Rear Dashcam wiring down right hand side of vehicle?

lohr500 · Feb 15, 2024

Hi everyone,

Once we collect our Ocean in March, I am planning on installing front and rear dash cams.

I have done some searching on the forum and most of the rear camera wiring guides suggest routing the cable down the left hand side of the van and through the rear wardrobe unit.

Has anyone run the wiring down the right hand side over the sliding door?

Thanks.

capt kirk · Feb 15, 2024

Yep, use a wire coathanger straightened out and take out the light fittings, they just pop out with a bit of prying. Use the hanger and pass it between holes. At the back just fish the cable above the drop down unit and out above the rear valance panel. At the front pop out the microphone above the driver and fish it across to the mirror, easy peasy, and tidy. Finish by popin the lights back in.

lohr500 · Feb 15, 2024

capt kirk said:
Yep, use a wire coathanger straightened out and take out the light fittings, they just pop out with a bit of prying. Use the hanger and pass it between holes. At the back just fish the cable above the drop down unit and out above the rear valance panel. At the front pop out the microphone above the driver and fish it across to the mirror, easy peasy, and tidy. Finish by popin the lights back in.

Thanks for the quick reply :thumb

GrumpyGranddad · Feb 15, 2024

Note, you’ll need a longer than standard cable (or an extension) for the rear camera.
Where do you plan to mount the rear camera? If on the rear window, you’ll need to feed the cable through the existing rubber connector by the left hand tailgate hinge.
If you don’t mount it on the window you will sacrifice ‘parking mode’ (if your dashcam has it) if the rear blind is pulled up.

lohr500 · Feb 15, 2024

Thanks for the reply @GrumpyGranddad

The nextbase rear camera I have ordered comes with just over 6M of cable which I was hoping would be sufficient to get from the top centre of the front windscreen, round the top edge of the right jhand side and then into the back right hand corner.

I was thinking of mounting it on the inner body trim to avoid the hassle of disturbing loads of interior trim to get the wiring through the existing rubber connector. I realise that this would render the camera useless if the rear blind was down, but it is a compromise I can live with. The Cali will be my everyday driver, so 99.9% of the time the rear blind won't be in use when on the road or parked up. The only other disadvantage I can think of is that the rear wiper probably won't clear the area of glass that the camera looks through which might be a problem in winter or on rainy days.

capt kirk · Feb 15, 2024

lohr500 said:
Thanks for the reply @GrumpyGranddad

The nextbase rear camera I have ordered comes with just over 6M of cable which I was hoping would be sufficient to get from the top centre of the front windscreen, round the top edge of the right jhand side and then into the back right hand corner.

I was thinking of mounting it on the inner body trim to avoid the hassle of disturbing loads of interior trim to get the wiring through the existing rubber connector. I realise that this would render the camera useless if the rear blind was down, but it is a compromise I can live with. The Cali will be my everyday driver, so 99.9% of the time the rear blind won't be in use when on the road or parked up. The only other disadvantage I can think of is that the rear wiper probably won't clear the area of glass that the camera looks through which might be a problem in winter or on rainy days.

6 meters is fine

Nik_campervan · Feb 15, 2024

I found it impossible to get the cable past the C pillar. Pull off the C pillar trim undoe the 2 small bolts the hold the upper trim to the C pillar body. Bring your cable down the squeeze under the plate you just removed the bolts from. Cable can now be fished through the remainder of the roof edge trim. Expect to have to drill out tailgate panel & replace rivnuts. Fishing cable through tailgate rubber boot loads of lube needed. Power / reverse feed take from rear light. Remove light theirs plenty of excess cable to pull trough after loosening grommet from body then tap into reverse 12v feed.

Hawthorn37 · Feb 15, 2024

I didn’t install myself but had a specialist company in Nottingham install our dashcam. It’s a BlackVue and came with a 6m cable as standard. They had experience of fitting to Calis and said right away that the right hand side was the “easiest” - still took 4 hours. The other thing they said was we’d need to have a 10m cable as the 6m cable would be too short if routed well.

dspuk · Feb 15, 2024

Yes. Was a mare. In the end the issue is finding a route. Overcame by buying some rods from amazon but still took a while.Then the issue was finding a route behind the rear locker. That was harder in the end. After that getting through to the tailgate and neatly across the top was slightly easier but the rear trim was a pain. It was the best way for my liking as it kept everything on the fuse side. There was a handy video someone linked of a transporter having the same done which is similar bar the locker. So. Easier. I’ll see if I can fine. Also. Get the 10m cable. The 6m one is short a foot.

Maidment_Ocean · Feb 15, 2024

I installied the Nextbase cameras, 6m cable works, I actually ran the cable down along the pop top frame in to the wardrobe, it works fine although you can see some wire when the bed is up. That was fine with me as did not want to remove trim.

dspuk · Feb 15, 2024

Maidment_Ocean said:
I installied the Nextbase cameras, 6m cable works, I actually ran the cable down along the pop top frame in to the wardrobe, it works fine although you can see some wire when the bed is up. That was fine with me as did not want to remove trim.

Wish mine had worked for the BlackVue. Put it in, 1ft short, had to take out and start again! Uses more cable twisting around the trim I guess.