Mirror Dash Cam added

G'day all,

Installed a VanTop H612T Mirror Dash Cam to my 2018 DCSB Tacoma. Why this one, cause it offered voice control, 4K front camera with 1080prear camera changeable to 2K and 2K. Has a 170 degree front view and 160 degree rear view camera, plus it was rated well. So far it was a very good move.

Install was tasking and time consuming, but not in the difficult range. You can get it up and running in 10 minutes, but if you want to run the new mirror cam and GPS wiring along side the factory cables time and persistence are required.

I elected to get a new mirror mount plate from Amazon for $16, but had to wait several weeks for it to arrive and complete installation.

With the new mount received I removed the OEM mirror and replaced it with the new mount and VanTop mirror cam. Looks much cleaner than straping the new mirror over the OEM mirror IMHO.

I mounted the rear camera on the sliding rear window I seldomly open, but left enough slack cable to open the window part way just in case.

Really did not need the VanTop rear cam backup lines as the OEM setup works fine for me; being older, I'm actually able to back up without the lines, parallel park with no assistance and drive a manual transmission vehicle ;-).

I found the H612T review videos on youtube to be much more detailed and informative than the included instruction booklet. On the other hand I was very surprised to find a set of paper instruction vs. a web address to download them. There are lots of options in the menu, but only a few need additional explanation and the videos cover them very well.

There are two points I believe you need to be aware of if considering a mirror cam in this category.

1. The voice control works fantastic and I really like it as long as I'm the only person in the vehicle. Switching views (front, back, and both) via voice is not distracting vs. having to touch/swipe the screen. And taking a quick photo and/or video via voice can come in handy
for those unusual things that seem to happen on the highway. However, add a second person or more in the cab and the ensuing conversations confusses the H612T, so had to tune the voice control feature off.

2. The youtube reviewers glass over or leave out this part. Once installed, to get the perfect view shown in the videos you must move the mirror up so you can not see out the rear window, this is to avoid glare and washout. If you elect to turn the H612T off to use it as a
normal mirror you must reposition the mirror to see out the rear window.

Neither points are game changers and I still think it was money well spent for the Tacoma.

Cheers
Bob

 

What is the mirror mount plate you're talking about? Is it this one:

$20 Rear Camera Bracket 2#

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08C7GN2X5/?coliid=I37CVRCJV786X&colid=3VYMK6S8MJBEM&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it because this one only works with their products. I'm looking at adding a mirror dash cam too but was wondering about the rear view camera. Was thinking about putting mine inside like yours but either over the right or left side and mount inside the headliner with the camera looking out the window. Do you have any pictures you can share of your install? Thanks,

 

Following for the mirror mount plate

 

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