Front view camera

Hello,
New to the forum, have a 2017 Tundra and bought a TRD Sport Tacoma for my daughter after her RAV4 was totaled after someone rear ended her.

Looking to install a front view camera in the Tacoma, was thinking about using the beat sonic interface, works well in my tundra. My question is since the radar sensor is in the emblem in the grill does anyone have a recommendation on a camera? Looking to install below the emblem in the grill. Thanks.

 

I am gonna watch this one. I need a camera up there myself.

 

@Logistics91 makes a cool kit for this

 

does he still? Dudes been MIA from that thread for awhile now

 

Very true. He isn't even updating that thread like he started to do in the beginning.

 

I've been using this setup:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...e-navigation-override-smartphone-mirr.501617/

Works like a champ.

 

I like that your schematic uses a SPDT switch, allows for much more creative switch locations. Most schematics people draw for anytime fwd/aft cameras use dpdt, which are a lot biggger.

However, I just want to ask about a few things, if you have used this schematic on your vehicle as drawn.

I recall Toyotas rear camera as being 6V, but circuit appears to be applying 12V. Am I wrong about the rear camera voltage? Has that caused issues, or are you using a 12v camera in the rear?

What happens in reverse with the camera in forward position? Does that cause garbled video? (It appears both cameras are transmitting video in this situation)

 

I used the Beat Sonic kit: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacomarin’s-chubby-unicorn-build.536001/page-2#post-17729398

I used this camera:

E-Kylin Auto Vehicle Automobile Car Front View Camera Forward Cam with No Grid Lines Non Mirror Image 12V Waterproof Safety Driving No Blind Spot

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017GC4GTA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I just mounted it with VHB tape and it has been holding fine.
I've been meaning to do a write-up on it. Actually, I did one, but then didn't post it and it deleted itself. The Beat Sonic kit is nice because it uses one switch for front and any time rear camera. It sucks because the switch only fits in the small switch blanks, and they don't make any other switches. I only had a large switch blank open so the small switch wasn't going to work. So I bought another front-camera push button switch that fit the larger blank, opened up the Beat Sonic switch and put the guts of it inside of a larger switch. Fortunately it works perfectly. The other weird thing with the Beat Sonic kit (maybe all of the kits?) is that if I unhook the battery, the camera no longer works. I have to have the truck on, then make the connections. No idea why, but it works fine when I do that.

 

I'd strongly recommend @Logistics91 's kit. I can't speak to his apparent lack of activity lately, but the kit he makes is great and he's very responsive. My kit had a jacked relay and he worked with me to triage and send out a new kit on a holiday weekend. It's also pretty easy to wire in.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/anytime-front-and-rear-camera-mod.542285/

e: he also 3d prints switch panels for the cubby, and it's 2 separate switches for front and rear. Unsure on why you'd want only 1 switch for two cameras, but to each their own

 

i need one of these just to drive the sport with the stupid hood scoop

 

First of all I can't take credit for the schematic, that was done by someone here much smarter than me. The rear camera is stock and I haven't had any issues with it. The diodes that you see in the schematic keep everything in order as far as the signals goes (if you don't know how they work, think of them as a one way gate). You can leave the front camera on while driving.

 

If you have that exact schematic installed..
What do you get on the screen with truck in reverse, but switch on front camera at the same time? (Not that it is very likely, but I designed my circuit to stay on the front camera in that situation, and I am not sure what this circuit will do).

Thanks

 

I don't recall if I modified the schematic or used as is but mine will show the front camera anytime I have the front camera selected.

 

I purchased the kits from anytimebackupcamera.com. At the same time I installed a navigation override (tricks the truck inot thinking its stopped so you can access various etune menu items, including some navigation ones like address entry) as everything was apart doing the other stuff.

People have mentioned you can make something much cheaper than the prices of these kits, and I have no doubt that's true. I just wanted something pretty well put together and with some support (the guy who sells this is pretty responsive to emails, and I think even talked with folks on the phone).

I used a DPDT switch for my cameras... one side turns on the backup camera, the other side the front one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MARINE-BOA...uck+Car+RV&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=m570.l1313

 

I did the anytimebackupcameramod or whatever his website is. It works well and doesn’t involve cutting into factory harness, which I will NOT do.

I went with CH4x4 switches and love them. If I did it again I’d probably go with the newer switch mounts for the middle of the center. Just so I can see them that’s all.

I picked the camera that @Captqc used but after literally 5 cameras I determined it was not meant for me. I then used a cheap Amazon camera and mounted in one of the holes where the air dam would be. Although I did take it off when I replaced the grill, got lazy and didn’t put back on till about a month ago. The connections were rusty and don’t work so I’ll have to order another and re-run the wiring....

 

Ya always get a guy complaining that is wallet is too fat.

 

Would by chance have a pic of the back of your switch after it was wired?

 

@wink4x4 I don't, but I have a diagram that I asked people to check over. In that diagram is how I wired the switch, but see below.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...or-front-rear-camera-and-nav-override.531182/

One thing though, I couldn't run the camera and the relay on the same circuit in series (the image flickered, which I think was the current going through the relay?), but I might have put them in parralel, or had the camera power up when the truck started on separately from this switch. I can try to take a look at how I wired the camera.

 

there is also this option
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...-05&sprefix=crux+v,aps,266&crid=191G0PMKOGSM0

it adds a AUX button to the app scree on the head unit that turns on the front camera.