I’m looking at “Reels” on FaceBook and am convinced we need a dash cam for people that drive like idiots.
Which one do you guys use?
Why would I need a dual camera to record me, as well? It’s just me,
the wife and dog towing a TT.
Thanks.

 

I bought a Falcon Eye which can Record up to 4 cameras.

the resolution is so good, I can see Traffic more than half a mile behind my Toy Hauler.

they have a lot of different models.
the Magnet is so strong, you better know where you want to put it, as it is extremely difficult to get it pried off of metal.

I used the Mounting bracket for the rear view camera, above the Toy Hauler ramp door.
powered it from the garage light circuit.... garage light ON, Camera ON.

I replaced all of the lights inside the toy hauler with LEDs

https://falconelectronics.com/

 

I have this one for the RV.


My BIL uses it in his truck and RV and has had pretty good luck with it. He did have one incident that when he hit the record button after a mirror high 5 on a mountain road that didn't actually record. Not sure what happened there, but it seems to be working very well for him.

I drive 25 miles each way for work with about 80% being highway. I've seen more red lights being run and cell phones in hand in recent months than ever before. Seems like people just can't help themselves from being stupid.

 

I have the Vantrue S1 4k (now out of production). It's replacement is the Sonnet 1 Pro (https://www.vantrue.com/products/sonnet-1-pro) or the Element 2 (E2) (https://www.vantrue.com/products/vantrue-e2).

I like that these have a screen on the unit (no need to pair with your phone if you are in a hurry). I have it wired in to a unit that will cut the power if the truck battery gets too low. I have quite a few videos of near-misses. This won't be ideal for behind-the-trailer recording, so if that is a deal-killer you'll need to look elsewhere.

 

the FalconEye video dashcam is in Continuous Recording Mode,
IF, you turn on Record....

when the SDcard fills up, it just overwrites the oldest video....
a 64gB SDcard can hold 1,000s of miles of travel.

I have a Garmin mini-dashcam that senses you getting too close to the vehicle in front, and starts beeping at you.

It also will Save a Video Clip if it senses an accident, 3 minutes prior to, and at least 3 minutes after.... IIRC, I have that set to 5 minutes to catch a jerk that drives off.

It also has a Red Button to push, that will save Clips and it always records the Lat/Long & Date/Time

 

Thanks for your input. Looks like I some research to do.

 

I too am considering a dash cam. What's important to me is front facing, rear facing and parking protection. I also want the smallest package possible. The Garmin Mini seems to be a good choice and I like having to see the image on my iPhone. I think it's the smallest on the market. I'm still researching this accessory. Oh, and it has to be wired in, not a cig lighter adapter. I hate wires all over the place.

 

the Garmin instructions tell you to use the supplied power wire, and run it underneath the windshield rubber molding to the left, and down to the fuse box. you will ever see it that way.

as I move it from vehicle to vehicle, I use a USB cable.

do NOT put it behind the metal mesh at the top of the windshield, it must have a Clear Field of View.... off hand, the Mini Garmin dashcam has 170*+ field of view?

I prefer my Falcon Eye for towing, it can record up to 4 cameras at once...
uses a SDcard to hold the recordings....

 

I've been using the Vantrue N5 4 channel since March and I like it ok. Before this I was trying to get by on the cheapest thing I thought would work with limited results.
This unit can make out license plates in most conditions and low light performance I would call "great".
Like most things, it has a few annoying "features" such as a strange need to require location services turned on when connecting to the app...why?
I've only had one firmware update since purchase and it did reset everything to default, so I had to do it all over again.
Audio recording can be disabled.. if you happen to be one who speaks with vibrant color or is used to singing while driving because no one was able to hear me before.....off is good.
G-sensor is very sensitive, I have all of the triggers on the least sensitive settings and can still get it to save the 'incident' of slamming the door.
Parking mode is nearly as sensitive with its motion detection, adjust to taste.
This system gives you 4 cameras in total. A max of 1944p for the main 1440p for the other 3 at 30fps with 2 of them facing inside. At this setting file size is in the 800MB range for a 5 min block in the loop.

Even though the screen is small, I was still able to see when a fuel can tipped over in the cargo area in the split view. I didn't think I would like internal cameras... I'm warming up to it because it saved me from a mess.




I did have to buy a USB-C 90 adapter to clear the headliner for the rear camera cable, and the polarizing filter is a recommended addition for glare reduction.




I wanted it as high as possible to put the FOV down angled close to the nose to see forward of it as much as can be, positioned up out of my way, and keeping the camera in line with the clean area behind the wipers.
This is the best I could manage and not interfere with the rearview mirror. I might have been able to get it a hair more to the right but it works.



I chopped the power cable and ran straight up into the overhead console wiring harness because it was right there. If you opt to use the rear cameras, The cable is long enough for our excursions.
fishing it above the headliner is a chore but doable.


Overall, it is pretty user-friendly and does what it should very well. Above all other considerations, being able to capture license plates was the selling point for me.

 

Thanks for the reply.
I just unboxed this same camera. I really appreciate your details on installation!
I was thinking of using a GoPro, which I already had, but the RAM mount I installed on the dash is cracking the plastic. Your idea is much better than mine, both getting it up high and out of the way.
For mounting, did you use the sticky mounting plates provided? If so, how did you prepare the window surfaces?
Specifically, what Ex wires did you tap into?
Thanks, again.

 

Best to be up high anyway as many states restrict suction cup mounts on the windshield anyway.


https://mgftrucking.com/pages/are-su...-in-your-state

 

I did use the adhesive, wiped the glass down with isopropyl alcohol.
I don't want to steer you wrong on the wiring, so I'll dig out the diagram. I might have to peek back in there to be sure.

 

I have been through most of those states, the LEOs have better things to do than chase a Vacuum Cup on a windshield.
I have been using them since the things were invented, that'd be about when the GPS things became a thing for cars/trucks.

I live in Oklahoma, and I never, ever, heard one LEO say anything about a Vacuum Cup mounted device... my truck has 3 of them on the windshield.
all mounted down low, below line of sight.

CTS-3, cellphone, GPS

 

At the overhead console connector C911
LB/PK hot in run Pin 2
BK ground Pin 3
For constant 12v, I tapped into LG/YE to the dome light; there is also easier ground there.

I would post a pic, but I don't wanna unwrap the tape.

 

Thank you.
I’ll be wiring it up this weekend. I’ll let you know how it goes.