Best plug -n-play dash cam for my 2020 Tacoma

I know I know,
another dash cam thread but this one is personal. After I found out they make dash cams that plug directly into the 3rd gen Tacoma's rear view mirror, I had to have one. Those stupid cables and wires hanging down from the windshield to the cigarette lighter are too sloppy and annoying for my taste. And I don't have the knowledge or the resources to hard wire so forget that.

I was looking hard and fast online and the only "plug -n -play I found was the Garmin mini, with the additional cost of the Dongar 12-pin adapter, a 12 inch left angle cable, and a sim card, I was off and running for about $140 out the door. I love it. Easy to install and easy to operate.

Then my son wanted one for his 2016 Tacoma but he wanted one that must have the "parking mode" feature. I found the "Garmin mini 2" provided this feature and I wanted to get this for his birthday next month but Dongar and Amazon have suspended the 12-pin adapter needed for 3rd gen's. WTF ?

So I'm at a stand still; are there other "plug -n- play dash cams that mount to the rear view mirror or is Garmin the only one ?

 

I just went on the Dongar Technologies site and put the adaptor in my cart and started checkout without a problem. What makes you think Dongar suspended them?

https://dongar.tech/products/12pin-tacoma?

 

That's what I thought too and when you go to their webpage and click on purchase it goes to an Amazon window button that states "Temporary Unavailable". I'm not the sharpest computer knife in the drawer but I do know what "Temporary Unavailable" means.

 

They were having counterfeit issues on Amazon.

 

Did you click the Product Page button on their site instead of the Amazon button? I was able to get it in the cart that way.

 

Wow, thank you both. And yes after I clicked on "product page", it took me right to check-out. I just bought the Dongar adapter and the Garmin mini 2. Thanks to both of you. God I love this website......

 

Glad I could help your spend your money

 

Yeah no shi*.

 

The parking mode feature requires constant power to the unit.

 

Oops, didn't know that. So how do I fix that ?

 

Its much cheaper for me to live vicariously through you Truth be told I've been looking at this for a couple of weeks now but still am not convinced it's something I need.

 

Shoot an email to Dongar. I am sure there is a way to supply constant power to the unit.

 

From Dongar:

• This power adapter is ignition-switched (the camera gets power only when the vehicle ignition is switched on!). ADAPTER IS NOTCOMPATIBLE WITH PARKING MODE.
• Compatibility questions? Please email us at support@dongartechnologies.com

 

Oh brother let me tell you.....I convinced myself about a dashcam years ago but just couldn't stand the site of those hanging wires. I've had mine less then a month and this thing shows everything. I've had three, near enemy contacts from crazy drivers all up and down I-35 between Dallas and Des Moines. I save the "close calls" videos and transfer them to my home computer in the event I have to show them to a Judge and or Jury. These dashcams rock !

 

I can see what you mean. It's kind of like insurance. You will probably pay and never need it, but if you need it and don't have it you will wish you did. If I do this I'll get the mini vs the mini 2, pay a little less and use the dongle since I don't have to worry about having constant power. Not wild about the thought of it drawing on the battery all the time, there is enough stuff in the truck doing that already.

 

My Blackvue dashcam monitors current draw in parking mode . If it goes below a certain voltage threshold, the unit will suspend operation. Took mine about 7 days of sitting for that to happen. Only time it was parked for that long was when I was on vacation.

 

What model BlackVue? Wonder if they all do that. I have a DR590. Really want to hard wire it in someday.

 

The wires don’t have to be exposed. I have the DDPAI Mini 3 and ran the wires under the headliner and down the driver side pillar. Then get fuse taps for a nice neat permanent installation.

 

I have the 750x 2ch . It came with their Power Magic Pro kit which if I remember is what manages the voltage draw. Check that out on their site, Id imagine the 950 will work the same way with it.

 

Ya, mine is dual channel as well, the Power Magic Pro kit is pretty much where all my research has led me to.