Name: Crux CUL-03
Brand: CRUX
SKU: 249CUL03
Price: 49.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4 (103 reviews)

Overview

by Crutchfield's

Get a streamlined look

Crux's CUL-03 backup camera will mount nicely on cars with a lip-style overhang built into the rear. Crux supplies a mount for the camera for a streamlined, flush look and a 21-foot cable to connect the camera to your receiver. Once installed, you'll gain a full color 170° view of what's behind you. You also get the option of parking lines and reverse image capability for easier reversing into tight spaces. And the Crux CUL-03 is a match for any car stereo with a standard composite video input and viewing screen.

KEEP READING

Get a streamlined look

Installing this camera yourself? Here's what you should know.

What does it do? Unless otherwise noted, a backup camera is only intended for use backing up your vehicle. (If you require a front-view or constant rear-view camera, check for that capability.)

What tools and supplies will I need? A panel tool, a wire cutter/stripper, a soldering iron, and a rosin-core solder with heat shrink tubing are recommended, along with whatever tools are needed to remove the radio from the dash.

How much wiring is required? Wiring instructions vary from camera to camera. Some cameras have power wiring that can only be connected near the radio. Others let you power the camera at compatible reverse lights. In all cases, the camera must be wired for power and ground, the camera's video output must be connected to the radio/monitor, and the radio/monitor must be connected to a reverse trigger in your vehicle. Some radio replacement interfaces supply a reverse trigger wire for the radio -- using that wire to power your camera will damage the interface.

Will the included video cable be long enough? You'll need to route the camera's video cable from its mounting location outside your vehicle into your vehicle's cabin and all the way to the screen in the dash. This often requires drilling a small hole in your vehicle or filing some metal and or plastic. You'll also need to estimate the length of cable needed to run from the camera to the dash, which will not be a straight shot. Each camera's cable length is listed.

Note: A rear-view camera provides an additional view when reversing your vehicle. It is intended to be used in conjuction with your rear- and side-view mirrors to give a fuller picture of what's behind you. It is not intended as a replacement for your mirrors.

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Product highlights:

CCD backup camera with standard composite video connectivity
21' video extension cable included
compatible with any radio with an RCA video input (most aftermarket models, only a few factory)
mount included
170-degree wide angle
480 TV lines
waterproof metal housing
optional parking lines and mirror image
0.4 Lux minimum for night driving
warranty: 1 year
Our 60-day money-back guarantee
MFR # CUL-03

What's in the box:

Crux CUL-03 owner's manual

Rear-view camera with attached 31" power/signal cable (proprietary 4-pin plug)
20'-4" Extension cable (connected to camera cable)(RCA Composite video plug)
Threaded mounting collar
Self-adhesive gasket
Wiring sheet

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Crux CUL-03 reviews

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103 reviews

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Details

Researched by Crutchfield's Russ B.

Features & specs

Features and Specs
Camera Type	Rear
Resolution	480 TV lines
Parking Guidelines	Selectable
Lux Rating	0.4 Lux (min)
Selectable Views	N
Reversed Image	Both
Horizontal Viewing Angle	170 degrees
Vertical Viewing Angle	90 degrees
Wireless	No
Plug type	Composite video

Product Research

Features

Rear-View Camera: The Crux CUL-03 rear-view camera can be installed in a variety of vehicles with an aftermarket in-dash multimedia or navigation receiver installed. Your aftermarket receiver must feature an integrated video monitor and a composite video camera input. The camera allows you to view what's behind you on your in-dash receiver's video monitor when you put your vehicle in reverse.

Note: The Crux CUL-03 rear-view camera is meant as a back-up aid only; never solely rely on the rear-view camera when backing-up. In addition to using the rear-view camera, always look behind you to make sure everything is clear when backing up your vehicle.

CCD Image Sensor: The Crux CUL-03 rear-view camera features a CCD image sensor that offers 480 lines of resolution.

Lens: The bright f/1.2 lens has 170° (horizontal) x 90° (vertical) viewing angle. The minimum illumination is 0.4 Lux.

Waterproof Housing: The Crux CUL-03 rear-view camera features a IP67 waterproof housing.

Normal or Mirror Image: The Crux CUL-03 rear-view camera provides either a mirror or normal image. By default, the camera will display a mirror image. To get a reverse image, you should connect together the two exposed blue wires on the extension cable.

Park Assist Lines: The rear-view camera provides parking assist lines on the screen of your vehicle's in-dash aftermarket monitor. These parking lines are there to assist you when backing up into a parking space. There are two vertical lines which help you judge the left and right edges of the parking space and your vehicle. There are also 3 color-coded horizontal lines that are used to distinguish how close you are getting to the end of the parking spot - Green (Clear), Yellow (Getting Close), Red (Very Close).

Note: You can remove the Park Assist Lines by connecting together the two exposed white wires on the extension cable.

Installation: You will need to drill a 7/8" (22.5mm) hole in your vehicle's rear exterior panel. The rear-view camera mounts in this opening and features a threaded mounting collar which holds the camera in place. A self-adhesive gasket is included for sealing the hole around the camera.

Note: The camera should be mounted from underneath the mounting surface with the threaded collar facing up, otherwise image from the camera will not be right side up.

Power & Signal Connections: The rear-view camera features an attached 31" power/signal cable and a 20'-4" extension cable. At the end of the extension cable is a male RCA composite video plug, which connects to the composite, rear-view camera input of your head unit. The power (red) & ground (black) wires will need to be hardwired. Power can be obtained from your vehicle's reverse light circuit or from the +12V accessory wire of your aftermarket stereo (if applicable). The ground will need to be connected to your vehicle's metal chassis.

Accessories

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Q&A

27 questions already asked

Has anyone mounted to a C6 Corvette? I have a 2011 base coupe. It looks like it would fit above the license plate.

[ Bruce Mar 03, 2023 ]

1 answer

I have installed this on a C6. I used the YouTube video from Maintainers Garage called "c6 stereo install" as a guide on how to install the head unit and camera, and this is the camera he used and I copied him and his mounting method. I am happy overall, but will say that the field of view from that location is very good but not as wide as ideally it would be. If Crutchfield has a way to share a photo or 2, I could show the view. The top of the view is not as high as a factory system, and also not quite as wide. That said, it is sooooo much better than guessing without the camera. I no longer fear bumping things when backing. I do need to include side mirrors in my scan in tighter spaces for the corners. I hope this helps.

[ HENRY Mar 08, 2023 ]

What are the measurements for the square base that is mounted on the lip of vehicle? I found one answer but I read online that this model has changed size since 2015 (answer with the measurements).

[ JONATHAN Dec 01, 2022 ]

1 answer

The square base measures 1.164" x 1.285".

[ ZACHARY Dec 01, 2022 ] Staff

Will this camera work with AVH 291BT radio?

[ Jessica Oct 13, 2022 ]

1 answer

Yes. This camera will work with an aftermarket radio with a composite video (yellow RCA) rear camera input.

[ ZACHARY Oct 13, 2022 ] Staff

Can the length and width of the parking lines/grid be adjusted post-installation?

[ DWAN Apr 13, 2022 ]

1 answer

Yes, you can adjust the position and length of the parking lines. I don't remember if the width can be change too.

[ WILFREDO Apr 13, 2022 ]

will this camera work with a Jeep Cherokee 8.4 4c nav UAQ radio?

[ Kim Jul 25, 2021 ]

1 answer

The camera needs a Video - Input on the back of the head unit. Then you would need to tap into power on the Reverse wire on either taillight. That will power the Camera and "trigger" the head unit Input.

[ JASON Jul 26, 2021 ]

Will this plug into the OEM Harmon/Kardon Subaru Outback nav system? I haven't replaced the factory stereo, but need to replace the backup camera.

[ Chris Mar 08, 2021 ]

2 answers

I have no idea what the oem Subaru specs are. You will have to research it. Good luck

[ KRISTEN Mar 08, 2021 ]

Plugs into any head unit with RCA type video jacks.

[ Paul Mar 08, 2021 ]

Does it come with spacer angle wedges?

[ James Jan 01, 2021 ]

2 answers

It does not come with any shims, just the adhesive patch. I did fabricate some from some plastic shims that I drilled a hole in and it worked pretty well.

[ SEAN Jan 01, 2021 ]

I don't believe so. I installed above the license plate on the trunk of a 2007 Civic, with no problems.

[ Matt Jan 01, 2021 ]

Will this work in the OEM mounting location of a 2012 Subaru Outback? Would be connecting it to a JVC head unit I've previously installed.

[ CLESTIAN Aug 22, 2020 ]

1 answer

Yes.

[ TIMOTHY Feb 10, 2021 ]

1999 suburban barn door mounting? no harnesses from doors to body, has contact pins

[ MICHAEL Jul 11, 2020 ]

1 answer

Contact pins are not for camera. In 1999 no cars had rear view cameras to my knowledge. You have to remove all plastic covers from the inside of the doors and lead provided wire from the camera to the receiver in dash. If the wire is too short you can extend it. You might use dash cam rear view camera extension cord,YQMAJIM 4 pin. or something similar. You can pout that name in web search - it will lead you to the product.

[ Piotr Jul 11, 2020 ]

can you use this as a front camera?

[ Dan Jun 01, 2020 ]

2 answers

I don't see any reason why you couldn't. Mine is on the back, but I can still turn it on using the receiver and watch the cars behind me while I drive.

[ David Jun 01, 2020 ]

Not sure about that. It comes on when reverse. Guess you could have a separate switch for seeing forward

[ Donald Jun 01, 2020 ]

Camera does not work when vehicle put in reverse. Any suggestions? Called CS we couldn't get it figured out....bummed

[ AARON May 14, 2020 ]

5 answers

I installed in Kia Forte. And works fine. Make sure is conected in the correct reverse wire. You may need to download the wiring schematics for the specific model of your car to find it.

[ Hector May 30, 2020 ]

Theres a wire that comes off the back of the camera and it has to be tapped into the hotwire for the reverse light. You can find that wire at the reverse light socket all you need is a test light

[ terri May 29, 2020 ]

T it has to be hooked up to the reverse light the first light Powers up the camera

[ terri May 29, 2020 ]

Assuming your headunit properly switches to the camera input when you put your car in reverse, this guy probably isn't getting power. How did you hook it up? If via the taillight, make sure you tapped into the +12V side of the light harness and not the ground side. Or try another source of 12V. If you plugged it into always-on 12V near the head unit, make sure its a good source and can provide ~200 mA of current. Best to tap into a cigarette lighter or similar. Make sure your connections are secure both at the head-unit and at the harness / camera junction. My first one died after 3 months after some heavy raining. CS sent me a replacement and I left the harness in place and just replaced the camera, and also added some silicone RTV to the back cable entrance to make sure it was sealed.

[ SEAN May 29, 2020 ]

[ KRISTINA May 29, 2020 ] Staff

Can I mount this vertical to the side of an RV?

[ MrJack Apr 15, 2020 ]

1 answer

This camera is designed to be installed horizontally only (lip-mount). It has two small control wires. One wire lets you use it as either a back-up camera or a front-facing camera. The other wire lets you show or hide the guidelines. You can download the instruction sheet under "what's in the box" section.

[ Vitaliy Apr 15, 2020 ]

Having trouble installing. Instructions not clear. I have 2012 Toyota Camry. Any help is appreciated. There's extras wires and camera isn't even turning on.?

[ CHARLES Jan 25, 2020 ]

1 answer

[ KRISTINA Feb 27, 2020 ] Staff

How do you select to turn on or off the parking lines?

[ KIAN Nov 28, 2019 ]

2 answers

Among the wires connecting to the camera there should be one which has a tag indicating that it should be cut to remove the parking lines. I think it is the white wire.

[ Raji Nov 28, 2019 ]

Cut the white wire on the camera cable to remove parking lines.

[ JASON Nov 28, 2019 ]

Can you send me a better wiring diagram for my 2001 Corvette?

[ David Mar 27, 2019 ]

1 answer

We have the product manuals available for free under the "what's in the box" header of the product page and our vehicle specific Mastersheet available for free with any car audio purchase. Outside of that our tech support is going to be your best resource for more specific questions. You can reach them here: https://bit.ly/2QNxGQB

[ CASEY Apr 10, 2019 ] Staff

Does the camera automatically turn on when you put car in reverse?

[ Larry Aug 09, 2018 ]

4 answers

yes, if you wire it correctly.

[ ANDRE Aug 12, 2018 ]

Yes, it will, IF you wire it correctly.

[ Nancy Aug 09, 2018 ]

THE HEAD UNIT IS WHERE THE SETTINGS ARE SO IT WILL ALL DEPEND ON YOUR OPTIONS ON THAT

[ andrew Aug 09, 2018 ]

I wired the camera power source to the reverse light cables. Now the camera picture shows on the head unit as soon as I put the car into reverse, without having to press any other buttons.

[ Christian Aug 09, 2018 ]

What is the mounting hole diameter?

[ Nicholas Mar 09, 2018 ]

3 answers

the mounting hole diameter is 22.5 mm, or about 7/8". the CUL-03 i purchased from Cruthfield came with a hole saw that fit into a standard drill, it was not fancy but it worked fine for me

[ ANDRE Apr 08, 2018 ]

You will need to drill a 7/8" (22.5mm) hole in your vehicle's rear exterior panel. The rear-view camera mounts in this opening and features a threaded mounting collar which holds the camera in place. A self-adhesive gasket is included for sealing the hole around the camera. For more details or to discuss further, please contact an Advisor directly by phone (888.955.6000) or online chat. Thanks!

[ DAVID Apr 01, 2018 ] Staff

Not sure, but mine came with a hole saw.

[ Chris Mar 27, 2018 ]

Anyone had this camera installed for a few years now? Any issues? I installed the much more expensive Accele RVC1150T and it quit working after about a year and a half. I have been without a backup cam for a while now and I miss having it for back in parking in my pickup.

[ Tony S May 11, 2017 ]

5 answers

Stop working after a year do not buy this brand

[ juan May 14, 2017 ]

I installed this about a year ago and no issues. High quality camera too.

[ Chris May 13, 2017 ]

I have had mine installed for about a year and a half and I have had absolutely no problems with it.

[ Clifford May 13, 2017 ]

Installed in my daughters car March 2016. Still working with no issues.

[ Robert May 12, 2017 ]

I've had it in for a little over a year now still working fine only problem was not adjustable I had to make an angled base still working good

[ Anthony May 12, 2017 ]

Where are people mounting this on Mustangs? I'm assuming in the flat area to the side of the license plate light?

[ MICHAEL Apr 20, 2017 ]

1 answer

On my 2008 Mustang, there's a horizontal piece above the license plate. I mounted my camera there so it looks aft just above the license plate. Works great and it's barely noticeable on the car.

[ Steve Apr 21, 2017 ]

Can the camera be mounted on top of pickup cab? I want to view my trailer while towing.

[ Tu May 18, 2016 ]

1 answer

Yeah that should work. I'm guessing you'll mount it inverted (on top of the cab)? I know you can flip the screen from right to left. I'm pretty sure you can also flip it from top to bottom (although I'm not 100% sure).

[ Steve May 19, 2016 ]

I do not have a built in monitor. What aftermarket monitor would you recommend to use with this camera?

[ David Apr 22, 2016 ]

3 answers

sorry I can't help you. I chose a new JVC 1 din deck to act as the display.

[ joseph Apr 23, 2016 ]

I used a kenwood ddx and it works perfectly with the camera. The picture is really clear and night time visibility is excellent. This unit also is an excellent system which offers tons of features and sound fantastic. You will not be disappointed. Thanks

[ alex Apr 22, 2016 ]

Dave I bought the Boss GPS double din and it works great. Good luck!

[ SERGIO F Apr 22, 2016 ]

Will this camera work on a Ford Explorer? I have a flat surface above the license plate that is parallel to the ground...I believe this is where the factory camera is usually mounted.

[ David Apr 22, 2016 ]

2 answers

This camera should work as long as its bolted onto a flat surface parallel to the ground (similar to a factory location). It will not work if you bolt it on to a vertical surface. The image will be upside down.

[ Victor Apr 24, 2016 ]

I'm not sure, but I will say that I mounted mine on the float spot above the rear license plate on my Corvette, parallel to the ground and it works very well. The lens is angled about 45 degrees down in this mounting position. The camera body is metal and durable and the camera works well in low light in my application. I have disabled the back-up lines on the screen as they are meaningless at the fairly low height my camera is mounted. My head unit is a Pioneer with the pop- screen and the camera operates perfectly with it. A hole saw for installation was even included in the package which was awesome and made installation a piece of cake on the 'vette. If there is enough room to mount the camera securely, it should work well on your vehicle.

[ John Apr 23, 2016 ]

What type of lens does this camera have? Plastic or glass?

[ Kevin Dec 30, 2015 ]

2 answers

Feels and looks like glass to me.

[ Victor Jan 03, 2016 ]

Glass

[ Christina Dec 30, 2015 ]

Where is the best place to mount the cam? I have an F150 pickup and wanted to mount it in the bumper.

[ Rob Dec 19, 2015 ]

2 answers

I would look at another camera as this one is to be mounted horizontally under a licence plate area. Unless you have such and area then it is a waste of time. I would look at one of the specific cameras that integrate or replace the handle in the tail gate. I used this under the lip above the licence plate of my Lexus. You could build a custom bracket, otherwise, you won't like the resulting view.

[ Robert Dec 20, 2015 ]

I mounted mine in the tailgate handle....fail, image upside down. Next choice would have been in the bumper facing up...may still move it...spare time holds me back. May just see if I can flip the lens.

[ eric Dec 19, 2015 ]

will this camera hook up to the factory uconnect 5.0 radio? If so are there instructions or wiring harness

[ Darryl Oct 31, 2015 ]

1 answer

It should hook up to your factory wiring, but you'll need to know the proper connections. Replacing the radio and purchasing the adapter harness makes it easier, but if you can identify reverse power in your harness, it should work. You might also want to hit up the Crutchfield support people with this question.

[ Steve Nov 02, 2015 ]

What are the dimensions of the actual camera body?

[ COLIN Aug 03, 2015 ]

1 answer

I forwarded your question to an Advisor and they responded with the following: Width 1.1875" Height 0.8125" Depth 1.25" If you would like to discuss further you can contact an Advisor directly by phone (1-800-324-9695) or online chat.

[ KRISTINA Aug 06, 2015 ] Staff

There are 2 blue wires and 2 white wire coming from this camera and camera did not come with wiring diagram. What are these wires for?

[ Don Jun 08, 2015 ]

3 answers

My guess is they are for back up sensor input. I imagine it would display color coded lines or blocks similar to back up systems that come from the factory. My head unit will not power up so I have not been able to test my theory but hope to have a working one soon so I can test it out.

[ JEREMY Jun 13, 2015 ]

Here is the wiring functions: Red: +12V power (from reverse light) Black: ground Yellow RCA: Video feed White thin wire on camera cable: Guide line delete (connect together and insulate to remove guide lines) Blue thin wire on camera cable: Reverse image (connect together and insulate for horizontal reverse image)

[ Charles Jun 11, 2015 ]

If you purchased the product from Crutchfield, feel free to contact our Tech Support team. Our toll-free Tech Support number is printed on your invoice, and is also available under the "My Orders" tab in the "My Account" section of our website. If you did not purchase the unit from Crutchfield, then you may want to contact the manufacturer. You can also post your question in our forums: http://community.crutchfield.com. Or try our online support center: http://crutchfield.custhelp.com/app/answers/list/kw/.

[ Jeff Jun 10, 2015 ] Staff

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