Dash Cam Installation Precautions

[Throwaway]

I'm going to be installing a dash cam over the weekend in a 23 XLT. Are there any special precautions to take? Removing a pillar trim near airbags always weird me out. I did the same in my 24 Ranger by disconnecting the negative battery terminal since I was working adjacent to an airbag.

Are those concerns overblown? Could I cause any damage to the vehicle by disconnecting the negative cable?

Also, it's just a standard cigarette lighter install, so no fuse taps or anything. Just running wires. Thanks!

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[Charles123]

Monitoring this thread, sign me up on being weirded out by messing around the airbags.

 

[Mr. Boh]

Do not go the route you mentioned above! There is a much safer faster and cleaner solution!

Purchase a dongle splitter that plugs into your rear view mirror, it then gives you a 5v usb power right where you need it! Also the camera linked below was highly rated, and worked well for me.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088P4VFQ7?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

 

[jasonkosi]

No, you don’t need to disconnect the battery. Airbags don’t just spontaneously detonate if you touch them.

 

[CompleteTruckNewbie]

Stupid question, but why do people install dash cams? Does it monitor the outside or inside that cab? Why?

 

[ttnuagmada]

I installed a Viofo a139 last year to the fuse box, and I ended up not even needing to remove the A pillar. I mean if you're thinking about going through the trouble of removing the A pillar, you might as well connected it to the fuse box. I forget exactly how I went about it, but you can tuck it along the headliner and down the A pillar and keep it completely hidden. I think i had to remove the plastic piece on the side of the dash that you can see when you open the door to feed it down into the footwell, but that was pretty much it. Just make sure you get the right sized fuse taps and know which ones to connect to. I didn't know a single thing about installing a camera or tapping the fuse box, and it was pretty easy.

 

[Fredm2002]

The Dongar attachment for your mirror is a great option if your dashcam can utilize USB-A. I bought it and couldn't use it as my dashcam required more power than what a USB-A can provide. Double check with the vendor before buying, just an FYI.

 

[B177y]

Stupid question, but why do people install dash cams? Does it monitor the outside or inside that cab? Why?

Monitors the outside, but I think there are models that do out and in as a theft deterrent or "sentry" mode.

I installed a cam that monitors front and back because I drive a lot and if I end up in a situation like a hit and run or some other BS that I need a record, then I'll hopefully have one. I also live in a part of the country that has lax enforcement and plenty of people that like to take advantage of that, so hopefully a video recording will come in handy should I need it.

 

[powerboatr]

it took my grand daughter about a month to figure out the dash came i put in her fusion . had the rear camera pointed at her the driver...she was not amused
me on the other hand said BUSTED ...as we reviewed some footage... she gets quite animated while driving ???

 

[Highway 11]

Stupid question, but why do people install dash cams? Does it monitor the outside or inside that cab? Why?

There's a lot of collisions which turn into he said / she said situations. My wife has been involved in two collisions where she was not at fault. The first one she was in civil litigation for two years as one of the other drivers was angling for a settlement. She got a dash camera after that. The second collision she had a cyclist hit her car and claim she had hit him. Officer cleared her on the spot upon seeing the footage and charged the cyclist.

 

[powerboatr]

There's a lot of collisions which turn into he said / she said situations. My wife has been involved in two collisions where she was not at fault. The first one she was in civil litigation for two years as one of the other drivers was angling for a settlement. She got a dash camera after that. The second collision she had a cyclist hit her car and claim she had hit him. Officer cleared her on the spot upon seeing the footage and charged the cyclist.

Bingo
It's an unbiased eye..

 

[alfsauve]

I have captured many weird and illegal behaviors, as well as a train that almost hit me because the signal crossings had been disabled. On of my favorites is a police vehicle "blocking the box" while fussing with his com tablet.

 

[DEEPDOWN]

Do not go the route you mentioned above! There is a much safer faster and cleaner solution!

Purchase a dongle splitter that plugs into your rear view mirror, it then gives you a 5v usb power right where you need it! Also the camera linked below was highly rated, and worked well for me.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088P4VFQ7?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

I have one and it's neat and tidy, but of course no "Parking mode". Viofo A329

 

[gadourym]

I installed a dash cam in my truck last week. The cord is very thin and I was able to tuck it out of sight without removing any trim. It went in above the headliner, and inside the pillar on the windshield side. With the door open, I tucked behind the rubber weatherstrip and it comes out below the dash. I'm powering it with a Garmin OBDII connector that automatically turns the camera on when I start the truck and turns it off 10 minutes after I park (You can set it for 24-hour or continuous operation, but I don't want it to strain the every sensitive battery). so far it works well and there are no wires to be seen! The camera is mounted behind the rearview mirror, also mostly out of sight.

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/735279/ It's available on Amazon as well.

 

[FirstTimeFord]

Crimp on a couple of pins and run one of these ($8) into the back of your mirror wire harness.

Amazon USB Pigtail

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