Backup Camera Installation On 2007 Sierra Denali

[Bostonsfavson]

Hey fellas I haven't really kept tabs on the site here in a while, as I've been extremely busy both personally and professionally. I know that some of your have sent me PMs inquiring as to how I've been, and I greatly appreciate it. I'm definitely going to try to be on here more often.

 

Anyways, I haven't done too much more to the truck since I last posted, with the notable exception of installing a backup camera. I know that there have been a few backup cam installs posted already, but I figured that another one couldn't hurt. The camera is this one, which I bought on ebay for 100 dollars. The camera interfaces with the factory nav system via the GMX-320 Lockpick.

 

I'll start with a pic of the finished product, and then detail how I got there:

 

 

The first thing that I did was decide on a mounting location for the camera. I did quite a bit of research in to the various locations that people had used, but none of them really worked for me. I finally arrived at the location that you see here after much experimentation (i.e., hooking the camera up to the nav system and having someone hold the camera in various locations while I looked at the screen). I did not come across anyone who had previously mounted a camera in this spot, so I was a little bit hesitant as to how it would turn out. After several months of use, I can happily report that this location works great The first step was removing the plastic trim piece in the middle of the bumper. Here's a pic with this piece removed (you can see the camera temporarily in place here):

 

 

The next step was securing the camera in place. I wanted it to be secure, but at the same time have the freedom to easily move and replace it if it was ever damaged or I ended up not liking the location. Using a rubber stabilizer block, which I purchased at a local auto parts store, allowed me to "wedge" the camera in place. I sanded one side down with a Dremel rotary tool and left the other side curved. It just so happened that the curve was perfectly formed to allow the base of the camera to sit in it. Here's a couple pictures of the sanded block and the camera:

 

 

 

Alright, now comes the fun part: running the cable from the camera to the back of the nav system. The cable is heavy duty and weatherproof, which is important here in the Northeast. First, I drilled a small hole in the tube behind the area where I placed the camera:

 

 

The tube shown here is hollow, and with the help of a coat hanger I was able to run the cable down and inside of the passenger side frame rail:

 

[Bostonsfavson]

From here, I of course needed to get inside the cab. Fortunately, there's a small kick-out plate underneath the passegner side foot well. I ran the cable up through this hole, under the carpet and back behind the nav radio where I connected it to the GMX-320. The first picture is from below the truck, and the second from inside the cab:

 

 

 

Now that the wiring was taken care of, I returned to the back of the truck to reinstall the trim piece I removed earlier. Of course before I put it back on, I needed to remove a circular piece where the camera is. To do this, I traced an outline of the camera and then used my Dremel (which is a powerful and invaluable little tool, by the way) to bore it out:

 

 

Here are some more pics of the finished product, including one with the ball in:

 

 

 

Finally, here's a pic of the nav screen with my backing up to my trailer. As you can see, the top of the ball is just visible in the picture, allowing one to accurately gauge the location of the trailer:

 

 

I have to say that this is probably the favorite mod that I've done to my truck. It makes hooking up to trailers a quick and easy affair. It also provides a nice compliment to the URPA system (I always leave the ball in the hitch, and I'm happy to report that the URPA system works fine with this particular model). Thanks to the IR on the camera, the low-light performance is simply amazing. I would definitely recommend this mod to anyone, because if nothing else it's an excellent safety feature. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. Take care fellas

[Nick The Great]

Nice. I don't need a backup camera, but I think it would be fun. But I don't have a Nav unit either . . . More work.

 

I'll be curious to see how it overwinters. I've seen trucks before where snow and ice build up on the back. But I spose you could just brush 'er off.

*EDIT - Actually looking at your second pictures more, I don't think that'd be much of a concern.

[MHeffe]

Very nice I like

[DofD]

Very nice. Good looking install.

[Dmas]

that's a very nice and clean install...I was wondering doing the same thing to mine but using the new '09 silverado backup camera that's integrated to

the tailgate handle, but I thnk it'll be more much expensive.

[Darkanion]

Nice mod. Nice explanation!

 

I'm glad to see you haven't completely fallen off the face of the Earth!

[2000DV4.8]

That looks like the PERFECT location.

 

Nice clean install.

[07SilveradoNoob]

Great location, gives me another choice for when I install mine.

[dietz4ibanez]

From here, I of course needed to get inside the cab. Fortunately, there's a small kick-out plate underneath the passegner side foot well. I ran the cable up through this hole, under the carpet and back behind the nav radio where I connected it to the GMX-320. The first picture is from below the truck, and the second from inside the cab:

 

 

 

Now that the wiring was taken care of, I returned to the back of the truck to reinstall the trim piece I removed earlier. Of course before I put it back on, I needed to remove a circular piece where the camera is. To do this, I traced an outline of the camera and then used my Dremel (which is a powerful and invaluable little tool, by the way) to bore it out:

 

 

Here are some more pics of the finished product, including one with the ball in:

 

 

 

Finally, here's a pic of the nav screen with my backing up to my trailer. As you can see, the top of the ball is just visible in the picture, allowing one to accurately gauge the location of the trailer:

 

 

I have to say that this is probably the favorite mod that I've done to my truck. It makes hooking up to trailers a quick and easy affair. It also provides a nice compliment to the URPA system (I always leave the ball in the hitch, and I'm happy to report that the URPA system works fine with this particular model). Thanks to the IR on the camera, the low-light performance is simply amazing. I would definitely recommend this mod to anyone, because if nothing else it's an excellent safety feature. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. Take care fellas

 

 

How much did that mod cost you?

[dietz4ibanez]

Thats awesome btw!!!

[Darkanion]

That looks like the PERFECT location.

 

Nice clean install.

Yes, it does..... Unlike the location you're in, in your sig pic!

[Bostonsfavson]

Nice mod. Nice explanation!

 

I'm glad to see you haven't completely fallen off the face of the Earth!

 

 

Haha, no, not completely.

 

Thanks for the kind words fellas. Brian, the cost was 100 dollars for the camera, 70 dollars for the service appointment to enable the camera option on the nav unit, and 350 dollars for the GMX-320 Lockpick, so 520 total. Of course it would be possible to do this whole thing much cheaper by buying a less expensive interface unit. I just chose the GMX-320 because of the additional features.

[gmblack3]

Looks great!

 

I hope this will be my next mod.

[dietz4ibanez]

Nice mod. Nice explanation!

 

I'm glad to see you haven't completely fallen off the face of the Earth!

 

 

Haha, no, not completely.

 

Thanks for the kind words fellas. Brian, the cost was 100 dollars for the camera, 70 dollars for the service appointment to enable the camera option on the nav unit, and 350 dollars for the GMX-320 Lockpick, so 520 total. Of course it would be possible to do this whole thing much cheaper by buying a less expensive interface unit. I just chose the GMX-320 because of the additional features.

 

 

 

Yeah I was thinking that if I got lucky I could find a GMX-320 on ebay... Or something..