New & Seeking advice to route Cam cable through Spoiler

[WillyGH]

I'm new to the group. I bought a 6 Gen 4Runner Limited a month ago. I am installing a front and back dash camera. The goal is to mount the camera on the underside of the spoiler and not inside the vehicle, as the camera will be useless the moment the back window gets dirty... and the wiper doesn't cover that portion of the window.

Mounting and routing the cables for the front camera has been simple enough (VIOFO 329SW). Routing the wires for the back camera (rated for outdoors) was also simple enough until I reached the spoiler. I believe I need to route the cable through the driver-side boot, but I am having a hard time removing the boot from the vehicle and the hatch. I was able to remove part of the boot from the the hole in the hatch, but I cannot figure out how to remove the boot on the car. I've watched every Youtube video I can, and the content creators either skip showing how to do it or it is being done on an older 4Runner. ChatGPT has given me conflicting answers. There are different kinds of connections from just the rubber to a metal clip. I don't want to ruin the water seal in the process.

Once I can get access to the boot, I hope I will be able to pull the cable through and then mount the camera on the underside of the spoiler. The panel upon which it will mount is seen on the cargo cover in the image in this posting.

I went to a car stereo place to ask if they could do this last bit of work for me. Their salesperson was rude, but said they would do it for $185.

Has anyone done this? Any advice would be helpful. If you know of a video that shows a 6Gen 4Runner and not another generation, that would be great.

-William
2026 4Runner Limit (Supersonic Red)

 

[WillyGH]

Thinking more about this, from those who have mounted their rear dash cam on the inside from the headliner, did you find that the dirt from the window that the wiper can't reach was an issue?

-William

 

[Archer80]

The dirty window does effect the view of the camera. I didn't go outside to the spoiler but used double sided tape and put in on the inside of the hatch, that way it doesn't hang down and get in your way or bang your head when your moving things inside and out. I used the smaller connection tube on the right (less wires) and it was fairly easy, came right out and you just have to work it back in. I used a small piece of wire with the tip rounded to push it down, hooked the camera wire to it and then pulled it back through. I added a touch of white grease to help it slide.

Easy Peazy


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[WillyGH]

The dirty window does effect the view of the camera. I didn't go outside to the spoiler but used double sided tape and put in on the inside of the hatch, that way it doesn't hang down and get in your way or bang your head when your moving things inside and out. I used the smaller connection tube on the right (less wires) and it was fairly easy, came right out and you just have to work it back in. I used a small piece of wire with the tip rounded to push it down, hooked the camera wire to it and then pulled it back through. I added a touch of white grease to help it slide.

Easy Peazy


.

Archer80,

Thank you for your reply. Putting on the inside of the hatch sounds like a good compromise. I didn't think about using the right side boot. If it is easier, that just might be the ticket. Have you had any leakage coming from the boot? Could you offer a picture of your setup? Maybe I should just put the camera on the inside, as I wonder how an outside camera would fare if I went through a car wash.

-William

 

[WillyGH]

Archer80,

Thank you for your reply. Putting on the inside of the hatch sounds like a good compromise. I didn't think about using the right side boot. If it is easier, that just might be the ticket. Have you had any leakage coming from the boot? Could you offer a picture of your setup? Maybe I should just put the camera on the inside, as I wonder how an outside camera would fare if I went through a car wash.

-William

Archer80,

I found a video on one of your threads which detailed exactly what you did. That is exactly what I needed to see.

Thanks for your advice.

-William

 

[Archer80]

The way I had it in the vid, water followed down the wire and got past the seal and into the cabin.

Here's how I updated it. Drill a small hole and use small rubber grommet and black silicone. Where I drilled the hole is below the seal so water can't get to it so it's up to you if you want to use silicone. Just be careful not to press too hard on the drill or you'll go into the outer panel.

 

[WillyGH]

Oh! Yikes! I was able to follow your video and temporarily mounted the camera using painter's tape so I can get a sense of preference. Photos attached.

Okay, so if I understand this new (better approach) correctly, the cable still comes from the headliner up through the boot. But, instead of coming back out out through the neighboring plug, you routed the cable closer to the window, drilled a hole large enough for the connector to go through using a grommet with black silicone inside the grommet. Is that correct?

- So there is some section between the plug where the camera was exiting and where you moved the camera closer to the window that has a seal? Are you referring to the weather stripping around the hatch?
- Was it difficult to fish the wire from the small hole to the boot?
- I'm no expert, so could you give me some advice therein?
- How did you deal with the plug that the camera cable was passing through that now has a hole in it from the previous approach?

Today was dry, so no water issues. Tomorrow is a different story! I gotta get on this first thing tomorrow so I don't have leakage issues!! This vehicle is just a month old, and I would hate it if I totally messed this up and damaged the 4Runner. Your help is much appreciated!

-William

 

[Archer80]

Yes, I used the same small tube to run my wires. Camera wasn't moved, it's in the same place just ran the wire up higher and drilled the hole below the weatherstriping instead of running the wire through the OEM existing grommet. I replaced the grommet with one from a dealership.

It wasn't the grommet that was leaking, it was the water following the wire past the weatherstripping. If you don't have the wire running through the weather stripping, it shouldn't leak.



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[WillyGH]

Yes, I used the same small tube to run my wires. Camera wasn't moved, it's in the same place just ran the wire up higher and drilled the hole below the weatherstriping instead of running the wire through the OEM existing grommet. I replaced the grommet with one from a dealership.

It wasn't the grommet that was leaking, it was the water following the wire past the weatherstripping. If you don't have the wire running through the weather stripping, it shouldn't leak.



.

Very good. Thank you!

-William

 

[WillyGH]

Thankfully, I was able to rework the set up as you recommended before the big rain here in the Portland, Oregon area. I just got back from my Toyota dealership with the replacement hole plug. I decided to offset the camera closer to the passenger side so that when I use the wipers, it would clean the space where the camera would be viewing. It works like a charm. Once again, thank you so much for all your help!