Mopar Trail Cam DIY Installation - 2023 Diesel Gladiator Rubicon

[DailyDrivenTJ]

What does Mopar charge for the trail cam? While the work to retrofit is impressive, I think that if this was a "must have" for most people, the play would have been to wait and find one factory installed. It has to be a wash from just a parts cost perspective......

No shit.

The cost effectiveness of this retrofit has been discussed and challenged for the past 3 years ever since the trail cam was introduced IIRC. No one disagrees the factory installed option is cheaper and easier.

It happens that these chip heavy options can be rare because of the chip shortages during COVID. It also happens that the dealer will tell you that these cannot be added if not equipped from factory. Interestingly, the rear cams, I ordered about a month ago and barely getting them even still.

The motivation was that I recently got my new 2023 Rubicon Diesel in white about a month ago and we have a family member who is a sales manager at a Jeep dealer. Between the deal I am getting, availability on color, trim options and the motor selection, I didn't have much to pick from. If the camera option was available, I would have gotten the truck with it as that would have been the most cost effective way bar none.

Fun rhetorical questions for you, why do we need a Jeep? Why do we need a Gladiator? Why do we need the front TrailCam? LOL. Do we "actually" need any of these? Not everything in life is done cost effective way. That would be truly a sad deprived way to live a life.

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[Alc]

Fun rhetorical questions for you, why do we need a Jeep? Why do we need a Gladiator? Why do we need the front TrailCam? LOL. Do we "actually" need any of these? Not everything in life is done cost effective way. That would be truly a sad deprived way to live a life.

Truer words never spoken. I love your install, well done!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

No shit.

The cost effectiveness of this retrofit has been discussed and challenged for the past 3 years ever since the trail cam was introduced IIRC. No one disagrees the factory installed option is cheaper and easier.

It happens that these chip heavy options can be rare because of the chip shortages during COVID. It also happens that the dealer will tell you that these cannot be added if not equipped from factory. Interestingly, the rear cams, I ordered about a month ago and barely getting them even still.

The motivation was that I recently got my new 2023 Rubicon Diesel in white about a month ago and we have a family member who is a sales manager at a Jeep dealer. Between the deal I am getting, availability on color, trim options and the motor selection, I didn't have much to pick from. If the camera option was available, I would have gotten the truck with it as that would have been the most cost effective way bar none.

Fun rhetorical questions for you, why do we need a Jeep? Why do we need a Gladiator? Why do we need the front TrailCam? LOL. Do we "actually" need any of these? Not everything in life is done cost effective way. That would be truly a sad deprived way to live a life.

I could sure as heck use a front cam with a front receiver hitch, and snow plow I have to aim and drive into.

I have to keep getting out and adjusting the trailer up or down or lining up the ball. It's a lot easier to back up to a trailer even with no camera than driving up to one and hooking up.

When I pull down my neighbor's drive to get down to my shop to park my car hauler, I can't turn around down there (not enough room) so I have to unhitch, turn the truck around, put the ball mount in the front and then pull the trailer around and park it that way. Since the front and rear receiver are different heights and the ball is so close to the bumper and winch stuff - you want to be really careful driving up to the trailer to connect up again, forward.
A camera would be a real blessing - especially one that showed up on the radio.

 

[DailyDrivenTJ]

Made a Grille TrailCam harness containing Fakra Z cable with 12v 2 way wire for future provision.

3 ft was the right length of cable to reach the one end of the Grille.

Used the following surface mount zip ties to https://a.co/d/2THQN4e

 

[DailyDrivenTJ]

Modified the engine bay fuse holder bracket to be fitted next to the engine bay PDC.

The fuse holder is to have 150A fuse with 2 gauge cable to be routed into the cabin to the PDC.

Combining 5 projects into one. Hopefully, I don't turn the new truck into a rat's nest.

Finished modding the bracket.

Ready to be mounted.

 

[DailyDrivenTJ]

Finally got around to doing some work. The underseat module is installed. Ran out of day light.

3 additional switched circuits are ready.

I will be adding new grille with TrailCam tomorrow along with rear power outlet and Redarc trailer brake controller.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Great write up.

Question-- Is the power center controlled by the switch on the aux panel or is it always hot?

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

Slick, did this piece come out easy? I have not disassembled this corner of the Jeep yet…. Really like this location though. Well done ????

 

[DailyDrivenTJ]

Great write up.

Question-- Is the power center controlled by the switch on the aux panel or is it always hot?

It is ignition triggered on. I used the ignition trigger (Pink-Orange) from Aux wire bundle.

I started the project to run just the CVPM but decided add a few more spots to add accessories inside the truck without having to run any more wires into the cabin.

 

[DailyDrivenTJ]

Slick, did this piece come out easy? I have not disassembled this corner of the Jeep yet…. Really like this location though. Well done ????

Took the switch apart and ground the inside of the trim piece and the blank to fit the Redarc switch assembly.

Took some time Dremeling.

 

[BourbonRunner]

It is ignition triggered on. I used the ignition trigger (Pink-Orange) from Aux wire bundle.

I started the project to run just the CVPM but decided add a few more spots to add accessories inside the truck without having to run any more wires into the cabin.

Makes complete sense, thanks. I really like this idea.

Running anything through the firewall is a royal PITA, especially now. On my old Taco I ran a relay box under the seat that fed an aux switch panel I built into the roof so I could both only have one power cable as well as quick connections for the switches. Made life a lot easier.

 

[DailyDrivenTJ]

Makes complete sense, thanks. I really like this idea.

Running anything through the firewall is a royal PITA, especially now. On my old Taco I ran a relay box under the seat that fed an aux switch panel I built into the roof so I could both only have one power cable as well as quick connections for the switches. Made life a lot easier.

Oh yes. I like keeping things looking clean and organized.

I don't like half done wiring job. Also. Makes the trouble shooting a nightmare later.

I ran my 4 awg cable through floor instead of firewall. Also added heat shield to run along the floor with full length sleeve. You can see where it pops up with a few inches to spare.

You can see where I added the additional 6awg ground. It is the only cable that runs from the ground post running posteriorly. Whole theme is keeping the factory look fit (cable length).

 

[BourbonRunner]

Slick! It really amazes me @DailyDrivenTJ how tight the wire run options really are on modern vehicles.

When you punched through the floor did you drill a hole or find an existing grommet?

 

[DailyDrivenTJ]

..
When you punched through the floor did you drill a hole or find an existing grommet?

Drilled through existing grommet.

Today, I had to go through the grommet through firewall on the driver side. Running things through floor was easier.

 

[DailyDrivenTJ]

Engine bay details: Stock look preserved. No rat's nest here.

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