I run a couple of older Toyotas (85, 93, 97) that I would like to move dashcams from when driving. In looking online, several dashcams are available powered through the cigarette charger (I think these are now referred to as powered vehicle cable). Anyways, I don't like the thought of a cable dangling from the top of the windshield to the cigarette charger while I'm wheeling and driving around town but it seems like my only option as there isn't a way of running cable from the side pillar across the top of the windshield to the rear view mirror area. And I'm not duct taping it. Does anyone have any experience using a dashcam in their older Toyotas?

Thanks!

 

Your dashcam is powered by a USB power supply (the gadget that plugs into your "power port"; that's all it is).

So get one of these: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806892949295.html Pop the trim off behind the map lights, solder this to 12v somewhere (you'll need your multimeter to determine which wire is "always on."). Then get a short USB A to B cable, with the correct size (mini or micro) B connector. Thread it out to your camera, and pop the trim back on. Since the power supply is always on, you might need to turn your camera off when not using it.

 

Most name brand dash cams have a parking cable option which basically means hardwired. I have a Garmin dash cam live and bought the parking cable and hardwired it. It also has a 4g connection so I can remotely see the dash cam feed remotely, it’s cool but it’s 10 bucks a month for the service.

Go down a YouTube wormhole on dashcams hardwired, the options are plentiful these days but you would have to hardwire on all three vehicles to switch the cam for your chosen ride

 

I have installed one in my 94 SR5 extra cab. It was not difficult. I watched a ChrisFix video and that gave me the idea how to run the cables and hide them. My camera also has a rear camera which I mounted under tailgate near license area. I'll provide some pictures of you like. I also dogs the same system in my Toyota Prius, but the Chris Fix video was a big help because of the air bags.

 

Thanks Everyone for the advice and ideas. Seems like hardwired is the way to go and the Chris Fix video shows how to tuck the cabling into the headliner without it being visible. That was one of my main concerns. Once I get it all together, I'll post pictures.

 

Yes, if you have a picture of how the cabling turned out in the headliner, that would be awesome. On my 93 truck, the material is that thin vinyl.

 

 

As you can see, both lines (power and rear cam) both went under the vinyl headliner without problem. Use plastic tools. Remove grab bar on A pillar, then remove plastic cover and rubber gasket for door. Hide wires there, then over behind glovebox. I used the lighter power source, though my camera had the shake mode - that requires contaminated power source. Didn't want to bother with that. My adaptor had a USB-C so could still charge phone without unplugging the camera.

For the rear camera, I ran wire below door sill, and went through rubber to underneath vehicle at back of door sill area. Just punched a small hole through and fits tight. For the Actual camera mount, I ended up using superglue for the mount. Seems to work fine and is protected. You'll need a number of zip ties.

I mounted the camera on the windshield so it wasn't completely behind rear view mirror so I could access the micro-SD card for removal and downloading on my computer. There's an app suggested worth the instructions, which I loaded on my phone, but tons of Spam, so I deleted that and figured the most semore way is manual download and i turned WiFi off. Use the micro-SD card that was Suggested by ChrisFix. SanDisk 256K rugged use (because of heat). My unit has simple voice commands to save video portions and for screen on/off. I took a 300 mile trip using 3 min segments and worked great (1 minute standard)

 

Cool....thanks for the pics and I see how you wired the cable through the bottom tray to the cigarette lighter. Did you have to drill a hole in that tray to feed the cable through? By the way, the interior on my 93 looks the same just blue - even has the 5-speed

 

I don't think I drilled it where it comes through to the lighter, though you could create a little divot for that purpose. Maybe I did, just can't recall.

I switched all my truck lighting in and out to LED. Much happier for. I have a few mechanical issues valve cover leaking some oil. Otherwise everything seems in good shape except paint (220,000 miles) . Clear coat is burned off by the sun.

 

Thanks again. Yeah, I want to avoid drilling/modifying as much as possible. I do like that rear camera setup above the license plate as well - maybe I'll consider doing something like that in addition to the front but at this time I just need to have a one-channel feed