Is There Any Way To Fix A Pickup Truck’s Backup Camera?
23Sponsored Links
Backup cameras are an excellent creature comfort that is now mandatory for all new vehicles sold in 2018 and beyond. However, there’s still a rather large issue that doesn’t have a solid solution. When a pickup truck owner folds the tailgate down, a backup camera becomes instantly useless.
So, The Fast Lane Truck dedicated an entire video to come up with a potential solution to the problem. It’s not a rare occurrence, either. When an owner lays the tailgate down to haul something, the camera then points toward the ground rather than behind the truck. And it’s not just a Chevrolet or GMC problem. Every truck on the market suffers from the issue.
There are a handful of options that could work. Perhaps the camera could swivel to still provide a view behind the truck with the tailgate down, or a secondary camera could kick in when the system detects the tailgate has been folded down.
Or, maybe you have a better solution. Is it a problem that needs solving? Sound off below and check out the video discussion up above.
- Sweepstakes Of The Month: Win a Corvette Z06 and 2024 Silverado. Details here.
Sponsored Links
Mount it on the bumper like aftermarket license plate mounted cameras. Even with the tailgate down you can still see behind you (just not above because the tailgate is horizontal) and you can still see the hitch ball.
One down side is it’s more prone to dust and snow/slush
Or you can just do what worked for 100 years and learn how to use the two large mirrors on the side of the cab.
Bedsides when the gate is down you can use it for hooking the trailer up.
God help us in the future if you have to function with out any tech. My son is getting his drivers license. He is doing it in a car sans any cameras. If he can’t do maneuverability with out a camera then he should not be on the road.
Know how easy it is to hitch up to a trailer alone with a camera? Can be done in one shot as fast as it takes to park. Mirrors can get you close but you’re still flying blind for the last foot and likely be hoping out of the truck a couple times inching it back
Yes I know note my comment on the gate being down and how it helps line up the hitch.
But if you just master the mirrors it is still not a great challange.
Back before cameras we never had issues.
Back in the day you learned your vehicle and you knew where you were and what room you had. These skills are something many could use today.
In all the years of hooking up the boat or putting on the plow did I ever dent a plate or bumper.
Then when working on cylinder trucks built on GMC school bus sized chassis I could back them in the service bay with only about 2” per side.
The only truck that was hard to judge was the liquid Oxygen truck. If it was full it would fit in if it was less than half full it was only able to clear the top half way.
Cameras are fine but it really sucks if you really never acquire true driving skills. Skills are primary cameras are secondary.
You’re my hero
Mine too
God help us in the future if we have to continue to put up with people that don’t want to learn or use anything new. Sure you should be able to use your mirrors, but that’s not the point of this article nor should it be the topic of discussion here.
It wasn’t too terribly long ago that an automatic transmission in a car was considered “new tech” and now you would be hard pressed to find a manual transmission in a new rig. Point being, stop being THAT guy, constantly putting down “new tech”. Don’t have a good suggestion to contribute to the topic? Then move along.
Also worked for 100s of years is not having a cell phone, hows that working out or you? Some people would just like real help on issues.
I thought they were going to put one in each brake light enclosure? Did I hallucinate that?
I think they are trying to solve a problem that isn’t a problem. You may back up in your truck with the tail gate down maybe once in 500 back ups. And the most useful situation for the camera is when you are hooking up to a trailer and most guys wouldn’t try to hook up to a trailer with the tailgate down for fear of damaging the tailgate against the trailers jack and it would be a PITA to actually do the hookup of lights and chains.
Can’t stand TFL. They’re not as bad as Engineering Explained.
Engineering explained is pretty damn smart, and you have to be to dumb down the topics he discusses. He brings information to the masses.
TFL Truck is ok, and while it’s mostly the same guys as TFL I think they are actually truck guys at heart and it shows in the videos
I actually like TFL but I remember one video that Andre was discussing the high maintenance cost on his 2500 silverado and said it cost him something around $1000 to replace the brake pads on the truck. Now what kind of truck enthusiast would pay that kind of money when you could do all 4 for under $100 yourself?
Needed a good laugh so found the youtube video. The comments are just as funny as the video.
Why backup a truck with the tailgate down? Isn’t it as bad as backing a sedan with the trunk open? Either way, cameras will not help. “Scott3” is correct. Learn to backup with mirrors first.
Reverse a sedan with the trunk open obstructs your rear window and rearview mirror.
Reverse a truck with the tailgate down doesnt block the either. It will actually reduce your rear blindspot because you get a sharper line-of-sight angle to the ground behind you.
Using the rearview mirror on a crew cab truck to reverse still has a 30-35ft blind spot behind you to the ground. Even if you look back over your shoulder and put your head to the ceiling you still have a 15-20ft blind spot. That’s on a crew cab short bed truck, add an 8ft box and the blind spot is stretched out even worse.
If you can not drive a truck with only mirrors you should not be on the road.
Mirrors are a primary system cameras are supplemental.
Vehicle awareness is a skill all should master regardless of the technology we have.
What if you lose the camera or dirt covers the lens? I already lose adaptive Cruise when the snow covers the lens.
It is the same reason we still have two pilots on a plane even with auto pilot.
I’m not disagreeing with you. But your original attitude was mirrors only. A camera helps immensely with hitching up. Anti-camera like it’s false science claiming they give kids autism
isn’t that obvious answer put them in the tail light lenses you can still see with the tailgate down and is somewhat protected
Wouldn’t that give you a distorted view? There is a reason why the camera is in the center of the tailgate.
What about those of us that haul a slide-in truck camper. I take my tailgate off entirely. I would like an external camera with a long wire that I could plug in and attach to the back of my truck camper. That would be cool and then be able to see behind me on the 8 inch monitor in my 2019 Chevy 3500HD!
Why is my camera on all the time while driving 2018 Chevy truck LTZ
How about those of us that pull a RV trailer. I would like a camera that will plug into the on board vehicle system so that I can see what’s behind my trailer and view it on the factory nav screen without having to add another monitor.