adding 360 surround view, UVI (Trailer Camera) package to UVS (Surround/invisible Trailer) Upgrade 2020 Silverado RST

[rosepaule]

On 12/3/2020 at 8:51 AM, fdagen said:

The trailer camera I received with my truck is 84876819

Hey... you still around? Havent seen you post in a while and I have a few questions.

[Rally6.2RST]

Hello.  what did you need? this upgrade wont work on a 2019.  Will work on 2020 and 2021 maybe 2022.  My truck had a package that was bedview and 2 trailer ports it was a 5 port VPM I was able to swap a 10 port VPM and gain 360.

[rbau]

On 4/6/2023 at 9:48 PM, Rally6.2RST said:

Hello.  what did you need? this upgrade wont work on a 2019.  Will work on 2020 and 2021 maybe 2022.  My truck had a package that was bedview and 2 trailer ports it was a 5 port VPM I was able to swap a 10 port VPM and gain 360.

Do you know what the reason(s) is for this upgrade not working on 2019's?

 

Is it because of the BCM?

[Rally6.2RST]

On 5/22/2023 at 5:58 AM, rbau said:

Do you know what the reason(s) is for this upgrade not working on 2019's?

 

Is it because of the BCM?

I think it is the radio, 50% sure.  A 2019 vpm would not work in a 2020.  A 2021 vpm works in a 2020 too. The wireless carplay that wams has works for 2019-2022 (non- refresh) but WAMS states 360 cam will not work on a 2019.  That is why I think it is worth trying a wams wireless carplay radio in a 2019 and try the upgrade.  Ask WAMS.

[EJS2015]

I got my 2019 to work! Changed VPM and radio module and everything works perfectly!

 

Here’s my thread I made in May. 

 

[Rally6.2RST]

9 hours ago, EJS2015 said:

I got my 2019 to work! Changed VPM and radio module and everything works perfectly!

 

Here’s my thread I made in May. 

 

Nice work! Now I want to see someone try that has no VPM.  WAMS is the best right?

[EJS2015]

14 hours ago, Rally6.2RST said:

Nice work! Now I want to see someone try that has no VPM.  WAMS is the best right?

Yes they are. Just a little slow, but it’s worth the wait.

[Ben98gs]

On 7/26/2023 at 6:50 AM, Rally6.2RST said:

Nice work! Now I want to see someone try that has no VPM.  WAMS is the best right?

I have been wanting to do this to my RST that did not have the bed camera (and therefore no VPM).  I might bite the bullet on this soon if I can find at least the mirrors for a decent price.  Might try to get ahold of you when I start installing things.

[nationwide13]

-2 side view mirrors with cameras ($350 each)

 

Did you do normal mirrors or towing mirrors?

 

I can't find the cameras or part numbers for the towing mirrors with cameras anywhere and it's driving me nuts haha

[MrMagloo]

Sorry to highjack, but on a 2023 RST with just the Hitch Cam, is it possible just to add the front camera?  Is there an open port on the VPM?  Or any other easy options?  Don't really need the side mirror cameras, just the front.  Thanks!

[FrankAT4]

I have a question, how can I add just the front camara to my 2021 at4 it only has the back up camara and the hitch. Is there a way to install just the front one ? Or I’m left with no options? Anyone help me with this thank you 

[Mark Ulm]

On 12/3/2020 at 7:33 AM, fdagen said:

I was able to complete this modification to my truck. It is amazing especially for trailering! Thank you Jarett and WAMS! Here are a couple of my lessons learned. This may be common knowledge to some, so be patient if I ramble or this seems too 101 level. I may also be restating some of what Jarett already mentioned. This is all Jaretts work that he was kind enough to share. I am just documenting.

 

1. Here is the part list I bought from segemart:

Fakra Z Water Blue Female Fakra Z Water Blue Female Cable Assemblies   - Cable Type: RG316D   - Length: 15   - Unit of Length: foot	FKR-FAKRA/Z-F/S-FAKRA/Z-F/S	1	$26.63	$26.63
Fakra Z Water Blue Female Fakra Z Water Blue Female Cable Assemblies   - Cable Type: RG316   - Length: 12   - Unit of Length: foot	FKR-FAKRA/Z-F/S-FAKRA/Z-F/S	1	$17.17	$17.17
Fakra Z Water Blue Female Fakra Z Water Blue Female Cable Assemblies   - Cable Type: RG316   - Length: 17   - Unit of Length: foot	FKR-FAKRA/Z-F/S-FAKRA/Z-F/S	1	$21.68	$21.68

 

• I would add a foot to each of these cables. It wasn't absolutely needed, but it would have been nice to have. I had to go back an optimize my cable routing to make things work. Also the D cable wasn't required. I ordered it, but on the wrong cable so didn't end up using it for its intended purpose (front camera) anyway. I used the 17 foot cable for the front grill camera, the 15 for the drivers side mirror and 12 for the passenger side mirror. 
• Plastic conduit and cloth tape to route the cables with.
• Upgraded mirrors - I went with the towing mirrors from an AT4.
• I ordered my 2 port fakraz connectors from rfconnectivity on Ebay and had to drill them out to make them work. Jarett ordered from the same place and his worked. Your mileage may vary. 
• I ordered the front camera 84400532 used on ebay. It worked great. I already owned the towing camera. It was included with my truck purchase. 
• I purchased my upgraded VPM module from a chevy equinox. So, it seems to be a universal part. WAMS did an amazing job of programming the module. Make sure to mention which type of mirrors you have. I had towing mirrors which changes the camera position vs the smaller mirrors.
• I went a little crazy cutting my front grill(Dremel) when installing the camera. Make sure you look an an existing grill / truck first(I didn't). You will see the top of the camera body is somewhat nested in the bumper(you dont need to cut much). The spot where the camera is mounted s clearly marked on our grill, even though we re not equipped with the option.  Also the angle of the camera is important. I tacked my camera in place with 3m plastic emblem epoxy, adjusted the angle, secured it with tape, then finalized the glueing. In the end, the vertical edge on the back of the camera seemed to be close to straight up and down. 
• I did a ton of research in how to route the wires through the firewall. There is a rubber grommet in the firewall behind the battery on the passenger side with a wire chase if your inclined. But, Jarett came up with a better way. If you follow the  engine bay along the top passenger side you will see there is a cloth material that separates the engine bay from the crook of the door. I routed the cable there in plastic conduit and cloth tape for the visible parts. You can bring it down the body and in a grommet below the door harness. There was a small 1/4 inch hole I was able to route the wires inside the car through, under the floor trim to the VPM module behind the seat. 
• Once you install the new mirrors, you have to remove the existing coax from the existing door harness where and insert the new cable end where the harness connects to the mirrors. On the front of the harness(where it plugs into the mirror)a white tabs needs to be pulled down at the bottom and there are two black tabs that have to be moved away from each other at the same time you pull the cable out the back of the harness. I did this with two small flathead eyeglass screwdrivers. Once its out. Run the new cable through the rubber boot and up into the door and plug it into the harness. Then out the door jam boot into the same grommet and route the previous cable took. I think Jarett showed pictures of this. I ran mine at the same time. So I only did this once.
• You have to remove the trim piece along the seat and the top trim piece by the door first(the pull straight up), then you can remove the footwell trim piece by pulling from front to back horizontally(2 clips). This is how I accessed the wire routing locations.
• I found videos on youtube for how to remove the back rest of the back seat and the door panels. It was easy. 
• Jarett was kind enough to give me the new cabling diagram. It basically goes like this on the new module:
  • Wire 1 Red Radio
  • Wire 1 Beige Backup Cam
  • Wire 1 Green Sideview Left
  • Wire 2 Green Cargo / Bed Cam
  • Wire 1 Brown Sideview Right
  • Wire 2 Brown Inside Trailer
  • Wire 1 Curry(Dark Red) Grille Cam
  • Wire 2 Curry Outside / Invis Trailer Cam
• The previous modules cables:
  • Wire 1 Red Radio
  • Wire 2 Red Backup Cam
  • Wire 1 Beige Inside Trailer
  • Wire 2 Beige Cargo
  • Wire Green Outside Trailer Cam
• The cables will plug into the module without the connectors in place, so check connectivity / functionality first before installing. The side cameras do not work unless the door is closed. The trailer cameras dont work unless the trailer is plugged in and recognized. 
• The new VPM module is bigger than the old one. I used the bolt close to the passenger wall for mounting. It was secured with that bolt, but I used  double sided tape to hold it in place on the other side I didn't remove any bolts, just in case I ever wanted to put it back. 

 

 

Hello, looking back 3 years your writeup on the camera updates, this was a great writeup and I have been upgrading my 2020 Silverado with the extra cameras. I added the front and the two trailering cameras, ordered the video module on eBay for about $150, all is working great so far. I am now doing the side mirror replacement. I got mirrors with cameras on eBay for about $200 each (not the wide tow mirror). I see that my door harness already has the video cable in it even though the original mirrors did not have cameras. You mentioned that you can't use that coax that is in place and I'm wondering if you can explain further? I'm guessing that if I trace that wire into the harness connector in the door jam, it might terminate there and on the inside truck. Or do you know if it actually routes all the way back to the Video module already? I was thinking it would be a little cleaner this way vs cutting open the wire loom and putting the new cable in. I just got my two cables in from Segemart today.

[Rally6.2RST]

10 minutes ago, Mark Ulm said:

Hello, looking back 3 years your writeup on the camera updates, this was a great writeup and I have been upgrading my 2020 Silverado with the extra cameras. I added the front and the two trailering cameras, ordered the video module on eBay for about $150, all is working great so far. I am now doing the side mirror replacement. I got mirrors with cameras on eBay for about $200 each (not the wide tow mirror). I see that my door harness already has the video cable in it even though the original mirrors did not have cameras. You mentioned that you can't use that coax that is in place and I'm wondering if you can explain further? I'm guessing that if I trace that wire into the harness connector in the door jam, it might terminate there and on the inside truck. Or do you know if it actually routes all the way back to the Video module already? I was thinking it would be a little cleaner this way vs cutting open the wire loom and putting the new cable in. I just got my two cables in from Segemart today.

For me my door harness had the coax built in. the body harness car side where door harness connects was empty no coax.  You could insert a coax but I don't think I could get right length and connector tip to "pin" the body harness. You are right that would be a cleaner easier way if you could find the right coax tip.

[Rally6.2RST]

12 hours ago, FrankAT4 said:

I have a question, how can I add just the front camara to my 2021 at4 it only has the back up camara and the hitch. Is there a way to install just the front one ? Or I’m left with no options? Anyone help me with this thank you 

If you do not have a bed view camera you don't have a VPM.  No one I know has tried it without having a VPM.  If you wanted to try to do this you need to study wire diagrams and create the harnesses. You would probably need a programmed radio and vpm.

[MrMagloo]

9 hours ago, Rally6.2RST said:

If you do not have a bed view camera you don't have a VPM.  No one I know has tried it without having a VPM.  If you wanted to try to do this you need to study wire diagrams and create the harnesses. You would probably need a programmed radio and vpm.

 

For those with just the hitch camera, seeing it's virtually impossible to add camera to the factory head unit, its too bad there isn't a simple bluetooth camera you can connect to you phone that will mount in the grill like the stocker, and run on a switched lead.  That seems to be the only real option, without dumping an enormous load of cash on a total retrofit. While there are a few cheapo cameras out there that might do the job, they are rated pretty poorly, reporting bad connectivity.  Too bad some enterprising person doesn't work on a CP and AA app that specifically connects to bluetooth cameras. That would be the holy grail.

 

 

 

 

Edited September 26, 2023 by MrMagloo