Dash Cam Solutions for 2024 Tacoma

[Drakka01]

Installed the Redtiger F7N with interior rear camera in mine tonight and I'm very happy with it so far. good image even on the rear with minimal lighting. Also very small and tucked up nicely by the rearview mirror so it's not intrusive at all.

It's not direct wired yet but I will get it wired eventually so it can also do the parking monitor.

In an area with no lighting at all, it adjusted and still managed to get a vague image behind me.

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[Pootklopp]

@Drakka01 there's basically no room to spare behind the fusebox.

As someone that seems to be very electronics savvy, do you have any info regarding the pre wired accessory switches? I have a V1 that I'm going to try to stealth install somewhere and will want to have it on a switch to easily turn on/off.

 

[Drakka01]

As someone that seems to be very electronics savvy, do you have any info regarding the pre wired accessory switches? I have a V1 that I'm going to try to stealth install somewhere and will want to have it on a switch to easily turn on/off.

I haven't investigated them yet. My truck did come with some pigtails to connect to them so it's something I intend to look into.

 

[Drakka01]

Update: My 5-pin adapter from @Dongar arrived today. Super simple install and works flawlessly so I was able to remove the cord running to the 12v "cigarette lighter" outlet.

 

[Drakka01]

Also, some glare off the dash onto the window that the Redtiger F7N picks up when it's sunny. Not surprising because it doesn't sit against the glass or have a shroud around it. It's mostly around the corners of the video (like the JBL speaker shows up in the lower right) so is just mildly annoying, not problematic. Still, once I'm confident I'm at the final install position, I'll probably design a 3d printed shroud to stop reflection of the dash onto the glass right in front of the lens.

 

[Drakka01]

As someone that seems to be very electronics savvy, do you have any info regarding the pre wired accessory switches? I have a V1 that I'm going to try to stealth install somewhere and will want to have it on a switch to easily turn on/off.

So the switches are Ignition-On only, not surprisingly. This means they aren't useful for a camera with parking monitor mode. They do appear to have low-voltage/charge auto disconnect so you can't run your battery too low to start the truck in case of using it with ignition on but engine off.
Aux1 = 15A on the black wire of all pigtails.
Aux2 = 10A on green wire
Aux3 = 5A on white wire
There is 1 connector in the engine compartment and 1 in the cabin above the driver footwell.
So you just connect to the appropriate wire on the pigtail for which switch/fuse you want to use.

These are A and B below. C and D are non-switched on their own fuse under the rear seat.

 

[Pootklopp]

So the switches are Ignition-On only, not surprisingly. This means they aren't useful for a camera with parking monitor mode. They do appear to have low-voltage/charge auto disconnect so you can't run your battery too low to start the truck in case of using it with ignition on but engine off.
Aux1 = 15A on the black wire of all pigtails.
Aux2 = 10A on green wire
Aux3 = 5A on white wire
There is 1 connector in the engine compartment and 1 in the cabin above the driver footwell.
So you just connect to the appropriate wire on the pigtail for which switch/fuse you want to use.

These are A and B below. C and D are non-switched on their own fuse under the rear seat.

I wonder what the point of having D always on would be? Seems like a logical place for bed lighting/camp lighting accessories that would work well on a switch. Maybe the intention is adding a switch at the rear to use it while back there?

 

[Drakka01]

The manual actually calls that one "non-powered" so maybe it's just wiring and a fuse but not actually connected anywhere? That would mean they just put the harness in so you can use it for whatever you need to get between the front and the rear.
Not sure. Would need to get a multimeter on it to figure out for sure and at this point, I have no use for it so can't be bothered to go to the effort.

 

[Duce95]

Used info from this thread to wire mine up. I posted the parts in the comments.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/installed-dash-cam-using-factory-pigtail.830200/

 

[Dongar]

Installed the rear camera on the BlacVue DR970X-2CH, then added a USB-A to USB-C+MicroUSB splitter to power my Radenso DS1 and Garmin Mini 2!

The coaxial rearcam cable included with the BlackVue is super neat to tuck into the headliner, and right under the A & B pillars! The cable has a good 3'+ of excess length but there's plenty of room underneath the mirror shroud to hide it:

BlackVue placed on driver's side because of sliding rear window:

So current setup is:

• 5-pin Parking Mode dashcam power adapter, always on! (coming soon!)
• BlackVue DR970X-2CH LTE (front and rear cams)
• 10-pin Type B autodimming mirror dashcam power adapter, powered when ignition is turned on (https://dongar.tech/products/10pin-type-b-lexus-toyota)
• Garmin Dashcam Mini 2 (planning to use this to record the interior, but need to figure out a different mount)
• Radenso DS1
• 20cm USB-A to MicroUSB+USB-C splitter cable (https://dongar.tech/products/microusb-usb-c-splitter-cable)

 

[Ruissimo]

Nice setup! I love my Blackvue, and only wish it was easier to download footage.

 

[Dongar]

Quick demo of our 10-pin Type B adapters, restocking this week! This version turns on with vehicle ignition. Upcoming parking mode adapter comes with 5-pin, 10-pin, and 12-pin pigtails to allow installation in all 4g Tacomas, and most 3g!

 

[Delirious]

i've had the BlackVue 500, 650 and now I have the 750 which send me alerts when the vehicle is parked although I currently don't have it enabled. I have AT&T service for phone but it was expensive just to have it for dash cam so for $10 a month I have T-Mobile. It's a really good feature when you have it enabled and I will have it enabled soon again.
On another note, I put a Wireless camera inside the vehicle at home so that if anybody messes with it I'll know right away, although I'm in a good neighborhood and no issues. It's the summertime that concerns me when kids are out of school and running amok.

 

[Delirious]

Nice setup! I love my Blackvue, and only wish it was easier to download footage.

I found the easiest way is just to take the SD card out and plug it into your computer and open the BlackVue viewer. Very easy then.

i've had the BlackVue 500, 650 and now I have the 750 which send me alerts when the vehicle is parked although I currently don't have it enabled. I have AT&T service for phone but it was expensive just to have it for dash cam so for $10 a month I have T-Mobile. It's a really good feature when you have it enabled and I will have it enabled soon again.
On another note, I put a Wireless camera inside the vehicle at home so that if anybody messes with it I'll know right away, although I'm in a good neighborhood and no issues. It's the summertime that concerns me when kids are out of school and running amok.

 

[Dongar]

Testing battery levels with the BlackVue in parking mode and the Tacoma full OFF with my Fluke 289 logging voltage over a 24hr span.

The BlackVue 970x measured about 7W power consumption (parking mode, rear camera on, no cellular enabled). The brand new 12V oem Tacoma battery dropped from its 12.7V resting voltage to 12V in about ~18hr. I haven't tested draining it to below engine-starting levels but from what I've gathered from google, the danger zone is probably 11.8V and lower... or roughly 20-24hr on this setup. A smaller front-view only dashcam such as the Garmin Mini 2 only consumes about 3.5W so you could definitely stretch your battery depending on the camera.

I'm having a timed auto shut-off mode incorporated into our next generation Dongar PRO parking mode adapters for anybody who doesn't wanna risk draining their Tacoma battery too close to the danger zone.... I think maybe we'll split the difference and program the shutoff at 8hrs.

I'd love any opinions if people have any regarding:
-do you use or want to use parking mode on your dashcams? is it a must have?
-if so, how low are you comfortable draining your tacoma battery? (i.e. 11.8V, 12V? 12.1V?)

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