TRD Pro Grill with Front Camera

Thanks for the detailed tutorial. I've been researching this, and it seems like what you did is what I'm going to do. Just to make sure... does the front camera switch toggle between rear and front after hitting the camera power button? So you hit power, and if that front camera is off, then the rear camera pops up?

 

Correct. That is how it is wired. The Camera power button is wired to power the rear camera for the Anytime Backup Camera to go on anytime. I also used that same power source to power the front camera. The Front camera button just toggles between the front and rear, with the camera power button in the on position. If it is in the off position, then the front camera button doesnt do anything. However, if you have you truck in reverse, if you toggle the front camera button on and off, it will only have the rear camera on, and the front camera will be blank, because there is no power to the front camera in this case. I hope it makes sense....

 

yeah, that makes sense. I have a switchpro on my wish list, so I'm thinking of powering the anytime backup/front camera from that. but from what I can tell in researching, I think I still need a non-powered switch to toggle between front and rear cameras.

Again, thanks for taking the time to write all that out, very concise and clear.

 

No Problem. LMK if I can answer any other questions. I did the actual install of the wiring and stuff a few month ago so I may not recall every detail. I thought I made some notes on how everything was wired, but I cant find it....

 

... spend money.

 

Some mods well spent, some, ....eh, not so much...

 

Thanks for the info! Now it is going to be my 2018 PROJECT.!

 

I like this, and it doesnt look super bank-breaking to do. We end up on alot of trails where you come over a blind breakover at the top of a ridge, and one of these would be crazy useful there before I drive off a cliff lol

 

@TacoTruck808, thanks... this is awesome. Looks like about $200+ if i do the math right.

One install question... how hard to run the switch wiring? love it in the center console above. I know that's easy to pull down... so what did you do from there?

Thanks.

 

Thanks for the detailed write up! I'm always appreciative of folks who take the time and effort to help the community like this.

 

Looks great. Might purchase now and install when it warms up. Thanks for adding all the links. Very helpful.

 

curious how you installed it to the grille?
pics?

 

There are ways to do this cheaper. There is a write up on here how to do this without using the plug and play harnesses and using regular spst switches that you can hide under the dash, but I wanted to do this right so was willing to spend the extra so I didn’t have to tap directly into the wiring behind the head unit.

Wasn’t that hard to run the wiring. I ran 2 pairs of wires from the switch in the upper console to the rear of the head unit. I ran the wires along the front edge of the headliner, then down the driver side a-pillar, just make sure it won’t interfear with the airbag should it need to be deployed, then under the dash and up to the head unit. Wasn’t that difficult. The console just pulls down, with some down force. Put your fingers between the console and headliner then pull down firmly. No screws holding it on. The a-pillar has 1 10mm screw that needs to be removed that is located under the airbag logo. It is a cover that can be pulled up with a pointed tool, just be careful not to mar the plastic. Just pull down and pull towards you. The plastic around the head unit also doesn’t have any screws. You need to get your fingers behind the plastic trim and dash, then pull firmly and evenly. Once you start hearing them unclick, evenly run your fingers around the entire trim until it pops off. Then remove the 4 10mm screws and the head unit comes right out.

 

I used hot glue to mount the camera to the grill. Here is a picture from the back. It’s a little dark so hopefully you can see it. It just started raining so I had to do it quick.

 

wow didnt know u can do front camera, anyone has info on that, i would love to have that for offroading, one thing toyota dropped ball on.

 

Do you know if I bought the front camera relay that you posted if I could attach that to this set up?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...e-navigation-override-smartphone-mirr.501617/

I like the idea of having a switch to access front camera rather than going into av on head unit and losing audio to do so.

 

I am not really sure how the HAI cable works if it is using the reverse cameras inputs or the AUX inputs. I know the way the front camera relay works is using the input to the factory head units reverse camera inputs so it allows the cameras to be switched back and forth without switching to AUX.

 

I think it should work. I guess worse case scenario it doesn’t work and I’m out $65.

 

You did a great job and the view of the cam is much better than mine. Mine worked fine w/o avid bumper guard but after the installation, i cant tell the distance.
Here is mine.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2016-trd-sports-dclb-build-in-japan.476901/

 

Great write up! Definitely sub'ing. Had a quick question regarding how the display works. Just so I'm understanding this correctly, if your display is on the home screen and at any time you want to see the rear or front camera, you simply hit the power button and the display automatically changes to the camera view? No interaction needed on your head unit?