Upgrading the backup camera

Well said.
I agree 100% I think the camera being clear for parallel parking justifies an upgrade. Anyone try to park a double cab with a 6ft bed in a metropolitan area with limited parking. The fact that I was able to park in a spot was only because of the back up camera. I think a 45k truck should have a better camera than it has

 

I still always look when I back up because it’s always more reliable for the most part. But trying to back into long drive ways with lots of trees obscuring your view or parallel parking are examples of when the cameras are useful. I use my truck for my pool business so I have lots of clients with unique parking situations and my back up camera makes my job a little bit easier.

 

Wait, I just noticed you have a 2020.... my condolences on your camera... for what ever reason the camera quality got even worse after 2019.

 

Not if you get an iDatalink Maestro RR2 it actually gives you more functionally than the stock head unit. Like the ability to map the steering wheel buttons to turn on the back up camera or unlock the doors

 

I could be wrong on this but I think there might be a quality control issue with the cameras I just upgraded to the TRD Off road from a 2020 SR and the back up camera was clearer than my friends 2020 TRD Pro. My SR had the 8” screen vs the 7” idk if that made a difference

 

2019 here. Love my truck, hate the backup camera/screen rez. When I compare to my wife's Subaru Outback my backup screen it's like watching a 1960's TV screen compared to 4K.

 

The weather here has been so crappy I rarely even notice how bad the camera is, lol. But yes, 90% of the time I can't see crap out of it unless it's bright daylight and the camera has been cleaned off. I was going to install some DD reverse lights with a red backlight in the bumper to make things brighter, but I don't see it being much help here. I agree with others though, it's a sub par camera. Even the one on my families RAM 2500 when dirty is still better quality. I don't have the patience with wiring to replace a lot of stuff like this but if something was plug and play I might consider it as long as it's not too costly. And I came from a cheaper Subaru Crosstrek like @birdbrooks mentioned, this camera is noticeably worse. Not high on my list of priorities though.

Following just to see what others do.
"You can lead, follow, or get outta the way"
"I don't understand, everytime he says that, I just get out of the way"

 

LOL @ needing HD for backing up.

The main issue is with the license plate lights washing out the camera at night. Why Toyota didn't interlock those...

 

Not sure why people are getting a hard time over the backup camera. The camera, cross-traffic detection, and your eyes can all be used in combination to make backing up safer.

 

Ya'll act like backing up safely w/o a camera was something that never happened in the world of vehicles.

I mean it's not like you're taking some kind of camera based skill test.

Walk behind the truck before getting in for small objects, turn your head for big ones. It's really not that hard.

 

Did you do this yet?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/license-plate-light-disable-while-in-reverse-dir.707546/

 

the rear cam def sucks but if this is the worst thing about my taco, im cool with it.

 

It seems as though Toyota used different rear cameras on their 21 model vehicles. I got a 21 Tacoma TRD OR and my wife got a 21 Rav4 and her back up camera is far superior to the Tacoma's. It's not like we need 4k back up cameras, but you would expect that for 40k+ the camera would be better. Not sure if it has to do with her radio screen being better but you would think most of their 21 models would use the same radio.

I wonder if the Rav4 camera would be a plug and play replacement.

 

You know, I have the front and side camera's too, and would upgrade those.

I'm guessing no solution has been found though since we're quibbling over whether or not a backup camera is necessary. Sure, not necessary. But USEFUL.

 

There are several ways to help with better night visibility. One is the 'adapter/converter' that runs about 100.00 or so. This adapter turns off License plate lights when you place in reverse. It helps, I have not done it yet; however, there are several videos on youtube on this. You can swap the light bulb in your reverse spot with an led bulb. The other is, add two 1 in led lights to bumper. Have them wired to your back up light. The question is, how much light do you need?

 

I went from a 2009 TRD Sport with camera in the Rearview mirror so when we got our 2021 end of January last year it was a huge upgrade. It wasn’t until I traveled for work and got three different 2021 Toyota rental cars that I noticed how much clearer the camera was on the rentals. I had two Corollas and a Camry. I was surprised at the level of detail I could see that I know I can’t see in my same year Tacoma. Be interesting to go to a junk yard and get one from each and see if there is a model similarity in the actual camera with the others and the Tacoma somehow has a different unit.

 

Bumping an older thread...

The camera is ah-ite but what I would like to upgrade is the directional graphic on the screen. Other cars I've had will bend the lines to show you movement direction. Makes it nice and easy to see where you'll end up. Anyone know of upgrades to something like that?

 

I've done it on German cars and it required a special module, wheel sensors then some programming. Pretty much an impossible task on Tacomas.

 

Not what I wanted to read, obviously, but thanks.

 

Our driveway faces east, so in the morning our cars backup into the sun. My wife has a 2020 Wrangler and it is so incredibly clear with no glare. I get in my 2019 Taco and it is like going back to my high school flip phone camera. It's a bit embarrassing, as we are constantly debating who's 4x4 is better overall. (Obviously so much about the Taco is better).

* This thread is not about relying on the backup cam or safety. It's about living in 2023 with technology that is very sub-par and wanting to upgrade).
Bunch of y'all need to stop getting so upset that people want to upgrade as if effects you. Time better spent cleaning the engine or something.