Sponsored

Do you like the alternative JL Jeep roof mounted rear camera?


  • Total voters
    60

JLHawkeye

New Member
First Name
Chris
Joined
Jun 17, 2020
Threads
2
Messages
4
Reaction score
9
Location
Elgin, IL
Vehicle(s)
2018 JL Wrangler Unlimited Sport
Long time Jeep owner and first time poster to the JL Forum!

I had a challenge that I've addressed to meet my needs and thought it may be of interest you forum readers.

On JL's, the rear camera is in the center of the spare tire as we all know. This can provide some challenges when using things like my Thule bike rack, or a favorite tire cover from another Jeep or even when making custom choices with new oversized wheels and tires...

Weighing all the options of my needing to move the camera, I arrived a great solution that is discreet, highly functional and custom.

I've successfully mounted the factory camera in my Jeep's fiberglass roof.

It looks factory in its position in the roof's recessed area above the hinged rear window and was inexpensive to accomplish. (Gutsy some might say as you are drilling in to your vehicle but if done with care and measure 1x, 2x or more before drilling you will be fine).

The project requirements to do the job are in expensive and very few.

- Quadratec Rox 4' Factory Camera Extender Wire ($19.99 plus shipping)

- (2) Black finish 1.5" 3mm screws with washers and nylon lock nuts ($2.50 @ hardware)

- (2) 11/16" rubber washers ($1.00 @ hardware)

- (1) 2.5" hole cover ($3.00 at hardware or ebay)

- Black silicone caulk (I had this.already)

- 11/16" drill bit

- 3mm or equivalent drill bit

Basically to accomplish the project, I did the following and the pictures tell the story...

- Remove spare, spare tire holder

- Remove camera from spare tire holder

- Using a permanent marker, write "Up or Top" on camera top indicating proper position when mounting

- Disconnect camera wire

- Remove rear gate inside plastic panel to expose wiring harness. Carefully peel off cloth tape to get to black camera wire.

-Remove camera wire from this group of wires and slide it through the black braided wiring cover with goal of getting it inside of vehicle in passenger rear area.

- Run wire behind interior panel next to rear gate hinge and drill hole to pull wire and connector out of the interior panel top.

- Next, inside vehicle carefully and slowly drill 2.5" inside access hole in upper roof area to mount factory camera and wiring. You are only drilling into and through the inside of your roof .... Do not drill through outside of roof!

- From outside, measure and mark position for 11/16" camera lens. ( Tape with masking tape and use a sharp hole saw or 11/16" spade type bit.)

- From outside of vehicle, place camera lens through newly drilled hole and mark two side holes for the 3mm screws that will secure the camera in place. Drill the 3mm holes.

- Connect Quadratec extension to factory camera.

- Place (2) 11/16" rubber washers around camera lens (to act as spacers to flush mount camera lens to roof). Apply black caulk liberally on camera and black rubber washers. Insert camera lens from inside vehicle through the 11/16" hole you drilled.

- Insert 3mm bolts from outside through camera mount holes and mount camera and secure nuts. (Be sure you mount with lens in correct position and not upside down!!)

- Clean off excess black caulk.

- Replace spare holder, spare tire and rear gate plastic. Your efforts outside are now complete!

- Now to finish the job, take 2.5" hole cover, make small discreet slit in cover for camera wire to pass through. Pull wire through and snap cover in place.

- Route camera wire along inside roof horizontally and then down on passenger right rear to connect with your rerouted camera wire and connector. (I used nylon wire clips and small screws. 3M makes the same with small Command(tm) wire clips that stick on but my store was out of them...)

- Turn on acc power or start car and check camera via reverse gear or radio rear camera button.

Job complete!

Now again, not everyone will have the confidence to do this job and drill in to their new JL Jeep. . . But for those that are interested in a factory looking alternative to camera placement, this is new and I have not seen another like it. Also not discussed is the expanded camera view from the higher camera position...

Curious to everyone's thoughts here. I also removed the 'camera tube' off the spare tire holder and can now accomodate my fav tire cover.

20200616_121803.jpg


20200616_121756.jpg


20200616_121815_HDR.jpg


20200616_121819.jpg


20200616_121843.jpg


20200616_121847.jpg


20200616_121858.jpg


20200616_121900.jpg


20200616_134215.jpg


20200618_083544_HDR.jpg


20200618_083647_HDR.jpg


20200618_085156.jpg
Sponsored

 
OP
OP
JLHawkeye

JLHawkeye

New Member
First Name
Chris
Joined
Jun 17, 2020
Threads
2
Messages
4
Reaction score
9
Location
Elgin, IL
Vehicle(s)
2018 JL Wrangler Unlimited Sport
Wires disconnect with ease for the top removal. Easily accessible similar to how rear wiper connector and rear wiper fluid connections separate to remove the top!
 

DadJokes

Well-Known Member
First Name
Daniel
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
Threads
75
Messages
2,496
Reaction score
2,119
Location
Indiana
Website
www.youtube.com
Vehicle(s)
Sahara
Subscribing. :like:
 

Sponsored

nerubi

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mike
Joined
Nov 28, 2018
Threads
23
Messages
3,995
Reaction score
5,363
Location
Nebraska
Vehicle(s)
2019 JLR, 2020 VW Tiguan
Occupation
Retired
Vehicle Showcase
1
Yeah, God forbid you might have to turn your head!

Jeep Wrangler JL Moved JL Rear View Camera To New Roof Location [DIY / Writeup] TheHorror
Yeah, that's why they are mandated on all vehicles now Steveo. With a high tailgate and spare tire I like the extra insurance of not backing over a kid on a big wheel in my driveway. Turning my head doesn't help then.
 

DadJokes

Well-Known Member
First Name
Daniel
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
Threads
75
Messages
2,496
Reaction score
2,119
Location
Indiana
Website
www.youtube.com
Vehicle(s)
Sahara
Yeah, I’d have to decide that I’d always have the top on. That or relocate to the top of a rear bumper, probably aftermarket for me. That would simplify tire carrier swaps, plate relocation, and options I’d think.

Outside of water crossings, am I missing a downside outside of maybe a little different viewing angle?
 

Sponsored

OP
OP
JLHawkeye

JLHawkeye

New Member
First Name
Chris
Joined
Jun 17, 2020
Threads
2
Messages
4
Reaction score
9
Location
Elgin, IL
Vehicle(s)
2018 JL Wrangler Unlimited Sport
Cant use original with bike rack...hence the need for change...tough to pleaseall I guess!
 

KodeMechanic

New Member
First Name
Kevin
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Threads
0
Messages
4
Reaction score
2
Location
Missouri
Vehicle(s)
2020 JLUR
That looks awesome. The only downside for me would be that I use the jeep to pull a trailer and I wouldn't be able to see the hitch when I'm backing up to hook it up.
 
OP
OP
JLHawkeye

JLHawkeye

New Member
First Name
Chris
Joined
Jun 17, 2020
Threads
2
Messages
4
Reaction score
9
Location
Elgin, IL
Vehicle(s)
2018 JL Wrangler Unlimited Sport
That looks awesome. The only downside for me would be that I use the jeep to pull a trailer and I wouldn't be able to see the hitch when I'm backing up to hook it up.
There are trade offs for everyones different application. We dont pull boats/trailers. Just have a Thule bike rack that goes into the 2" hitch I installed - so we needed to see up high. Now I suppose there could be a different option not discussed yet here....Hmmm....If you could get a second factory camera and extension cable, you could have the factory tire mount camera as well as my roof mounted camera and plug and play the camera connectors based on need....Going biking-plug in the roof cam. Going boating or removing the top- plug in the tire mount cam. For this dual option you would need to open up the tailgate and re route the camera cable to inside the right rear like I did and pictured so can easily plug in to the camera you want. I really like the roof camera!
 

four low

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2017
Threads
13
Messages
3,112
Reaction score
3,670
Location
central New York
Vehicle(s)
2018 JL
Thanks for the great write-up; I've been considering this, as the hard top stays on ( Sunrider and sliding window kit future "to do" makes it work for me. ) Plus, I have carriers and racks that use the spare center hole , so thank you !
 

The Viking

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2019
Threads
4
Messages
92
Reaction score
200
Location
Los Angeles
Vehicle(s)
Dodge Viper, TJ, JLUR
Yeah, that's why they are mandated on all vehicles now Steveo. With a high tailgate and spare tire I like the extra insurance of not backing over a kid on a big wheel in my driveway. Turning my head doesn't help then.
Yeah, backing up with a lift and large spare tire makes a lot of cars disappear. Sports cars are gone from view even without the spare tire. Parallel parking is a lot more comfortable with the camera particularly if some tiny exotic sports car is behind you and it is totally obstructed from view. I don't get why so many jeep guys are against progress.
Sponsored

 
 



Top