Officially a Tacoma Owner now!

I just put down my $$ on a 2008 Radiant Red DCLB 4.0 automatic Prerunner SR5 with 112K miles. I pick it up tomorrow after I get the loan check from the credit union to them. Its got a few paint faults - some minor scrapes and scratches - but mechanically it looks really good according to a Honda/Toyota mechanic I trust. I'll post up photos in a day or so.

I'm psyched up, and looking to do a few things to it: I want to install a nice double DIN head unit that can act as a backup cam screen, and improve the speakers. To that end, has anyone used the tailgate handle backup camera like this. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toyota-Taco...419460?hash=item2828a25684:g:xYcAAOSwyjBW61Q7 Anybody know if this is worth using?

What about speakers? I'm not a subwoofer guy, so I'm looking for replacements with decent (not thumping) bass. I'd like to get a pair for the front which will support mounting tweeters in their place in the door panel, and rears of the same type/series which have integrated tweeters.... does this exist? (I've been out of car stereo for a couple decades now so have no clue).

I'm sure I'll be bothering you all with loads of questions soon, but I'll stop here for now.

Geoff

 

Oh, sorry, one other thing I thought of. My truck doesn't have cup holders in front of the shifter - just a rectangular bin. Is there any retrofit for cup holders? We're coffee hounds, and one just isn't going to cut it!

Thanks again!

 

I can't answer your questions but congrats on the truck and welcome to the TW.
I suggest you post your question over on the audio thread.

 

Congrats and welcome!

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/yeti-style-cup-holder-insert-for-sale.473078/

 

Congrats and welcome to TW. I have not tried the handle camera like that one, but if you try it, post a review. I need to upgrade to a better camera on my '07 Prerunner.

 

Will do.

 

The rectangular bin is supposed to have an adjustable divider for two cups in it.

Like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/282221236185?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true


Your going to need adapters for your replacement speakers, that will allow you to fit them in the factory location. I don't know if ********* is still around, but that's where I got mine years ago.

 

all I did was this.

 

Don't buy it I got one from Amazon same manufacturer master tailgaters.... it is ok in the day time but at night it sucks...and no lines on the camera screen not a big deal for me but the lack of night vision sucks!

 

@airrage do you know what model that is or remember where you got it? Is that a mount bracket screwed to the handle housing? It kind of hard to see the detail for me.

 

Don't go by these older pics it actually fits better like its factory installed. Made final adjustments a week later. More flush. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/android-head-unit-complete-install.402962/

 

Congratulations and welcome to one of the best online communities!

 

Thanks all for all the welcomes! Much appreciated!

 

@airrage I may have just missed it but I didn't see any model information or ordering info for the backup camera in the thread you linked. Do you have that info handy?

 

both front and rear camera came with the headunit. I think you can get all for $250 now. have to check out the site

 

After doing some searching, it looks like it is a Boyo Vision vtb16b. I didnt look around much, but saw it on Amazon for about $27. Can be flush or bracket mounted.

 

Unless you're set on the tailgate handle factory type mount, I really like one I put on my Ram above the license plate. It does good in low light and routing has to be easier than fishing through the tailgate. Mine came from Crutchfield and had a discount when I purchased a radio, however Amazon has it for much cheaper.

$25 Pyle RV Backup Camera for Car, Waterproof Marine-Grade with License Plate Cam - Built-in Distance Scale Lines Slim Bar Cam w/ 420 TVL Resolution Adjustable Lens, RCA Video Cable, 10'' x 1.3'' x 1.3’’

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0079R2MH6

I've got an aftermarket headunit in my truck and honestly the video quality isn't that great with the factory Tacoma camera. I've thought about putting this camera on my Tacoma to see if I can improve quality. The headunits in my Ram and Tacoma are the same so I figure it'll do pretty good, plus I can remove the 12V to 6V converter to power the factory camera.


This one taps into the reverse light for a trigger and camera power and uses 12V. It has guide lines but they can be removed by clipping a wire.


For the head unit, I would definitely recommend the Scosche bezel over the Metra unit. The Metra one came with the head unit from Crutchfield for free and I bought the Scosche bezel. Much better quality in this case. I remember the Metra had a lot more gaps. The Scosche had a snug fit and a very small gap along the very bottom of the radio opening when the headunit was mounted. I put a strip of electrical tape across it but don't think I would have noticed it anyway.

Regarding speakers, I used a Alpine SPR-60C component set and ********* tweeter mount.

It fits in the doors and can handle the power the headunit puts out. That's all I've done with mine.

Read on the Alpine set I had, if you use it keep in mind there is a plug I believe you have to keep in place to allow both speakers in the door to work correctly. It's not difficult at all, but it's been so long I don't remember exactly what it went to. It didn't take me long at all to figure out what was going on just by following the wire. I then cut the factory plug that fed the other factory speakers that were removed, plugged it in and was golden. Sorry to be vauge, hope this helps though!