Looking for front video camera for off roading and parking

Hi,

Has anyone investigated a front video camera for off roading and parking. Going through tight rocky areas, I thought this might be useful to view realtime from the cab.

I saw this

$27 iNewcow Car Front View Logo Embeded Camera for Toyota with CCD Waterproof IP67 Wide Degree (Middle)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P2EN5J2

And was looking to see if someone already has experience/thoughts in this area.

I did not find a thread on this but maybe I missed it.

Thanks for any help.

 

I've seen some posts about it before. I purchased a slightly different, yet to install it though.

 

Been thinking the same thing ... I want to rig it up to come on in 1st, like how the rear comes on in R.

 

I just got all the components together and will be installing it this weekend. I will have the front camera being able to be activated on screen at any time with a OEM style push button. While the reverse will still work like stock. So far here are my components list and price;
1)28pin OEM Radio T harness $13
2)2X1 Rca video auto splitter $24
3)OEM style camera button $13
4)front camera $20

So for about ~$70 total cost and will look factory

 

When are you going to start selling these? I needs it.

 

Ya.... we're going to need links to those items, as well as a detailed install write up. haha

 

Another awesome mod!! I want this for my Taco too. I'm planning on pulling the iQ switch and use that slot for the front camera switch.
Update: I finished up my install (Posted as “Throwing Codes”) as I had a brain fart during a late night install. Here are a few pics.

 

I am doing the same..

 

+1 on links and write up @mesojdm

 

In... this is on my to-do list after my first wheeling trip... can't see over the hood in this thing!

 

Good thing you don't have a Sport and have to try to look over that Scoop.

 

So you've never had the fun of having a buddy walking in front of you with a rag tied to a fishing pole so you could stay on the track? The old Blazers were impossible to see over their hoods when the angles got steep! Been at pucker factor 10 more than once!!!

 

Edit

 

I have that exact camera installed. Not super happy with it, but its a lot better than nothing. I might eventually replace it but not right now...
I used the following thread to design my wiring.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ass-homelink-smartphone-mirroring-mod.473033/
I went with a no-cut harness method to splice all my wires into, so that I wouldn't have to splice into my factory harness.

A few pictures of the result. Sorry about the large size, I am normally a lurker and don't know what I am doing.

Pictures of the head unit are with the garage doors shut with window illumination, and the garage door open. The two switches are my front and rear view anytime camera, and nav override switches.

 

This one claims to fit the toyota badge...
https://www.rearviewsafety.com/forw...MI0vfGsZfw1QIVViOBCh146gbYEAQYDCABEgIwbPD_BwE

 

Been wanting front camera

 

hi... just saw your post. i have the anytime front/rear camera setup. i haven't installed it just yet, but will be very soon. the little switch on the left; is that a mini SPDT switch? and why do you have a NAV over ride switch? when do you need to use the NAV over ride?

 

The LH switch is a little SPDT switch with On-Off-On positions from digikey.com

Nav override primarily lets a passenger type addresses into the nav system. It can be permanently overridden, but it seems to permanently reduce the gps refresh rate if you do. Don't use that switch very often, but might as well do it while I had harnesses opened up.

Feel free to ask any other questions.

 

i seem to be having a hell of a time trying to find a "MINI" dpdt switch that will fit in the place you put yours on. then again, you just said that it is a SPDT switch. i thought that a DPDT was needed to operate the front/rear anytime camera mod. do you have a direct link to that mini spdt switch?

 

It is very hard to find a DPDT switch that is small that will fit there, so I put a SPDT.
https://www.digikey.com/products/en?keywords=EG5440-ND

Especially with electronics, there are an inifinte number of ways to skin a cat. Some methods definitely have advantages. The method I used has some more parts, but I like how clean it came out. My version of the wiring uses diodes and a DPDT relay and SPDT switch was inspired by @Abec23 here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...martphone-mirroring-mod.473033/#post-14341706 with some personal mods such as I am switching camera power with the spdt switch and camera signal with soft relay.
Note, I would NOT use the relay I used the first time, as it was too hard to solder wires to, but this is what I used.
https://www.digikey.com/products/en?keywords=399-11029-5

Basically, for the rear camera position, the switch just powers 12v into the backup wire. For the forward camera position, the switch powers 12v into the backup wire and switches the relay to send front camera signals to the head unit. The diodes are used to keep the functions from happening all the time.

Edited to clarify changes I made to the referenced wiring.