Dash Cam suggestions

ram makes gopro mounts
https://www.rammount.com/search?query=gopro

 

has anyone seen this thread?
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rearview-mirror-mount-for-dashcam.649752/#post-22572652

 

whats a good price? 400?

 

Edit: This configuration is superseded by that shown in Post#72 below.

Well I'm not quite there yet... still waiting on one part. But I have most of the rest of it assembled.
I'll probably end up painting the bright parts black...









And this is the part I'm still waiting for . . .

EDIT: Forget about using the part below!!! The threaded part of it DOES NOT FIT the OEM mount in the Tacoma!

"Plan-B" uses a different part, that I have confirmed will fit. See post #72 below.

 

I wonder how much this "GoPro" company paid Toyota to put those mounts in every truck.

 

There's a brand I like called Street Guardian and their reps provide good support on the Dash Cam Talk forums. Also consider the software to view your files. Does your vendor/brand provide free software that has mapping/GPS functionality?

 

I hate to be that guy, but do you have links for what you bought? I really like your setup and I would like to utilize my gopro mount versus sticking it to the windshield.

 

Why not use this?

https://www.rammount.com/part/RAP-B-202U-GOP2

 

Believe me, that would have been a whole lot simpler. But the problem is, those "B-Size" balls are 1" diameter. And the ball size on the newer Garmin cams is 8mm. And the smallest socket-to-socket arm that RAM makes is "A-Size", which is 9/16" diameter (14.29mm). I spent several days looking online, and couldn't find any way to get from a 1" ball down to an 8mm ball. At least not without going through several transitions of different ball sizes, all of them taking up windshield space and adding weight.
My solution uses a 9mm-to-16mm ball arm, which is sold as part of an inexpensive suction mount on Amazon that is sold for the newer Garmin cameras. I bought that inexpensive mount just to get that arm, because that was the only thing I could find to suit my purpose. The 9mm ball fits the camera (snugly), and the 16mm ball fits the RAM A-Size socket-to-socket arm. As you can see in the pics, the 16mm ball is a bit oversize for the socket arm, but it works.

 

Yes, I can provide links. This project evolved somewhat over the course of a week and I ordered a couple of parts that I ended up not using. See Post#72 for the updated parts list and new pictures

 

Thank you very much for the detailed write up and links, I really appreciate it! I'll follow the thread to see how everything comes out in the end. Good luck!

 

EDIT: Newly available GoPro-to-Garmin mount shown in this post . . .

As of this afternoon I finally have something that works. My SimpleUSB adapter won't come until tomorrow. See pics of mounting hardware below.
Almost everything is out of the field of view of the driver, and the little bit the driver can see is in front of the darkened portion of the windshield anyway.
If anybody wants more details, just ask...

View from Passenger Seat


Closeup View


View from Driver Seat


View from Driver Seat


Parts from Amazon:

Cheap Suction Mount (comes with TWO 9mm-16mm ball arms)-

$12 dosili Dash Cam Suction Cup Mount, for Garmin Dash cam 45 55 65W 46 56 66W and Speak, Plus 010-12530-00, 010-12530-05

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VXBKS7Z/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
(all I'm using is the ball-to-ball arm)

Vertical Surface Quick Mount J-Hook Buckle-

$8 HSU Vertical Surface Quick Mounting J-Hook Buckle Mount, Long Thumb Screw Accessory Kit for GoPro Hero 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3+ 3 AKASO Campark and Other Action Cameras (4 Pack, Black)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RYSJ2NT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
(I had to drill the existing hole to upsize it to 1/4" diameter)
(I also shallow-drilled the ball-end to 3/8" to recess the ball-mount into it)

Parts from GpsCity.com:

RAM Mount Aluminum 0.25''-20 Female Camera Thread with 0.56'' A Ball-
https://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-aluminum-0.25-20-female-thread-on-0.56-inch-ball

RAM Mount Aluminum 1.75'' Standard Dual Socket Arm with 0.56'' A Socket-
https://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-aluminum-1.75-inch-standard-arm-with-0.56-inch-a-socket

Part from Lowes:

Hillman 3/4 in. Black Pan Head Machine Screw (4-Pack)-
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-1-4-in-20-x-3-4-in-Phillips-Drive-Machine-Screws-4-Count/999996252

You'll also need four 1/4" washers to use as spacers between the fingers of the J-Hook.

 

Don’t be cheap, buy a quality dual channel. The rear camera is very important. Yes you will have to wire. Also an external battery source so you have parking mode. I recommend Thinkware Q800

 

Nice! I was thinking about how I could mount different devices to that mount and this looks pretty good.

 

Can you give more detail on the shallow drill you did?

what does that require?

 

That was on this piece . . .


I drilled the existing hole all the way through to upsize it to 1/4" diameter, to accommodate the 1/4-20 machine screw.
I also shallow-drilled just the side facing toward the driver to 3/8" to recess the ball-mount into it.



I removed the chrome nut that's shown in this picture, and then used a 3/8" drill to round-out the hex shaped indentation where the nut had been. I didn't drill completely through the plastic finger,
but just enough to make a clean seat for the 1/4-20 RAM Mount Ball. So I drilled away maybe 3/32" to 1/8" of plastic.... what I called "shallow". Effectively removing all of the hex indentation.
I did all of the drilling on a drill press, making it easier and more accurate than a hand drill.

 

Gotcha - thanks for the clarification. I dont have a drill press so I’d have to use a drill press. Your best guess - is it doable with a hand drill?

 

Sure, you could do it. If you can secure the piece in a vise somehow for drilling that would certainly make it easier.

 

Edited**

Is this the same socket you got from GPS city? https://www.rammount.com/part/RAM-A-201U

 

Yes that carries the same part number... RAM-A-201U.
It's good to check around for those parts. Amazon may have them now too, it's been several months since I bought mine. At the time IIRC, Amazon had the ball part but it was much more expensive than GPS City. And I don't think Amazon had the socket arm at all. For all these parts, shipping is the killer. So if you can manage to get everything from one place that would be best.