Dash Camera Choices?

Thank you! With your setup does the camera turn on only when the vehicle is on?
I might need to run mine through the A pillar down into the fuse area because I use parking mode once in a while and THIS allows me to manually control power when the vehicle is off. It also turns off automatically to prevent battery discharge. The module is small enough that I can mount it near the headliner if the ports in the mirror are "always on"

I have the SG version and i'm waiting for a dual channel to be released. There's a possibility it'll be released around the holidays...

 

When I start the engine, it starts recording. When I turn the power off, it saves the video and then shuts down.

It has a motion-sensor mode that I have turned off. I assume that if it were on, without the vehicles power, it would begin recording and use its capacitor to record. This almost has to be how it works or it'd just sit there and record when I had the ignition turned off. But I'm not sure.

SB

 

The capacitor gives it just enough juice to "close" the video file (prevent corrupted files from unexpected shutdown) and shut down properly. The capacitor replaced small batteries in the older generation dash cams because over time they go bad considering the amount of heat/sun it's exposed so where as a capacitor will not be affected and wear down like a tiny battery.

Looks like i'll have to run the wire down.. no biggie, it's just such a clean setup you have.

 

Subd

 

Have had my Thinkware F770 installed for a week now and its pretty awesome. i picked it up with the rear camera, and hardwire harness, and 8gb microsd card for 374 shipped.

Its nice having the motion detecton on when its parked. also night video quality is nice and clear.

 

Nice. Did you pull power from the overhead console or did you pull it from the fuse panel?

 

I used the fuse panel

 

Put in my order for an F770 dual today. I know how to get the A pillar trim off, need to look up how to get behind the rear trim panels.

 

I decided to reuse my Mobius from my subaru:

Spytec Mini HD Lightweight Mobius Sports Action Dash Camera 1080p 30 fps HD Video Recorder with Loop Recording

https://www.amazon.com/Mobius-Action-Camera-1080P-Sports/dp/B00DP1WYD2

It attaches to the gopro mount with:
clip -

2X Black Buckle Basic Strap Mount Clips for GoPro HD Hero 3 2 1 Camera

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FZMIJBU
custom thumb screw -

$10 Smatree 3pcs Long Alumunium Thumbscrew Compatible for Gopro 11, Max, Gopro Session, Hero Fusion, 109876, 5, 4, 3+, 3, 2, 1,GoPro Hero 2018/DJI OSMO Action Cameras

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IE3JDSU
3D printed adapter - http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:538670

I bought an 12v to 5v converter from Amazon that I pulled the ceiling panel out and velcroed/double sided tape to the ceiling of the truck:

DC Converter,GEREE DC Buck Module 12V to 5V 3A USB Output Step Down Voltage Regulator Charge for Samsung Galaxy ，iPad iPhone 4S 5 6/6 Plus etc.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O6R9PCC

I ran a dedicated power line through the headliner (fish tape) then inside the pillar panel (easy remove with two bolts, zip tied to existing wiring out of the way) then fish taped down to the kick plate. From here it runs through a grommet in the firewall to the engine compartment an is then wired to a relayed fuse in my custom fuse box. It has 5v3A of power when the truck is on.

I could totally take pictures one of these days, but I'm not opening up the panels again.

 

You don't have to remove any panels, just use a small plastic pry tool and run the wires under the headliner. Just pull weatherstrip off the top of the drivers side doors and run wire in the channel between the headliner or apiller.

 

Yeah, I know I could do it that way, but would rather do it the way I described. I believe I know how to get in there now, I'll know for sure when I dig into it next week.

 

So on the 3rd gen Tacomas, do you need to buy the mini, small or medium fuse tap kit?

 

It uses Low-Profile Mini fuses, so you'll want whichever matches that. I'm unsure what "small" or "medium" refer to, those don't match the known automotive fuse types. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuse_(automotive)

 

For those of you running dual cameras, why not fish the cables from the overhead
console to the mid headliner light and then to the back window. The overhead
console comes down easily with a straight downward pull, disconnect one
connector on the driver's side and you have access to the area between the
headliner and roof. The mid headliner light comes down the same way, providing
an entry point for a wire fish. From there all you have to do is run straight back
to the rear window. Excess cabling can be pulled to one of the b-pillars or c-pillars,
which have plenty of room to accommodate the excess cabling. I am looking at
the Thinkware F770 Dual and that is how I intend to run my cables.

 

That sounds like a pretty good mix. Are you buying a premade harness for wiring or building your own?

 

On my truck there's a pesky sunroof in the way for going across the middle, and I didn't want to blindly fish anything around the side curtain airbags at the sides.

 

I guess that's the luxury of having a Limited! I just have a Sport and have already removed the
headliner to insulate the roof (2 layers of EzCool), so I know there is plenty of room up there to
fish wires. Playing around the air bags is not too bad if you disconnect the battery first. I will most
likely just use the harness that comes with the cameras and store the excess cable in one of the
after corner posts.

 

I will most likely just use the harness that comes with the cameras and store the excess cable in one of the after corner posts.

 

*shrug* whichever works for you. I have an OR by the way.

Anyhow, running the single wire down the C pillar and up the drivers side threshold along with the other wiring was quick and easy. Threshold panels pop right off and I was already running power down the A pillar anyway.

 

Do you ever notice your Mobius shutting down shortly after powering up or the record lights staying solid?
Mine is running to a USB plug to my center console arm rest, using the capacitor and 1:4 times of powering up the truck it will turn on for a few minutes then completely shut off or I will look over to see the record lights staying solid. I unplug the mini usb for 10 seconds, plug it back in and its back to normal.

Cant figure out why