Rear dash cam installation

I installed an old dash cam a couple of years ago:
https://www.tundras.com/threads/dash-cam-genius-dvr-fhd590-installation-and-review.12759/

but it was very old and had dated features. Recently, I upgraded the front camera to the Garmin 55 (which I highly recommend) and I have been wanting to add that same camera to the rear. I have been thinking about this installation for a while now, but I just wasn't sure about how to install it (since the window on the crewmax rolls down). A couple of options that I thought about were attaching a bracket to the rear seat head rests or maybe drilling a bracket into the interior trim around the rear seat belt. The Garmin 55 doesn't use a traditional suction cup. Instead, it has a magnetic disc that adheres to the glass. It is also not compatible with all the camera mounting armatures (like the GroPro uses) so I would have to fabricate some sort of mount.

Anyway, here is what I came up with:

To start, I ran a wire from the add-a-fuse (that I used for the front camera) down behind the driver's side kick panel and down along the front and rear door sills along the driver's side of the truck to the back wall. I tucked the wire behind the panel on the rear wall and up to the rear window. I mated that wire up to a 12-volt accessory plug and plugged the dash cam into that. I tucked the dash cam wire up along the interior trim (near the rear seat belt) and along the head liner to the center of the truck.

I rolled the rear window down and then measured and added a piece of blue painters tape along the center line of the truck (the left edge of the tape is the center of the truck). This would give me a guide so I could center the dash cam. I didn't want to mess with removing or damaging the head liner, so I used some plastic prying tools to feel around underneath the headliner near the brake light.


I figured that I would create a mount using metal sheets. I felt around for anything that I could stick a metal sheet on to or perhaps a crevice that the sheet could be wedged into.


I bought a 12x24, 26 gauge metal sheet. I figured that was enough material for some trial and error


The camera mount is 1 inch wide, so I started by cutting a 1 inch x 3 inch piece.




I played around with that piece under the head liner for a while; trying different positions and thinking about different angles that could be wedged up there. Nothing made sense until I removed the pry tool. Once the pry tool was removed, the metal piece was wedged in there tight. Since the camera has a magnetic mount, I was able to attach it to the metal piece and play around with positioning. I determined that the metal needed to be bent down a little so that the rear window would clear when closed.


For good measure, I used some double sided foam tape on the back of the metal piece.




I inserted the metal piece under the headliner and attached the camera's magnetic disc mount to the metal. With the tension from the head liner and with the surfaces that the tape caught on, the metal piece is firmly in place.


I attached the camera and plugged it in.


I made sure that the camera lens is between the window heater elements.


The camera hangs down about 2 inches from the headliner, but I don't see it while looking in the rear view mirror from the diver's seat.






While driving, I don't see the camera, but here it is from the rear view mirror.


I suppose I could have positioned it over the passenger side head rest. It might have been less obvious there.




Somewhat visible from outside. BTW, the camera is centered to the truck, but the lens is not centered on the camera; nor is the mount centered on the camera.


Thanks for looking

 

Very nice. Now I know how I'm going to mount mine.
Soon as the weather warms up here, I'll be going to Home Depot.
Thanks for sharing.

 

I'd recommend tinting the rear window so nobody can see it. It won't affect the view of the camera either. I have a Blackvue DR590 2ch system and it works great.

 

Looks good! Just got a new camera, and it has a rear facing camera as well.

Just wondering, how did you run the cable exactly? Through the headliner?

 

So far for comprehensive reading... I have an excuse, I am a foreigner...

 

I used a pair of rectangular magnets to secure the rear cam of my Thinkware F800. Works great!!!

 

Ace Hardware $3:99

 

How sturdy are they? Does the rear cam shake much?

 

I drove around on our pot hole cratered streets for a while and checked the rear cam footage and it seems pretty stable. The good thing about the magnets is that they have a low profile that keeps the camera close to the headliner which has a fair amount of rigidity along that seam/edge.

 

That's good to know, thanks. I'm getting a cam this week so I'll try that out.

 

I found basically the same exact magnet at harbor freight, but with 5 lb pull, for $0.99. Do you think that there would be an issue with the magnets messing with the camera?

 

What is this? Is this secured with the magnet?
Where did you get this?

 

See posts 7 & 8.

 

So, that black thing is a block magnet?

 

Not my post but if you go to www.magnetsource.com

Search 07044, you will see it is a block magnet.

 

It is strong enough to stick to the metal under the liner?

 

That is a question for the OP!

 

i didnt use the magnet. you will have to ask @plumber802

 

Reviving an older thread as my single front cash can is being returned, tried a GoPro but can't get good coverage as it's too far from the windshield and it posses its own problems (auto on, thedt, etc).

I tried a magnet today, not a super strong one and I found a spot just off center that a magnet will stick.

Thoughts on if that will work for a rear dashcam mount, without having to access under the header to put a shim, if I attach a magnet to the base of say this one?

Is the magnet block above simply just placed against the headliner and secured with magnet strength? If so, it sounds too easy.

You can sort of see my magnet on the roof.

 

This is what I used for my blackvue 2ch dash cam setup.

https://www.thedashcamstore.com/custom-folded-bracket-for-secondary-dashcam-lenses/

 

Cool. I was thinking about switching to that one. Did you get the regular size or the small size? The 2 inch or the 1 inch? Was it easy to install?

 

I got the 2 inch and yes very simple to install. I got 2 sided tape and then placed between headliner and metal roof and pushed up to seal it. From there 2 sided tape on the camera to the bracket and done.

 

I used a Binder Clip to hold my Thinkware U1000 Rear Camera worked good holding strong took a second To install and cost me .99 for 2

 

When I get time I'm going to install one of these: TOGUARD Backup Camera 10" Mirror Dash Cam, Dash Cam Front and Rear Full Touch Screen Video Streaming Rear View Mirror Camera,Night Vision Waterproof 1080P Rear Camera https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PFPJ2DJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_P-9gEbKYCFC7E
Seen and used these in the Philippines.
Has anyone tried incorporating the rear cam into the center break light lens ?

 

Do you mind doing a close up shot? Thanks

 

Great ideas, thanks for posting! Looking at Thinkware f800 dual setup.

 

I got the U1000 dual 128G with the parking sensor and OBD Hard wire harness and now a dedicated Hotspot in my truck for it from T-Mobile, i dont know how I feel about the set up it was a lot of money the picture is great maybe I don’t really understand how it’s suppose to work But I thought I was going to be able to live view the truck while it was parked and I still can’t do that cause the camera does not get power when the truck is off so next step is to get a Celllink for another $300 so the Dashcam can have its own dedicated power source i dont know will see maybe I’m missing something I need to call Thinkware just been super busy with the weather here in chicago truck is parked in the garage I don’t use it till spring

 

Looking at the Cellink feature. Mostly interested in the parking mode aspect... these bundle's are surprisingly expensive.