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I tried to add a front bumper camera and in the end I think the video signal needed by the head unit is no longer plain old composite ntsc like it used to be, and so you can't connect a generic camera even if you know which pins.
It's not absolutely certain yet, just what I'm thinking at this point. The rear camera input is on the green connector. That connector has 4 pins inside and maybe 1 or 2 more in the form of shield gnd and/or chassis ground. And when I probe the pins on the cable coming from the car none of them lights up a generic ntsc composite screen.
In fact I probed all pins on all connectors while everything was connected and running and currently displaying the rear camera, and got nothing on any of them. Even totally unplugging whole connectors didn't cut the video except for 2. The connector that has the main power for the head unit. So the video dies only because the whole head unit dies. And the green connector.
So I'm thinking the video signal is now some unknown digital format and not the old composite ntsc.
It is possible that it's still ntsc and so still hackable. One possibility is maybe the extra pins in the green connector are power to the cam. So when I unplug the cable to probe the pins, no power going to the cam, so no video coming back. Could be almost anything. I couldn't probe thos signals while it was running because the connector does not have exposed openings like the others. I either need to find a pigtail or jumper cable that has the same connectors to make a tap toprobe the signals while connected, or maybe take the cover off the head unit to get at those pins from the inside. Or go the other way and find the camera itself in the back door and see how it's connected and powered, and may be able to power it and probe it's output at that end.
https://www.4runner6g.com/forum/threads/anyone-tried-this-anytime-front-bumper-camera-on-sr5.6140/
So for now, as far as I can tell, the only way to add any other cameras and have them display on the factory screen is by using one of those "Movies on Android Auto" boxes. Some of them are just pretty generic small computers that have a few extra ports almost like a raspberry pi, and they can run some usb or wifi cams and display it on the car screen via android auto. But those things are really just for getting around android auto restrictions so you can watch netflix on the car screen. I bet they are completely terrible for trying to just pop up the front cam for a few seconds to park.
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For older models, Tundra and Tacoma etc. there was an anytime front and rear camera that used your OE head unit. I am waiting on one to come out for the 25 4Runner.
That is exactly what that thread I linked is using.
The problem is the cameras are totally different now. Up to 5th gen the cameras had plain old CVBS signals (aka compisite ntsc, aka the same yellow rca plug on a 80's vhs player or game console)
It's dead simple to work with that. It's only a single wire that needs to be switched and it can tolerate some loss of shielding and passing through a crude automotive relay or a regular rocker switch. Even if the signal degrades a little, it's an analog signal and you still see the picture just fine.
Now the camera uses a high speed data digital lvds signal which is totally different. There are no generic aftermarket cameras like this yet that I have found, and you can't just run the signal through a simple switch or relaty to switch between front and back. Well *probably* you can't. I haven't tried yet so it's possible that it can tolerate the signal degradation and still work well enough.
It's going to be a while before anyone has a good kit I think, and it will be expensive probably.
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Beat Sonic just released this plug and play harness https://www.beatsonicusa.com/products/cs15?variant=46414827913367
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RE: Why not get a ______ trim
For many it's as simple as the 3rd row. The real comparison is SR5 vs Limited. Basically 20k. The SR5 is also the only part time 4WD model. As a second vehicle/beach-truck... A once-in-while-3rd-row was a requirement.
For many it's as simple as the 3rd row. The real comparison is SR5 vs Limited. Basically 20k. The SR5 is also the only part time 4WD model. As a second vehicle/beach-truck... A once-in-while-3rd-row was a requirement.
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For many reasons. I didn't want leather or a lot of the other stuff I would never use. I have already had everything you could ever want in a vehicle, and I know what I use and enjoy. That said, if you use and enjoy everything and it is worth it to you, that's great, enjoy.
I agree with you. Wolfbox is the only way he can really go.
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Check out this link before you run all those Wolfbox wires. Beat Sonic just released this plug and play harness https://www.beatsonicusa.com/products/cs15?variant=46414827913367
I love my Wolfbox but having the front camera on the head unit would be a huge upgrade over the rear view imho. I would really look at this option if I was adding a front camera. I’m not the best at designing but happy to try to 3d print something for anyone if that helps the install options. Can’t go wrong throwing a heritage grill on at the same time.
This one might only be 480p but I bet it (or something similar) could be made to fit the camera location pretty easily.
https://a.co/d/1ifvX6I
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I just ordered one so we'll see. I don't see any digital lvds plugs in the pictures, just ordinary rca plugs and the main 30 pin plugs. But they say 2025 so we'll see.
I mean, he’s not wrong. You should have thought more about your purchase if you’re wanting to add camera. (No offense) seems like you wasted money on something you wanted more from.
I get both sides but in reality some folks may have tapped out what they are willing to spend on a vehicle with the SR5. Maybe that’s all they had in the budget. Maybe they’re pulling the half the stuff off to go aftermarket.
Others may just really like figuring out the puzzle of adding what they want on their own. I helped a friend add a wolf box tri pro to his Bronco to get a front camera (among other things but relevant here), we have a blast working on our vehicles together.
I’ve updated the front grilles on my ORP but wouldn’t have personally gone into a trail hunter or pro. For me, if I was spending that much I would have kept my 1st Edition Land Cruiser (I’m a fan boy of the namesake
) but am still jealous of all the pros on here. @TrdProGirl84 yours is my dream 4R build, I’m loving following along. It’s gorgeous.
Super interested in how this camera add on plays out, especially getting the camera mount to look OEM. Others are better but my kindergarten level CAD skills and 3D printer are at your disposal.
Others may just really like figuring out the puzzle of adding what they want on their own. I helped a friend add a wolf box tri pro to his Bronco to get a front camera (among other things but relevant here), we have a blast working on our vehicles together.
I’ve updated the front grilles on my ORP but wouldn’t have personally gone into a trail hunter or pro. For me, if I was spending that much I would have kept my 1st Edition Land Cruiser (I’m a fan boy of the namesake
) but am still jealous of all the pros on here. @TrdProGirl84 yours is my dream 4R build, I’m loving following along. It’s gorgeous.Super interested in how this camera add on plays out, especially getting the camera mount to look OEM. Others are better but my kindergarten level CAD skills and 3D printer are at your disposal.
There are 1000 details that make up a vehicle, and the front bumper camera is just one. It's completely ignorant to say well if you wanted that you should have got that. You can want one detail and not want 90 other details both at the same time, and pick the rational one that meets the most points, voluntarily and knowingly, and still wish there was some way to address that one thing you couldn't get.
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