Question/gripe about the backup cam

[derfolo]

Yup. The backup cam is on the very rear of the vehicle at an appropriate height. It provides a functional view starting with the area directly behind the vehicle. There's no good way to match that by moving the camera anywhere else. Even putting it in one of the taillight assemblies would skew the perspective, making it less functional. Unless you somehow put a camera in each taillight assembly, for stereo vision, but that would be awfully far apart to stitch the images together.

Putting it up by the CHMSL (3rd brake light) on the back of the cab would be way too high, and 5' from the rear of the vehicle, so, not very useful.

Keeping it functional on the tailgate with it open would put the camera too low to provide a proper view.

How often are you finding yourself needing to reverse with the tailgate down, anyway?

Well, since that is what I am doing right now--moving big furniture pieces that have been refinished--all the time.

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[WannaMav]

and once killed a bear with a looseleaf notebook.

Now, now. Everyone knows that was best done with a dog-eared McGuffey's Reader.

Right tool for the right job.

 

[STARCOMMTREY1]

Let me try to relay my issue in a series of logical statements for people who don't understand why this would be an issue.

1) The Ford Maverick has a backup cam as standard equipment (required in all new vehicles by U.S. federal law since May 2018).
2) When you put the tailgate down and have your bed loaded, the backup cam no longer works, because it is viewing the ground. (Why have a cam then? Isn't it even more important when you are carrying stuff?)
3) The small Maverick bed means that your tailgate will often be down, especially when you are carrying larger items.
4) Having large things (like the big furniture pieces I carry) in your bed means that your side mirrors are less useful than normal, and your rear view mirror is useless. If there is a kid or a dog directly behind you, you may accidentally back in to them as a result.
5) The Maverick Lariat Lux trim sounds an ongoing collision alert while the tailgate is down because the camera is only two feet off the ground.
6) Items 2-5 are not functional or desirable states for a Maverick owner.

Non issue. When down use your mirrors. The alarm is not your camera but your reverse sensors detecting the tailgate. My 07 350 does the same thing with tailgate down.

 

[jsus]

Well, since that is what I am doing right now--moving big furniture pieces that have been refinished--all the time.

So here's the deal, if you're looking for a backup cam with the tailgate down, you're not going to find an OEM solution. Unless you can find another pickup that has a different backup cam setup I'm not aware of. You're either going to have to hack something together yourself (e.g. some type of dash cam setup with its own screen) or back up the old fashion way, and minimize the need to reverse in the first place. Or find a solution to transport your large furniture loads without relying on an open tailgate (lager truck, trailer, etc.), which isn't what you want to hear.

If your rear parking aid sensors (backup sensors) are being set off by your open tailgate, then you need to disable them. When you switch to Reverse, the instrument cluster LCD (the one with your odometers and such) should display a prompt about the park aid, and ask if you want to disable. Or it's probably in the settings somewhere in park as well.

 

[derfolo]

Non issue. When down use your mirrors. The alarm is not your camera but your reverse sensors detecting the tailgate. My 07 350 does the same thing with tailgate down.

Trying to put this response in context. So you are replying to point #4 of my 6 statements? ("4) Having large things (like the big furniture pieces I carry) in your bed means that your side mirrors are less useful than normal, and your rear view mirror is useless. If there is a kid or a dog directly behind you, you may accidentally back in to them as a result.")

What happens if there is an excited 3 year old back there when I am delivering the furniture?

 

[STARCOMMTREY1]

Trying to put this response in context. So you are replying to point #4 of my 6 statements? ("4) Having large things (like the big furniture pieces I carry) in your bed means that your side mirrors are less useful than normal, and your rear view mirror is useless. If there is a kid or a dog directly behind you, you may accidentally back in to them as a result.")

What happens if there is an excited 3 year old back there when I am delivering the furniture?

Again, this is an issue on ALL trucks. If you put loads that big in enough that it's an issue then you got the wrong truck. Also NOTHING in your bed should obstruct your SIDE mirrors. Try towing a 5th wheel. Then ONLY your side mirrors have any use.
Hence why this is a Non issue.

 

[Meintc]

Place it just above the tow bar???

Oh maybe

 

[derfolo]

Again, this is an issue on ALL trucks. If you put loads that big in enough that it's an issue then you got the wrong truck. Also NOTHING in your bed should obstruct your SIDE mirrors. Try towing a 5th wheel. Then ONLY your side mirrors have any use.
Hence why this is a Non issue.

Did you see the YouTube video I posted above? I am not the only one with this safety issue. I don’t know of any side mirrors that provide direct views of the rear of your vehicle, do you? At this time, I make my wife get out of the truck and make sure the area behind my truck is clear. But she is going back to the office, so now I have to do what I can to ensure that kids and pets are safe. Too bad that there is no rear view with the backup cam installed by Ford, but I am sure that I will come up with a workaround. When I do, I will share it here so that others can use it if they need it. Isn’t that why we have these forums?

 

[RicksMaverick]

As someone else mentioned, isn't this an issue with every truck? Why couldn't you put tape over the camera when the tailgate is down? I don't have my truck so I can't try it.

You should be able to shut the warning off in the settings, could on my F150 but haven't had the tailgate down yet to try.

 

[STARCOMMTREY1]

Did you see the YouTube video I posted above? I am not the only one with this safety issue. I don’t know of any side mirrors that provide direct views of the rear of your vehicle, do you? At this time, I make my wife get out of the truck and make sure the area behind my truck is clear. But she is going back to the office, so now I have to do what I can to ensure that kids and pets are safe. Too bad that there is no rear view with the backup cam installed by Ford, but I am sure that I will come up with a workaround. When I do, I will share it here so that others can use it if they need it. Isn’t that why we have these forums?

Maybe this is something for people new to trucks. This is my first truck even with a camera. I've never run over any kids or dogs.

 

[derfolo]

Maybe this is something for people new to trucks. This is my first truck even with a camera. I've never run over any kids or dogs.

I'm with you, I haven't either. Here is to all of us keeping it that way.

 

[Helmly]

Hi all,

I have been loving my new Maverick, it has been doing lots of truck work (moving furniture, etc) that could never have happened with our SUV. Also, it has been cold and snowy up here, and the AWD with stock tires has been amazing!

One of my biggest gripes though, is that the backup cam is useless when the tailgate is down and you are in reverse. Worse than that, it sets off the back-up impact warning, because it thinks that you are going to hit the ground (with the camera now aimed directly at the ground).

Has anyone looked at repositioning the backup cam somehow so that it remains functional with the tailgate down?

Thanks for sharing any advice.

I’m all for having a second backup camera in the 3rd brake light or antenna location. Sure, it seems excessive but it could be really useful when the tailgate’s down and also so I don’t have to worry about whatever I’ve got in the back moving around. I’d like it to be viewable when going down the interstate for my peace of mind. In my mind it would be the primary back up camera when the tailgate is down and a selectable view when the tailgate is up.

This is far from my first truck so it’s not that big of a deal but damn it would be nice!!

 

[midcoastme]

This is a fantastic idea, having a hinge that pops out the backup cam when the tailgate is down would be incredible! I might try that myself.

If I remember right, the license plate on the Subaru Baja would swing down when the tailgate was open...before the days of backup cameras, of course.

 

[Jrpink13]

Trying to put this response in context. So you are replying to point #4 of my 6 statements? ("4) Having large things (like the big furniture pieces I carry) in your bed means that your side mirrors are less useful than normal, and your rear view mirror is useless. If there is a kid or a dog directly behind you, you may accidentally back in to them as a result.")

What happens if there is an excited 3 year old back there when I am delivering the furniture?

People have been backing up trucks for over a hundred years without cameras. Plenty of 3 year olds survived the apocalypse by responsible parents who don't let their damn kids play behind moving vehicles. Plus, according to the law stuff like this requires a spotter in the back acting as your camera anyway. I know most people will do it alone (me included) but if it's such a concern get a friend.

 

[JustDoIt]

OP sure wants to whine more than solve the problem.

Here's your solution, with extra benefits.

A dashcam - I use this one.
The extra benefit is you'll always be recording front & rear to protect you from other idiots (and liars) on the road.

But here's the deal. Mount it with your license plate area. "Oh but that's not centered." That's okay. These use a very wide angle lens and capture a LOT of area, designed this way. How do I know? I have one mounted on my Jeep's license plate area which is even LESS centered (see pic here - https://kbdbodykits.com/images/productimages/37-6127-10.jpg). And I capture the full view behind me.

The camera also lets you decide if you want to see on screen the full rear, rear in window, etc. But it's recording both in full size.

So yes, there's an option. It's a great one. It's a cheap one (under $100, under $60 right now). But you don't want a solution. You want to whine. So just say so.

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