Recommendations for a Front Camera

I should definitely use that as an excuse to go out to California. Its really not too hard of a DIY of a job.
I much prefer a no-wire-cut installation using an add on harnesses, so it added a few hours of harness fabrication in the job for me. I think alot of people just tap straight into the harness in the truck if they dont use the harness for sale, which saves some cash and time, but I prefer a reversible installation if possible.

If you don't mind accessing the front camera using the Head Unit AUX menu, then the HAI Cable works great and should not take too long to install. I wanted a single double throw switch to give forward or rear camera, and in the forward camera mode to display the forward camera regardless of truck reverse, (so that the forward camera still displays even if the truck is in reverse), so I made my own harness. But I would never have been able to design my harness without the great work by Hoangde.

I can help out making a schematic or harnesses similar to what I used if people are interested, but 99% of people are probably OK with using the aux input to the Head Unit, and for that Hoangde HAI harness should work fine.

 

sbd

 

sub'd

 

Yes it will need to come out to unplug the factory harness and plug in the new one.

I have never done a write up before but I will try my best at it once all the parts are in. Still debating on switches I ordered a rocker switch from Amazon but I'm beginning to wonder how to install it and leave a clean flush look. I won't get a chance to start until Monday or Tuesday as I work this weekend.

 

Yes! It was you I got the entire idea from after I saw your post in the mods under $250. I'm looking forward to attempting the install myself.

 

Or ya know just come over to the other coast of FL and install mine haha

Just an Update, I received my camera and all parts today and have a full realization I have no clue what I am doing. Im going to try to figure everything out and then ill work in reverse to document the process. At this current time I am trying to figure out the DPDT switch connections and how to power everything.

 

I will give some help (from a distance) if you want . Remember that there almost an infinite number of ways to skin a cat, so feel free to ignore anything I say and do something a different way, because there is a good chance you can make it work a different way... This thread by Hoangde has pretty much all the data to let you design your own modification, although a lot is buried.

If you do want help, I will have to know better what you want to do, and what you are using. Are you using a 28 pin cable (the HAI cable or the jshsltr cable) and/or a 24 pin cable (Axxess-Toycam3), or are you cutting and tapping into the factory harness?

What do you want for the functions of your switch to be. (For example, on mine I have a SPDT on-off-on switch which selects forward camera, normal mode, or rear camera.)
In forward camera mode on mine, the forward camera shows at any time the truck is on, even if in reverse. In normal mode, rear camera shows in reverse. In rear camera mode, the rear camera shows at any time the truck is on. This is accessible without using the Aux menu on the touchscreen for the head unit and without navigation override switch.

Do you want a nav override switch? (I have one, and you need it to be able to use Aux input while moving, or if you want passengers to be able to type addresses into the Head unit while moving)
Do you want video input installed for future use? (can be used for phone mirroring, etc)

And I probably forgot 100 things...

 

I bought the Anytimebackupcamera.com kit which has a harness for the rear override and an AUX input and out put for the front camera. im currently emailing the seller of the kit for some clarification. I would just like to be able to have access to the rear camera anytime and the front camera anytime. Im under the impression with the DPDT switch im using one "on" is front, the other is rear and "off" is normal operation.

 

PM sent with a hand drawn best GUESS schematic based on what I can see on my phone from the vendors. Will release and maybe redraw if it is correct... not sure about that yet

 

Subd, I love my new Tacoma, but there is a lot of real estate between me and the front end. It would be great to have a camera hit some of those rocks just right.

 

sub'd

 

"Just the tip of the bumper" is all you really need to go the extra mile in the mud

 

Bumping this up. Curious about this camera and the reliability. Has it been working good for you long-term?

 

This thread:

 

Have had no issues long-term. There were drawbacks at original install and there still are, but I remain satisfied. (Note, there were not alot of options electrically for installing a front camera when I originally did this mod so I built my own plug n play harness. There are more options now, I don't know how good or bad they are in comparison)

 

sub’d