Intro and rearview camera question.

First post intro and question. This is my 2nd taco. Its an 09 base model, standard cab 2.7L 5spd. I use this truck as a get around town vehicle only, taking the kids to baseball etc. I have a work truck as my primary driver. I cant leave well enough alone so I stripped the interior down, sound deadened from top to bottom and started installing a full JL audio setup with an alpine head unit. Other mods to come.

This is a base model but I noticed that I have a rearview camera. I understand it was originally in the mirror of the 2nd gens but I was wondering what it would take to connect it to my aftermarket head unit. (Besides the rca plug). Is there an adapter or a DIY? Throw down some links for me.

 

Hey there, Welcome to TW.

Have a look at the video here.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...in-aftermarket-headunit.668381/#post-23451143

 

Thanks, I saw that video a while ago but because I mine is a base model, I dont have the mirror option or the associated wiring. It came from the factory with the camera pre installed in the tailgate handle, the wiring is terminated and just tucked in the tailgate. I dont have any other associated wiring that I can locate for it under the dash. I had the headliner pulled out for sound deadening and the only wiring I have is for the light.

 

I've seen this discussed before. There is a connector some ware under the dash that extends the cable from the back to the RVM location (I want to say driver's side kick panel).
You should be able to pick the signal up there and run it to your new HU.
If you're going that far in might as well add the front cam and do the anytime switch mod.

 

Yeah, I might have to look again. I saw somebody found wiring behind the change holder. Mine is a manual so the change holder is replaced with the parking brake trim peice. Couldn't locate it anywhere nearby. The kick panel has tons of wiring tucked away in it, so maybe I missed it. I have to finalize some audio wiring this weekend so I'll try and dig a little deeper.
I'm fairly confident I can spend less than $5 to wire it up using the factory camera even if I have to run 15ft of wire and cables to the HU but I want to know what wires are what coming out of that camera. No sense in spending money on an aftermarket camera when there is already one thats factory installed. I can care less about the video quality, more of a "if its there, might as well use it" situation.

 

In the trucks that are pre-wired you will see a wire harness that is clipped to the upper left side of the fuse box behind the change cubby. I found the picture of this harness while looking into how to wire up my 2006 with a mirror and tailgate handle from a 2011 model. I did need to run a wire from the tailgate camera wire up to the cab using a Cat6 cable.

 

Just keep in mind that the camera you buy for the tailgate is a non OEM 12V camera. This will simplify the install to the aftermarket HU. Tacoma OEM tailgate camera is 6V. Unless you plan on splicing and reusing the factory harness, i would just run new wires. There's a rubber grommet that's under the driver's seat that I ran my wires through into the cab. The reverse (red/white) trigger wire is in the kick panel. Welcome to TW.

 

Thanks. I didnt realize its 6 volts. Anybody have a link for a direct replacement that would come in a 12v configuration? I would like to keep it looking as stock as possible.