Backup Cam/Trail Cam

Hey everyone, I'm looking for some advice on an aftermarket head unit. I just added an infant to the family so my '04 double cab has been on daycare duty quite a bit lately. In the interest of not running over small humans, the budget committee has approved a backup cam. As long as I'm getting a backup cam, I'd really like to get a head unit that can support a front facing camera as well. I see a bunch of "2nd camera" options on Crutchfield but it's tough to tell how easy it is to access the 2nd camera.

So, what headunit(s) out there have a quick option for accessing the 2nd camera? Since I'm planing to use is as an off-road spotter type, I'd really like a double-din touchscreen unit with an icon on that I could easily push to get to the 2nd cam

Thank you!

 

That's a good question. I've been wondering about that too.

I wonder if a dedicated screen/camera setup would be better?

I have a rear-facing camera for my RV trailer (wireless), and it's always on, and super easy (one button) to switch cameras. There are even ones with dual screens (both cameras at same time).

I seem to remember a few older threads where people have like 34 cameras hooked up: under frame, side facing, ditch, etc...

 

Man you just missed out on a bunch of sales. What's your budget?
I just got this guy it has front cam options. Was $250 a couple of days ago.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_113DMX7706/Kenwood-DMX7706S.html

 

Awesome post @Tulsane as I've been wanting the exact same thing.

@chrslefty that HU looks awesome, it says it easily switches between two paired phones- this has been a bane of all of my bluetooth products- and it has that designated camera button. Looks perfect, and I've always liked Kenwood.

I hope you can show this feature in action soon (like an optest of putting the truck in reverse, rear camera shows, put into drive, press camera button, front camera shows)- I'm super curious and this could finally get me out of the OEM headunit (been using a GROM PNP unit to give the OEM a lot of functionality though).


Ahhh Tacoma World... once again...

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/show-off-your-head-unit-stereo.639423/page-2#post-22071608
@Kwikvette
I don't have mine installed yet. Hopefully soon.
Ask the guy in the link if he can elaborate on it . I I remember correctly it will switch from the rear to the front for a sec automatically.

 

I have the

$280 Alpine ILX W650 Digital Multimedia Receiver with CarPlay and Android Auto Compatibility

Alpine ILX W650 - pretty budget friendly and checks all of your boxes. Bunch of discussion on it around here if you take a look around.

 

lols the budget committee, feels.

 

I swear there needs to be a disclaimer before joining this site. Or better yet at the top of the page.

 

I installed a backup camera when I put the topper on my truck. It's pretty much impossible to parallel park without the camera.
I thought about putting a screen in the dash, but the positioning is so low that it's a pain to have to look down, then back up at your mirrors. Because of this I decided to put in a rear view mirror that has a screen built in.
I went with this one, but there are a ton of copies just like it

$200 Master Tailgaters 10.5" OEM Rear View Mirror with 4.3" LCD Screen + Dimming + Compass & Temperature | Rearview Universal Fit | Auto Adjusting Brightness LCD | Anti Glare | Original Mirror Replacement

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KDT4WHY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It has 2 video inputs, one for reverse with a trigger, and one that will come on when a camera gets power.

 

I recommend

Dasaita Android 11 Car Stereo for Toyota Tacoma 2016 2017 2018 Radio for Toyota Corolla 2017 2018 Dash for Toyota Sienna 2015 2016 2017 2018 with 9" Screen GPS Navigation 2GB Ram 32GB ROM Head Unit

Dasaita - front and rear camera capability at an affordable price.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/dasaita-head-unit-for-2nd-gen-tacoma.620084/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...e-carplay-wireless-and-oem-audio-plus.620897/

 

I have a Sony XAV200 with a forward facing camera and I can change from my back camera to my front by hitting HOME>SETTINGS>CAMERA>FRONT CAMERA. It takes me a couple seconds and I can't really do it when I'm moving over rough ground because the truck is rocking too much. I need to be sitting still.
I like the stereo a lot. Great sound. Android Auto and Apple Carplay. I got it from Amazon as an Open-box item for $280. Looks great in the truck.

 

I was just looking to purchase this mirror. As far as switching inputs, it just depends which camera is getting power? I wanted to install a 3 position rocker switch, with position 1 powering front camera, position 2 powering rear camera and position 3 allowing the rear camera to be powered when in reverse. Would this setup be possible with this mirror? I can’t seem to find good documentation on it.

 

I'll leave this nugget here. To give credit I found it on TW so credit to whomever found it first.

JCOLI 4 Way Car Video Switch Parking Camera 4 View Image Split Screen Control Box

JCOLI 4 Way Car Video Switch Parking Camera 4 View Image Split Screen Control Box

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074X4WBBS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_5Y47DbTZTFYQ1

 

There are 2 total video cable leads (yellow RCA plug).
One of these is labeled "reverse" and is activated when power is sent down the reverse trigger wire.
The other is activated whenever the camera connected to it gets power.

I used a video splitter and connected the rear camera to both video connections. This allowed me to turn on the rear whenever (using the button on the mirror), or automatically when in reverse (with the rev trigger wire connected obviously).
To do this I had to wire the camera to come on whenever the truck was on.
There are 2 downsides to this: It would degrade the video signal and the camera would come on the screen right when I started the truck. I would then have to turn it off by holding the button on the mirror down. This got annoying after a while and I eventually disconnected it from the "front" camera input since I never really used it anyway.

From what I understand, the "reverse" video cable will only activate when power is sent down the trigger wire.
To use your 3 way switch, you would need to send power down this wire in position 2, to activate the rear camera anytime. All you have to do is put a diode on your reverse trigger so power doesn't go to your reverse lights.
Then position 1 of your switch would send power to your front camera, which is connected to the "front" or other camera video cable.
Position 3 would just be "off" or "auto" unless you wanted a way to disable the reverse camera while in reverse. Then you would need a 4 position.

For this I believe you need a DPDT (double pole, double throw) switch.

Does that make sense?

 

That's pretty cool!

 

Makes perfect sense, thanks!

 

Any of these above options work as a dash cam as well, such as having an SD card and menu option to record loops?

 

How easy is it to see small objects on that screen? I imagine it works pretty well showing where your bumper is in relation to another parked car but I'd also like to use mine as a trail-cam. Is that screen detailed enough to self-spot and pick a good line through rocks?

 

I like the size of that thing but man, it sure sticks out! Looking through your build thread, all I saw were pictures of that from basically straight on. What does it look like from the side and/or the driver's position? Can you access your HVAC controls very well? Seems like it covers those slightly

 

I've actually been looking at these Sony's pretty hard. They seem like a great solution! How well does your front camera work for offroad spotting? Is the screen bright enough and does it have enough detail to see the trail pretty well in full sunlight? That isn't too bad of a process to turn on the front camera. Once you turn it on, will it stay on or does it time out and you have to repeat all those steps?

How quickly does it take for that Sony to start up when you turn the truck on? Can you just jump in and use the reverse cam or do you have to wait a minute after starting the truck for it to turn on?