Adding Surround View and Bed Cam to 2019 High Country with Trailer Package

EJS2015 · May 15, 2023

I have a 2019 Silverado High Country. I have the trailer camera package: rear camera, left and right cameras, and a trailer cam input. I always hated that i had a 270 view and i wanted a front camera. Another thing I wanted was the wireless carplay upgrade from white automotive and media. From what I've researched, no one has tried what I want to do, but from what I understand, I think it will work. My plan is to upgrade to a 10 ch vpm, get it programmed, and add the cameras I want. The issue everyone says is the 2019 doesn't support the 10ch vpm, so that's where the wireless carplay mod comes into play. My thinking is that since it works on 2020's with surround view, the limiting factor is the 2019's radio module, so this mod should fix the issue. If anyone knows of a reason why it would not work, please chime in, but in essence, ive changed all the components to 2020+ components, so i dont see why it would not work.

The parts I plan to use are:

10 Ch VPM - 85004218 (I'll get it programed by White Automotive and Media)

High Mounted Stop Lamp - 84699123

Front Camera - 84690426

Rear View Mirror (I also want to rear view mirror cam) - 13554368

RG316 20ft Fakra Code Z Female to Male (Front Camera Wire)
https://www.segemart.com/fakra-z/1651901119051?filter=13%2C1141
(2) RG316 10ft Fakra Code Z Female to Male (Bed View Camera Wire and Rear View Mirror Wire)
https://www.segemart.com/fakra-z/1651901119051?filter=13%2C1141

From the research I've done, I am almost sure this will work, but I may be missing something. So, what do y'all think? Do y'all think it will work?

EJS2015 · July 26, 2023

Update! It works! It took a while to get the parts programmed but it was worth it. Getting a front camera, wireless CarPlay, and presets that actually stay (my old radio module was running the original firmware and wouldn’t update and it had a bug that would reset the presets every drive). I’ll post the details of the upgrade soon.

EJS2015 · July 26, 2023

I got all my programming done through White Auto and Media (WAMS). I bought all the parts from gmpartsdirect.com. To install the wireless CarPlay radio upgrade (a requirement to get this upgrade working), I used the install guide from WAMS as well as this YouTube video to understand how to undo the clips. It was a pain to remove the clips and original module btw. After that, I turned the truck on to make sure the radio was working and it was. Next I moved to the vpm. To access it, you need to remove the rear seats. Here is the video I used:

https://youtu.be/ywYt-n0nu0Q I removed the old vpm and rewired the camera inputs into new connectors.

There are multiple configurations for the 5 ch VPMs. The red connector (from left to right) will always be Radio, Rear Cam. This is the only connector that has to be connected for the camera system to work. To find out which wires go to which cameras, remove the housing from the camera wires then reconnect them without the housing (so you can unplug wires individually). Turn on the truck and view the cameras. Then pull a wire one at a time to see which wire goes where. Once you have which wires go where, the new wiring diagram is as follows:

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 parts list for the camera wires is wrong. I’ll update the parts list soon.

The new vpm is bigger than the 5 channel so it doesn’t fit with the stock mounts. I used the passenger side mount then tilted it under the right mount. I tightened the passenger side mount then stuck two sponges behind the other side of it to prevent rattle. It seemed to do the trick.

This project is an undertaking. It’s not easy but doable.

Also, I was fortunate enough to only have to run a front cam and bed cam. I can’t help with how to run the side cams. To run the front cam, I poke a hole in the firewall cable pass through and passed it through there. It comes out under the glove box where the radio module is. I then ran it under the floor panels to the back of the rear seats. The bed cam requires a new high mounted stop light and taking the entire headliner off. It’s fairly straightforward how to run that wire to the vpm.

TheElementalCashew · July 26, 2023

Good job!

Did your hourglass symbol on the camera screen eventually go away with some driving?

MrMagloo · July 26, 2023

Awesome news. Hopefully there will be an upgrade path for the refresh 23's at some point. Not holding my breath.

EJS2015 · July 27, 2023

On 7/26/2023 at 5:17 AM, TheElementalCashew said:

Good job!

Did your hourglass symbol on the camera screen eventually go away with some driving?

It hasn’t yet but I’m only driving about 2 miles day (1 mile to work and 1 mile back home). I’m assuming after some time it’ll go away

Naughty Donkey Performance · August 6, 2023

On 7/27/2023 at 3:12 PM, EJS2015 said:

It hasn’t yet but I’m only driving about 2 miles day (1 mile to work and 1 mile back home). I’m assuming after some time it’ll go away

Any thoughts on if I just want to add a front camera to a 2020 with Carplay and trailer package with the rear backup camera and trailer assist already?

Front parking camera would really help when parking downtown even if it is a rarity.

TIA

EJS2015 · August 14, 2023

On 8/6/2023 at 2:19 PM, Naughty Donkey Performance said:

Any thoughts on if I just want to add a front camera to a 2020 with Carplay and trailer package with the rear backup camera and trailer assist already?

Front parking camera would really help when parking downtown even if it is a rarity.

TIA

It depends on if you have a VPM. If you have one camera and it’s a backup cam, then it might not have a vpm. If by trailer package you mean you have two camera inputs below your trailer connector by the hitch, then I think you have a vpm. But, if you don’t, and you only have a backup camera, then you might not. A vpm is what allows for multiple camera inputs and if you don’t have one, no one has attempted to add one to my knowledge.