smart

 

Very cool! What I hate about the stock one...it's been raining for a week here in Seattle and the lense gets wet making the camera useless.

 

I put mine in the first compartment in overhead councel. can close door when not in use.

 

Is that the XOVision or the VR3? I can only get the VR3 at the local Walmart even thought he XOVision is on their webpage.

 

Is that the XOVision or the VR3? I can only get the VR3 at the local Walmart even thought he XOVision is on their webpage.

I got the VR3. It was on their site and could be shipped to your local store at no additional cost. Of course, be aware that if you go to the local store it could be more expensive and they will not price adjust (It was $99 here locally) But that is another thread on another forum. I think the VR3 is worth the price, and even though I get interference here and there, it is minor and well worth the $500 savings.

It just started raining here today. I will see how well it works in the rain...if we ever get out of the house.

 

very nice

 

I put mine in the first compartment in overhead councel. can close door when not in use.

A few things pop into my head about it...help me understand please.

The eyeglass holder flops down in front of the rearview mirror. I would hate that being blocked. Is that a big deal?

Did you have to take the console apart, or was there a readily available power source there? How did you do it exactly, and the more details the better. Mine is okay where it is, but if it could be better, then I am willing to change. That is why those "Command" strips are so handy. If I do not like the installation, I can remove it without damage and relocate the monitor.

What about the second compartment. It is shallower than the first and may not cover the rearview. I need to see if it will work...is it big enough...and all. Will the power source be the same as what you used...

Interesting concept though. If you can fill in the blanks about the power and all, it would help.

 

For the price, I think it is a bargain. I bought one for my 2005 Tundra 4 door and ended up taking it back. Could never get a clear picture. Always had interference in it. I even contacted the company and asked about it and they said sometimes that happens, it just won't work. Go figure. Being it was wireless, I asked them about a hard wired outfit and they did not have one. So I took it back and did without. My 07 Tundra came with the rear camera, and for the life of me I cannot figure out why this isn't a standard feature in all vehicles.

 

I only leave the door down when I'm backing up. I drilled a small hole in upper left corner of the opening. Ran wire under headliner to piller Took trim off and ran down piller to under dash. It dose take some fishing around.

 

There is power (constant or with key on only) at the console. NO need to fish wires down. Just tap into the power source your interested in. I would use the power key on only.

 

There is power (constant or with key on only) at the console. NO need to fish wires down. Just tap into the power source your interested in. I would use the power key on only.

BILLYBOB: Where is the available power? How would I find it, or know it when I saw it? Pictures would be helpful.

CWIT: I see what you are talking about, but I want to use mine to monitor loads that I can not see while in tow, like the waverunner, which sits too low to be seen with the tonneau and the tailgate up. That is the difference. Thanks for the info, but I think BillyBob has an easier way to get available power without dismantling the console or the pillar cover (At least I hope so).

 

cool!

 

Great post, I was considering one of these. I wondered if you used a wedge behind the camera and used the license mount if it would angle it down enough to see the ball.

 

Very nice.
Thanks for the pics. I bought one at Costco for about the same price but haven't installed it yet.

 

Glenn. The manual for the VR3 says not to wire it so it is always on as it will overheat the monitor, Be careful.

 

Great post, I was considering one of these. I wondered if you used a wedge behind the camera and used the license mount if it would angle it down enough to see the ball.

It comes with mounting wedges like you suggest (Round wedge washers to angle the camera down about 30 degrees), but I thought about the license frame mount, and thought it was too easy for someone to grab it and break it off. Where I have it, you do not know it is there, unless you are looking for it. I also do not know about seeing the ball from there.

I dry mounted it under the hitch using masking tape and removed the license light from the plug and shoved the wires into the plug temporarily to test what the view was before final installation. I suggest you do that yourself before any final installation to be sure it is what you want, where you want.

I do not just follow instructions anymore. I always want to be sure I do it right. It took 4 different installation attempts before everything was right. I would dry fit, move, modify, change tactics, buy new hardware, and when I felt it was all good, I went for final install. I am glad I did not rush, and got the best placement for my needs.

...Then I come here and share my experiences so someone else will get some better ideas on how they might go about it.

BTW: I used it today in a good stiff rain and it was a little hard to see, but not bad. I could still monitor a load in a light rain. Once the rain started heavy, it was obscured pretty badly, and basically useless.

 

Glenn. The manual for the VR3 says not to wire it so it is always on as it will overheat the monitor, Be careful.

I do not ever plan to use it for hours on end. I will probably turn it on, look, leave it on for a while, shut it off, turn it back on as needed. Just like you do not watch the rearview all the time, I will not leave it on for hours at a time.

I was more worried about water getting into the camera. I was thinking of silicone sealing the wire hole in the back.

 

Nice camera install below the bumper:tu:. I installed this same camera on my 2003 tundra to always be on when driving, but it got very annoying from the constant screen flickering (probably some interference, but okay at slow speeds). Also wished they made the camera angle a little wider(like the factory cam) to actually see the whole bumper. Great price and quite functional, nonetheless.

 

I purchased one of these also and installed in about 5 minutes! I put it on my license frame and wired it to a trailer light pigtail. The wire job being temporary until I get time to tap it in direct. I wired into the runnig light circuit so if I want the camera on, all I do is turn on my lights. IMO this little cam is the best bang for the buck.

 

I am considering purchasing one of these units, and I was wondering why no one has actually tapped into the factory wiring that is there for the camera Toyota sells. I assume it would be running between the tailgate and bumper of the truck. I think if we were able to tap into this wire it would only come on when the truck is in reverse. That would be fine for me.

 

I am considering purchasing one of these units, and I was wondering why no one has actually tapped into the factory wiring that is there for the camera Toyota sells. I assume it would be running between the tailgate and bumper of the truck. I think if we were able to tap into this wire it would only come on when the truck is in reverse. That would be fine for me.

I tapped into the running light circuit and that way I can turn it on whenever I want. I thought it would be nice so that when I am going down the road and I hear something I can quick check and see if the safety chains are still attached or if I remembered to put the pin in the hitch!

 

I am considering purchasing one of these units, and I was wondering why no one has actually tapped into the factory wiring that is there for the camera Toyota sells. I assume it would be running between the tailgate and bumper of the truck. I think if we were able to tap into this wire it would only come on when the truck is in reverse. That would be fine for me.

I could have done so, and thought about it, but why limit myself to it only being on when I am going backward? Why not have it available to monitor the load while driving?

The whole reason to get this was because I could not see the waverunner while driving. It sits too low below the tailgate when it is up, and I am not chancing driving with it down anymore after it fell off.

Do what you want, but for me, the ability of using it to monitor loads in tow is way too valuable, especially for this price.

 

I bought a "wireless" backup camera system for $88 at Walmart.com. The monitor and camera both need power supplied by wire, but the transmission between the two is wireless.

Here are the installation photos.

I wired the camera to the license light circuit so it would come on every time I used the parking or headlights, not the backup light circuit as suggested. This way I can use it to monitor objects in tow, while driving forward.

I have only plugged the monitor into the cigarette lighter plug for the time being. I can hard wire it later with a more hidden wire setup. I used those "Command" adhesive strips, which are easily removed should I decide to relocate the monitor later. For now, it rests on the coin holder, and the placement seems really good for driving.

Instead of mounting the camera itself to the license frame as suggested, I mounted it under the hitch just to the passenger side. When the ball hitch is installed, it is visable in the corner of the monitor frame, so I can see if somehing comes unhitched in transit and see the ball as it comes close to the trailer as I back up. How perfect is a camera that shows how close your ball is to the trailer? Isn't that what the camera would be best used for? If it were mounted to the license plate, as recommended, you would not see the ball and it's proximity to the trailer.

I do get some occasional outside interference, but it is minimal and acceptable for the price of the unit.

Because I know people will ask: The "Other" installation in the console is my Sirius satellite radio. I used a 2X4 wrapped in grey boat bunk carpet I had laying around. I stapled the carpet to the wood and screwed the mounting bracket to the carpeted wood. I pushed the block into the nice hole in the dash that was just the right size, and tucked the wires in nicely. The antenna sits on the dash on the passenger side, next to the windshield.

YOU ARE MY HERO!!! I have been looking for this for quite some time. Thanks

 

Glenn, just remove the for screws to drop down and hang the center console. Now take a $3 test light (it has a sharp point on one end and a wire and alligator clip on the other end) find a good ground for the alligator clip and poke the sharp point end of the test light in one of the harnesses that are up there to find your power source. I did this to install a auto-dim mirror. There is a constant on power wire, on only with the key on AND a ground wire up there. I used the harness plug that had only 3 wires on it.

 

I like your mounting idea. I have my wireless on the licence plate but think I will move it to the location you suggest. I have not had much luck with the wireless camera. lots of white snow, comes on by itself, picked up signals from nearby cameras etc. I have exchanged it several times with the same results. I think next time I will get a hard wired unit.
Stuart