Anyone recommend a backup camera?

What aftermarket cameras have you guys found good luck with, particularly from Amazon?

 

Never really needed one,
So no

 

I bought my Jensen VX7024 head unit from Crutchfield and was offered a backup camera (BUCAM300AJ with audio) for $10 more which I bought. It didn't have the bracket to attach to the license plate. When I had the head unit/bluetooth mic/backup camera installed, the installer made a custom bracket for my backup camera. If you want to mount your backup camera above your license plate, buy one with the bracket that attaches to the license plate.

 

I bought a Safesite SC301 in 2016 and have been 100% satisfied with its operation ever since. Unfortunately, the year after I installed it, I backed into another tree . I'm attaching a PDF I made of a thread that describes the installation.

 

Does the tailgate interfere with mounting above? I've seen those brackets and was thinking of installing it behind my frame, I like to show off my university's plate frame

 

I’m on my second Amazon wireless type camera, the first I wired to the backup light for camera power, but the camera was wireless to the monitor which plugged into the cigarette lighter. It lasted maybe 6 months. The second and current is the same wireless concept, except this one has a solar battery for camera power. When it dies, which I’m sure it eventually will, I’ll go with a full blown head unit with all the modern bells and whistles. I swapped out the factory stereo for a Pioneer single DIN unit a couple or 3 years ago, just haven’t been wild about replacing it, so I’m donating $ to short term solutions.

 

I never thought I needed one until after I bought my 5th gen 4Runner and comes stock with one.

Now, every time I get in my Tacoma I keep glancing at my stereo thinking I'll see the video, lol...

I keep thinking about getting one, but if I do, it won't be one of those ones that mounts to the license plate. I'd do the work and put one on the tailgate.

 

I need one cause of my camper and squeezing into tight, parallel beach parking spots. What do you mean on the tail gate, like in the 2nd and 3rd gen tailgate handles?

 

Yep. I'd much rather put the work into doing it "correctly" rather than the easy way out with a license plate bracket. You want the camera much higher that just on the bumper for a better field of view. The license plate just gives you a good look at your hitch (which, admittedly, I use it for that the most in my 4Runner). I still think I'd want the higher POV from a tailgate mount.

There are aftermarket handles you can get with an integrated camera, but there aren't a lot of options that fit our trucks. I'd probably just find a low profile camera and drill a hole and mount it right below the handle. Or maybe above... haven't really thought that part through very much.

I search around and found this:
https://tailgatecamera.com/products/1995-2004-toyota-tacoma-backup-camera-bezel

I couldn't easily find all that much that would work for the 1st gens besides the above link, which is kinda why I'm leaning towards a custom setup, anyway.

 

Great point. You would drill a hole in the tailgate for the camera to go in? That handle is sweet, but pricey

 

You can buy a backup camera with the bracket that mounts behind the license plate frame that won't block your license plate frame. The tailgate doesn't interfere with the camera's view.

 

Meaning when you drop the tailgate will it hit the camera

 

I understand. No, the tailgate won't hit the camera.

 

While I can't recall ever seeing any camera that would hit the tailgate when open, that does actually bring up a point I hadn't considered before.

The fact that if I open the tailgate, my camera (if mounted ON the tailgate) would be useless and point directly at the ground. That's honestly not something I had considered before (duh).

Since I have a double cab with the short bed, I find I have my tailgate open quite a lot.

This would give a point to the license plate mounted cameras...

 

I have an ext cab with a shell, my tailgate is always shut. The link you posted above for the bezel does not include a new handle, it's just the lower plastic trim piece for the camera to fit into. The price for that piece seems very steep. I wish I could get the dimensions, I have a friend with a 3D printer that could print it. If I went the drilling-a-hole route for the backup camera somewhere near the existing tailgate handle, I wonder where, and what type of camera, would look best for that low-profile install. Maybe something like this -

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-YXRfn...MIkeipk5CP7AIVtx-tBh20UA8_EAQYBCABEgL9PvD_BwE

or this

$40 NATIKA Backup/Front View Camera,IP69K Waterproof Great Night Vision HD and Super Wide Angle Metal OEM Style Reverse Rear View Backup Camera for Cars Pickup Trucks SUVs RVs Vans (Black)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H852D49

Although I think it would look funky drilling a square for it in the tail gate. My double din headunit arrives today and I'm looking for camera mounting ideas. Maybe drilling into the camper shell's fiberglass next to the 3rd brake light?

UPDATE:

I found this thread where a guy cut into the sheet metal of the tail gate to install a circular backup camera. Don't know how I feel about it, looks kind of janky.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/backup-camera-and-rearview-mirror-display-install.517724/

 

It looks nice from outside, but from the inside it is missing crucial parts of the picture so you still have a blind spots on the both rear corners.



While it might be OK for backing up straight against a wall, it will be not so good when parking between poles. I know you may see them your side mirrors but when you are backing up while turning, without a camera it is next to impossible to guess if you are going to miss or hit a pole - you can only guess or feel. I;m still looking for decent camera nad mount which would show both corners.

 

Yeah, those seem nice. I like the Amazon one since it has those different mounting angles, and the mount seems pretty secure. The crutchfield one looks like in snaps in place, so if you're off on your drilling just a little bit, it may not hold as well.

Might get two of those amazon ones. Been thinking a front view might be cool, too... Could mount that recessed in my bumper for seeing below my hood on technical trails.

I'd need a new head unit, though...

 

In the quote below the guy did a pretty clean camera-to-shell install that looks like it can spot both sides.

 

Here's my favorite one so far. This guy bought a pop-lock -

$57 POP & Lock – Manual Tailgate Lock for Toyota Tacoma, Fits 1995 to 2004 Models, Anti Theft, Truck Tailgate Lock Replacement, Easy to Install, Made in The USA (Color Black, PL5100, Standard Lock)

https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Lock-PL5...ocphy=9031286&hvtargid=pla-569211077226&psc=1

And drilled/mounted a camera on it. 1/3 of the price of the dedicated tailgate-handle-camera mount @jbrandt posted above. Cleanest install I've seen, but the FOV isn't as good as in the post above. Can a proper camera fix the 180-degree issue? I wouldn't mind doing this particular install.

 

I already tried that but my camper is to much "slanted" for the camera to see the bumper. I will be looking into tailgate mount, but the camera must be much better than what I saw so far.

One note, for guys who did not know that yet - keep in mid that most (I mean something like 99%) camera sellers will give you the "super wide viewing angle" (mostly something like 170 degree), but do not mention it is diagonally. Horizontally (what you really care) you will get maybe 150 degrees or less from such cameras.