Do you have a 2009 Toyota Tacoma?

S

Sneaks

New member
While polishing my Tacoma tailgate, I discovered a camera lens almost hidden in the tailgate handle assembly. Jumped on the web and discovered that in 2009, Toyota pre-wired a large number of Tacomas for a backup camera! Including the wiring and connector hidden in the headliner above the mirror.

Toyota forums (ain't the web great?) say it works with the fancy upscale auto dimming mirrors which have a backup monitor built in. Unfortunately Toyota wants about $800 for the mirror but there are substitutes! The mirror OEM sells generics with 2 1/2" and 3 1/2" monitors far cheaper and junk yards are another source since it was offered in the Sequoia as well as high end Tundras and Tacomas.

Needless to say it allows one to hitch up alone and get within 1/4" without ever leaving your truck. Now that I found *my* mirror, thought I'd share the knowledge with other Tacoma driving Brats. It's a very good safety feature if you have kids/dogs in your neighborhood. Hard to see them behind the tailgate.

Don
 
I don't have one (nor do I have a Tacoma or Toyota) unfortunately. Could have used one today, even more would have liked to have on on the bow of the TC as I loaded it by myself today. Hard to tell how close you are to the bumpers when powering it onto the trailer, which is the only choice I have with my ramp. I have that ladder on the trailer tongue though and I'll rig up some sort of hanger with a rubber ball or something to tell me when I'm in the right place.

Afraid I'll end up in the bed of the truck :shock: if I hit it too hard. I use liquid rollers on the bunks and it slides pretty easily but it's sort of unpredictable...
 
Don,

Good luck with fitting the backup camera! They're pretty neat.

When I traded-in my F350 and bought the F150, I found that it has a backup camera. It is quite useful when hitching the boat, etc.

I would strongly recommend that if you have a choice in screen sizes, go for the larger of the two. My rearview mirrow "screen" is so small I have to really get my face in the mirror to see the dang hitch, but otherwise it seems to work Very well.

...I also found that glueing a 2-3" BRIGHT spot on the top of the hitch where you must position the trailer ball really helps as well.

Best,
Casey
 
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