Some car owners think that installing a dash cam in a car with a liftgate, such as a crossover or SUV, is more difficult since the rear window moves, unlike a standard sedan. The good news is, with a few extra steps, it can be easy, as long as you have a guide. Installing a dash cam in a vehicle – whether it’s a pickup truck, cargo truck, EV or RV, is something we can teach you! Check out our Dashcam Installation Hub here.
For this blog, let’s start by introducing the star of the show – the Thinkware F200 Pro Dual-Channel Dash Cam. As Thinkware's entry-level dash cam, it boasts full HD recording for both front and rear views. Compatible with the Thinkware Dash Cam Link mobile app, you can easily manage your footage and adjust settings on the go – just what this 2023 Volkwasgen Taos needs.
While a 12V power cable can simplify the installation, for maximum protection, we recommend hardwiring the dash cam for 24/7 parking mode monitoring. Additionally, we also recommend getting an Essential BlackboxMyCar Installation Kit for a seamless DIY experience.
Now, before we install this two-channel dash cam in the Ford Mustang Mach-E, note that if you don't want to use parking mode, you can use the included cigarette lighter adapter for a simpler installation. Thinkware dash cams also have the option of an OBD-II power cable installation. This is another plug-and-play solution that enables parking mode.
However, for us, hardwiring is still the best as it’s neater, and more professional. We’ve also had some issues with OBD cables and the Mach-E specifically in the past as well. Hardwiring is the way to go, especially to provide parking mode, providing 24/7 coverage of your vehicle, and protecting it even while you’re away.
Ensure your dash cam is installed correctly with our Essential Dash Cam Installation Kit. This user-friendly package makes installation easy and hassle-free, allowing you to drive with confidence.
Don't settle for less—protect yourself on the road with our top-quality installation kit today!
Tools needed: Thinkware Hardwiring Kit, crimp tool or needle nose pliers, circuit tester
The first step is to locate your car's fuse box or power source. For this Volkswagen Taos, the fuse panel is located directly beneath the dashboard on the driver’s side. Using the trim tool, carefully open the plastic panel cover of the fusebox.
Once opened, what you’ll need is the Thinkware Hardwiring Kit. This consists of three wires: Constant power, which is the Yellow wire, the ACC or accessory Red wire, and the black grounding cable. If you’re confused about which wire is which, you can always read the label that’s on the respective cable too, as other camera brands may change the function of each cable.
Starting with the black ground wire, the C-shaped connector needs to be grounded to an unpainted metal bolt or stud in the vehicle. This should be the first thing you do to protect yourself from shocks or electrocution and allow excess voltage to flow into the earth during a short circuit. We found an unpainted grounding bolt right near the glovebox for this install, using a socket wrench, we loosened the bolt enough to slide C-shaped connector underneath, before refixing the bolt.
Next, take both the red and yellow wires, and connect them to their Add-a-Fuses with the proper fuse taps. While add-a-fuses aren’t required, they are quite helpful for an easy install, making it easier to piggyback off of existing fuses.
Using your needle nose pliers or a crimping tool, trim off some of the rubber tubing if necessary to expose some bare wire of your hardwiring cable. Insert the hardwiring cable into the other end of the add-a-fuse (plastic tube), then crimp them down together to make the connection. Test out different fuses to know which would be ideal for each connection type.
The fuse tap that you choose is dependent on the car, from ATO, Micro2, Low-Profile and Mini. For this VW Taos and many European and Volkswagen cars, ATO fuses are used. We used 20A fuse taps and wired to 20A fuses. Make sure the fuse tap you’re adding is equal to or lower than the existing fuse you are connecting to.
Tools needed: Trim removal tool, Windex, external GPS module (optional)
The next thing to do is position the F200 Pro front dash cam behind the rearview mirror for a discreet setup. Before mounting, you should also clean the windshield from the inside with Windex to make sure the adhesive sticks properly.
Now, it’s time to mount the dash cam. Carefully remove the adhesive from the Thinkware F200 Pro and mount it in the best-angled position. Hold the adhesive to the windshield for a couple of seconds, and there you have it - perfect and not disrupting.
The F200 Pro is compatible with an external GPS module, which we will also mount here in the front, above the camera behind the dot matrix. Aside from providing exact vehicle locations, this accessory enables the Thinkware F200 Pro’s safety features like ADAS and Safety Camera Alerts. Learn more about ADAS here.
To install the external GPS, connect the GPS Antenna to the GPS Port of the front dash cam while it is powered off. Then, peel the red adhesive covering off of the GPS Antenna and mount it. The GPS Antenna should be mounted a few inches away from the front dash cam to reduce noise interference.
Tools needed: Trim removal tool, electrical tape
Now, it’s time for the wires. Run your power cable from the fusebox up to the front dash cam. You’ll need to route it across the A-pillar, through the headliner and to the dash cam.
The easy part will be taking off the plastic trim of the vehicle, and running the cable up the side of your vehicle door to the A-pillar. While this can be done by hand with some easier vehicles, the tight trim of European Vehicles means we have to be a bit rougher, so we loosened it up first with the trim removal tool, before peeling it off. Working our way up, now we have to cross the A-pillar over to the headliner. With your trusty trim removal tool, we pry at the A-pillar just enough to slide the cable across. Make sure it’s not blocking any airbags, either avoiding them or running behind them.
From the headliner, it should be smooth sailing over to the camera, and while you can work your way around the stem of the rearview mirror with cable clips, we chose a more professional method. We loosened the corners of the overhead compartment, prying a sizeable section that we could use to run the cables through, over to the passenger side.
Tools needed: Zip tie, WD-40 lubricant spray (optional)
Next, we move on to the rear camera. You’re going to need your rear connecting cable. Plug the rear connecting cable into the front unit, run the cable along the headliner, and straight across the length of the vehicle. past the A, B, and C pillars. Now, let’s mount the rear camera itself. Since this is an SUV with a rear liftgate, we’re going to need to wire through the grommet connecting the rear hatch to the rest of the vehicle. Start by removing the rear body panel right next to the rear windshield. Using the trim tool and a bit of force, the internal clamps should pop right off, exposing the exit of the connecting grommets. On the main vehicle side, we’ll do the same process to make space at the entrance of the connecting grommets.
Now, we have to run the cable through. Sometimes these grommets can be rather tight, so loosening it with some lubricant is advised, and for this install, we fished the cable through by wrapping a ziptie to the end of the cable. This allowed us to pull the cable out the other end.
If you have any extra slack or excess cabling in your rear cable, time to loop it through the rear roof of the car, storing it up between the frame and the headliner. We bundled up the excess cabling using electrical tape and tucked it away, then closed everything up.
Next, install the rear camera in place on the windshield. Just make sure it’s centred, and note that it should not be installed with the rear defroster lines blocking its view. We recommend using the in-app live view of the camera to make sure the rear view is as clear as can be. Beyond that, make sure everything is nicely hidden and tucked away, and close up the side panels to the fusebox.
So there you have it - the Thinkware F200 Pro is ready to give this Volkswagen the dash cam protection it needs – front and rear! It’s so flexible, that it’s also compatible with the Thinkware Multiplexer Box that can transform your Thinkware into a 5-channel dash cam.
If you found the steps above complicated and might need help, you can always ask for our professional installation assistance here in Richmond! Book an installation appointment here.
Planning on installing a dash cam in your car? Check out our Step-by-Step Dash Cam Installation Guide and our selection of handy installation accessories. And if you ever need a hand during the installation process, just call us; our dash cam specialists are available to help!
Looking to have your dash cam professionally installed, we do offer installation services at our Richmond BC location.
Please see some of our other dash cam installations in the BlackboxMyCar Dash Cam Installation Gallery.
