The Poor Man's Accessory Trailer Camera: Make Your Own

dawsonar802 · July 28, 2024

Happy to report I finally got this setup working. What and absolute pain, not the hack for the camera setup, just the setup in general. It seems like GM could have made this a bit easier and less error prone.

So for me, here was the fix.

Camera Not recognized:

- Delete trailer profile

- unplug 7 way and camera

- wait about 2-5min

- plug in the 7 way

- plug in camera

- close driver door and then start the truck

- enter setup and trailer specs

While this got the camera to show up, it was just black, no picture. This turned out to be due to the model of the camera. I did not realize that after buying the $650 camera setup that it would not work on a newer truck.

I ended up ordering part number 85573256 for the camera. This was perfect for my 2024 AT4.

Transparent trailer issues

Even though the camera was detected and working now, the transparent trailer would not calibrate. It immediately went to “check owners manual” and that was it. After trying various angles, I finally set it and just kept driving. Eventually it finally started to calibrate. After a few min it completed. Not fully sure how helpful the view is, but I am happy to have it working, finally.

Thanks to everyone here and the original poster.

stevenblomquist · September 20, 2024

I have the camera 85118298 from GM but after installation the OEM cable is too short to reach from the back end of my fifth wheel, no matter how I route it. Is it possible to get an extension cable that has the OEM plug as shown and an end that will mate to the same plug to reach to its mount in the box of my 2024HD Silverado? The short fall is about 15 ft. Incidentally I lucked out when I tested the camera and everything showed up fine except the calibration.

dawsonar802 · September 20, 2024

@stevenblomquist, did you already purchase a new cable as mentioned in the original post from Segmart? That seemed to work great for me and they can make it in custom lengths. I did not try connecting them end to end, but it may work or they may have an adapter.

https://www.segemart.com/1651055116553?search=FKR-TV-F%2FS-FAKRA%2FA-F%2FRA

i had also saw a post somewhere where the location of the camera connector can be moved from the hitch to inside the bed, not sure if that would help in your case or not.

The calibration does take some time to complete and you have to do the instructions to a “T” for it to work. After that mine was fine. That said, I really did not even use the transparent mode that often, the backup view was enough.

stevenblomquist · September 20, 2024

Dawson. No, I didn't do the DIY approach in this thread I bought the entire GM camera package and that cable is too short by 15ft. I don't know the type of cable ends that are need to make up the short fall to plug into the OEM plug and the receptacle in the bed of the truck. I am thinking DVB-T TV Female - DVB-T TV Male Coaxial Jumper Cable (segemart.com) may be the things to work for me except they are not very robust for exterior service.

dawsonar802 · September 21, 2024

@stevenblomquist, yeah, I had the original kit too. After never getting the camera to work, I ended up cutting the cable and buying the kit to repair the end of the OEM cable on eBay, along with a specific crimper. I later found this forum post and realized that the camera I had did not work with the 2024 truck I have. I ended up purchasing the DIY cable from segmart and it worked great. I would say ditch the OEM cable and purchase a new one with the additional 15’. Purchase some flex conduit and it is almost the same as the one one. The only downside is the you would not have the housing that connect to the truck, but the cable will connect fine and I traveled almost 2000miles and it worked fine and never fell out. I also traveled through a hurricane on the way back to FL and had no issues with it.

stevenblomquist · September 27, 2024

@dawsonar802,

I am still pushing through using the OEM cable from the GM camera kit. Because you said the DIY cable used a DBV-T female connector at the receptacle and it worked "great" I thought the mating DVB-T TV male connector would be a match to the OEM camera cable end, alas it is not a match. The male DVB-T TV plug does not fit into the female cable end. They must have used a proprietary connector. Now since it seems impossible to contact the supplier of either the GM receptacle (7-pin in the box of the truck) or the camera kit I am thinking of alternatives.

I can buy a 15 ft cable assembly from Segemart with the DVB-T TV female connector (for the receptacle in the truck box) with a FAKRA A female plug that will then plug into a second GM 7 Pin receptacle which then will mate perfectly with the GM camera kit proprietary plug (made in Mexico).

All this hinges on your testimony the DVB-T tv plug works perfectly. The DVB-T TV female connector on my custom Segemart cable does plug into the male plug on the receptacle. I just can't figure out why the other male end of my custom cable won't mate smoothly with the camera kit cable. It's like there is a taper or block that prevents the plug from going all the way in.

I thought I would run this by you for your opinion.

Edited September 27, 2024 by stevenblomquist
add the "to" person address

madmann26 · March 4, 2025

I went this route with a new to me 2020 Silvy High Country. GM wants way too much money for their camera system.

After some Googling, I found this on Etsy, I ordered 2 as I have a specific purpose for the 2nd one. The other one will go on the back of our RV.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1767156186/trailer-camera-kit-system-for-silverado

I also bought the optional plug covers that keep the ends protected.

dawsonar802 · March 4, 2025

Very nice. Yeah, I was thinking of 3D printing something and selling, it looks like this has that covered. This listing seems to have pretty much everything needed for getting you up and running.

JP642 · March 6, 2025

I like the concept of the plug and cover from the person on Etsy - that was the hardest part for me to get right in my 3D printing

Zantigo · March 13, 2025

So I got the custom assembly together. 2024 2500 HD, used the #85573256 camera, genuine GM. Cable from Segemart. Camera works when plugged into the interior camera port but nothing in the exterior port. Tried a bunch of internet fixes and nothing worked. I finally brought the truck in to the Chevy dealer. They had the same issue and couldn't get it to work. They got a hold of one of the factory assemblies and it worked as soon as it was plugged in. Service advisor said they will eat the diagnosis time since GM won't reimburse for testing non GM part. Hoping this wasn't a waste of time and money but not looking good. Answers anyone?

madmann26 · March 17, 2025

So I'm struggling with mine -

I ordered 2 84676845 cameras. I followed the suggestions here but I cannot get the cameras to work. They do not show connected and the screen output is a black screen.

I have a 2020 Silvy Highcountry.

RobinChris · April 30, 2025

On 5/25/2023 at 12:02 PM, namtaru said:

Well, in a very frustrating turn of events, I haven't been able to get this setup working at all. I have the cable and the camera, and I went to test it before doing the install, and no matter what I did I couldnt get the camera to be recognized. Of course the trailer was plugged in, but I tried all sorts of things like shutting the truck off, waiting 10 minutes, plugging in the trailer, then the camera, then getting in teh truck and shutting the door, and turning the truck on, still nothing. I thought maybe I had a bad camera, so I ordered another one, same thing.

I've checked the connections under the truck, the cables are definately plugged into the connectors in the bumper, and i even unplugged and replugged them back in.

The message I get on the screen just says "Connect the rear trailer camera to get a preview" if I try to select it while in the trailering app, and it's completely grayed out as being a selectable option in the camera views.

At this point I'm wondering if maybe the cable is bad? Although unlikely I guess it's not out of the question. If I order another cable though and it doesnt fix the issue, I'm just giving up and not using the system at all. I'm not putting any more money into it and im not buying the official system.

edit: 2023 GMC Sierra SLE

I'm having the same issue. Did you manage to get it working ?

dawsonar802 · April 30, 2025

1 hour ago, RobinChris said:

I'm having the same issue. Did you manage to get it working ?

My guess is you may have the incorrect camera model for the year of your vehicle. I hit this issue twice. Apparently between my 2022 truck and the 2024 I have now the supported camera version changed. I have since sold my trailer.

RobinChris · May 1, 2025

2 hours ago, dawsonar802 said:

My guess is you may have the incorrect camera model for the year of your vehicle. I hit this issue twice. Apparently between my 2022 truck and the 2024 I have now the supported camera version changed. I have since sold my trailer.

Were you able to find a compatible knock off online or did you go get it right from GM?