Carving up pastoral hills into the embrace of a warm sunset may sound like campervanning nirvana, but once darkness falls, rolling homeowners take on additional responsibilities that necessitate a dash cam. With all the equipment and luggage onboard, campervans become appealing targets for would-be thieves of the night. Say you’ve slipped off for a drink at a nearby pub or left to check out a local landmark – not only have you left your car to the mercy of the neighbourhood villains but your de facto house, too.
Sleeping in a stationary campervan overnight can be risky. Moreover, as more time is spent on the road with all the entailing perils, you could find yourself in trouble before even reaching your destination. To ease some of the risks inherent to campervan ownership, we highly recommend implementing some security measures as one would do for a normal car, starting with the installation of a dash cam. These devices come in various guises, but there are dash cams designed specifically for campervans.
Dash cams are just as, if not more, useful to campervan drivers as they are to regular car drivers. A dash cam will help you monitor your driving, and improve your spatial awareness while on the road, with some having front and rear dual recording cams, and some can even notify you of a break-in. While dash cams for campervans are essentially the same as those for regular cars, there are a few specific models that will especially benefit campervan owners by virtue of a few key dash cam features. To help find the perfect campervan dash cam for you, we’ve picked some of our favourites.
The best dash cams for campervans at a glance
Editor’s choice: Garmin CamperCam 795 – Buy now from Amazon UK
Best for features: Nextbase 622GW – Buy now from Amazon UK
Best for budget: Ring Automotive Campervan Dash Cam – Buy now from Amazon UK
The best dash cams for campervans
Editor's choice
As a sat nav, the Campercam can customise your route depending on the size and weight of your rolling home and then provide aerial footage to help guide you to your overnight stop as smoothly as possible. It might be expensive but this is the only campervan dashcam you’ll ever need.
Pros
- Huge displays packed with helpful information
- Intelligent technology to guide you to your destination
Cons
- Only films in 1080P video
| Dimensions | 17.7 x 10.6 x 3.5 cm |
| Weight | 271 g |
| Field of view | 140 degrees |
| Parking mode | Yes |
| Resolution | 1080P |
| Rear camera | No |
| Built-in Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Voice control | Yes |
Best for features
Preparing for a lengthy road trip? This dash cam can provide your location to anyone around the world with what3words integration, even when you’re offline. With a built-in Amazon Alexa function, drivers can also access thousands of commands hands-free, keeping their minds on the road. We especially like this camera for its intelligent parking mode – an indispensable feature on any campervan dashcam so drivers can continue to monitor the area around their vans even when stationary. Read our guide to Nextbase dash cams here.
Pros
- Packed with feature
- Intelligent technology onboard to keep you safe
Cons
- App can be awkward to use
| Dimensions | 5.3 x 9.3 x 4.5cm |
| Weight | 80g |
| Field of view | 140 degrees |
| Parking mode | Yes |
| Resolution | 4K front, 1080P rear |
| Rear camera | Yes |
| Built-in Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Voice control | Yes |
Best for Wi-Fi connectivity
If it’s a winter road trip you have in mind, this dash cam can keep your windscreen free from frost, ice and condensation with heating modes, so long as the dash cam has been hard-wired in via the Aura Hard Wired Kit.
Pros
- Around-the-clock coverage
- No need for an SD card
Cons
- Front view only
| Dimensions | 5 x 11.1 x 3.5 cm |
| Weight | 440g |
| Field of view | 140 degrees |
| Parking mode | Yes |
| Resolution | 4K |
| Rear camera | No |
| Built-in Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Voice control | Yes |
Best for budget
Pros
- Great value
- Lots of great features
Cons
- Poor resolution quality compared to others
| Dimensions | 6.7 x 10.1 x 11.5 cm |
| Weight | 138g |
| Field of view | 150 degrees |
| Parking mode | Yes |
| Resolution | 1080p |
| Rear camera | No |
| Built-in Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Voice control | No |
Best for security and safety
This camera can also receive alerts for red light cameras and speed cameras with Garmin Express, a subscription-free platform – perfect for long journeys in far and distant lands.
Pros
- Driver focussed alert capabilities
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- Doesn’t shoot in 4K
| Dimensions | 5.62 x 4.05 x 2.14 cm |
| Weight | 59.7g |
| Field of view | 140 degrees |
| Parking mode | Not specified |
| Resolution | 1440P |
| Rear camera | No but can be wirelessly synced to three more Garmin cameras. |
| Built-in Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Voice control | Yes |
FAQs
Where should I position my campervan dash cam?
No matter the quirks and features on your dashcam, it won’t be useful to you unless correctly positioned. While it’s important to capture a great field of view, it’s critical that your dash cam does not impede your vision while on the road – especially if you’re securing your dashcam as a permanent feature. The best place to position your dash cam is up behind the rearview mirror, as you’ll receive a clear picture but it won’t obstruct your view of the road. Remember, mirror dash cams are available too.
What features should I look out for?
While most dash cams perform similarly, some include features better suited to a campervan than others. We highly recommend buying a dash cam with a parking mode so the device remains alert even when the vehicle has stopped moving. A parking mode will allow you to maintain constant surveillance of your campervan and its surroundings, alerting you to a break in or collision should either take place.
Other than a parking mode, while not crucial, we recommend picking up a dash cam with a high-resolution camera – 4K if possible. A high-quality camera will capture the clearest imagery so you can pick out all the key details. Say your dashcam footage is being used as evidence in court, a clear picture may benefit your case by allowing prosecutors to identify a car, number plate or even a face.
When you choose your dash cam, remember to check if the package includes a memory card.
Seth Walton is an Autos Product Writer for Parkers and CAR, specialising in car cleaning and motorsport. He also contributes to What’s The Best with interests in audio equipment and technology.
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