Front facing camera (with options) - looking for a unicorn

While I'm eagle-eyeing all the HU upgrade options, I want to also include a front facing camera when I do the install. But, I'm being a bit of perfectionist in the options I want from this camera.

• I want to mount it discreetly in the front grill (thousands of cameras out there for that)
• I want the ability to switch to it, with the press of a button/relay, at any time (after the key is in the ignition and either started or on accessories) and of course be displayed on the HU
• I want the camera to be constantly recording (like so many dashcams)
• As a result of the above, obviously the camera must have an SD card or some capability of storing - offline - those recordings
• I want the camera (or systems) to connect to my home Wi-Fi once I get home, and upload the recordings (to either the cloud or locally) and clear off the SD card to make room automatically
  • OR
• I want the camera to link to my phone to save the recordings

Am I asking for the impossible? I've been scouring the forums here (as well and the interwebz) trying to put all of those asks into one product, and outside of a truly, dash-mounted inside the cab camera (no thank you, I like my dashboard clutter and dust free), it seems unlikely something or some setup like this, exists.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated - even if it's a reality check!! Thanks!

 

I had a similar desire, so partly I am responding to follow this thread if anyone has a good solution. Frankly I was not able to find what I want all in one place.

I added a Kenwood DMX706S head unit and this camera (https://www.crutchfield.com/p_707VT601HD/Boyo-VTK601HD.html), both from Crutchfield, which checks the first two of your bullets. Adhesive mounted the camera to the grille below the Toyota symbol. Lets you swap between camera view and audio with a hard button. Also automatically displays the front camera for a set amount of time (10-20 seconds) after you shift OUT of reverse (which is IMO something that you might wish to add your desired features).

I looked into a number of ways to record the camera footage, since the camera is always powered when the truck is in ON/ACC, and despite its low mounting point it has a pretty wide field of view. What I found was that it would be far simpler and less expensive to add an aftermarket dash cam with the remaining features you'd like, than to have something in the head unit or a separate device record and upload the footage. Granted, it was over a year ago when I looked, technology may have improved. But sometimes its just easier to get two purpose built devices than one that combines everything...

 

Thanks for the initial confirmation, and you’re right, that would be a modification to my wish list.

If I were to cut items from the list, the Wi-Fi upload and constant recording would be the ones to go. If I needed them, I agree with you and would simply purchase a true dash-cam.

I’m sure the details of what I would prioritize and want when I do pull the trigger on the HU update, are here in the forum.

Grateful for your response (as well as other’s contributions to this topic across other posts) - thanks for sharing!