Hello,

Has anyone tried one of Master Tailgater's cameras for the Dakota?
https://www.mastertailgaters.com/col...el-with-camera

If so, what was your experience?

Is it a direct replacement for the OEM part? no trimming, etc?

Does the camera interfere with the handle and opening the tailgate?

Did you wire it to an aftermarket radio or screen? Or, to an OEM MyGIG radio?

TIA.

BTW: Master Tailgaters also has an eBay and an Amazon presence.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Dodge-D...4AAOSwH89gCHKR

 

My truck is buried in snow right now, but that in no way looks like it would fit into my tailgate.

 

The hole in the tailgate is round on the 3rd gen. I mean, that could be a stock photo, but I would be tempted to call them to find out if it is guaranteed to actually fit.

I took a standard cheap-o camera and mounted it above my handle, attached to the tailgate itself. $20 and it works perfectly.

 

Good idea...will definitely have to ask about being able to return the item and whether it has actually been test fitted.

Did you use a camera like this? (but, facing downwards)



Before I stumbled on the possible tailgate handle camera, I was thinking about putting a bullet camera above the handle but in the spoiler. Someone did that with their 2nd Gen Ram and it looked like a good idea.

What path did you route your cable and how did you get it into the cab?

 

Mine had a licence plate mounting flange. I lopped off the long parts that I didnt need, secured it with washers and blind rivets into the tailgate. Black silicone all weather sealant around the rivets, I dare say it even looks intentional haha Hindsight would have been to spend more time finding a camera that looked good, but time was of the essence, and "good enough will do".

Power comes from the reverse lights, I just piggybacked that off the 7-way trailer connector (easier and closer than the actual reverse lights themselves, IMO), and I tucked most of the video cable away with a zip tie inside the tailgate - both connectors come out the bottom drain hole on the tailgate itself, so if I need to pull the tailgate off for whatever reason, I can do so with ease, and without wires sticking out unprotected.

Cable routing was pretty straightforward. Put it all in a loom and followed the parking brake cable into the cab. Zip ties to the frame every 18inches or so. Very secure, and out of the way.

Had that unit for 3 years and it still works good. Currently running it into a Pioneer DMH-2660NEX.

One of these days I'll get un-lazy and put pics, but it is -20°C out there, and that's the high for the next 2 weeks...

 

Good to know. Thanks for the information.

 

I'll get some wiring pics once the cold goes away and I can hose er down.

 

Interesting setup. Looks solid, but with the added advantage that you could rotate the camera depending on what you want to see.

 

Exactly, and it was cheap, and is surprisingly rugged - it accidentally found a few tree branches before I found the angle I liked.

Not perfect by a long shot, but certainly adds utility, especially since the 1-piece tonneau is so tall that it kills your depth perception out the rear window.