Installed a set of Thinkware x500 cameras

TJay74 · November 15, 2016

Been wanting to put a set of cameras in the truck for some time now. Seeing more and more red light runners and in general people who don't pay attention to their driving. Add to that PD's that dont want to assign fault as it means more paperwork and would rather leave it to the insurance companies to do and then seeing how some at fault carriers will try and assign some fault to the innocent, I finally pulled the trigger.

Picked up a Thinkware X500 dual camera setup. Opted for the hardwire kit as well. Took about 1.5 hours to install everything, hid all of the wiring in the headliner and ran the power from the drivers side fuse panel.

Have to say, pretty impressed so far. I flashed the X550 firmware into the x500 camera, gave me some more options and features. Then added a 64 gig 95 mb/sec memory card to it as well. Boot time is faster, the video is amazingly sharp. Both cameras are 1080p resolution. I mounted the front camera under the rearview mirror, the rear camera is in the middle of the drivers side rear window, both cameras are wide view lenses.

The cameras come on as soon as the truck starts, but also continue to record once the truck is off. They can pick up motion and also sense impact, then when you start the truck it warns you of how many motion/impact recordings that were captured. The camera also has a lane departure feature and a collision warning system built in as well, I turned those features off on mine. The audio is exceptionally clear as well, I was on the phone and the camera picked up the audio like I was directly wired to the mic.

Another nice feature is if you us Thinkware's video playback software it will show you the GPS speed and your vehicle drive path on a Google maps. Nice to know the truth is there if it is ever needed.

Dnt · November 15, 2016

Why did you choose this setup?

Approx overall cost?

TJay74 · November 15, 2016

Buddy is using them and had nothing but great things to say about them, the reviews also show they are the best ones on the market right now as well. I ordered it on Amazon for $232 for the dual camera and another $30 for the hardwire kit. It is stupid easy to hardwire in, everything can connect right inside of the drivers side fuse panel system.

muddkatt · November 15, 2016

Would you post some pictures of the install please. I already have the Valentine 1 mounted from the rear view mirror and want to see if I can find a way to mount the camera too.

TJay74 · November 16, 2016

Give me a couple of days, working nights right now so my sleep schedule is all sorts of jacked up to say the least.

ChevyRoofer · November 16, 2016

Would you post some pictures of the install please. I already have the Valentine 1 mounted from the rear view mirror and want to see if I can find a way to mount the camera too.

X2. Been looking into a dual camera setup.

Either this one or yours are my 2 current options. Can you post an Amazon link to your camera?

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/174566-blackvue-dr650gw-2ch-dashcam-install/

bndawgs · November 16, 2016

I really need to quit looking for ideas on this site.

I came across this setup that received very good reviews and is pretty affordable.

https://www.amazon.com/Channel-Dashboard-Recorder-G-Sensor-Recording/dp/B01EX8ATKK/ref=sr_1_4?s=car&ie=UTF8&qid=1479317613&sr=1-4

Also comes with just a front one too

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X528FNE/ref=dp_cerb_2

TJay74 · November 17, 2016

https://www.amazon.com/THINKWARE-X500D-Dashcam-Camera-MicroSD/dp/B0147I0JEW/ref=sr_1_1?s=car&ie=UTF8&qid=1479363299&sr=1-1&keywords=Thinkware+x500

TJay74 · November 18, 2016

Here are a couple of quick pics.

Front camera under the rearview mirror.

Rear camera on the drivers side rear glass.

ChevyRoofer · November 18, 2016

Here are a couple of quick pics.

Front camera under the rearview mirror.

Rear camera on the drivers side rear glass.

Looks really good. How hard was it to install the wiring from the front to the back?

A.J. Curtis · November 18, 2016

Here are a couple of quick pics.

Front camera under the rearview mirror.

Rear camera on the drivers side rear glass.

Looks good! how long is the cable for the rear camera? do you think it would reach the tailgate? I have a shell on the back and want the camera all the way at the tail gate.

TJay74 · November 19, 2016

The cable is 20' long that is included, it is just a micro USB cable on both ends. It wasn't hard to run the cable at all. I pulled the rear drivers side seatbelt cover plate off and ran the cable under there to the camera, then pulled the headliner down some and fed the cable along the rear door to the B pillar. Then pulled the headliner down by the sunroof and pushed the cable in until I could grab it and ran it over to the overhead console. Pulled the center section down and pulled it to the camera.

I took all of the slack, zip tied it together and in the headliner in the middle of the rear door there is a gap in the panel when you pull it down, I pushed the excess cable into that gap all rolled up.