Looking for hard wired Car Play/Android Auto screen

[Jm2576]

I am looking for a Car Play/Android Auto screen that I can hard-wire into my dash without using the cigarette lighter plug. Every one I see only has the option to plug into the cigarette lighter, which is convenient for installation, but I may want to use my plug for other things. Ultimately I am looking for a full time backup cam with a split screen for Google Maps. I have a canopy with no windows so it would be nice to have the back-up cam on full time to see my blind spots.

My truck:
2000 Mazda B4000

 

[Curious Hound]

The cleanest way to do that is to replace your stereo with one that has those features. In most cases, though, the backup camera is only viewed while the transmission is in reverse, sometimes with an option to view it while moving forward by choosing a menu option. Going g this route usually gives you the option to play music from your phone through the stereo if you want, in addition to hands-free phone calls.

Other options would be to install additional cigarette lighter style power ports and/or USB charging ports to power your stand-alone device. In my 93 Ranger, I use Ram Mount brand brackets to hold my phone and a tablet. The tablet gives me a nice sized navigation screen. The phone links to my stereo for hands-free operation. I do not have a backup camera. In my last F150(1997 year model) I did what I outlined above. I installed an aftermarket stereo with screen. I had a backup camera hardwired to it and my phone linked by USB or Bluetooth for habds-free operation. It displayed Google maps from my phone via Android Auto.

My setup in the Ranger. Phone not in it's holder because I used it to take the photo. The phone and tablet plug into USB ports I installed below the dash.

 

[SenorNoob]

Anything that is lighter socket powered can be hard wired if you want. The USB stuff is probably easier though. Maybe something like this? Android Auto Rearview Mirror Dashcam

If you did wanna go with a replacement radio, it should be easy enough to set the rear camera up on a toggle if you wanted. IDK if it would still play audio while doing that...

 

[Brain75]

I replaced my radio (not for all the new toys, but because it was broke) and shopped a bit.. I think what you want is to buy 3 different parts.
1) a radio with all the touchscreen hooo-ha AND a rear USB port
2) a USB M/F bulkhead cable (so it comes ready to mount through a bulkhead)
3) a little metal bracket to mount the bulkhead cable somewhere on the truck (have to be fabbed almost certainly).

I'd shop the top names for the radio, and then aliexpress electronic section for the cable. (amazon will want $15, ali $1.50 - and it is all chinese junk anyhow)
I bought a cheap chinese radio on aliexpress and while it does do all that it is wired/wireless with a front USB cable (so wire hanging out of the radio all the time if I use that)... but I didn't care so much about wired issues since I put a SD card in it with 100,000 hours of music. and when I want to use the google maps, just bluetooth it.

I have other complaints about the cheap radio (it doesn't show ID3 tags - just file names, sort is kinda wonky with folders/albumns, etc)... so recommend just going with a good name radio.

As far as the backup camera goes, on my unit it completely takes over the whole screen, and it is activated by power coming IN to the radio on a special pin (fed from the backup light bulb). I think almost all of em are gonna be like that - have to hunt high and low for a split screen option, and then just feed continuous key on power to the pin.

 

[Brain75]

The more I thought about it I am fairly sure you are asking for something that doesn't exist... Just about all the backup cameras in the radio are going to block the sound or else take over the whole screen....

I assume you have a service body shell/topper or something like that which blocks the entire rear view out of the (inside) rear view mirror so it is just sitting there dumb?
I think I would do a 2 screen system - replace the rear view with a dedicated single function backup camera (wired for always on), and then upgrade the radio to a android auto/etc w/o backup camera (or get one with and just don't hook it up).

That way your rear view is naturally right where it should be and switching to another vehicle wont be wired wrong in your brain.

 

[Jm2576]

Thanks for the replies. Its giving me something to think about. I originally got the idea from a Youtube video I saw where a guy had a Carplay screen for his motorhome and one half of it showed navigation and the other half was full time rear camera. It was a very wide screen. I think about ~4" tall but ~10" wide. The rear cam was on full time. He didnt mention what type it was though.

I hooked up a backup camera once a long time ago in my van but I connected the power to the accessory wire instead of the power to the backup lights like the instructions said. That made it stay on full time when the key was on. I added a toggle switch for it.

I like the idea of getting a new radio with screen. Even though my radio is still perfectly good, it might be nice to have the screen built in. I like the idea of a new rear view mirror with camera.

 

[Brain75]

got a link? if he has even half close pictures I bet someone can deduce the brand....

 

[Jm2576]

I may have found it on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D2XNPSDF/?tag=959media-20

If the link does not work part of the description is: "10.26" Apple Carplay Screen for Car"
I found several results, but most of them are cheap with poor reviews. I may just end up getting one to try. The one in the link shows a 3-way split screen with navigation, music, and rear cam. some of the photos in the reviews show navigation with rear cam.
Its not as clean looking as getting a new touch screen stereo, but I do like that it has front and rear cameras. I'm still researching on how to hook the power wire directly instead of the cigarette lighter. If I end up getting it I will take pictures of it when I have it installed.

 

[MaicoDoug]

ATOTO S8 $279
Comes optional HD back up camera, TPS, you name it. Does everything a phone does running the latest wired & wireless android auto. The US equivalent goes for over $1K+. Can be configured as a phone also. Uses the latest Qualcomm optical processor.

For connection to the cigarette lighter, simply connect off the back splicing into that wire. I use a junkyard 30 amp relay & small fuse I installed at the battery powered by a "key on" ignition wire. Then run that power wire to my inside power panel hidden underneath my center console. I did replace the ciggy lighter with one of those USB outlets with a voltage bar graph-meter that reads the battery voltage.

I immediately got the broken plastic blues from pulling off my bezel. Screwing the metal clip back in & cutting off the head combined with superglue was the fix. Screwing all the way through to the front with some fancy looking screw heads may be that solution eventually, however that's another thread. Pulling the bezel is easy but replacing it makes what Curious Hound did look easy.