Bewildered by dashcam choice

[jeddy]

When I subscribed to Which, Nextbase always came out recommended.
My problem came when I took the van to Halfords. They took one look at the cab blinds and said they couldn’t fit it (hard wired)

 

[TonyEmm]

Hi everyone, I'm thinking of buying one of the above before our first trip through France to Spain, but the choice and techie stuff is putting me off a bit. Also read that some drain the battery. I didn't realise they were so complicated, I thought you just plugged them into the 12v socket and away they went. More fool me! Anyone got any advice, recommendations, tips, no no's. All gratefully received. Also a very Merry Christmas to all on here and happy and safe travels for 2024.

A dashcam will only drain the battery if it’s plugged into a ‘permanently live’ power socket. If hard wired, it should be igninition fed.

I have 3 Nextbase dashcams, though they’re not all equal!
Which? ‘Consumer association’ have just released a best buy list of dashcams at https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/dash-cams. It will tell you all you need to know though, you may need to sign up to see it!

p.s. Be aware that some dashcams will give speed camera alerts. That is illegal in France!

 

[Guigsy]

When I subscribed to Which, Nextbase always came out recommended.
My problem came when I took the van to Halfords. They took one look at the cab blinds and said they couldn’t fit it (hard wired)

I've just stuck the camera upside down on the dash so it clears the blinds. It doesn't get in my view. A van dash is still high enough to get a good view. It doesn't matter that it's upside down. But you do need to get a camera that'll cope with the angle, and that will mount to the dashboard surface.

 

[TDub49]

Hi everyone, I'm thinking of buying one of the above before our first trip through France to Spain, but the choice and techie stuff is putting me off a bit. Also read that some drain the battery. I didn't realise they were so complicated, I thought you just plugged them into the 12v socket and away they went. More fool me! Anyone got any advice, recommendations, tips, no no's. All gratefully received. Also a very Merry Christmas to all on here and happy and safe travels for 2024.

I see lots of recommendations for Nextbase cams and just to add to them, the Nextbase 422GW is the top Best Buy in Which?.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

To get over the mounting being too big for blinds I found a 3d printed mount on ebay. This sticks to the screen with two sided tape. Made it all much closer to the screen to clear blinds. Add Nextbase wiring kit from ignition fed fuseboard connector and it is fit a nd forget.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[chris McKenny]

Hi everyone, I'm thinking of buying one of the above before our first trip through France to Spain, but the choice and techie stuff is putting me off a bit. Also read that some drain the battery. I didn't realise they were so complicated, I thought you just plugged them into the 12v socket and away they went. More fool me! Anyone got any advice, recommendations, tips, no no's. All gratefully received. Also a very Merry Christmas to all on here and happy and safe travels for 2024.

Next base from Halfords book before and they will fit for you ,wired direct so off when ignition is off .

 

[Jacasino]

Garmin 67W, 1440 HD, compact with a screen to help you aim it, parking guard through the app, clever little sticky magnet to fit it & easily remove to swap between vehicles, Halfords & Argos sell them.

 

[offagen]

A dashcam will only drain the battery if it’s plugged into a ‘permanently live’ power socket. If hard wired, it should be igninition fed.

Agreed but, as mentioned earlier in this thread, Nextbase recommend that the hard wired power source is permanently live to allow their Intelligent Parking Mode* to operate. In my experience that can gradually run down the battery in a car but in a motorhome that has solar charging of the vehicle battery it’s not so much of an issue. However, in our MoHo we feed the dashcam from the ignition circuit and forego the Intelligent Parking Mode. It’s a matter of how much the Parking feature is considered worthwhile (or necessary for a MoHo).

* To clarify for anyone not familiar, the Nextbase Intelligent Parking Mode ‘wakes up’ the dashcam to start filming if an impact is sensed while the vehicle is unattended. Useful for those supermarket bump occurrences or hit-an-run while parked on the street.

 

[Davecrawf]

I have Nextbase cam hard wired in car and MH. Not noticed any battery drain.
Only criticism i have with Nextbase is the internal batteries are crap.

Just replaced the battery in my Nextbase after more than 5 years. A bit of a fiddly job I admit.
Good product though, with good software for reviewing video. Have this in my car. My motorhome has a garmin sat nav with built in dash cam. Fairly good also.

 

[Broadway]

I fitted the Garmin mini 2. Tiny, unobtrusive, easy to fit and links to phone via Garmin drive app. Good quality videos and stills.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[offagen]

Just replaced the battery in my Nextbase after more than 5 years. A bit of a fiddly job I admit.

That’s interesting. The battery in my 18 months old 522GW doesn’t power it at all after the power source is removed. Quite clearly a dud. Could you provide a link to the replacement batteries please Davecrawf?

 

[andybarnes]

What about the Road Angel Halo View ?

Road Angel Halo View Rear View Mirror and Dash Cam with 10" Touch Screen & Dual Parking Mode

Alert Types / Extras Parking Aid - Reverse Trigger - Winter Mode - True Parking Mode Recording Resolution 2K 1440p & 1080p rear Viewing Angle 140oC & Rear 120oC Memory Up to 128gb external microSD Sound Optional Recording Connectivity Mini USB Image Sensor Omnivision OV04B10 & Rear GC2053...

www.roadangelgroup.com

This gives you both a front and rear camera plus an electronic rear view mirror. Great if you cannot see straight through your van ! Probably would need professional fitting unless you are happy drilling a hole in the rear door to enable the cable to be fed through from the rear camera which is normally mounted just above the number plate on the outside. Hope this helps

 

[TonyEmm]

Agreed but, as mentioned earlier in this thread, Nextbase recommend that the hard wired power source is permanently live to allow their Intelligent Parking Mode* to operate. In my experience that can gradually run down the battery in a car but in a motorhome that has solar charging of the vehicle battery it’s not so much of an issue. However, in our MoHo we feed the dashcam from the ignition circuit and forego the Intelligent Parking Mode. It’s a matter of how much the Parking feature is considered worthwhile (or necessary for a MoHo).

* To clarify for anyone not familiar, the Nextbase Intelligent Parking Mode ‘wakes up’ the dashcam to start filming if an impact is sensed while the vehicle is unattended. Useful for those supermarket bump occurrences or hit-an-run while parked on the street.

That’s how I’ve wired mine…. The intelligent parking mode is only any use if someone hits you from in front! (Unless you have a rear cam too). I don’t have rear but I’m considering it after some recent experiences!

 

[Mad dog]

I've an Aukey which is 4-5 yrs old, it's pretty clear set to 1080 res & fits behind the blinds no problem, but I have to fiddle about getting the card out & into my laptop to read any footage.

Are there any out there that connect with Bluetooth that can transfer the data quickly to your mobile?

 

[Howard B]

I've an Aukey which is 4-5 yrs old, it's pretty clear set to 1080 res & fits behind the blinds no problem, but I have to fiddle about getting the card out & into my laptop to read any footage.

Are there any out there that connect with Bluetooth that can transfer the data quickly to your mobile?

Some of the Nextbase cameras can be downloaded to the phone.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[gus-lopez]

A dashcam will only drain the battery if it’s plugged into a ‘permanently live’ power socket.

All mine front & rear are permanently live. I never modified any of the original dash ones & all are live.
Not a problem with solar panels as they charge leisure & van batteries.
I have 19 12v sockets in total ,12 of which are in the back. The sat nav , 2 x cameras, 1 x 12v monitor, + various phone charging leads are all on permanently.In the rear I have various cordless led lights permanently on charge along with other tat I can't remember

Be aware that some dashcams will give speed camera alerts. That is illegal in France!

but useful.

* To clarify for anyone not familiar, the Nextbase Intelligent Parking Mode ‘wakes up’ the dashcam to start filming if an impact is sensed while the vehicle is unattended. Useful for those supermarket bump occurrences or hit-an-run while parked on the street.

you'd be looking at it many times a day here as parking by touch/shunting is the norm & doubtful if the insurance company would even reply to you unless half the side was stoved in?

 

[stuartholmes]

Hi everyone, I'm thinking of buying one of the above before our first trip through France to Spain, but the choice and techie stuff is putting me off a bit. Also read that some drain the battery. I didn't realise they were so complicated, I thought you just plugged them into the 12v socket and away they went. More fool me! Anyone got any advice, recommendations, tips, no no's. All gratefully received. Also a very Merry Christmas to all on here and happy and safe travels for 2024.

Whichever you choose, get it glued to the screen, not suckered because they don't stay stuck, and get it hard wired in not just plugged into lighter socket because the wires will get in your way & you'll be using the socket for something else at the exact moment you have a collision.
And if you can, get one for the back window too. At least one of the Nextbase has a rear window module, or just get a separate cheap one.

 

[bubble63]

Halfrauds have an additional 10% off this

Road Angel Halo Drive 2K HD Discreet Dash Cam | Halfords UK

Shop the latest Described as a “Driver’s Delight”, the Halo Drive’s super compact solution and distraction free design features no screen and offers you the best in Parking Mode & Winter Mode technology! So, keep those windscreens frost free as the cold weather draws in to ensure you get a clear...

www.halfords.com

 

[ToGoldlyBo]

I'm just about to install a Road Angel Halo. One of the reasons for choosing it is that since it has no screen, it fits with a low profile on the windscreen and does not obstruct the remis blinds

 

[Fidge]

Wow, many thanks to everyone who responded to my query! Even ended up on the round up. After much deliberation (watching you tube videos, reading reviews etc!) we are going to go with the Nextbase 422gw. Seems that this one will do the biz without having loads of stuff on it we don't need and probably couldn't work anyway. They're on offer too on the Next base site if anyone is interested. Thanks once again to everyone, you can always rely on this site to get good, reliable (been there and done it!) advise.
Happy New Year to you all and safe travels with lots of adventures.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[offagen]

Glad you got yourself sorted Fidge

Just in case anyone is suffering from a poorly performing Nexbase dashcam battery, this company is a good source of replacement batteries for a number of Nextbase past and present dashcam models. The batteries are not too difficult to install but can require a small amount of soldering.

batteries

www.mcbs.uk

 

[Orion]

Anyone with the Remis two part horizontal windscreen blinds, and a redundant rear view mirror on a Ducato, wanting to fit a Nextbase dashcam - here’s what I did:

Installing Dashcam with Remis Blinds

Having read through numerous threads and articles regarding the difficulties of installing a fixed dashcam mount in conjunction with the Remis windscreen blind set, and looking to fit one myself, I thought I’d have a go at it today. This is for a 2022 Ducato with the grooved metal nut that...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

AFAIK the 622GW can be safely wired to the vehicle battery with a permanent connection as it will automatically switch off if the voltage drops to a certain level.

 

[Howard B]

Anyone with the Remis two part horizontal windscreen blinds, and a redundant rear view mirror on a Ducato, wanting to fit a Nextbase dashcam - here’s what I did:

Installing Dashcam with Remis Blinds

Having read through numerous threads and articles regarding the difficulties of installing a fixed dashcam mount in conjunction with the Remis windscreen blind set, and looking to fit one myself, I thought I’d have a go at it today. This is for a 2022 Ducato with the grooved metal nut that...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

AFAIK the 622GW can be safely wired to the vehicle battery with a permanent connection as it will automatically switch off if the voltage drops to a certain level.

Mine is permanently fitted at the bottom of the screen. Easier to run & hide the cables and no need to remove the camera to close the blinds.

 

[Orion]

Mine is permanently fitted at the bottom of the screen. Easier to run & hide the cables and no need to remove the camera to close the blinds.

I looked at doing that but after consideration didn’t want anything cluttering up the top of the dash, plus there was already the redundant mirror mount getting in the way and ready to be repurposed. The wiring was simple to tuck under the headlining and run down the A pillar capping to the fuse locations.

 

[Howard B]

I looked at doing that but after consideration didn’t want anything cluttering up the top of the dash, plus there was already the redundant mirror mount getting in the way and ready to be repurposed. The wiring was simple to tuck under the headlining and run down the A pillar capping to the fuse locations.

It doesnt clutter anything, its on the bottom of the screen behind the Remis rail.
I use the mirror to check which door/ cupboard i forgot to lock when i hear something banging on the move.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[KarlToon]

Has anyone got a front and rear dashcam, with the rear fitted inside a rear kitchen window? I have been scratching my head looking at the variety and have narrowed it down to Nextbase, Garmin, Thinkware, and, VIOFA. I even looked at external rear cameras, which were mainly for big trucks and weren't within my budget of a few hundred quid. I'm surprised a manufacturer hasn't developed a specific dash cam for motorhomes, especially ones which will fit with blinds closed.