I installed an inexpensive ebay backup camera with a folding screen for about $60. Plus a lot of work. Here is the parts list...

Tailgate Camera Handle - $18.95
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221874105061?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AITI had a hard time finding one with the chrome handle, so I figured I could live without it.

Camera - $10.00. Took forever to ship from china.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/131276262175?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Screen - $15.67
http://www.ebay.com/itm/381172263571?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Waterproof connector for tailgate - $2.17
http://www.ebay.com/itm/381284693979?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Wireloom - $4.97
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201066118511?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Fuse holder and fuse, and wire - $5. I did have a bunch of wire already, so that’s not in the price.

I started in the truck on the driver’s side. I did this because I wanted to run my new loom with the factory one. I took off the trim panels at the bottom of the door and opened up the factory wire tray. I tapped the backup power into the blue wire with a white stripe. I have mirror auto dark; don't know if this wire is there in all trucks.





I stripped off some of the insulation and soldered the wires on there, and wrapped with tape. I left these as short lines until I ran the main harness up to the cab.
I also did the tailgate lock mod at the same time, that's why I did the backup power source there.

Next I made my wire harness. Yes, the camera comes with a wire harness, but it is too fragile to just hang under a truck, so i used it and cut it for the weather proof connector and ran my own power.
So I cut it and soldered in the 4 pin wire connector I bought. I soldered all connections and used heat shrink tubing, should hold up well.



The second plug is for the lock/unlock wires.

Now I moved to the tailgate and installed the handle and wire harness.




Apparently I missed some pictures of the handle install, but it’s not hard. Here are a few shots of the lock install; you can see the hole in the handle.


Here is the tailgate swing gap, I doubled up the wire loom for durability.

I ran a ground from the camera thru the waterproof connector, then into the bed frame with a ring connector and screw.

Then I ran the new harness along the existing one, the rear frame area was the hardest part. I used exterior grade zip ties at every factory hanger point.

rear wheel well

front wheel well

I ran it up to the grommet under the dash and thru. Then soldered all the connections with an inline fuse holder. I ran the power from the monitor down to the dash and soldered it in too. So the power goes from the blue/white wire to a fuse, then splits to the monitor and thru the grommet to the backup camera.


I cut the rubber mat in the dash and drilled a hole for the wires. Then used double sided tape to mount it. Hasn’t moved and looks pretty good, imo.

 

Finished



The hole in the handle is a little big for the camera; I used exterior grade double sided tape to hold it in place. No problems as of yet, but I am thinking of getting one of those 360 swivel cameras, going back to my chrome handle and drilling a hole.
The low light capability of the camera is poor. The brake light lit up help, but adding more backup lighting would help.
Overall, I am happy. It looks good, functions very well. And I feel safer being able to use it.

 

That is an awesome write up. It looks really good/clean. Professional grade stuff.

 

What's that green tab on the screen? Is that the pull to remove the shipping plastic film?

Also, splendid work!

 

AWESOME. Thanks for the write up.

 

Ha, yes, just hadn't peeled it off yet. Its off now.