Easy Reverse Cam Install on 2nd Gen

An aftermarket backup camera is an easy and cheap mod for older vehicles so of course I was going to do it for my Tacoma. Its a quick weekend job (though it took me a little longer because of the bitter cold in the northeast for a few days), so heres a little write up to help anyone along.


Pop off the tailgate cover- it's 10 or 12 #30 torx bit screws. that gives access to the 2 10mm bolts and clips for the release levers.




I choose to put the camera on the right side of the handle itself. There wasn't space on either ends where the bolts go and in the middle would have been annoying every time I needed to open the tailgate.


I routed the wires through one of the small slots at the bottom. I had to file it out with a dremel to make it big enough to the the RCA ends through.



In the past Ive gone through the firewall to bring the wires into the cab but on the Tacoma theres a wire bundle that goes through the bottom of the truck and pops out under the driver seat. I took the trim off and unbolted the seat to get good access to the grommet. Cut a small slot, pulled everything through, and sealed it back up with RTV.


In order to angle the camera downwards more I put a gasket on the back, shaved off a little bit of it on the bottom so it was fatter on the top, then I beveled the tailgate handle on the bottom some too so of that gasket would rest inside the groove to angle it down more. Its enough that I can see about 18" behind the bumper at car hood level.


Finished result on back of tailgate. Heat shrink tubing and wire shield on everything.



Finished result. Right now it's tapped into the reverse lights to come on automatically but eventully, after I get some LED lights for the back, I'm going to wire it to a dedicated switch so I can turn it on whenever I want.