Best aftermarket dashcam?

I don't have the built in dash cam from the factory so I am looking to purchase one. What are 3rd gen owners using and how hard was install? Do you have the rear facing camera also?

 

high end : blackvue

good price/features : viofo x29 series, or any with starvis 2 camera/lens

 

Thinkware lineup. Their cameras are very reliable. I have 5 of them.

 

I like my FitcamX. Doesn't stick out, and if you get the Sienna power cable, it will work for parking mode as well. I do have the rear camera as well.

 

Not a 3rd gen, but I've gotta Garmin and it's great. I like that it'll automatically upload videos to the "Vault" when it starts to get full (as long as WiFi is in range).

 

I was going to recommend Thinkware as well. I have the x700 dual, and am quite happy with it. I just bought another this week for my wife’s car, after being reminded in a bad way earlier this week of their usefulness.

I’ve had other cheaper cams in the past that weren’t as reliable, the suction cup mounts would fall off the windshield at times… zero complaints with this Thinkware. I’d buy again. Oh wait, I did.

 

I really like the Blackvue. I mounted it behind the rearview mirror, and I can't even see it while I'm driving.

 

Thinkware U3000 here, front and back. Has all the bells and whistles.

 

Whats the best place to buy thinkware from, and are there any discount codes? Or do they usually have sales going on during the holidays?

 

They have it listed at a sale price but I believe its one of those sales that never ends. I typically will call a seller and ask if they can offer any discount, and if so, I’ll place an order right away. I win most of the time doing this.

 

You can purchase directly from their site. Amazon and Best Buy also carries them.

 

I have the Fitcam. What is the Sienna power cable and how does it work?

 

You probably won’t have this option, but I just grabbed the X700 from Canadian Tire. I don’t know if it’s getting to be one of their older models, but when it’s on clearance for 40% off I jumped at the deal. And I found that deal with a quick internet search. I got the one in my truck from London Drugs on a decent sale nearly 2 years ago. I’m going to wager a guess that both of those retailers seem a bit foreign to you.

I will say that I found this cam to be a bit power hungry in park mode, so I disabled that. I have a very short commute so limited time for the alternator to catch up, and later found out that my truck battery was leaving the chat, so YMMV on that part.

 

https://www.vortexradar.com/best-dashcams/

 

Which model do you have?

 

The 47. Bought it from Trail Grid Pro but it looks like they changed it to this

Guess I got it while it was still affordable because I think I paid around $150 for it. It's the "base" bundle because I already knew I was going to hard wire it for the parking protection.

 

Thanks. So you hard wired it to a power source (not the OBDII connector)? Also, do you know how much footage can be stored on the internal memory card, without the Vault subscription?

 

Yeah I already have 2 things coming off my OBD port so that wouldn't work for me. I used the longer USB cord they supplied to reach in my glove box where I've got another cig lighter/USB port installed. It stays hot all the time.

Memory is as follows:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLjGazIxjEA

Viofo

 

You rigged this up yourself? My 2019 has 4 cig outlets but they are not always hot.

 

Yes one of the first mods I did was the extra cig/USB port in the glove box. I power my CB through the cig lighter and the Garmin with the USB.

 

I have this too. You pull the top off where the MAP lights are and there's already a plug there for the factory camera that the Sienna power cable from FitcamX plugs into that allows parking monitoring. It's a clean install, plug and play.

 

The X700 is an older unit but still a very solid unit and I beleive Thinkware still sells it.

 

Can you show how to reach it?

 

I have a bunch of rexing cameras and so far have worked out very well.
Not expensive either.

 

The map light/sunroof module pretty much pops right out, and I think the video I watched was an OEM install. The OEM connector is on the driver side along the edge of the headliner.

 

Thanks!

 

How was the rear cam install? Looks like you can just tuck one wire all the way back along the headliner. But, how does the cam mount? Thx

 

It wasn't too bad at all. Mostly just tucked in, and removed some weatherstripping to make it easier. I did remove some trim to help hide the extra rather than pull the headliner down. I believe I used this exact mount (2 in) for the rear window https://www.thedashcamstore.com/custom-folded-bracket-for-secondary-dashcam-lenses/?searchid=0

 

This is one I've been looking at. Did you install it yourself and add the module so it's always on?