Running cables into tailgate

[Big Keef]

Hi everyone - first post here so please be gentle!

Just bought my son a 53 plate Forte 1.9D. Fairly high mileage (117k), but got full service history, and since he is only 18 and insured TPFT didn't want to spend fortunes on it just in case ... Had it serviced and timing belt and water pump changed, and I absolutely love driving it - feels like it is good for at least another 117k!

Anyway, was about to run cables into tailgate to install a reversing camera, took a bit of the headlining away to access the wiring gaiter, and found that it seems to be behind a metal panel and inaccessible. Had a quick look at Haynes and a quick search here, but couldn't find anything obvious. Certainly don't want to spend too much time doing it, but does anyone have any suggestions about how practical it is to run it through there please, before I revert to my plan B which involves gaffa tape, Blu Tack and chewing gum?

Many thanks in advance

Keith

[evdama]

If all else fails make a new run from the doorframe to the tailgate with a pair of grommets and some curly telephone handset cable?.

The doorframe has big holes all the way up and over so its easy to feed cable through it (eg running the offside wires for a towbar socket)

If you can ,post some pictures of your issue

[craigblues]

Out of interest, where were you planning on fitting the reverse camera?

[Big Keef]

Out of interest, where were you planning on fitting the reverse camera?

It is a little wedge-shaped camera, which I was going to mount on the bottom of the number plate light housing. It will be protected from the weather there, and should be relatively easy to run the wire into the tailgate by drilling a little hole in the bottom of the housing. Points down at about 45 degrees, and since it is wide angle lens it gives a view of both the edge of the bumper and a few feet behind the car.

This is the kit I am using, actually gives a really good quality image considering how cheap it is. Was going to mount the monitor on the overhead tray above the windscreen:
http://ow.ly/jyiQ5

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If all else fails make a new run from the doorframe to the tailgate with a pair of grommets and some curly telephone handset cable?.

The doorframe has big holes all the way up and over so its easy to feed cable through it (eg running the offside wires for a towbar socket)

If you can ,post some pictures of your issue

Many thanks. Yes, I was thinking about doing something like that. Love the telephone cable idea, but unfortunately I have got to run a thin video cable as well as power. Will put a picture up when I get a chance tomorrow.

Many thanks

[Big Keef]

Out of interest, where were you planning on fitting the reverse camera?

Finally got around to doing it this morning. Wasn't TOO difficult a job, with the most time consuming bit being the usual problem of poking cables down holes and them not reappearing at the other end ....

I must admit I think it is fantastic. Have uploaded a quick video of it working, and a photo below. On the grid which has been superimposed by the camera yellow is as close as you really normally want to park, and red is literally an inch or two away. The pale blue strip at the bottom of the image is the Berlingo's bumper.

http://youtu.be/5-IGxJC4hZs

ps I realise that this is definitely a "Marmite" thing, and half the people reading this are going "why does this idiot need a reversing camera, I can park mine in a 4 foot gap blindfolded":

1. My son has to park in London quite regularly - a 4 foot gap is a luxury! And he is carrying a lot of kit for his gigs, so needs to be able to park in the nearest available space.

2. He is a fairly young, fairly inexperienced driver, and I would rather he learns tight parallel parking by checking a display rather than by bumping someone's car.

3. My wife and I will have to jump in and drive it occasionally, so we won't be particularly familiar with it when we do park it.

4. Having tried it out, as an experienced driver who doesn't have any problem parking I am ALREADY thinking "hmm, maybe I will put one in my C-Max" ...

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[addo]

Good visuals there. A reversing camera's not my thing personally, but I certainly understand cramped parking.

[craigblues]

I love it!! I need one! Well need is a big word, maybe want one, ha!

Where did you get yours from?

My reverse sensors were £11 off eBay and have got to be the best value item I have bought in a long time, they work a treat.

[Big Keef]

I love it!! I need one! Well need is a big word, maybe want one, ha!

Where did you get yours from?

My reverse sensors were £11 off eBay and have got to be the best value item I have bought in a long time, they work a treat.

Less than £30 on Ebay for everything including 6m video cable! http://ow.ly/jyiQ5

Highly recommend that particular supplier too, prompt delivery and very helpful.

Both camera and screen come with a single small cable attached with all the plugs on the end, so you can route it through quite tidily. I took off the number plate light housing, drilled a large hole through the tailgate to feed the plugs through, but then only needed a very small hole in the housing itself to route the cable.

ps I did lower the number plate about ¼" too, but it would have fitted without that (and your plate may already have been mounted a bit lower than mine by the dealer anyway).

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[craigblues]

I ordered after I posted. :-) I ordered a Camera with a few infrared led's in too. :-)

Less than £30 too, Should be a good little project in a few weeks.

[MK2]

I have a similar kit installed, however my camera is located between rear window and security grill.

Screen is removable (bloody thiefs) from bracket located to the left off stereo.

I choose to run a 12 v power source parallel to video feed which plugs into cig lighter (through a splitter) which powers both camera and screen. The benefit of this is that I get a constant feed (not sure where the law stands on this) and therefore can use as rearview mirror as my bulkhead/security grilles block all my rearview.