Anytime Camera kit or Germes lab Car Camera Control

I installed the Anytime kit on my son's 2022 and we are very happy with it.

I was planning on doing the same for my 2018 but came across this thread.

Based on the positive feedback here and info I've read online, I decided to go with the Germes kit.

It does the switching feature like the Anytime kit but I like the Germes feature where the front camera automatically comes on when you shift to D after reversing. Personally, that would be helpful for me for daily driving and especially when making multipoint turns from tight parking spots.

I also like the plug and play design based on the installation videos I've seen online. Not that Anytime is hard or complicated but Germes appears to be a lot simpler to install than the Anytime kit.

Will post some feedback once I get it installed.

 

I have a Germes from my 2020 available. After installing the Pioneer headunit I no longer need it.

 

That's where I use mine the most. I've used it to go over little cliffs, to see what's under me, but ya, mostly Mall Crawling!

 

Installed the Germes Lab kit. I have a 2018 with the Entune 2 radio with the puny volume knob on the top left side of the screen and tuning knob on the top right side of the screen.

As mentioned above, I installed the Anytime Backup Camera kit on my son's 2022.

I opted for the Germes Lab for my truck which I got just last February for a number of reasons:

1. Super easy installation. Truly plug and play. No wire cutting, splicing or soldering. You can install it with bare minimum of just a 10mm socket. Compared to the Anytime Backup Camera kit, this was sooooo much easier and faster to install.
2. No extra button to mount or find a space for. No fumbling the find the new/extra button
3. Operation can be automatic or manual.

Simple operation

• Auto Mode:
  • Put the truck in Reverse and the rear camera comes on as usual.
  • When you put the truck in Drive, the camera switches to the front camera. It will stay on for 30 seconds or until you go faster than 12mph.
  • This feature where the camera automatically switches between the rear and the front cameras is very helpful when making multipoint turns especially in tight spaces. Love this feature!

*** Imagine having to do this with the Anytime Camera kit where you have to toggle between the rear and front camera, fumbling to find and repeatedly pushing the button while maneuvering your truck.​

• Manual Mode
  • Pushing the MODE button twice on the steering wheel activates the front camera.
  • You can switch between the front and rear cameras.
    • Pushing the UP button selects the front camera
    • Pushing the DOWN button selects the rear camera
  • If you want the selected camera to stay on, simply hold the button until you hear a beep. For example, if you want the front camera to stay on your screen, push and hold the UP until you hear a beep.
  • Pushing the Mode button once turns off the camera and returns you to whatever function you had on the screen prior to activating the camera.

*** The 3 buttons (Mode, Up, and Down) used for operation are on the steering wheel. With touch memory, you can safely operate the cameras without taking one hand from the steering wheel and perhaps your eye from the road to hunt for the camera button on the dash like you would with the Anytime Backup kit.
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Installation Videos

• Online videos that show how simple the installation are listed below:
  • From the manufacturer
  • From a Tacoma owner

Video Quality

• The camera that came with the kit is not branded but is HD.
• The quality of the image is so much better and clearer than the Tacoma OEM tailgate camera.

Delivery was surprisingly fast. Only 10 days from China to Hawaii including clearing Customs.

Outstanding product. Very happy with it.

I just wish I had found this thread before getting the Anytime Camera kit for my son's truck 3 years ago.

 

How wide angled is the camera it comes with?

 

I have had both also. I switched from anytime to germes lab and I love it. I just wish I could get a germes lab kit for the newer 2024 and up radios. But the software is not compatible as of yet, everything plugs in but like I said the software isn’t compatible. Hope they figure something out soon.

 

170 degrees.

 

The manufactures link shows the Germes adapter only for 2014 to 2019.
I guess you had no choice for your sons 2022.

 

Aloha Kolohe07 on the Valley Isle.

I think it really depends on the head unit in the truck.

They have a pix of which units work with their kit.

My 2018 has the head unit they have pictured for years 2014-2017.

My son's 2022 has the head unit they have pictured for years 2016-2019.



Based on their post, I should be able to install the kit in my son's truck.

I just realized that I got lucky in buying it earlier this month. Free Prime delivery. Now they charge about $45 for delivery.

 

I think I’m SOL
Mahalo