Upgrade the trash OEM backup camera

Yeah, mine is 2016 TRD OR, and pretty happy with the backup camera. Bright and clear as far as I can tell. Oh yeah, don’t forget to change the BU camera brightness and contrast in the vehicle settings.

The BU camera is last thing I would replace on my Taco, but then I have not replaced anything other than shocks and tires. That’s it.

Mirrors? We don’t need no stinking mirrors….

Oh yeah, where is the setting for 4K HRD UHD QLED?

 

Here is my stock backup camera on my 2016 TRD OR. I had to reverse a full mile down this trail and no problem with the BU camera. I explore a lot of little used trails and most trips have to use the BU camera at least once. Sure are a lot of trails here with no pullouts. Camera works great.

 

Cheers

 

Thanks to everyone who replied, so it looks like there is no fox at this point.

 

Tried and failed to post fox meme. But, yeah, definitely no fox

 

It seems to me that the second pic is the front view.

 

Yeah it could be either from phone or dashcam.

I use my phone as cam for time lapse when I go out for a ride.

 

lol

Yeah, there's no official "fix" for the grainy camera.

But the length of this discussion and the feedback is classic TW.

EDIT: and continues from here on out.

 

The camera on the Tacoma is terrible. Anyone arguing it is good enough hasn't driven newer cars from other makes. FCA backup cameras for example on any of their vehicles seem like they are a decade ahead of Toyota.

 

I've learned to read until exhausted...that is cryptic in that "exhausted" means different for everyone...or no one at all.

 

I can’t imagine backing up that far just looking at the screen!
Nice scenery too!

 

A nice spot, but I will hike it on my next visit. This pic is a lower spot on the trail. The mile I had to backup is higher up the mountain. Will make a good hike this spring, I can park at this spot then hike up.

I just laugh at all the complaints about the Tacoma camera, or whatever is the daily complaint of choice.

We live in a spoiled world where for many perfection is expected.

I grew up with full time, year round hunting and fishing throughout BC, and at age 13 started working on commercial fishing boats. Up to 100 miles off the west coast of Vancouver Island, seas up to 30 foot. No hot water, take a shower once every 15 days, and work 18 hours per day and do that for 5 month stretches. Oh yeah, we smelled real good.

It certainly taught me to appreciate the things I took for granted as a kid. Like hot water from a tap, a bed that is not flying up and down in the waves, and a fridge with cold food and drinks in it. I have a hard time now finding anything to complain about.

And yes, I did walk uphill in 5 foot of snow to get to school, and uphill in both directions, and every day. Whew, pooped out just thinking about it. That uphill in both directions is still a tough one to figure out, maybe it was the effects of the weed…

Honestly, if I could buy a brand new F150 with a 4 speed manual, bench seat, straight 6 300 cyl, no A/C, no power anything, no computers, no camera, I would trade any new truck to get one like that again. Simplicity that does not break, and no upgrades needed. I liked owning a truck for 15 years used mostly for the bush, and no breakdowns and spending money only on regular maintenance.

Oh, a self portrait here of me in my commercial fishing days, my alter ego, lingcod man.

Let the responses begin.

 

Definitely a badassed way to grow up!
Man you’re so right and I think that kind of upbringing builds toughness that is long gone in today’s soft world and easily wounded feelings.


I mainly got the taco to haul my dirt bike and don’t get into much with the taco. Me and a buddy were on the dirt bike version of that, at an endpoint and had to roll them back to where we could turn them around.

 

What dirt bike do you have? My first at age 16 was a Yamaha 360 Enduro. Loved that bike. A neighbour dad raced street, dirt, and trials, so a bunch of dirt bikes in their large back yard property. His boys all raced the same as they grew up.

 

I rode a tiny bit when I was younger but not enough to claim myself as a rider. Only got into it here in socal in 2012 with a 2008 ktm 450exc, street legal enduro.

In 2014 got a new 300xcw two stroke, absolutely love it and sold the 450.
When I got into riding I basically stopped wheeling, it’s so fun and you can get into so many places.

Recently I’ve been wanting to get back into wheeling, nothing crazy though.

 

Other pic was just a photo. I use my eyeballs for a front camera. No front camera on this truck.

 

So I found the answer. The JBL head unit (radio) display is 1280×720 which means you basically getting 720p video quality. I think the backup camera from Toyota is around 800x600 600p and the ABC camera is 1280×720 720p and that is why it looks slightly better.

 

the screen may be 720 lines, but I doubt it’s getting 720. in my ’21 ltd with jbl and 360*, I doubt it’s getting 600. I suspect there’s a processing bottle-neck in there somewhere.

 

NTSC standard is 525 interlaced lines. the official maximum resolution of the standard is 480x525.

a better camera could be added that does higher, but the head unit, oem or aftermarket, is only good up to those specs, as they follow the NTSC standard.

for the comment on how chrysler backup camera's are better-- are you sure they're using the same video standard, or are they on the canbus?

has anyone gambled on an aftermarket camera at all, or is everyone just throwing hands?

there would be some expected improvement if one could install an HDR camera. who wants to take the $160 gamble?
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-29HEpQc5mA8/p_500HCEC110/Alpine-HCE-C1100.html

 

Hate to resurrect this thread. Has anyone taken this gamble??

I just got a 2023 TRDOR and I was in shock at how bad the camera is. Now, I did not expect it to be as nice as the 22 Tundra, but expected it to be better than this.