[cberger62]

Many people tried to tell me it couldn't be done. Well, here it is. These are pics of my REC factory navigation displaying video from the factory VES and from a rear view camera. It's done through a converter box that was purchased from TVandNav2Go It provides video in motion display from and external video source, mine is the factory VES. When you flip a switch it displays whatever is on the VES screen. I installed it under the dash but forgot to take a picture of it. It also automatically switches to the backup camera when I shift to reverse. You can wire in a switch to display it whenever you want but I chose to just have it come on automatically.

I also had to install a video amplifier because my screens were garbled without it. Others with the same set up in Chargers, Magnums, 300's and one other Durango that I know of didn't have to use the amp. For whatever reason I did. I also forgot to take a picture of that but I pulled the console and put it in the bottom under the removable bin.

If you have any questions feel free to ask or check out their website. You can also call them. They're very helpful and eager to help. Just ask for Vinny or Dom.

The pics below are of the converter box, converter box installed, frame camera, screen displaying camera, then screen displaying DVD. And the resolution is better than the pics show. I was just ready to be done

 

[cberger62]

...two more...

 

[cberger62]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPS. Please move this to the Durango section. :help:

 

[gmoore]

Man I don't know you but I'm damn proud of you for what you've done. GREAT JOB! I'm going to purchase a REC when my funds allow me to.

 

[Toneaero]

Very nice pics!!! I seriously thinking about doing that mod now. Where did you hide your switch to view the different screens? Got any pics of it?

 

[Scotia28]

Yes that's very high on the coolness scale. :rck:

 

[cberger62]

Very nice pics!!! I seriously thinking about doing that mod now. Where did you hide your switch to view the different screens? Got any pics of it?

It's under the dash by the console. I'll get a pic when I get a chance.

 

[jeepunit1330]

what dvd player do you have in order to run the video on the nav?
also what kind of backup camera is that?
one last question, you have to mail your nav out to get the external controls hooked up?

 

[cberger62]

I'm using the factory DVD Player. There is no video out so you have to make one. There is a pin on the back that is the video feed. You have to splice an RCA cable and solder the positive to the pin and the negative to the player's housing.

The camera is off of ebay it's made by Boyo. I like it as much or better than the one on my Ram.

And you don't have to mail your unit in if you are good at soldering circuit boards and cutting traces. I'm not so I sent it in to them. They basically just solder an RGB cable to the unit that attaches to the little black box once you get it installed.

Here's a picture of the back of the DVD player.

 

[cberger62]

I know I REALLY drug my feet on this but my camera took a dump on me and I just got it fixed today. Anyway, here are the requested pics.

The first one is of the video amp in the bottom of the center console. It is held in place with industrial strength Velcro. There is a hole drilled underneath the amp for the wires to run through. I tapped the console outlet to power the unit and grounded it on an existing bolt under the console. The video wires then run under the center console to the dash and connect to the TVandNav2go box.

The second is of the switch under the dash. You flip it and it shows whatever is being displayed on VES screen on the REC screen. As a reminder, no matter what position the switch is in, the rear view camera will always override anything on the screen when the vehicle is shifted into reverse...even if the power is turned off on the unit.

Anymore questions feel free to ask.

 

[kbat69]

Can you write-up a how to on this??? I would love to do it to mine also but I'm not that good at soldering.

 

[cberger62]

Can you write-up a how to on this??? I would love to do it to mine also but I'm not that good at soldering.

There is no soldering required. You send your unit in and they do all the soldering for you. The rest is done with scotchloks or T-taps.

As for a write-up... I don't really feel like tearing everything out to take pics again but I can answer questions you have and do everything I can to help. You ask them and I'll answer them.

 

[enash67]

how much $$$ we talking here? it would be nice just to have the backup camera...

 

[cberger62]

$250 if you do the soldering yourself, $450 if you send it to them and have them do the soldering. It's not cheap but it is a quality product with a one year warranty on their product AND on your REC unit. They will also put it back to stock for you if you ever need to have it serviced...like if your CD player broke or if a button on your REC unit broke etc. They guarantee no one will ever be able to tell that anything was done to the unit. It works great man. I love it. It almost makes me wish I had it on my ram instead of my Kenwood flip-screen.

If you're into multiple screens...I could actually add up to five more screens with the video amp I used. The amp was only $29 at a local stereo place here. apparently most people don't have to use them but for whatever reason I did.

If you have anymore questions feel free to ask. I'll help all I can.

 

[EIAlfonso]

The back of the car always seems to get a lot of dust and grime on it how often or how much does this affect the picture quality?

Can you move that camera up and down and does click securely into place, if it does move?

I live in McKinney when can you come over?
LOL!

 

[cberger62]

The back of the car always seems to get a lot of dust and grime on it how often or how much does this affect the picture quality?

Can you move that camera up and down and does click securely into place, if it does move?

I live in McKinney when can you come over?
LOL!

The lens of the camera is maybe the diameter of the end of your little finger and it's inset so it doesn't really collect much dust etc. Even when the truck is dirty I don't notice a difference in picture quality. Now with the camera on my Ram, you can definitely tell when it's dirty. I think because the lens is so much bigger though. You can see pics of it in my gallery if you want a comparison.

As far as moving the camera, it's attached to the frame around the license plate so there no moving it up or down. There are hex bolts that go from the outside-in. You remove the panel on the inside of the hatch to put the nuts on. There's no stealing it without drilling out the bolts or breaking the frame. Basically, the time you would have to put into stealing the camera you could have stolen the car. It's the last thing I'm worried about.

As for adjusting the camera, it rotates vertically on a horizontal axis. It is adjustable with two tiny Allen head screws. I have it pointed down just a bit so that it doesn't see the top were the license plate light is. It also gives you a better view if what you are backing up to (trailer, etc.)

Any other questions feel free to ask.

 

[jtawork]

REC NAV BACKUP CAMERA Status

How is the unit working? Any bugs so far? It looks like you've had it for a couple of months. Any problems or routing issues we should know about?

 

[cberger62]

How is the unit working? Any bugs so far? It looks like you've had it for a couple of months. Any problems or routing issues we should know about?

The unit is working great. No problems whatsoever. I'd definitely recommend it. I just did the same mod on my H3 with the factory Nav. It works like a charm on it too.

On top of everything else, the guys that sell the product are good people. I've called them with some other issues not related to their products and asked for help and they've given me wire diagrams and ideas I've never heard of before. They're smart and helpful. It's not like buying something off of eBay. If you've got the cash laying around go for it. It's nice to have.

 

[EIAlfonso]

How much time did you spend on the entire process?

Which interior body panels/parts did you need to remove?

Do you have a DIY on how to remove the parts required?

Thanks

 

[cberger62]

You must remove the dash trim bezel. After that it's up to you. I removed the center console so that I could run the wires under the carpet and put the video amp in the console. Since I'm the only person that I know of that has had to use a video amp you may not have to. I still can't understand why I did when so may other did not. However, most people I know of that did this mod did it in 300C's and Magnums. If you do have to use a video amp you can put it under a seat, which is easier, but I wanted it to be totally out of the way.

As for a diy, sorry I don't have one but the bezel is easy to remove. If I remember correctly, there are two screws under the bottom and then it just pops off.

I guess I also had to remove the inside hatch cover and one of the rear air vents to fish the wire for the camera but you could also do this under the carpet. I figured since I was having to fish a wire for the VES through the headliner that I might as well do them all the way to make it simpler. From the front I removed the A pillar and that's about it. It's a good afternoon's worth of work but not hard, just time consuming.