A dashcam with front and rear coverage is essential for any campervan. Here are the best options for the UK market.
Verdict
Viofo A229 Pro (£200) with the hardwire kit (£15) and a 128GB SD card (£20). Front 4K, rear 2K, parking mode, capacitor-based. Best value dashcam setup for UK campervans.
Why Campervans Need Dual Dashcams
A campervan is longer and harder to manoeuvre than a car. Rear visibility is poor (no rear window in most conversions). A rear camera helps with:
- Insurance claims (footage proves who was at fault)
- Recording break-ins when parked (parking mode activates on motion)
- Reversing in tight campsite pitches
- Capturing road incidents involving your van
Top Picks
| Dashcam | Front | Rear | Parking Mode | 4K | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nextbase 522GW | 1440p | 1080p | Yes (hardwire) | No | £180 |
| Viofo A229 Pro | 4K | 2K | Yes (buffered) | Yes | £200 |
| Garmin Dash Cam 67W | 1440p | 720p | Yes (OBD) | No | £170 |
| Thinkware F200 Pro | 1080p | 1080p | Yes (hardwire) | No | £150 |
| BlackVue DR750X Plus | 4K | 1080p | Yes (cloud) | Yes | £300 |
Recommended: Viofo A229 Pro
This is the best value dashcam for campervans. It records 4K front and 2K rear simultaneously — the best video quality in its price range. The parking mode is buffered (records 10 seconds before the motion trigger), so you see what happened leading up to the event. It has GPS (logs your speed and location) and a capacitor (not a battery) — important for vans that get hot in summer. Capacitors handle heat better than batteries.
Hardwiring in a Van
Hardwiring means connecting the dashcam to your leisure battery via a fuse tap, rather than plugging into the 12v socket. The advantage: you can use parking mode without draining the starter battery. The kit: A hardwire kit (£15, Nextbase or generic) connects to an empty fuse slot in your fuse box. Most vans have a "cigarette lighter" fuse slot on the leisure circuit. Run the cable behind the headliner (tuck under the trim) and down the A-pillar. Professional install: £50-80 at Halfords or a local auto electrician. Worth it if you are not confident with wiring.
Parking Mode
This is the most useful feature for van lifers. When the van is parked, the dashcam stays on (powered by the leisure battery) and records when:
- Motion is detected (someone walks past)
- Impact is detected (someone hits your van)
- G-sensor triggers (the van rocks) The Viofo A229 Pro records for 10 seconds before and 30 seconds after the event. This has caught two attempted break-ins in my van.
Rear Camera Installation
The rear camera cable runs from the front dashcam along the headliner to the rear. In a van, run it along the driver-side headliner (not the passenger side — too much wiring on that side). Tuck it behind the trim panels. In a SWB Transit, the cable length supplied (6m) is enough. For LWB vans, buy a longer extension cable.
