So recently I added this functionality to the GX470... must admit, I really like it, tons of capability for not much cost. here's the parts list... you might not need all of this.
@Inukshuk this is the setup I was telling you about the other day.
Dashboard accessory mount:
https://www.gamiviti.com/dashboard-accessory-mounts
Carplay/screen unit:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CL948DNX?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
Ram Arm:
https://www.amazon.com/RomHaus-Extension-Accessories-Tablets-Motorcycle/dp/B0CQT882KZ/ref=sr_1_11?crid=31WZZ5OL18J6X&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dRGPyhefXZRw-J5xCZ43QbbWB0Ctzx1hc5fp7TMVghBOBEsK3sTRhItR76kQTiecIJA7Pu3U1hLeoqR9xGUutx-AX9QaFGsrYg249ETQzqUk7YrajflFLGbZ6E8NRegyi58cYvl7lBvpDoTzAjgFiJed_8KBmtxeLcTHivyzxOC4prmA9yKjyPpyiG9AdAawbOYPdQsU6GtowUs-6EdOvntDpHTAQDFYIxWs9SVSAxM.yurtUSh0cyDIGyIUuWRj5rnVJI5Tnvu91M1nJ_OKRlk&dib_tag=se&keywords=ram+arms&qid=1741708013&sprefix=ram+arms,aps,143&sr=8-11&th=1
Ram balls:
https://www.amazon.com/Huntury-Universal-T-Bolt-Attachment-Kayaks/dp/B0CTKBF9FW/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1MK7H1H79S3L7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.38yBMRtMipYhXkjzOXl7_UHcIjhHjOqU1rCXIUDh34AJuTlQ0MCM8sE2YD9-TuoZf2Fwb6PzpoSYdWwxpMyOBfHM-ryIiDE-MDN5xASdhCDmLnDZye8MFTMTSCrJRYlSc6otxRYm8W21intMfWqXunZAj1W04RU64PHE8wwvP_U6uvwRaleXJhgc68cWbbObrBZeECuGqdMjuE3KBsj8FNirhZvsjxrY5V_ipFeFQKw.sP7telZQH8ykI39v7Ehmbq8A1ERWBJo8-njob4BAIXQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=ram+track+ball&qid=1741795867&sprefix=ram+track+ball,aps,146&sr=8-3
License plate bracket:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HXM7VZ2?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
Install is somewhat simple- attached the ball to the unit, the arm to the ball, the other ball to the dashboard mount, and the dash mount to the vehicle.. it also comes with a suction cup mount if you want to stick the thing to the windshield and bypass that other stuff. The camera is tiny, and is sitting on the bottom edge of my license plate. It is possible, yes, to damage the camera by backing into something, but would require an insanely idiotic move on my part for that to happen. Like backing into something that's shorter than the tire, yet narrower than the shackle is probably the only way to do it. I just got back from Moab and drug the bumper off of multiple ledges with no contact. Here's a picture:
The screen is a little big, but actually pretty darn cool. I swapped its position with my radio head unit to the passenger side so it was less of a distraction, and so that I can still easily see the front passenger corner of the hood. This also provided for a better experience for my passenger, who was quick to learn the OS of carplay, messing with Spotify, and manipulating what we were seeing in Gaia. Here are the dash pics..
I am really pumped with how cool Gaia looks when out on the trails.. you don't have nearly the same interface you do with the phone, but it still shows the maps in great detail, you can still see your route, still zoom in, etc. And all of this with your phone still in your pocket.
Hooking up the camera was pretty easy... there's a wire that needs to tap the + of the reverse light circuit, and since I already did most of that work when installing the bumper lights that was fairly trivial. Then there's a long wire that needs to find its way up to the unit, that wire could have been like 4' longer as I would have preferred to route it a little differently, but I made it work. I also added a relay to the power ports on top of my dash so they switch on with accessory now, rather than always hot... it was lame to have to remember to turn this thing off to save the battery, then on again before I hit reverse leaving the driveway, much better having it all automated.
And then the cameras- this thing stores a full day on a little micro SD card. So I wheeled all day, popped out the card, then saved what seemed to be the most important chunk of it to my hard drive. Basically you get 1 minute segments, channel 1 is forward and channel 2 is reverse, here's what that directory looks like, the entire day was about 70GB (9 hours or so).
I don't know what a TS file is, but my Wevideo program seemed to have no problem accepting it. I put together a quick video of some of the highlights from Klondike Bluffs using dash cam/reverse cam footage..
View: https://youtu.be/bBCOLKn-c8M
Had I known it was going to be this cool, I would have cleaned the windshield a little better... will do so next time. But it's neat to see the view in back, also fun to watch yourself spot your friend who has never wheeled before down sketchy stuff. My only complaint is the unit is also supposed to support Airplay & other ways to push videos... like you could watch youtubes or something I guess, but I can't seem to get that to work the few times I've tried in the driveway. And in order to change functions (like view video footage, or attempt to push videos from your phone) you have to get out of Carplay then hook to other Wifi/BT channels... then disconnect all of that to go back again. But the reality is all you are going to want is Carplay and once it's hooked up it'll find itself every time you get back in the car and turn it on.
