Hi everyone,

First post here, just bought a 2008 DC SR5 4X4 TRD Off Road last Saturday and loving it so far. I've search not just this site but the web for this information. I've seen the posts about installing a AVIC-Z2 into a Tundra, BTW great post and great information, but what I am looking is to see if anyone has installed either a AVIC-Z2 or a Z3 and also installed the factory camera in the tailgate handle. I did check and have the unhooked white plug on the passenger side. I really want the factory look of the tailgate handle camera but I really am also planning to install a AVIC-Z3 with bluetooth, iPod, and XM Radio with NavTraffic too. I'm sorry if this has been asked before and if so, can someone post a link to the post otherwise any information would be appreciated.

Since I'm posting this I might as well ask another question, is it even possible to install a factory sonar into a Tundra that wasn't originally installed with one? If so, what's a ball park cost of both the materials and the labor? I was going to call my local dealer but see if anyone here had experience with this first.

Thanks!

You might want to PM Toxarch as I think he has done both (well, except maybe not exactly the same Nav unit). BTW, welcome to TTZ!

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2007 Tundra Limited Double Cab 4x4 Super White
Key FOB Tailgate Lock (courtesy of Toxarch)
OEM back-up camera w/flip down monitor
Sirius Satellite Radio
20" OEM alloy wheels
Line-X Bed liner
UWS Black Powdercoat Low Profile Toolbox
JC Whitney Black Nerf Bars
Lund Interceptor II Bug Shield
Tekonsha Voyager Brake Controller

The Z2 and the Z3 will have the exact same install. The changes between the two are only software upgrades. I installed the Z2 (and bluetooth) and connected it to the factory camera. It doesn't show the actual camera install, but it does show how to connect the Z2 to the factory wiring for the camera. You should be able to get all the info you need at the following link:

http://www.toyotatundraforum.com/ele...lots-pics.html

It includes links to other write-ups so that you can send the camera the correct voltage. Requires a visit to Radio Shack to pick up a couple of cheap parts to make a voltage regulator. Easy to do if you don't mind some simple soldering. Just ask any questions you have in that link if there is anything else you need to know for the install. I've been told a few professional shops are using my guide for their own installs on the Tundra now.

For the parking sensors, I went after market. It was a little labor intensive since I had to drill the bumpers, extend one of the coax lines, and then run it all in loom. But I'm sure it was a lot cheaper than OEM would have been. If you are prewired for the camera, then you are prewired for the sonar. I imagine they will want you to get a new bumper. But since you are putting in a rear camera, then you really only need the front sonar in the truck. Only thing is, I don't know of anyone who has gotten the factory sonar installed after it left the factory. SET uses an after market one in their port installs. They might just do that so they get more profit.

Anyway, here's my after market sonar install:
http://www.toyotatundraforum.com/ext...-pictures.html

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2007 SR5 Crewmax 5.7L 4x4
Mods: nerf bars, Truxedo tonneau, radar detector power, fog lights, black billet grille, rear differential breather, parking sensors, Line-X, power tailgate lock, hood safety latch mod, one off driving lights behind grille, Pioneer NAV w/ OEM camera, Flowmaster 50 SUV dual/dual, blue LED dash lights, Volant CAI
All mod descriptions and pictures © 2007,2008 by Toxarch. They may be copied only for personal use and the mods may be done for non-profit only.

Thanks for the response! I am somewhat uncomfortable doing the work myself, although I used to do stereo work on my cars when I was in high school and the work was on an old Toyota Celica that was handed to me but now I'm older and and it's not a 86 Celica but a $30k+ truck, I may have an installer do the work. Toxarch, your write up is excellent and will be used to show the correct way to do this install! I'll make sure to point out the part in your writeup camera correct voltage, which I missed when reading your writeup, my bad.

As for the sonar, I would like to install both front and rear, that passenger rear corner always gets me worried what's behind there when I'm backing up, for some reason my depth perception might be a little off when looking at the passenger rearview outside mirror. I really do like the idea of using the built in factory indictor lights to show which sensor is triggered even though the aftermarket kits would do the same thing, I like the stock look and function of the sonar. I'm going to call a dealer and ask them and after they're done laughing, I'll get a kit and labor cost from them if it could be done. I figure it still would be cheaper than having a ding on my insurance if I hit someone or something.

Thanks again for the information and keep up the good work on educating us on what we can do or dream of doing to our Tundras. The Tundra is one awesome truck but the information on this board, we can give the Tundra a +1 rating. It's funny, I just started noticing that a get a rearview lookback from chevy, ford and even older model Tundra owners when I get passed. Now I just have to figure how to keep the black paint exterior swirl free, for some reason when I traded in my first black car (a 2003 Nissan 350Z), I swore I would never get a black car again but after seeing this black TRD Tundra on the lot, let's just say I got a case of mild amnesia.

If you did a stereo install in the past, then I bet you can do this install. Stereo installs have gotten much easier. Everything uses wire harnesses for the main wiring now. You take the stereo harness, you buy a gen-2 Tundra harness, you connect the matching color wires, and you plug it all in. MUCH easier than the old installs. Course the camera requires a little more work since you are connecting to the factory wiring, but that's not that hard. I'm betting you could do it.

As for the rear corner, it will show on the camera. The camera has a fish eye lens. I could probably read my license plate if I looked in the camera close enough. OK, maybe not. But it does show EVERYTHING behind you. Actually, I have picture around here I took for another guy. Let me dig it up.



Pardon the dust, I parked the truck with the windows down that day. See the white line at the bottom? That's the license plate. You can see everything that the bumper might hit.

Toxarch, I didn't realize how much of a wide angle that camera was. Great photo shot. Might actually just just install the rear camera with the AVIC-Z3 and see how it works out without the sonar. I think if it works out, that will save me a ton of money. I forgot to mention before that I had a rear backup camera on a crossover that I traded in for the Tundra without a sonar and it worked out fine although it was at least 2 feet shorter.

As for the installation of AVIC-Z3 and the additional modules, I am now 50/50 on the install. The more I review your writeup, the more confident I'm am getting. Looking at Ebay for the components atm. Thanks for the advise.

That rectangle shadow on the ground is the shadow of the truck. So you can see that the camera shows everything wide of the truck and anything that you might back into. I put my sonar in many months ago and almost never use it now that the camera is there. The only time I use it is if I think I might be close in the front right corner.

As for the modules, they should all be plug and play. You just daisy chain them using the existing plugs. I say "should" because I am not positive about all of them since I only installed the bluetooth. But from what I recall of the manual, it is like that.

You decide whether or not you can do the install. Don't let me talk you into it if you don't think you can do it. It's not simple, but it's not hard either.