Backup Camera for 2013

The dealership quoted near $700 for a backup camera for my truck.

Said it would show up on my rear view mirror and I would need to run the wiring harness.

Truck came with the wiring harness ran to my tailgate handle.

My radio is touch screen.

Why would I want to run it to my rear view mirror?

Am I wrong in thinking all I need is the camera and do a plug and play to the wiring harness already there.

If so what is a good brand of camera to look at.

 

I prefer it in the rear view mirror (where mine is). When you back up you look in the rear view mirror naturally, not the dashboard. Only con is I like the larger size display of the dashboard cam

 

My 2013 has the monitor on the left side of the rear view mirror, not sure but I think they moved it to the radio screen in 2014. There have been a few factory cameras with the tailgate handle for sale here, I would wait for one of those to pop up, and see if your mirror has the wire harness for it. Wish I could help more.

 

MY13 was the last year for back up cam in the rear view, where it should be, and it is plug and play with the camera if you are pre-wired.

 

You want it there, it seems easier to view. My wife's '12 Highlander has it in the dash above the radio. It seems awkward for me to view it.... I like the rear view mirror monitor instead.

 

So if I have the wiring harness going to the tail gate handle, how can I tell if I have everything else needed for the camera to work at the mirror?

Dealership said I would need to run harness to mirror.

I'm not sure what I am looking for at the mirror.

I assume my mirror is ready to go?

Is there a site I can search for answers?

Thanks for all your help.

 

Probably not a good assumption. There are a lot of variations on our mirrors (i.e., Auto-Dim/Compass/Temp/Backup Camera/Homelink). Depending on what's included, they get pretty pricey ($300+ for all the bells and whistles). The best source of info regarding mirrors is Bob (aka @RJP869) of Bob's Automotive Mirrors & More LLC. He provided solid advice (including some wiring details) and a smooth transaction when I upgraded my mirror last year.

 

https://camera-source.com/automotiv...tacoma-mirror-to-radio-camera-conversion.html

if you're positive you're prewired, a camera and this is all you need.

 

I thought about one of these, but wasn't sure I wanted to shift the camera display down. (Bigger is nicer, but it's also separated by some distance from the mirror I'm used to watching.)

Are you running one? If so, how do you like it? How easy was the install?

 

If your mirror is already setup for a camera then you should be able to look at the left corner and tell a difference in the mirror itself. Its not completley visible but if you have the camera monitor in there and you look hard enough you can see it. I can see mine pretty easy when not using the camera.

 

Thanks Norton for heads up on Bob's mirror. I will look him up.

Jwrose4, I looked at my mirror and can not tell any difference, so I'm thinking it is not wired and ready to go to the mirror.

I will do some more checking and see what Sr5vic is talking about also.

Thanks guys.

 

I believe @sr5vic is suggesting you skip the mirror altogether and leverage your existing prewire to connect a camera to your stereo's display. The primary advantages are a much larger display and no need to buy a new mirror. A disadvantage, IMO, is that the stereo display isn't conveniently located when using mirrors to backup.

 

im running one. super easy install because it came with amazing instructions, and it works perfect. i don't have the rear view mirror; my truck never came with the option. i just installed the oem camera and that harness. worked on my sr5....

 

I have a 2010 that had the rear camera displayed on the mirror. However. I converted it to a 2013 head unit and bough the camera source adapter to display the rear camera on the screen instead of the mirror. Here is a vidoe I made showing some of the wiring that I did using the Camera Source kit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlJcG1nqqGk

As far as searching. There are a few write ups done on here where guys without cameras did the conversion. Also, this video on You Tube might help you out. A guy converted his 2010 without a factory camera.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51qbO6UXAxg

 

I have seen the mirror camera but our Rav4 has the camera view in the radio.

I like the bigger view.

Going to research it more and make sure all my ducks are in a row.

Thanks guys

 

Why does your truck not have it already?


Its free to turn your head and look out the window as you back up. Lol

 

Do you have the temp / direction in your existing mirror? If so fiddle with your button(s) until you get to the user menu which will be the same screen as the back up camera. That will pretty much affirm if you have one.

 

No, mine does not have that.

 

Look out the window!!!!

I use my mirrors. I was thinking about getting lazy.

 

I love having it in the rear view mirror, wish they were all like that. I don't think it's right to look at the dashboard using reverse. Teaches bad habits.