Back up cam wiring

I just got a new head unit (pioneer avh-500) and a back up camera and im having difficulty figuring out which wire to connect to the purple and white rear view input wire on the harness that came with the head unit, that is only about 3 inches long. This is supposed to let the head unit know when the truck is in reverse so the camera will automatically come on the screen. The camera came with a power cable that will connect from the camera to the positive and negative ends of one of the taillights wiring and a 20ft rca cable with two small red wires on each end of the Male ends. Is there a wire on the factory harness or somewhere close to where the unit sets that I'll be able to connect this 3inch purple and white wire to? I've got an 04 prerunner.

 

@Taco critter

Did you ever install a backup camera in a 1st Gen? I know how to do a 2009-2015 2nd Gen, but not any older...

 

Read the manual as to what the purple/white wire do. Then go to the12volt.com and put in your specs and it will tell you all your wiring.

 

I installed an almost identical setup on my 04 about 6 months ago. DO NOT connect the power supply for the camera to the taillights. You want your camera to have power all the time, so I plugged mine into the under-dash fuse box. This also allows you to manually view your camera (via headunit settings) even if the truck is not in reverse. As far as the purple wire that lets the head unit know when the truck is in reverse, there is a wiring harness under the driver seat with the exact wire you need, although I cannot remember the color/pattern of it. Splice that purple wire coming out of the headunit into the correct wire under your driver seat (you'll have to look up a schematic to make sure you get the right one) and you'll be good to go.

I learned the hard way that monkeying with the taillights is not the way to go about this.

EDIT: added picture

 

If I bought your truck I’d put a backup camera in it; Same with that red RC your father-in-law used to own...

 

And seriously, does one tap into the gearshift wiring or into the reverse light when installing a backup camera in an old vehicle? All 2009-2015 Tacos with the SR5 trim and above have backup cameras as standard (though the 2009-2012 have the shitty little square screen in the rear view mirror). All 2009-2015 base models are prewired for a backup camera, which basically makes it plug-and-play. The aftermarket backup camera setup in my base model 5-lug 2010 RC is superior to the factory setup in my friend’s 2010 DCSB TRD Off-Road!

 

Yea I've seen other threads with the correct wire being found under the seat but how am I supposed to splice a wire that is only 3 inches long all the way to underneath the driver's seat?

 

I bought a role of insulated wire that is about the same gauge (dont remember exact size) from the hardware store, soldered one end to purple wire, removed about an inch of insulation from wire under seat and soldered that too. Wrapped it all up with tape and haven't had a problem since.

 

I love it that people are installing backup cameras in older trucks instead of shelling out exorbitant amounts of money for new overpriced ones! The oldest truck I’ve ever seen with a backup camera installed is a 1987 Chevy C10 Silverado “square body”.

I also saw a 2008ish Dodge Avenger with a backup camera installed above the license plate like my truck. The 2007-2011ish Dodge Avenger is one of the most mediocre cars ever made, and does not hold its value very well, but it is one of those vehicles that in my opinion will treat its owner well if the owner takes care of it. Therefore, spending $300-$500 installing a backup camera in a $3,000 sedan makes more economic sense to me than taking out a loan to buy an $18,000 Hyundai Accent that already has a backup camera!

 

That’s what I’ve got! But WTF do you in a vehicle like an FJ Cruiser where the license plate is off to the side?!?! The camera mount will still fit, but when the camera comes on, it will be off-kilter...

 

There are cameras that are designed to be semi-flush mounted. You need to drill, but you can put them anywhere. This is a better way to mount the camera anyway. Most license plates are too low anyway, and you just stare directly at the hitch rather than having a more "areal" view.

There are tailgate handle kits, too...

 

I don’t like the tailgate handle cameras that point down at an angle in some trucks...

 

Most of them will be fish eye cams you you get a view of pretty much everything. They're all going to point down. They just mimic the same angle as the more modern trucks with them.

I really just use the one in my '17 4Runner when I'm hitching up my trailers.

 

I use mine when backing out of my driveway or when backing out of parking spaces; It is also great for parallel parking!

People have this obnoxious habit of enforcing right of way when they see a person backing up, and will drive behind them when they are already starting to back out of the space! My backup camera has saved me from a couple accidents where I would be at fault!

 

Most backup camera kits come with a video cable with a red wire sticking out at both ends (like you have). They intend you to connect this red wire at the tail light reverse wire, and then you would connect your purple wire to the other end. That red wire runs the whole length of the video cable.
I just tapped the reverse wire at the BN1 connector under the driver seat. for 2003 trucks its the BN7 connector, which is pretty much the same.

You need the Red wire with Black stripe. I'm pretty sure this wire color remains unchanged from 95-04.
I have attached the wiring diagram for a 2003 truck. You can see the R-B wire is in pin 22 of the BN7 connector.

 

Pic of harness ? You say you got two red wires on both ends?. If 1 red wire on each end it should just be one red wire going front to back . So hook back red to reverse light positive and black to ground. The red in back will feed 12v from reverse pos. to front red wire .So hook up rca to radio video input and red to purple and white reverse cam input.

 

Not 2 reds, just 1 red on each end. The way you describe it is correct.