thanks for the video. I have a 2005 4Runner V8 Sport Edition and I have got some great ideas now and using the mirror as a LCD is amazing. Whew! and you did all the work and research yourself!!
Worth noting that it is possible to make your backup camera turn on automatically when in reverse, while still having an option for "always on"/a manual toggle. I have a kenwood radio installed, which has a small camera button that will turn it in regardless of whether I'm in reverse or not. It also overrides whatever else I have on the screen to turn on the camera any time I'm in reverse.
Great video, I install a lot of aftermarket accessories and must say you did a great job. Only item I recommend is the Koomus CD slot phone holder. It changed my life in a good way.
Gilbert Luna thanks. This is the phone mount we use in our cars and boat "Mob Armor MobNetic Magnetic Phone Mount". It's expensive but the magnet is powerful and the phone doesn't droop or rotate because they made it with the rubber cover. Find it on Amazon.
Darn. I just watched this video and hear that the sound is out of sync. Bummer. I spent quite a bit of time building this video. Now I'll have to do an edit and repost it. I can't leave it the way it is. Horror of horrors, I've messed this one up.
You're welcome. I hoped that it might help someone. One thing I'm disappointed about is the backup camera (license plate frame) isn't wide enough. It also has very poor color reproduction. Another thing I didn't think about was the natural reflection of the rear view mirror would interfere with viewing the LCD display of the cameras.
hey john I like the video its informative for sure. Im curious as to why you didn't just do a new head unit for the stereo? if you had done a new head unit it would have had usb ports bluetooth and the screen fro the cameras. Is there a reason you didn't go with a new head unit? I get the Garmin over built in navigation but the other upgrades could have been taken care of with a new head unit im just curious if there was a specific reason why you chose each product over the one headunit
Well Christopher I may well have made the wrong decision. What I was looking for was a head unit with two video inputs and the ability to switch between those two inputs. This was, of course, for the backup and hitch cameras. I didn't find one. Aside from that I wouldn't have minded having a head unit with a GPS built in. The problem with that was every head unit I found with a GPS charged large amounts of money for map updates. They were, as I remember, between $65 and $100 each. Heck I can buy a GPS Garmin unit for about $100 with free lifetime maps. So for those two reasons I switched to using the mirror with the LCD display. I think If I had it to do over today I'd go for the head unit. I have three reasons I'd go that way. 1) I ended up putting the Backup/Hitch switch in the car which eliminated the need for two video inputs. 2) The mirror does what it is supposed to. Reflect. And it reflects quite well whether I have the LCD screen on or not. When the LCD screen is on I have to ask my brain to filter out the rear view mirror reflect and just look at the LCD. A head unit wouldn't have that problem at all. 3) A head unit would have been better for size (not a big issue the mirror is fine), and for reflections from the sun, windows, etc. If I did put in a head unit I would still use my dash mounted Garmin GPS so I wouldn't get stuck paying for map updates. Funny thing is we just bought a new car (still have the 4Runner) and it has a Garmin navigation unit built in with an 8" screen. There will be a charge for map updates but the first five years are free. Five years is a long time. We'll figure out what to do then. Perhaps just use Google Maps.
@@johndonaldson5126 When you decide to upgrade your audio sistem you can go on Amazon for the Pioneer AVH-NEX, because I was so exited with your video I found this guys on Amazon, it has bluetooth, usb, dual camera and I think you can share your iPhone screen to use Waze or Maps.
Thanks I put the 2 usb connecter on my console as well (2006 Limited). I have a lot of noise when I use the usb plug to charge my iphone and listen through the speakers. Did you encounter that?
I have the same issue when using the factory 3.5mm jack to listen to music while charging my phone at the same time. I believe it's just static interference from charging
no worries. It's still a pretty informative video. Got some ideas on how to do mine. I did find a similar socket that might work after I did some searching. cheers!
I'm looking at buying what I think is the same Bluetooth unit, did you get it on Ebay? How has it held up over the years? I'm worried it's going to crap out after a week, but by the time I pay like $150 for either the GROM or GTA versions, I may as well switch out the head unit. Thanks for the video and looking forward to hearing how the bluetooth unit is working these days!
I believe it only works with the JBL system with a CD changer. That model radio has a connector on the back for the Bluetooth adapter. Actually I didn't even know my radio had a CD changer because I never used the CD. Only after I began doing research did I discover that my radio had a changer feature.
hey john, i want to add a power usb to my 07 4runner, what would be the best way to get power to it? i seen a guy use t-taps and splice the existing wire from the cigarette lighter and other use a add a fuse piggyback and connect it to the fuse box. how did you get power to the usb? thanks in advance.
I tapped into the fuse panel using one of these www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SUTYYS2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I did show the fuse panel wiring in the video.
Man that's a lot of redundancy. A different head unit would have been the best choice and it would have saved you so much time. Even while considering all those things you wanted.
You may be right. The advantage of a head unit would have been the lack of a reflection that the mirror has. If I could have found a head unit without a built in GPS I would have considered it. But I also had the need for two camera input which reduced the head unit availability to near zero. My problem with built in GPS in head units is the map updates are so costly you could buy a new Garmin for the price of a head unit map update. Garmin gps comes with lifetime map updates for free.
You may be right. Especially considering the reflections on the mirror/LCD display. But I had two issues with a head unit. 1) Finding one with dual camera inputs was challenging. 2) The good head units almost always included a GPS with high annual map update costs.
thanks for the video. I have a 2005 4Runner V8 Sport Edition and I have got some great ideas now and using the mirror as a LCD is amazing. Whew! and you did all the work and research yourself!!
Thank you! John. Sr. You’re video was very helpful and educational. Exactly what I was looking for. 🇰🇭
Worth noting that it is possible to make your backup camera turn on automatically when in reverse, while still having an option for "always on"/a manual toggle. I have a kenwood radio installed, which has a small camera button that will turn it in regardless of whether I'm in reverse or not. It also overrides whatever else I have on the screen to turn on the camera any time I'm in reverse.
Dayum! That thing is clean!! Keep it
Great video, I install a lot of aftermarket accessories and must say you did a great job. Only item I recommend is the Koomus CD slot phone holder. It changed my life in a good way.
Gilbert Luna thanks. This is the phone mount we use in our cars and boat "Mob Armor MobNetic Magnetic Phone Mount". It's expensive but the magnet is powerful and the phone doesn't droop or rotate because they made it with the rubber cover. Find it on Amazon.
Don't ever sell it. Clean T4R
Darn. I just watched this video and hear that the sound is out of sync. Bummer. I spent quite a bit of time building this video. Now I'll have to do an edit and repost it. I can't leave it the way it is. Horror of horrors, I've messed this one up.
John Donaldson ii
Hey John, I really liked this video. Thank you, you did a fine job.
goood job, all you need is apple play now 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸👍
do you mine telling me how you installed the 2 Port USB car charger
Most of them come with 2 wires, just tap into the nearby cigarette lighter power.
+1 for the ch ch ch sound from the dam tape player. I'll be adding Bluetooth after Xmas. Cheers mate! Nice 4th gen
Thanks for the video. Great ideas on my 4Runner.
You're welcome. I hoped that it might help someone.
One thing I'm disappointed about is the backup camera (license plate frame) isn't wide enough. It also has very poor color reproduction.
Another thing I didn't think about was the natural reflection of the rear view mirror would interfere with viewing the LCD display of the cameras.
Very educational.
If the license- plate camera is in the way at the top, why don't you just mount it with the camera at the bottom?
Awesome video! Does the sun fry the Garmin? I live in sunny Los Angeles and worry it’ll destroy it if I leave it in the dash
Dang all that work but a stereo could've done most of those stuff already
5NNT671 ?
hey john I like the video its informative for sure.
Im curious as to why you didn't just do a new head unit for the stereo? if you had done a new head unit it would have had usb ports bluetooth and the screen fro the cameras. Is there a reason you didn't go with a new head unit?
I get the Garmin over built in navigation but the other upgrades could have been taken care of with a new head unit im just curious if there was a specific reason why you chose each product over the one headunit
Well Christopher I may well have made the wrong decision. What I was looking for was a head unit with two video inputs and the ability to switch between those two inputs. This was, of course, for the backup and hitch cameras. I didn't find one.
Aside from that I wouldn't have minded having a head unit with a GPS built in. The problem with that was every head unit I found with a GPS charged large amounts of money for map updates. They were, as I remember, between $65 and $100 each. Heck I can buy a GPS Garmin unit for about $100 with free lifetime maps.
So for those two reasons I switched to using the mirror with the LCD display.
I think If I had it to do over today I'd go for the head unit. I have three reasons I'd go that way.
1) I ended up putting the Backup/Hitch switch in the car which eliminated the need for two video inputs.
2) The mirror does what it is supposed to. Reflect. And it reflects quite well whether I have the LCD screen on or not. When the LCD screen is on I have to ask my brain to filter out the rear view mirror reflect and just look at the LCD. A head unit wouldn't have that problem at all.
3) A head unit would have been better for size (not a big issue the mirror is fine), and for reflections from the sun, windows, etc.
If I did put in a head unit I would still use my dash mounted Garmin GPS so I wouldn't get stuck paying for map updates.
Funny thing is we just bought a new car (still have the 4Runner) and it has a Garmin navigation unit built in with an 8" screen. There will be a charge for map updates but the first five years are free. Five years is a long time. We'll figure out what to do then. Perhaps just use Google Maps.
@@johndonaldson5126 When you decide to upgrade your audio sistem you can go on Amazon for the Pioneer AVH-NEX, because I was so exited with your video I found this guys on Amazon, it has bluetooth, usb, dual camera and I think you can share your iPhone screen to use Waze or Maps.
Thanks
I put the 2 usb connecter on my console as well (2006 Limited). I have a lot of noise when I use the usb plug to charge my iphone and listen through the speakers. Did you encounter that?
I have the same issue when using the factory 3.5mm jack to listen to music while charging my phone at the same time. I believe it's just static interference from charging
I installed the dual usb plug and I get a lot of noise when playing back through my phone Thanks for the Bensound info
Hello, thanks for the video. I can not find the backup camera and hitch camera switch. Where did you buy it? Thanks
David S it was a custom design. Here is their website squareup.com/market/bpgb
Hello, are those usb charging sockets universal? Will it fit blank slots in other cars?
rico de guzman sorry I don't know if those blank accessory slots are universal.
no worries. It's still a pretty informative video. Got some ideas on how to do mine. I did find a similar socket that might work after I did some searching. cheers!
those ones aren't but you can find ones specific for your vehicle on amazon
I'm looking at buying what I think is the same Bluetooth unit, did you get it on Ebay? How has it held up over the years? I'm worried it's going to crap out after a week, but by the time I pay like $150 for either the GROM or GTA versions, I may as well switch out the head unit. Thanks for the video and looking forward to hearing how the bluetooth unit is working these days!
What setting does the radio have to be on to listen to music through the Bluetooth?
It has to be set on the disk mode and must select disk 1 track 1.
John Donaldson will it work if you don’t have a cd changer?
I believe it only works with the JBL system with a CD changer. That model radio has a connector on the back for the Bluetooth adapter. Actually I didn't even know my radio had a CD changer because I never used the CD. Only after I began doing research did I discover that my radio had a changer feature.
Where you bay this Bluetooth adapter?
hey john, i want to add a power usb to my 07 4runner, what would be the best way to get power to it? i seen a guy use t-taps and splice the existing wire from the cigarette lighter and other use a add a fuse piggyback and connect it to the fuse box. how did you get power to the usb? thanks in advance.
I tapped into the fuse panel using one of these www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SUTYYS2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I did show the fuse panel wiring in the video.
Man that's a lot of redundancy. A different head unit would have been the best choice and it would have saved you so much time. Even while considering all those things you wanted.
You may be right. The advantage of a head unit would have been the lack of a reflection that the mirror has. If I could have found a head unit without a built in GPS I would have considered it. But I also had the need for two camera input which reduced the head unit availability to near zero.
My problem with built in GPS in head units is the map updates are so costly you could buy a new Garmin for the price of a head unit map update. Garmin gps comes with lifetime map updates for free.
You may be right. Especially considering the reflections on the mirror/LCD display. But I had two issues with a head unit. 1) Finding one with dual camera inputs was challenging. 2) The good head units almost always included a GPS with high annual map update costs.
agreed bought a $300 hu w/o gps with a pair of front component speakers and it's absolutely night & day. Cool upgrades nonetheless
Could you please tell me what hu and etc that you bought? Thanks
Way too many dangling wires and gadgets
So many cameras ... trade the damn thing in for a convertible ...where is the time when you needed some skills to drive a car..?
Stop being broke and buy a new car
Hahaha but if you’re familiar with old 4Runners you’ll know why he wants to hang into it. Very very hard to find a better car