Mirror tap

I also have the platinum and the mirror doesn't have a place to tap. I couldn't use the blendmount either because the stem behind the mirror is not long enough. I have mine mounted just below the mirror with the suction cup mount and I got the smart cord and had it hardwired in at Bestbuy for $59. The radar detector is an escort Max 360 and it is working great. I was worried with all the BSM and lane detection stuff it would get false alerts but it doesn't.

 

We must acknowledge that not every situation is completely black or white. There are countless state roads on the way to the beach where the speed limit drops 10 mph and the road conditions do not change. I'm not talking about when they are going through a town, or an upcoming junction with another road. I'm referring to what can only be described as a revenue collection area. These poor counties have created opportunities for themselves to collect a little tax off the vacationers passing through.

Now, if I am deep in thought and fail to notice the sudden speed limit drop, but my radar detector alerts me on the poor soul who just got dinged 1/2 mile ahead, and then I start paying attention and I actually slow down, what is the harm there?

If the intent is to reduce speed, then the goal is accomplished. I was alerted and I slowed down. I am not a criminal. I wasn't trying to speed. I just need an alert sometimes as I can accidentally miss a speed limit sign every once in a while. Some are easier to miss than others. Some of those happen to be right around these revenue areas.

But, if the intent is to collect revenue, well then I can see why the officer would be angry at my attempt to avoid paying the tax. So which is it? Is it truly safety and shouldn't the law enforcement officer be happy that we slowed down? Or is it a budget line item? Or is it just an insatiable thirst for justice. Anyone who breaks any rule must be punished?

Again, I'll finish where I started, it's not that black or white. Not just good or evil. Sometimes it's just a situation and no one wins or loses. We all just get along down the road.

 

At the risk of derailing this thread (won't even begin to engage in the self-righteous debates here).......notsureifserious.jpg

"Your honor, I didn't press the button on my radar gun in time but I know he was going 10MPH over the posted speed limit; I saw it with my own eyes!"

 

Possibly this is the difference in a person who is trained and certified in radar operation vs one who is not. That's how it's done; if an officer is just leaving his radar on and not visually estimating speed, then they are operating the unit improperly. It is what it is, that's how it's taught and expected to be done. Part of the certification is visually estimating speed in varying zones and terrain, if more than 5mph off you fail.

 

My escorts have always picked up laser as long as someone else was getting zapped first

Yes, used the escort kit and mounted the switch outside of an empty switch blank by the left knee- I hate their mute button, sucks and always knock it off getting in and out. Super easy to run the wire up through the dash and out the top storage bin for connection to the detector

*if* you’re the only one getting lasered

cops out west drive with it on 99% of the time so the KA alerts are real, always slow down when it beeps and eventually you run into a cop

 

where did they mount the mute button?

 

Hey DexterL I am not sure why it posted the pic twice. But it is really easy to hit the mute button here without taking my eyes off the road.

 

I see your remote mute button, and raise you mine (back of shifter):

(for Uniden R3, but this can be done for/with both Escort and Uniden remote buttons; unsolder the original button from your "box", solder 2 wires, mount your Uni/Escort "box" anywhere, then run the wires to shifter (or any other location), mod/mount a momentary button of choice and connect....mine took a bit of time, but it's so friggin' worth it to have the mute button at the most convenient location)
-99

 

Would you be willing to make me a harness like this? I suck at soldering and that is SLICK!

 

Harness? As in "mod one for me"?
If you really are in a bind, and don't mind sending one over, I can take it apart, solder the leads, and send it back.
No warranty given or implied, and the OEM mute button box may not look as pretty as you bought it (but they usually come apart w/o any issues).
You'd end up with a hard wire kit, just like you have now, but with 2 wires sticking outta the hole where the button used to be.

It's more of a PITA to run the wiring, then snaking it to/through the shifter (albeit fairly easy), and then modding the shifter itself by drilling/cutting out the hole with the momentary on/off button. That takes a little bit of time and fiddling. These buttons (off Amazon; I forget which exact size at the moment) barely fit, but they DO fit just right...and once completed there are no gaps, they don't stick out or anything, etc.

LMK if you really need help, and I may do a one-off if you really need help with this.
All wiring, mounting and button installation is on you however. I can do the button mod easily.
IM me if anything, as to not to pollute this thread too much.
-99

 

@Jr3volution what mount are you using with the digital mirror?

 

Im wondering if i could use one of my switch pros triggers for the mute button.. I suck at soldering, but can run wire and instal just about anything.

 

Are any of them "momentary"?
...this type of a mod is more about convenience and placement of a mute button/switch more than anything else.
Determine if you want to be moving your hand where your SwitchPro is, every time you need to hit that button.
-99

 

so I had my wiring ran up through the center speaker but installing a blend mount soon- how did y’all run the wiring from the mirror-headliner- a pillar? Remove everything or tuck and shove? Thanks!

 

"tuck and shove" to hide the wires at the headliner, to the A Pillar, then pull weatherstripping to runt he wires down.
Once in the dash....well, take 1/2 the truck apart (when and where needed) to run wires where we want them.

Tedious at times, but worth it (to me), as all my electrical mods are invisible, and any and all accessories have that OEM look to them.
Have fun.
-99

 

thanks! On my prior gens I would always have to remove the a pillar to run the hardwire kit and it was never fun, was hoping I could get by without doing so on this truck

 

Hardwire kit to the plug in the headliner (came down the rear view mirror stem) then tuck everything (Front headliner, a pillar, front/passenger door seal, b pillar, rear passenger door seal, C pillar, rear headliner) to get tonthe rear cam

 

did you remove the trim or just tuck it in?

 

Just tucked it in

 

Many years ago I worked for a company as a tech and they did a LOT of work for the cops on the highway patrol.
I spent countless hours with many of the cops and made some good friends.

One day I got into the discussion about this exact thing. I had passport radar detectors, uniden etc.
He offers to give it a try outside. Radar, beep beep no problem. Its a wide signal and even if not pointed at you the detector saw it. Laser, The field that it send out is about 1' wide at distance. The laser detectors will see that signal but when they do, the cop already has your speed. He spotted the back of the car, no alert. Did the front, no alert. At the detector and it went nutz.
If the laser detector goes off the cop will have to make a quick decision if you are the true speeder (the guy going faster than everyone else) or if the speed documented is enough for a ticket.

Lasers are great for clear days. Fog or rain can cause a problem. So sometimes you'll have the police use radar when weather conditions are not favorable.

 

Do you find the radar blocking any of your view below the mirror or do you just get used to it? I have the Escort 360 MKII and the suction cup released in the heat. I was not thrilled that an expensive radar detector came crashing down. I like keeping things hidden as I had it right above the left side of mirror until it fell.

 

Get a Uniden suction cup, they don't release in heat.

(i kid)

While I personally don't have a blendmount/similar, I've driven a few vehicles which had them.
I dislike how "in your face" the detector usually is (much closer than cup to windshield), but what I really don't like is that it puts the detectors' display at a much greater side distance and depending on application almost out of peripheral vision.
I really didn't like having to "look away and to the right" every time I wanted to glance at the detector.
I, for one, am in the suction cup camp; let's me position the detector as hidden as possible, left to/under the mirror, and as easy to see as I want it to be.

But, to each their own...

 

I ordered one of these... https://www.etsy.com/listing/776910...14df&ref=search_recently_viewed-2&frs=1&sts=1

 

Make sure your glass is "squeaky clean" (use alcohol/etc) as even VHB tape can let go under extreme heat with enough weight on it.

 

I was thinking about possibly making an arm from ABS that would go above the headliner and the mount would attach to the arm.

 

I run mine like this (sorry for a blurry interior pic); skewed angle a bit, but it sits just below and behind the mirror, to the left - very easy to view.

...and yes, I have a black EZPass transponder.
(only members of Tundras.com special operations team have those )

 

I might like this that i came up with this afternoon. It might be shaky when driving. I will look into a ball mount option for more stability.

 

My preference is for the detector to be mounted as high as possible, so that it can "reach" over the horizon the most it can.
I don't know how much performance you're losing mounting like this, low to the hood, but I can imagine going over a steep hill, and not getting an alert as quickly as I would due to your hood blocking the radio waves much longer than a higher mounted unit.
Do as you like however; I'm not the radar police here.

 

I ordered the mount from Etsy that I posted earlier this morning. I prefer to keep it high as well, but I would have to figure out how to make that mount so that it doesn't fall. As far as being on the dash, we don't have too many steep hills in FL lol.