Double Cab Visibility with Camper Shell?

Getting the little convex stick-on sideview mirror blindspot eliminators helps immensely with a cap on the back. Also, a backup camera, mounted at least as high as the tailgate handle. I don’t miss my rearview mirror with these things.

I also have a great dual dashcam/rear camera combo that completely replaces the rear view mirror, not just clips on. But my 2014 also came with a backup cam on the tailgate handle, so I ended up putting the “rear view” camera from the package on my front bumper as a winch minder and rock cam. It is also a huge help when easing forward while parallel parking.

 

That is certainly a option. Personally I dont mind the interference enough to move it to a less ideal location, especially since bumping the mirror does not mess with the view from the camera like it would with a traditional mirror. The easiest solution would be to just replace the radio with a screen that has a camera.

 

True, though that would be best reserved for a backup camera rather than a replacement rearview mirror due to the low radio placement on these trucks. Wouldn't want to have to take my eyes that far from the road when every time I check my rearview mirror. On the dash would still leave your peripheral vision looking down the road when checking behind you.

I may end up trying to trim my visor down to clear, I already broke the hinge on it anyway trying to get it around the digital mirror before I admitted defeat on it being stuck down..

 

This is similar to the one I got. No interference with visors.

$247 AUTO-VOX V5PRO 1080P 9.35'' OEM Rear View Mirror Camera, Full Laminated Ultrathin Touch Screen Mirror Dash Cam Front and Rear with No Glare, Super Night Vision Car Backup Camera Mirror

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0895NMDKT

 

On a 1st gen?

Have 2nd gen friends with the same wolfbox as me and they don't have the same interference issues.

 

How much space between the visors in a first gen? The backup/dash cam that replaces the rear view mirror that I linked above is 9.35 inches wide.

Edit: Sorry, I was wrong. Externally, it’s a little over 10”.

 

Not sure, I think it would be real close if the 10" wolfbox was still too wide. Worth a shot though, and a full rear view mirror replacement does seem to be a more polished option than the wolfbox strapped onto the oem mirror.

 

Sorry, I was wrong. Externally, it’s a little over 10”.

It is a super slick solution though. Better than a rear view mirror, IMO

 

its tighter than a 2014 also they dont make "oem" style mounts for our trucks.

 

SRQ Fabrications makes a 3rd gen 4Runner mirror arm that completely replaces the OEM one with a generic Gentex mount on the end. Wolfbox likewise sells an arm that goes on the back of the dashcam which should in theory slide onto the SRQ arm. I've ordered both and will report my findings when they arrive.

 

After backing into my girlfriend’s Subaru twice in the dark, it behooved me financially to purchase a backup camera. I got the wolfbox G910 and I love it. The 10” model fits well, lightly contacts the driver side visor but it’s still very usable. At the time I had a fiberglass shell on my truck and mounted it inside the back glass. Now I have a four wheel camper and it’s mounted on the license plate, offset to not be blocked by bike racks. I love it, no going back. Plus way cheaper than another headlight and grill for the Subaru.

 

Update: I got the SRQ mount and Wolfbox attachment arm painted and installed. I will preface this by saying that while they are plug and play with each other (they just slide on and you secure it with the included screw on the Wolfbox), the Wolfbox arm sticks too far out making your field of view out of the windshield downright dangerous. It was designed under the assumption that the mount would be further back on the actual glass, but the SRQ one leaves about a 3-4 inch gap between the glass and arm. Here's what I did to mitigate with semi-decent results (forgot to take pictures of process):

1. Disassembled the Wolfbox mount. It has 4 silver screws on the square mating surface on the socket that goes against the back of the flat dashcam panel. This releases tension on the socket and once the two pieces are apart, pull off the plastic socket from the ball. Set all that aside for now.
2. Dremeled off the socket arm from the windshield mount ball - NOT THE WINDSHIELD MOUNT BALL ITSELF - it's a metal tube with a fixed ball on one end with some grippy insides on the other that I couldn't for the life of me pull apart so I cut it off. You'll want to be careful not to knick the windshield mount ball while cutting.
3. I had to cut the top portion of two of the locking tabs in order to get the correct mirror angle - make sure not to cut too far down on the tabs or the socket won't have anything to squeeze the ball with. I also had to add some electrical tape around the inside of the socket due to the tolerances not quite being forgiving enough - otherwise the cam will droop down.
4. Reassemble the mount placing the metal square holder over the windshield mount ball and then popping the socket on. Put screws in and check for tightness.
5. Put mirror on and slide onto arm. Make any adjustments. For reference I'm 6'0 and the cuts I did to the plastic socket tabs were just enough to make the mirror stay at the right angle. Adjusting it any further up is going to be difficult without making the arm of the ball thinner.

There's likely more hacks that can be made to make it work, but these were what worked for me. Pic of final product below - painted the arm to color match interior:

 

You get Netflix on that behemoth

 

Do the visors clear it?

 

Slightly better than before when it was strapped onto the old mirror, since it sits a bit further back. You'd have to turn the mirror for the visor to clear it though. I think that's just an issue with the dimensions of the dashcam being too wide

 

Like others have said, I have used one of these for a years and its a must. Its not even that expensive, its just a little bit tedious to run the camera to the back and hook up to the reverse light.


This isnt the best photo but I mounted the camera up high on the shell right above brake light to get the best view possible. I was hoping it would help for backing up to hook up a trailer.


*edit* found a better photo

 

Nice job! I've been thinking about mounting my camera in the same place that you mounted yours, hoping that would give me more coverage behind the truck and at the extreme sides.

How did you run the lines from the cab to the top rear of your shell - inside the shell? Along the frame under the truck?

The inside of my shell is lined and as such, is pretty much glued tight to the fiberglass. How did you secure your lines inside the shell?

Maybe you could post a couple of pix showing where you routed your wiring?

 

You get used to having a shell and at least in my case, next to zero visibility. I blacked out the rear window and the sides have black covering hanging over them secured by velcro to the carpeted roof. I've considered a backup cam but have been too lazy to find one. It's side mirrors or nothing. Learned long ago to drive (and reverse into tight spots) a windowless van, a big ford with a bed/towering rack full of insulation, a Grumman/Olson step side . I've only tagged one thing with the taco and it was a parking sign pole before I had the cap lol.

 

I bought an extension with the mirror and I ran in out under the dash into the bottom of the engine bay then under the truck along the frame rail to the back tail light where I tapped the reverse line for the mirror into the drivers side back up light, then up into the bed, ran it along side the rear hatch/window on the inside and then I think I drilled a notch where the rear top light is. So the wire is hidden, it just goes straight to the inside. My shell was just a used beat up shell when I bought it so I didnt care. I think even if it was new I would still have done it. It looks a lot cleaner.

 

Thanks for posting how you ran your wiring!