How to Install a Dash Cam in Your Car or Truck – Updated

Installing a dash cam for your vehicle can be a very wise investment. It is simple to do and with the correct dash camera, you can be sure you have the video you need when required. We show you how to install a dash camera easily on my Toyota Kluder/Highlander 2005 model.

How to Install A Dash Cam in your Car or Truck (ITRONICS ITB-100HD)

There are only a handful of quality dash cams on the market that will stand up to the harsh conditions in the Australian or American summer sun.

Some cheaper cameras on the market will take a good picture but are prone to failure due to a variety of issues. One of the biggest problems of dash cams is overheating. This is due to the camera usually positioned up high on your windscreen in full view of the sun which will heat up the unit over time. An overheating video camera will either slow down the video process so dropped frames or shut down altogether.

For my installation, I chose the Itronics 100HD due to if fantastic reviews, performance, and reliability. The cheaper ITB-200L version is installed on my second car. Which has a longer recording time on the same-sized SD card.

There are newer models out now like the famous The Vantrue N4 Dual Dash Cam 3 Channel 1440P Front & 1080P Inside & 1080P Rear.

These dashcams are continuous recording cameras that will overwrite the oldest footage when full. A 16 GB sd card will get you around 5 hours of footage whereas a 32GB card will be double that at around 10 hours before it over rights the oldest video footage. (Depending on the resolution setting)

A good site to work out a footage size calculator for different bit rates and quality is toolstud.io.

Installing a Dash Cam in your Car:

To install the camera I first need to work out where to place the camera and run the cable. The dashcam cable was long enough to run from the top of the rear vision mirror to the fuse box located near the driver’s side when compartment on a Toyota Kluger / Highlander.

You will need some basic electrical tools to pull the car apart and splice the power circuit.

Dash CamMounting Location:

I mounted my itronics 100hd Dash Cam in front of the rear vision mirror for 2 reasons.

•  1. to hide it from people walking by and
•  2. To keep it out from obstructing the view of the driver.

The car camera is mounted with double-sided 3m tape that was supplied with the dashcam. Remember to leave enough room to be able to adjust the rear vision mirror with the cam installed. Once the dash cam is stuck with the 3m tape, it’s not coming off in a hurry.

This is a very tidy install and most people don’t even notice there is a dash cam installed.

Running Dash Cam Wiring Power 12v:

The dashcam supple 12v cable was run through the ceiling headliner cover mat and down the right of the driver’s pillar garnish. This required pulling apart both the pillar and roof covers a little to pass the cable through.

Be careful if you have side airbags on the pillars as you will need to route the cable in a place where they will not obstruct the airbags if they go off. I would recommend getting a workshop manual from eBay or Amazon for your car.

The manual will give you hints on how to remove your trim pillars and repair car headliner.

Next, I needed power 12v for the car cam. This is so that when the car starts the dashcam will start up automatically.

Dash Cam Setting up Auto on power:

You can set up the Itronics  100HD camera to be always on, and trigger recording on movement,  but it will deplete your battery after a few days if you don’t use the car. So we do not recommend this unless you use the car every day. A simple method for auto-on is to splice it into the radio/cd player aux circuit. So when you start the car the dash cm starts up as well.

Splicing into your fuse box is easy and will require a double fuse mini blade.

Dash Cam Car Double Fuse Mini blade:

Locate the radio fuse and pull it, and install the double fuse joiner in its place. A 2 amp fuse is fine for the truck dash camera unit. Install the piggyback mini blade holder and crimp the tail to the positive cable on the car dash cam. The negative can be attached to the frame somewhere under the dash to provide the earth or negative. This can be done using a crimp lug and bolt.

Now you have two fuses in one slot. Magic

Install the Radio fuse back in the mini blade as well, and test that it all works. You may have to reprogram your radio stations.

Now when you turn on the car the Itronics Dash Camera will start. When you turn off the car the dashcam will stop.

What’s the Best Budget Dash Cam?

The Vantrue N4 Dual Dash Cam 3 Channel 1440P Front & 1080P Inside & 1080P Rear. It is considered one of the best on the market for 2020. You will get three recordings: Front, back, and inside the car.

1440P+1080P+1080P at 30fps, which gives you full-round protection when you’re on the roads. Dual recording mode captures a crystal clear 2560x1440P@30fps in the front and 1920x1080P 30fps inside the cabin or rear. It sure has a lot of high-definition recording options. 

I have the older Itronics iPass Black ITB-200L dashcam which at the time it was one of the more reliable budget dash cameras on the market. I have had no problems with it in the last 4 years.

Even though it records in 720p which is a slight step down in quality from the Itronics 100SPW which is 1080p. You will still be able to read license plates at this quality and you can save some money at the same time. It’s what I use on my second car.

I have no real use for the WIFI or rear vision at this time. If I need some video footage it’s just a simple procedure to remove the 32G SD card and download the required footage.

With its 120′ field of view, it’s wide enough to capture the whole road in front of you. It’s good to see Itronics making a budget camera and not skimping on features.

Most of the features are still there like

• HD (1280 x 720) Continuous Recording
• Battery Discharging Protection. Will not completely drain the car battery on the detection of a preset car battery voltage.
• High Lux Security LED to warn passers-by they are under surveillance 
• Auto Parking Mode (Impact + Motion Detection). If set up and hard-wired, any bump or motion will trigger the recording mode.
• Audio Recording – On/Off Button.
• Small size footprint to mount in front of the rear vision mirror if required.

Conclusion

Take it slow and install your dash cam yourself. It really is easy once you have the right tools and a plan in place to route the wires. For a simple install just plug it into the 12v lighter port.

Let me know in the comments below if you need any help with your installation.