Dash cam questions and seeking recommendations

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Laura & Charles

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Could be anywhere. Originally from Ohio. Go Bucks!
We’ve considered getting a dash cam for a while and are ready to just do it. It seems there’s a few optional features, and I don’t know what we want or don’t.
Does anybody think they’re a bad idea? And if so, why?

Are any good enough to save an image when cresting a hill and getting an OMG, jaw-dropping vista? (I mean a focused image with decent detail.)

Is sound recording a worthwhile feature?

Not seeing much use for a built in rear facing camera in a class A. Thoughts?
(Or is there an option for a wireless rear facing camera that can be mounted on back of coach? I’ve not seen that.)

A built in gps seems a good idea for recording speed, direction, and location info. Thoughts? (Or can it just be interfaced with our Garman RV 760?)

A removable SD card to download to computer seems worthwhile.

There are some available with sentry features where, when parked, it monitors nearby motion and, when detected, it wakes up and starts recording. This seems a more valuable feature when it’s in a car, not so much a coach. Thoughts?

Any brand/model recommendations? I did a search here and didn’t find anything much real recent…seemed most recommended models are no longer available.

Thanks!
 
I don't have a dashcam but I would say the full time rear camera on my Class A was the best upgrade I have done.

Situational awareness on what's behind me when driving is fantastic. I can also back up my rig with motorcycle trailer attached confidently.

I was in a jammed up Flying J one trip and had to make about a 60 foot reverse with a 90 degree turn with the motorcycle trailer attached. Piece of cake!

In my opinion SD card would be good. Sound not so useful. Motion detecting not so useful as the field of view would not be focused on the entry door? (I have been thinking about mounting a RING camera on my entry door though)

My camera is good enough resolution for driving but no way is the res good enough to take vista pictures.
 
I have a Rexing. About $100 on Amazon. Mini SD card records everything as soon as the car or RV is turned on. Decided to get it after a piece of crap trucker tried to run our MH off the road one day. Little did he know I’m a hell of a lot better at driving than he is at being an Ahole. Wife freaked out and started screaming, but let ‘em go. Not worth the trouble of chasing. Now next time the video goes right to his company.
So far I’m very happy with the quality.
 
I have an old one that records in Full HD, I.e. 1080. If I wanted one to record vistas I would have chosen a UHD, I.e 4K, one. Be aware that 4K takes more memory so get one that can handle a higher capacity micro SD card. 128GB or more. Stick with name brands. (Samsung, Lexar, SanDisk). Be aware that the ones on Amazon might be fakes and the those on eBay probably are fakes.
 
I have a front and rear dash cam from Amazon priced less than $75 that records both front and rear. Wife and I were involved in head on crash with two felons in a stolen car while evading police. All recorded that identified which guy was driving.
After that, I bought and installed dual dash cams in my other vehicles. I also have a wireless rear cam installed on my 30' (LOA) TT and the monitor mounted in my TV at the dash that's detachable and stowed when not towing.
In addition, I have a wireless cam mounted on my boat that helps backing down the ramps.

IMG_4194.jpg

As mention above, nice to see what's behind especially when changing lanes and backing up however does not record.
 
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I am on my second one in our coach, both bought on Amazon on black Friday for around $75. The first one shortly after I bought my coach in 2016, the second one on black Friday 2019 for about the same price. What amazing me is how much better the 2019 model is compared to the 2016 model. Image is clearer, and higher resolution, new one has GPS and wifi so videos can be downloaded to phone app to view over wifi, etc. also the camera itself is about 1/3 the size. The only thing I really don't like about it is the app / wifi connection is flake and it often takes 2 or 3 tries to get a given video clip to download to my phone.
 
This is the one I just purchased. It's my second Rove, and because the first one worked so well I purchased a second one. This one has more features and a much higher resolution. I have it for about a month and it has worked perfectly. The phone app to access and play the stored videos works great as well.

Thanks Marty.. This looks likely to be the model I go with. Did you get their HWK option or just wire it with included hardware? Can you post a picture or two showing how you routed the wiring? (I suspect yours is a clean installation and am looking for ideas.)
 
Hi, I didn't go with the hard wire option as I didn't plan on leaving it turned on. But I still can with the power set up I am using. Because I have a lot of stuff running while driving the rig, I installed a pair of power ports to power 4 items that need 12 volt power. The ports are all hot so I can keep them all going if necessary. I do leave the cam running any time I stop the RV for any length of time, like for fuel or grabbing lunch. Then If I want to kill power, I just back out the plug a 1/2".
Rove R2-4K cam.jpg
Getting into the dash on my rig is near impossible, so I opted to use the wire clamps that comes with the camera to secure the wire to the front of the dash board. I tried stuffing the wire down the front of the dash between the plastic and the window, but after a while it started to make the dash squeak, and that made me nuts.
Rove wiring.jpg
Rove power port 2.jpg
The port with the red top is the Rove cam.
 
I have a Rove R2-4K in my daily driver. It goes on/off with the key, and I don’t normally give it a thought.

I did send a video clip to a trucking company when one of their drivers pulled a boneheaded maneuver in front of me, and I recorded two near-misses on the highway.
 
We’ve considered getting a dash cam for a while and are ready to just do it. It seems there’s a few optional features, and I don’t know what we want or don’t.
Does anybody think they’re a bad idea? And if so, why?
Out dashcam is on whenever we travel. Video of all our trips is save on an external HD. I'd say for most of any prolonged trip 80% is pretty boring BUT it's very cool for those times when you catch something interesting.

Here's some misc. views captured during our past travels

A dashcam can also be a great witness in the even of any kind of accident.
Are any good enough to save an image when cresting a hill and getting an OMG, jaw-dropping vista? (I mean a focused image with decent detail.)

Is sound recording a worthwhile feature?

Features and quality vary a lot with so many models available. A great resource with many knowledgeable participants is: https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/

We typically leave sound on but I can't say that it's of much use.

Not seeing much use for a built in rear facing camera in a class A. Thoughts?
(Or is there an option for a wireless rear facing camera that can be mounted on back of coach? I’ve not seen that.)

A built in gps seems a good idea for recording speed, direction, and location info. Thoughts? (Or can it just be interfaced with our Garman RV 760?)

A removable SD card to download to computer seems worthwhile.

Rear facing cam in our Class A: of no use

GPS? An absolute necessity IMO! The best app to view your recorded trips if they contain GPS info is:
https://dashcamviewer.com/. Lets you click and zoom around to any part of your trip overlaid on a Google map. Very cool.

Any brand/model recommendations? I did a search here and didn’t find anything much real recent…seemed most recommended models are no longer available.
When our Wheel Witness Pro died I after a lot or research I bought and still use this Viofo model. But I can't really say that it's that much better or worse than any of the dozens of models out there.
 
We was going to get a dash camera before our first trip out east but just didn't before we left. Got into a accident out east when we was in heavy traffic and a car was stopped on the freeway in front of us. It was in road construction area and couldn't change lanes to avoid them. They said they wasn't stopped and that we was speeding that caused the wreck. We or the polices couldn't prove they was stopped so we got blamed and our insurance and us are still dealing with this from 2 years ago. We did buy a Rove R2-4K dash camera before we drove the truck again. I set it up so it is on any time the key is turned on. We are very impressed with this camera's video quality and the features. I would recommend this camera to anyone.
 
We were driving about 60-65mph on major interstate in FL when we had to make a fast stop. I had good distance between us and the car ahead. I saw many quickly applied brake lights and a F150 pulling off the side of the 2 lane highway real fast. Figured it was to avoid an accident so had to slam on the brakes with a car towed on a dolly behind us. Stuff came flying forward all over the place. Went down to almost a stop in about 5 seconds. The dumbass woman in the F150 decided that she absolutely had to get to the rest stop she just passed. As we passed her she was in reverse on the side of the highway going for the rest stop exit. Still amazes what clueless people will do in their selfishness. Almost had my MH up her ass, cause if I had to swerve it was into her rear. Another reason I have the dashcam.
 
Hi, I didn't go with the hard wire option as I didn't plan on leaving it turned on. But I still can with the power set up I am using. Because I have a lot of stuff running while driving the rig, I installed a pair of power ports to power 4 items that need 12 volt power. The ports are all hot so I can keep them all going if necessary. I do leave the cam running any time I stop the RV for any length of time, like for fuel or grabbing lunch. Then If I want to kill power, I just back out the plug a 1/2".
View attachment 149153
Getting into the dash on my rig is near impossible, so I opted to use the wire clamps that comes with the camera to secure the wire to the front of the dash board. I tried stuffing the wire down the front of the dash between the plastic and the window, but after a while it started to make the dash squeak, and that made me nuts.
View attachment 149154
View attachment 149155
The port with the red top is the Rove cam.
Thanks Marty! That install looks very clean from the interior and I imagine one would have to looking mighty close to notice it from outside.
Rosie’s dash actually has a section that pops up and is hinged on the windshield side that I’m going to try to use to route the to something in the dash (myriad wires under that panel.) This pic doesn’t show it real well… I’ll take more/better when I have it opened up doing the install.
 

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Hi, I didn't go with the hard wire option as I didn't plan on leaving it turned on. But I still can with the power set up I am using. Because I have a lot of stuff running while driving the rig, I installed a pair of power ports to power 4 items that need 12 volt power. The ports are all hot so I can keep them all going if necessary. I do leave the cam running any time I stop the RV for any length of time, like for fuel or grabbing lunch. Then If I want to kill power, I just back out the plug a 1/2".
View attachment 149153
Getting into the dash on my rig is near impossible, so I opted to use the wire clamps that comes with the camera to secure the wire to the front of the dash board. I tried stuffing the wire down the front of the dash between the plastic and the window, but after a while it started to make the dash squeak, and that made me nuts.
View attachment 149154
View attachment 149155
The port with the red top is the Rove cam.
Thinking I shouldn’t have any trouble finding a 12 volt source in here.
 

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    99178F17-1090-4095-8752-9C8E1FA5D075.jpeg
    129.7 KB · Views: 6

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