Hello, new member here.

I was considering installing a backup camera and started doing some research. The most popular one seems to be either the small external one next to the license plate or the hitch-cam.

Considering that I am a complete novice on auto-electronics, I was hoping for a plug & play solution (and a sanity check from you guys.)

Ideally, I would like to purchase a small bullet camera (size of a lighter) and then purchase a 5-7'' monitor. Both should be mounted inside the car and unobtrusively enough so that some knucklehead doesnt decide to bust my window and help himself to the goodies.

If I think of this correctly, I would need two power outlets. My 4runner does not come with the inverters, so I think I'm left with two options:

A) Purchase a 3rd party inverter, wouldnt have to a big one and I could just connect it to the cigarette outlet as opposed to the battery itself

B) Find power wires both front and back and then start connecting the camera and monitor directly. This is the preferred solution but herein is the rub: I wouldnt know where to look for the proper wire, much less how to splice it. I've seen threads with pics, but I have absolutely no experience in taking apart center consoles and connecting wires together.

Before I decide on hiring a professional installer at who knows what premium, I was thinking I check in with you guys and see what you think. Any feedback would be very appreciated.

Cheers

Can't help you much with specific answers to you questions but here's a link to the Plate Camera Jason B has on his site

http://www.burtmanindustries.com/zoo...=rev_cam_plate

This may or not be what your looking for but if it's on Jason's site that means he has done some research on the subject or it wouldn't be there. Send him an email and I'm sure he will be able to guide you in the direction you want to go. He usually can get just about anything you want. Looks like they are closed until 3/28/06 but if you can wait and nobody chimes in here it's an option.

Hope it works out for you.

BTW, Welcome as a new member

Appreciate your feedback Thunder - I've seen Jason pop up quite a bit in the forum and he seems to be well respected. I'll give him a call and see what he thinks.

Martin

http://www.rvcams.com/

http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/me...filiate=google

Wireless
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Wirel...temZ4616311163

Koz

Also check Ebay. There are rear view mirrors that have a built in LCD screen. You can couple that with a rear view camera so that it will display the image on the rear view mirror when the truck is put on reverse. I'm thinking of doing the same as sometimes it is hard backing up the truck. To power the rear view mirror/monitor you can splice into the sunroof wiring (if you have a sunroof) as it is close by.

Excellent suggestions folks! I especially like the rvcam link from Koz.

I'd like to maybe open this open some more to people who have backup cameras installed in their rigs:

1. Where do you keep your monitor? If it's attached to a metal holder, do you detach it when you leave the car? And yes, I live in LA where knuckleheads with sticky fingers are abundant

2. How often do you actually use the camera? Does it help in backing into spaces or do you use it purely for safety precautions (ie, kids in household/neighborhood)?

3. Has anyone rigged it as a security device, ie, attached a motion detector to the set up for monitoring purposes?

As always, thanks for the feedback. Having a forum like this is so much more effective than digging through consumer reports or *gasp* talking with a dealer.

Take care everyone.