Do you guys use dashcams?? Which???
- Thread starter ddeuce22
- Start date
ddeuce22
Professional
Same. Alot of research has pointed to this company called Viofo. They seem to be best bang for the buck. But I don't mind spending a bit more for something that installs easy, and interfaces easy w/ a good UI. Let's hope the forum has some good suggestions I didn't already look into.
bc22wm
Custom
The boy got us one, no idea who made it. Doubt that I'll hook it up. Seen body cameras jam people up 10 times more often than they exonerated someone. Not that anyone was necessarily doing anything wrong. Just that it allowed the pencil pushing Monday morning quarterbacks all the time in the world to dissect an action or decision that had to be made in a second. People love to find fault. Makes them feel superior. 
HayesGreener
Ronin
I have been using a Garmin for about 10 years. It has GPS and crash detection and records speed direction and coordinates on the video. It runs continuously and overwrites the files unless you tell it to save a file. About 6-7 years ago a woman exiting the Interstate ran the stopsign at the bottom of the ramp and I hit her broadside at about 40 mph. The video showed it all clearly and you could see the expression on her face just before impact and her side curtain airbags deploy. My truck shoved her Tahoe about 30 feet sideways. It did $17,000 damage to my truck and totaled her Tahoe. There was never any doubt what happened but I was able to email the video to the Trooper and my insurance company, case closed.
My dash cam still works fine, I have saved clips of other peoples crashes that I gave LE, and idiot drivers just in case. I have also save files of suspicious looking characters just in case.
There are advances in the technology since I got mine. When I replace it I will stay with Garmin but will probably get a dual camera that records to the rear, as tailgating seems to be a real problem.
My dash cam still works fine, I have saved clips of other peoples crashes that I gave LE, and idiot drivers just in case. I have also save files of suspicious looking characters just in case.
There are advances in the technology since I got mine. When I replace it I will stay with Garmin but will probably get a dual camera that records to the rear, as tailgating seems to be a real problem.
HayesGreener
Ronin
As an aside, I am a true believer in side curtain airbags. 30 years ago they would have pulled a sheet over that other driver.
Jfal
Professional
I have a NextBase...
Choose your mounting wisely. I go through 1-2 windshields every year, and if you stick the cam to the windshield, you gotta buy extra mounting tape regularly. The NexBase is ok, cool features to link with your smart phone, but mine is 4-5 years old and has to be reloaded (app) and re-synced regularly....might be better cams out there.
Choose your mounting wisely. I go through 1-2 windshields every year, and if you stick the cam to the windshield, you gotta buy extra mounting tape regularly. The NexBase is ok, cool features to link with your smart phone, but mine is 4-5 years old and has to be reloaded (app) and re-synced regularly....might be better cams out there.
Sld1959
Ronin
Now am curious why so many windshields?
powerboatr
Professional
i use thinkware https://thinkwarestore.com/files/u1000/
front and rear
its pretty good
HOWEVER its 2 years old and the tech changes reallllllllly fast
he is a link to the video quality at 60 in my truck
look hard you can see the brown blurrr of a small deer coming from pass to driver to other side
and turn down the volume its loud as i was jamming with joan jett and i am deaf
the camera records voice as well so ...well you know
front and rear
its pretty good
HOWEVER its 2 years old and the tech changes reallllllllly fast
he is a link to the video quality at 60 in my truck
look hard you can see the brown blurrr of a small deer coming from pass to driver to other side
and turn down the volume its loud as i was jamming with joan jett and i am deaf
the camera records voice as well so ...well you know
Jfal
Professional
I drive 80-100k miles a year. SE WI is full of limestone quarries, and their dump trucks are hauling loads everywhere all the time. The rocks bounce out of those trucks, and into our windshields. Also, plenty of gravel gets picked up by tires on the highway and flips the rocks into other vehicles. That's also why I don't ride my motorcycle without a full-face helmet.
powerboatr
Professional
i forgot to say the reason the video dips or the truck appears to dip slightly and slow then speed back up
is the obstacle detection and safety stuff saw the deer and slowed truck enough for deer or the OBJECT to clear the vehicle
its not designed or sold for that, but this is second time my auto emergency braking or steering has saved my bacon
that little deer appeared, then darted and if truck had not paused ,.,it would have been in the grill
is the obstacle detection and safety stuff saw the deer and slowed truck enough for deer or the OBJECT to clear the vehicle
its not designed or sold for that, but this is second time my auto emergency braking or steering has saved my bacon
that little deer appeared, then darted and if truck had not paused ,.,it would have been in the grill
TestMule
Elite
One of the big reasons having a camera is that the other driver will immediately blame you even though they caused the accident. Without a witness you may end up being held liable for some portion of the repair costs even though you were not negligent. That video file is your witness, good or bad as noted above, but it's still a witness.
For me, even though I am do not drive a lot, having a camera is important. It helped clarify who did what and what happened, saving me a LOT of money, with this particular case:
For me, even though I am do not drive a lot, having a camera is important. It helped clarify who did what and what happened, saving me a LOT of money, with this particular case:
ddeuce22
Professional
Sorry that happened to you, but this is precisely the driving factor behind me deciding it's a necessity. I drive alot.
I don't know about him, but I was a road warrior for years in the Rocky Mtn. states and went through a lot of windshields and headlights. Those states generally used crushed stone/dirt on snowy roads, not salt. When the snows melt & at end of season there is a lot of this stuff to be thrown up into the path of your car (or worse, motorcycle). It also accumulates in the curves and can steal your grip in good weather, again, esp. on motorcycles.
The little pinholes that were made in sealed beams would admit air and the element would soon burn out. LEDs may be less sensitive to this nowadays.
That was my life in the Rockies as well. In states where the speeds are elevated (including esp. California) a full face is a must for hard riding. June bugs aren't the worst thing you can hit with your face.
Most of the rock I found on the roads was deposited during snow season and waiting to ambush you on two wheels.
Any dash cam is better than no dash cam. It would be better to put a 20-30 dollar walmart/amazon special in now. Then if you have to save up for a better one. Then when you do get a better one, move the cheap one to rear facing. They have saved me multiple times.
WheelingHilda
Elite
I have a tiny CopCam that was lost when we flooded buy cheap and easy. Armed Attorney's did an interesting video on why NOT to have a dash cam if there is a self defense issue. Interesting but accidents are much more likely so I'm for it. Great day to all.
powerboatr
Professional
i have seen many of those,
i would rather have the camera that i control to use for evidence in an accident or break in, etc
my memory card pops out in less than 2 seconds and could be lost if i felt it had damaging video, i dont upload my stuff to the cloud either
i have caught an elderly lady bashing my passenger door with her car, when she stumbled getting out of her car , no i didnt file against her insurance i popped the small dent out