benefits of front & rear parking sensors

I was curious to know if the convenience package on the Tundras which include front & rear parking sensors along with blind spot monitoring are beneficial or is it something you can live without? Its about an extra $1200 - $1500 add on and i was trying to hear some thoughts on this.

thank you

 

The front parking sensors are worthless to me. The rears are somewhat useful. I usually have my sat radio blaring loud enough to not hear them though..LOL

 

Do the front sensors do a lot of justice when you’re trying to park.. say against a wall or tight parking spots?

 

I have never seen the front parking sensors alert to anything directly in front of me. I do get the side and rear alerts though.

 

My truck doesn't have the sensors but my wife's '17 Pilot has it and I believe they're placed similar on the front. It will not pick up anything directly up front due to where the sensors are placed, it's close to the corner which is angled so it'll only pick up stuff on the side. I don't think the back is useful either since you already have the backup camera to guide you. Not worth the extra money to me.

 

I’ve had it alert when backing out of a spot where there was something larger parked next to me. The blind spot monitor fired each time.

I’m a peace of mind and tech geek so the more bells and whistles the better for me.

if you feel that you function well without them then you won’t really be wowed with them.

one reason why I got the model I did was because I went from a 2017 platinum highlander that was loaded and I didn’t want to feel I was missing out on some features the tundra platinum had. I’m at peace with my decision.

 

I feel they are an assistant to the individual but not a necessity. What I mean is, how aware are you at all times while moving slowly in your truck? I got them because I read a story a few years ago about an NFL tight end who accidentally drove over his child who was running out to the truck. Those yellow three foot poles in parking lots haunt my dreams with a three inch lift and Leitner Cargo systems in the truck bed. The blind spot monitors in the mirrors are the same. I see the little light and instantly know there is something there, but conversely when there is no light I still always do a blind spot check because that one time Im going 70 on the highway on 35 inch tires in a truck, it’s over. I think if they help you even one time, it’s going to save you $500-$1000 in body damage charges at a fender mender. But millions of people all over the world survive daily without them also.

PS- If you have a significant other that likes to drive “your” Tundra, how good are they at driving it? I know the Tundras right front side is deceiving to 5’3 drivers who don’t know its turn radius.

 

Personally, I prefer both due to my current needs and set-up and situation. I had 9 cars and have to park them as close to the each other so I can maneuver other vehicles around. I play musical cars whenever I decide to take a weekend car or race car out. Having a topper and adding 5% tint I have a bigger bland sport. Once I get my new hear unit, I will add a front camera as well. My front sonar only gets the corner and what's directly in front of me.

Now, it's more inexpensive if you install it yourself with after market parts. I know the dealer installed rear sonar, alarm and other bs they included to jack up the price is was non Toyota oem parts and woth 10-20% of what they were charging.

 

I have park assist in my Lexus GX460. It alerts me when I get close to things front and rear. It mostly let’s me know when the grass along my driveway gets too tall.

 

The funny thing is. Mine did not sound until I'm an inch off my mini van's rear tail lights due to the bumper height is taller than the van's bumper.

 

Yeah, the front sensors suck... especially with 6" lift. I usually can only see the roof on most compact cars. It helps to have a steel winch bumper...LOL

 

They're not worth it for me personally. I don't see the value in the rear ones when you have a backup camera and I don't see the value in the front ones because I always try to back into parking spaces and try not to take my truck to tight spaces that need careful maneuvering. Since I'm capable of turning my head before changing lanes, in my opinion BSM would only be valuable if it covered a long trailer.

 

I like the cross traffic alert and blind spot monitoring. As parking sensors they're mostly useless. I wish there were sensors in the middle of the front bumper and not just at the corners. That would be more helpful.
The cross traffic alert has notified me about cars or people crossing behind me before I was able to see them the traditional way. There weren't any close calls, and i don't think I would've hit anything without it, but the added safety is nice. It's similar with the blind spot monitoring.

 

A must-have, in my opinion.

 

The sensor range is adjustable on the GX. It starts beeping at about 3 ft. Gets faster as you get closer and the display shows what corner or front/rear. Turns from yellow to red at a couple inches.

 

I can’t speak for Tundras but I love them on my Ram especially when they pick up pedestrians as well as vehicles ( rear cross path ) .

 

So you guy's in a Gen 3 Platinum actualy get a direct warning buzzer or dash message for something directly in front of the truck??? When you are parking, for example...

 

PARKING SENSORS ARE FOR GIRLS!!

 

Front parking sensors will NOT pick up anything directly in front of you. They cover your corners so you don't swing into anything. Really wish the dipshit that hit and run my old car had them on whatever vehicle they swung into and drug down the driver side.

There are 2 main boons of the convenience package.
1) The rear cross traffic alert, because assholes blast through parking lots while you're backing out of a space. Its saved me more than once when I'm blind to the sides.

2) Color matched rear bumper caps. It will cost you if you want to eliminate chrome, and the BSM requires plastic bumper ends, so Toyota color matched these for you already.

In the end I did the convenience package solely for the BSM and Rear Cross Traffic Alert systems. If you plan to replace your rear bumper you will lose the BSM. Not sure if the RCTA is lost with aftermarket bumpers, though.

 

The front sensors should've been placed better. The rear sensors and BSM are useful for the reasons a few have stated above.

Personally, I could live without it but it definitely aids you during parking or driving. For the added safety it would be worth paying 1200-1500 to me. Always look. It's never going to catch everything. You never wan't to get in the habit of believing it'll beep every time.

 

If you tow, you'll have to turn the sensor off as it will go off with the trailer being so close. In my experience anyway...

 

I had the rear sensors on my old Titan and loved 'em. The camera in my Tundra is much better but I still don't mind the rear sensors as a second back-up (pun intended ). The front sensors, as stated previously, are only for corners but they are MUCH too sensitive. They scream doomsday when you still have several inches of space. It is rare to find a parking space where you don't have to come very close to the vehicle next to you as you pull in to park. That's one reason I back into parking spaces 99% of the time. All this came standard on my 1794.

If I were in your shoes looking at that trim level, I would save the money on the option from Toyota and add parking cameras, front AND rear.

 

I like them, especially the rear. It works extremely well in cross traffic situation and is helpful when needed those last extra inches when backing up.

 

I like the blind spot sensor and the cross traffic sensor. When I'm back up it chirps when a car is coming down the parking lot from like 20' away which is nice. The rear parking sensor along with camera is nice as I know I'm getting closer but I still use the camera to get extra close to the garage.

 

Mine is turned OFF all the time. When turned on they beep when there is nothing of concern (driving through a tight area, drive-through, parking straight in, etc.) when I am aware of what's there, and it seems like when I want them to warn me, such as turning into a tight spot and I can't see the corner, or when parking and I need to know how far the vehicle in front of me is, then there is just silence.
So, I have turned them off more than a year ago and don't miss them one bit.
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the other hand has been helpful when pulling out of a parking spot or driveway and there are other cars or even pedestrians approaching. I think it has saved me more than once from pulling out in front of someone. So, I would rather spend my money on that, but there is probably no package that includes that and not the parking sensors.

 

Anyone ever try and add additional sensors to the front for parking? Perhaps tied into the ones already there.

 

I've not heard of anyone trying it. Honestly, I think it would be simpler to go the tried and true FRAC harness and camera.

 

I wanted the sensors because this is the biggest vehicle I have owned and was nervous about hitting things. Now, 4 months into ownership I feel like the camera and mirrors are good enough for 99% of the situations I have been in. I have turned off the audible alert and stick to the dash telling me what I already know. A drive thru will drive you batty!

I kind of wish I knew then what I know now and bought a Pro which doesn't have them built in.

 

What is a FRAC harness and camera? Front camera? Kit that can be purchased?
NVM. I found it.

 

I feel like this has been mentioned before but don't see it...is it possible to have the parking sensors defaulted to off or do you have to turn them off each time you start it? And if you do have them off, is there an annoying dash light that stays on?