black silicone, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

And the inside monitor ...



This pic is on a partly sunny day in the drive. I tried one of those clip on mirror jobs and that suffered severe suckage - almost invisible during daylight hours. Can't win em all, right? I like the full wide video and guidelines - I guess those come from the camera, as it's identical on both the clip on and this monitor. The image is also flipped so it's exactly what you'd see in the rear view mirror. The monitor has all the usual brightness/contrast/color controls which is nice for fine tuning the image. I used the provided mount, bridging it between the top of the shifter console and the tranny tunnel using 3M tape and velcro. Gives a decent viewing angle with little or no reflections.

The video connection is wireless. The camera and video sender tap right into the reverse wire on the tail light, and the monitor and video receiver are tapped from the backup wire on the transmission, as there's nothing inside to hook into. I do see some interference lines moving around, but nothing to get too upset about. I may try relocating the sender in the cab, but no big rush on that as it's very minor. Accessory power is via an "add-a-circuit" double fuse holder replacing the radio fuse in the box, and ground is direct to frame. Only time the system draws power is when the key is on and the shifter's in reverse.

No pics of the night vision, but that's quite nice. No complaints there at all.

All in all, a good afternoon's work!

PARTS LIST (All told, under $60)

- Pyle PLHR70 monitor
- Dinley high resolution night vision license plate camera
- Zettaguard ZBC101 wireless RCA video transmitter/receiver kit

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'89 Basic Beater - '93 XLT

"As I get older, I have less and less to say. The problem is I can't stop talking."

Glad I found this discussion.

I tend to keep my vehicles very close to stock, but a backup camera is one of the tweaks I'm interested in.

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- Current: 2010 Ranger XLT 4x4 in Redfire Metallic, 4.0 L V-6, 3.73 ratio final drive, Cooper Discover HT P255/75R-15's, automatic, all-power.
- Previous: '90 Ranger XLT 2WD, 3.0L 5 spd (traded), '93 Ranger XLT 2WD, 4.0L Auto (traded), '01 Ranger XLT 2WD, 4.0L Auto (traded)

I did one to my Pioneer 2800BS.. works great.. used the same camera in the pictures above.

johnez, what year is your Ranger?

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- Current: 2010 Ranger XLT 4x4 in Redfire Metallic, 4.0 L V-6, 3.73 ratio final drive, Cooper Discover HT P255/75R-15's, automatic, all-power.
- Previous: '90 Ranger XLT 2WD, 3.0L 5 spd (traded), '93 Ranger XLT 2WD, 4.0L Auto (traded), '01 Ranger XLT 2WD, 4.0L Auto (traded)

2004 4.0 Edge