Reddit reviews Koolertron Rear View License Plate Backup CMOS Camera

You can get license plate cameras for less than $15, and a head unit with Bluetooth, DVD player, and SD card reader for under $100. Granted, you get what you pay for, but I bought this exact combo nearly two years ago for a 92 Honda and it's served me well enough. Has two video outs so I added a 7" monitor. You can get an add-a-fuse kit to tie in to the reverse lights fuse, so you don't even need to mess with the wiring back near the reverse lights, so no permanent alterations to the car.

I have one that mounts across the license plate, I like this design better because the camera is adjustable and can be removed easily. I have it plugged into my aftermarket head unit and its set to always on so that I can view it while driving.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0049LBJ56/ref=s9_ps_hm_b1Mqudn_d99_g422_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=mobile-hybrid-11&pf_rd_r=1V985Z7S5RMSTYPKTQ42&pf_rd_t=30901&pf_rd_p=a2b4a7d2-15a5-5cfc-a483-2d3416b36659&pf_rd_i=1253823011#

Mine is very similar to that. All you have to do is power it by splicing into a wire that has power when the car is on, and if you want you can splice into the reverse signal wire so that the camera turns on when you shift into reverse. There's write ups of this on ft86club

I bought a 20$ cam off Amazon. Its not the greatest but it gets the job done. The claimed nightvision is worthless though

this one

I've always liked and had best luck with Pioneer, you'll probably want a double DIN unit as that will fit better. You can order from Crutchfield and they include the front bezel and wire harness, but you can also find head units cheaper elsewhere and buy the install kit from Crutchfield separate.

Bonus, I believe all of the double DIN Pioneer units with touchscreens work with backup cameras, which you can find on Amazon for $15 or so. The cheapest one currently is the AVH-P1400, they go up in price to the AVH-P8400

If you want navigation you can add that on to the more expensive models, but they also have navigation units.

They also have the cool App Radio, which works great if you have an iPhone, works with Android too but not as well.

As for speakers, yeah I'd switch those out too. I'm fond of Polk Audio myself. Head to crutchfield.com, put in your car and they'll list the various speaker sets that will fit. Component speakers generally sound better than coaxial, but again it all depends on your budget and anything you put in there should give you better sound than the stock radio and speakers. If you buy from crutchfield they include any adapters to use the stock wiring making it simple plug and play.

Actually thinking about it, the base doesn't have tweeters so you'll probably be better getting coaxial speakers.

Just know you don't have to do it all at once, you can get the head unit, then add speakers on in a few months, or vice versa.

Don't know about the regulations, but I installed one in my vehicle (South Surrey redditor) a few months ago, and did it in a way that you can't see it from outside the vehicle, it looks completely stock.

Recording begins when the key is turned to the ACC position, or ON, and the unit shuts down when the key is turned off, so you don't have to fuss around with setting the camera in place each time you enter the car. Every journey is automatically recorded to a 32gb SD card. The MD12G unit can accept 2 camera inputs - each one records to its own SD card. I'm going to install a camera in my tailgate (normally used for a backup camera) to potentially catch the license plate of any hit-and-run rear enders.


Used an MD12G mobile DVR (meant for running interior security cameras on a bus/taxi/etc) from http://www.dty.com.cn/ and a cheapo Koolatron camera from Amazon. The license plate camera is zip tied in behind my grill until I can figure out a better way of locating it. So far it performs as I'd hoped, a 32gb card is enough to store almost 2 months worth of trips easily.


Pictures of the install on a 2006 Toyota Tacoma:

Removing interior trim to run power and coax cables to camera in engine compartment/wire in power to key-on relay, and to install the GPS antenna in the dashboard above the speedo so it can see the satellite through the windshield:

http://i.imgur.com/SIuLW.jpg

DVR unit installed in cargo box under rear cab seat (the white thing is the control box for the remote control; I bring a little TV out and hook it up to the unit to program it):

http://i.imgur.com/6ZY3b.jpg

Closeup of DVR unit:

http://i.imgur.com/VXsCn.jpg

Camera visible from outside vehicle in grille:

http://i.imgur.com/2qE1i.jpg

Sample image of camera (image is reversed!! buy a decent camera that does not do this, I'll be changing it out sometime soon). Camera logs GPS and speed of travel and time of day.

http://i.imgur.com/l7TYg.jpg


Haven't caught any mindblowing accidents with it yet. Well worth the cost of the install when it comes to peace of mind; I'll always have an impartial witness with me if I do get in an accident, and there's nothing visible from outside to tempt a thief to break in, and since it doesn't require any input from me to do its job, and has no display visible inside the cab, I don't see how distracted driving laws could apply.