Who uses a dash cam and what do you recommend?

[sharpsicle]

That's a good question. Those 3 brands I mentioned are filming in 4k and a couple of them have up to 3 cams or more filming at 30 fps. I don't know how quick a 256 or 512 gb card will fill up with those parameters but I know that 512 will record more than 256 without overwriting. Could be a non issue, I don't know.

The 3-channel ones I've only seen work well for Uber drivers and the like, as they film out the front, back, and film the interior. If you aren't doing that, you really don't need 3 channels. That's just a waste of money, space, and storage.

No matter what you end up with, this is what I would recommend you consider:

1. Don't buy more channels than you need. This often turns into a waste. Even on these trucks, a 2 channel gets tricky with the removable top. Adding yet another camera provides little value. And most people don't like being recorded when you give them a lift in your own personal vehicle, it just feels gross.
2. Be very aware of the footprint. The best solutions are the ones that install cleanly and hide well. You almost want to forget it's there. Most can't even tell I have a dashcam in my truck, and that's the way it should be. Anything bigger, or with a screen on it, will draw attention for theft. It also can be considered an impedance to your vision if it's too big or poorly mounted. Heck, why do you even need a screen? To see what you're already seeing? I never got that....
3. Be diligent in finding out how the parking mode works. Most advertise they have it, but the real function (whether it's a switch you flip, a sensor on the ignition power wire, or an automatic detection) varies between models. And to that end, make efforts to wire it in to power the right way when you install rather than use things like USB adapters or OBD2 power plugs.
4. Investigate the app functionality. This is where dashcams really make or break their usability. Ones that allow live views with GPS tracking and download capabilities are the way to go. If it seems janky or bulky, it probably is. Also be wary of "cloud hosted" solutions as those can easily be shut off from you (looking at you, Ring...).
5. Make sure the dashcam has a low-voltage shutoff, or if it doesn't be sure to add one to the power feed (like the Power Magic Pro). Dashcams are great until they drain your battery.

After that, it's really up to you. There's lots of good options out there, I've shared my preference as well, but in the end if you make sure consider these 5 things when you go to buy you'll be solid.

Sponsored

 

[KidBobot]

So I ended up installing the Blackvue DR970X-2Channel (4K) in my Mojave.

https://www.blackboxmycar.com/products/blackvue-dr970x-2ch-4k-uhd-cloud-dash-cam

Not cheap, but packed with hella features, and of premium quality. I've had Blackvues in all of my cars, and knowing its reliable has given me great peace of mind.

I have it also wired so that if/when I take the roof off, the wires are tucked away nice and neat.

 

[sharpsicle]

So I ended up installing the Blackvue DR970X-2Channel (4K) in my Mojave.

https://www.blackboxmycar.com/products/blackvue-dr970x-2ch-4k-uhd-cloud-dash-cam

Not cheap, but packed with hella features, and of premium quality. I've had Blackvues in all of my cars, and knowing its reliable has given me great peace of mind.

I have it also wired so that if/when I take the roof off, the wires are tucked away nice and neat.

Man do I want that one. I just can't justify it until this 650S dies (which may be never the way this thing keeps chugging along).

 

[AmosMoses]

The 3-channel ones I've only seen work well for Uber drivers and the like, as they film out the front, back, and film the interior. If you aren't doing that, you really don't need 3 channels. That's just a waste of money, space, and storage.

No matter what you end up with, this is what I would recommend you consider:

1. Don't buy more channels than you need. This often turns into a waste. Even on these trucks, a 2 channel gets tricky with the removable top. Adding yet another camera provides little value. And most people don't like being recorded when you give them a lift in your own personal vehicle, it just feels gross.
2. Be very aware of the footprint. The best solutions are the ones that install cleanly and hide well. You almost want to forget it's there. Most can't even tell I have a dashcam in my truck, and that's the way it should be. Anything bigger, or with a screen on it, will draw attention for theft. It also can be considered an impedance to your vision if it's too big or poorly mounted. Heck, why do you even need a screen? To see what you're already seeing? I never got that....
3. Be diligent in finding out how the parking mode works. Most advertise they have it, but the real function (whether it's a switch you flip, a sensor on the ignition power wire, or an automatic detection) varies between models. And to that end, make efforts to wire it in to power the right way when you install rather than use things like USB adapters or OBD2 power plugs.
4. Investigate the app functionality. This is where dashcams really make or break their usability. Ones that allow live views with GPS tracking and download capabilities are the way to go. If it seems janky or bulky, it probably is. Also be wary of "cloud hosted" solutions as those can easily be shut off from you (looking at you, Ring...).
5. Make sure the dashcam has a low-voltage shutoff, or if it doesn't be sure to add one to the power feed (like the Power Magic Pro). Dashcams are great until they drain your battery.

After that, it's really up to you. There's lots of good options out there, I've shared my preference as well, but in the end if you make sure consider these 5 things when you go to buy you'll be solid.

Excellent advice. I totally forgot about the aspect of removing the top because I only have a hard top and rarely remove it, but I might get a softtop in the future. I think 2 channels for me would be perfect.

 

[Shift Happens]

I use AZDOME M550 3 Channel Dash Cam.
The interior camera gets a decent amount of vision out the back, but it also has a camera that you can run to the back of the truck and get much better rear vision.
When taking the top off, the interior camera works great to get vision of the exterior.
Also, you can just remove the interior camera if you don't like it.
I only paid $80 for mine, and I'm happy with it. I did purchase a hardwire kit which was another $15.

 

[KidBobot]

Man do I want that one. I just can't justify it until this 650S dies (which may be never the way this thing keeps chugging along).

I have a DR650 too! It's in our minivan... errr... swaggerwagon. That thing has been so useful so many times! (Upgrade the the 970 when you can... its amazing.)

 

[Sinagua]

I also have been using a Viofo in all of our cars. No need for live monitoring, just need to be able to pull data in the event of an issue with a jack hole on the road.

 

[talljeeper]

It's all personal taste. I have a Garmin, not hard wired for parked security.
Just use it for psychos while driving.

Model?

 

[Redleg37]

I use an iphone held in a bulletpoint mount. Not a dedicated dash cam but it works pretty well for recording trails and stuff.

 

[ErylFlynn]

The 3-channel ones I've only seen work well for Uber drivers and the like, as they film out the front, back, and film the interior. If you aren't doing that, you really don't need 3 channels. That's just a waste of money, space, and storage.

No matter what you end up with, this is what I would recommend you consider:

1. Don't buy more channels than you need. This often turns into a waste. Even on these trucks, a 2 channel gets tricky with the removable top. Adding yet another camera provides little value. And most people don't like being recorded when you give them a lift in your own personal vehicle, it just feels gross.

Vantrue N4 I checked and the interior can be turned off. But interior camera might be helpful for traffic stops. Cops are not all honest and it could be used to defend against one looking for trouble.

I look at the over all features I want and need first, and might have a few that I do not need. In this case the N4 has an interior that I do not need but I believe the rest are the best options.

 

[Hootbro]

Vantrue N4 I checked and the interior can be turned off. But interior camera might be helpful for traffic stops. Cops are not all honest and it could be used to defend against one looking for trouble.

I look at the over all features I want and need first, and might have a few that I do not need. In this case the N4 has an interior that I do not need but I believe the rest are the best options.

If you are worried about dishonest cops, might want to invest in one that uploads in real time to a cloud service.

The video below shows a guy getting jacked up and arrested by a dirty cop that either erased or pulled his dash cam memory card. Cop did not know the dash cam footage went to a cloud service and exonerated the driver after the crap arrest.

 

[Moe-Jave]

The 3-channel ones I've only seen work well for Uber drivers and the like, as they film out the front, back, and film the interior. If you aren't doing that, you really don't need 3 channels. That's just a waste of money, space, and storage.

No matter what you end up with, this is what I would recommend you consider:

1. Don't buy more channels than you need. This often turns into a waste. Even on these trucks, a 2 channel gets tricky with the removable top. Adding yet another camera provides little value. And most people don't like being recorded when you give them a lift in your own personal vehicle, it just feels gross.
2. Be very aware of the footprint. The best solutions are the ones that install cleanly and hide well. You almost want to forget it's there. Most can't even tell I have a dashcam in my truck, and that's the way it should be. Anything bigger, or with a screen on it, will draw attention for theft. It also can be considered an impedance to your vision if it's too big or poorly mounted. Heck, why do you even need a screen? To see what you're already seeing? I never got that....
3. Be diligent in finding out how the parking mode works. Most advertise they have it, but the real function (whether it's a switch you flip, a sensor on the ignition power wire, or an automatic detection) varies between models. And to that end, make efforts to wire it in to power the right way when you install rather than use things like USB adapters or OBD2 power plugs.
4. Investigate the app functionality. This is where dashcams really make or break their usability. Ones that allow live views with GPS tracking and download capabilities are the way to go. If it seems janky or bulky, it probably is. Also be wary of "cloud hosted" solutions as those can easily be shut off from you (looking at you, Ring...).
5. Make sure the dashcam has a low-voltage shutoff, or if it doesn't be sure to add one to the power feed (like the Power Magic Pro). Dashcams are great until they drain your battery.

After that, it's really up to you. There's lots of good options out there, I've shared my preference as well, but in the end if you make sure consider these 5 things when you go to buy you'll be solid.

This is a good list. Most of the above criteria remains important to me. I was going to reply to my message, but this is a better place...

I'll add that you should consider your local climate and general summer sun exposure. While none of my units ever failed completely, I had a few instances where a unit would shutdown, fail to record under otherwise normal circumstances, or see a media card failure (this includes various units sold at Costco, Walmart, and Amazon). I live in SE AZ. I suppose I'm saying the cheapest/lowest quality units probably tolerate heat better elsewhere than AZ (or SOCAL/similar).

My instincts here are that most modern units are designed to handle near constant sun exposure, but the media cards may tolerate it less well. However it happens, my current Garmin Mini 2 has not had a single issue (I understand this was a complaint in the first gen). "High Endurance" media is recommended again for all the write duty cycles plus maybe better environmental toughness.

I'd also emphasize getting the smallest unit possible that still handles your needs (as suggested above). This means it moves around less under rough conditions (i.e., less likely to separate from its mount while bombing down a path).

 

[gladiator_oc23]

im surprised no one's mentioned the Wolfbox G900 2 Ch or the G890 3 Ch

 

[chorky]

With the crap going on with my JT right now I really want a cam. 3 way, exterior front, interior, and exterior rear

But here is the catch. What options exist, that dont cost a thousand bucks, that upload to the cloud or something. If I hand my keys over to the shop, and they cause a problem, the can easily just erase the SD card....so what options do I have to make something upload online so that a dishonest tech or person can't just delete evidence. I am legitamently concerned about this and have historical personal experience to justify it.

 

[Blade1668]

If you are worried about dishonest cops, might want to invest in one that uploads in real time to a cloud service.

The video below shows a guy getting jacked up and arrested by a dirty cop that either erased or pulled his dash cam memory card. Cop did not know the dash cam footage went to a cloud service and exonerated the driver after the crap arrest.

Damn good video there..... Sadly as a former L.E.O. there is many out there. To give everyone an idea of how much crap there is I've only been back to that jurisdiction the minimum number of times since. A few members here know where I'm referring to. The b.s. is way above patrol levels. I've been out since June 2022.

Sponsored