Dash Cam for Trucks and Utes Australia – Best Options 2026
A dash cam for a truck or ute in Australia is a different problem to a dash cam for a regular car.
The biggest challenge is the rear window — or rather, the lack of one. Most utes with canopies, vans with solid rear doors, and trucks have no rear glass through which a standard internal rear camera can film. If you mount a standard dash cam in the cab and try to point a rear camera backwards, you get footage of the back of your canopy, not the road behind you.
This guide covers the right solutions for Australian truck and ute owners in 2026 — including external rear cameras, heat-resistant designs, long-run recording capability, and fleet-grade monitoring options.
The Challenge — No Rear Window
Standard dash cam kits assume a rear camera mounted to the rear interior window. For a hatchback, sedan, or SUV this is fine. For a ute with a canopy, a van, a cab-chassis truck, or any vehicle without a clear rear window, you need a different approach.
The solution is an external weatherproof rear camera that mounts outside the vehicle — typically at the rear of the canopy or on the back door — connected to the front dash cam via a cable run through or under the vehicle.
Best Dash Cam Setup for Trucks and Utes in Australia
BlackVue DR970X-1CH Plus II + BlackVue ERC-1C External Camera
This is the highest-quality option for drivers who want the best possible evidence footage.
The DR970X-1CH Plus II records in 4K UHD from the front cab, using an 8MP Sony STARVIS 2 sensor. The BlackVue ERC-1C is a weatherproof external rear camera that connects to the DR970X via an included 15m cable — long enough for most commercial vehicles. The ERC-1C is rated for external mounting and provides reliable rear coverage in all weather conditions.
Together, this gives you full front and rear recording with 4K front quality, GPS logging, parking mode capability, and BlackVue Cloud compatibility. For professional drivers, fleet managers, and anyone who wants premium-grade evidence coverage, this is the setup to choose.
- Front: 4K UHD (DR970X-1CH Plus II)
- Rear: Weatherproof external (ERC-1C), 15m cable
- GPS: Built-in (front unit)
- Parking: Yes (with OBD-II cable or hardwire kit)
- Cloud: BlackVue Cloud compatible
- Warranty: 3 years on both units
👉 Shop BlackVue DR970X-1CH Plus II 👉 Shop BlackVue ERC-1C External Camera
BlackVue DR770X-1CH Plus II + BlackVue ERC-1C External Camera
For drivers wanting solid coverage at a more accessible price, the DR770X-1CH Plus II provides Full HD 1080p front recording with a Sony STARVIS sensor, paired with the same ERC-1C external rear camera.
For most commercial use — delivery driving, tradesperson vehicles, and utility transport — 1080p front recording with an external weatherproof rear is more than adequate. GPS, parking mode, and BlackVue Cloud are all available.
- Front: 1080p Full HD (DR770X-1CH Plus II)
- Rear: Weatherproof external (ERC-1C), 15m cable
- GPS: Built-in
- Parking: Yes
- Cloud: BlackVue Cloud compatible
- Warranty: 3 years on both units
👉 Shop BlackVue DR770X-1CH Plus II
BlackVue DR770X-2CH Truck
For drivers with a truck or vehicle that has a suitable rear mounting point but needs a longer, more rugged rear camera cable, the DR770X-2CH Truck is specifically designed for this application.
It pairs a 1080p Full HD front camera with a waterproof external rear camera and an extended cable purpose-built for trucks and larger commercial vehicles. The truck-specific design accounts for the longer cable runs and external mounting requirements of commercial vehicles.
👉 Shop BlackVue DR770X-2CH Truck
Heat Resistance — Critical for Commercial Vehicles
Commercial vehicles often sit in direct sun all day at work sites, in industrial areas, or in unsheltered car parks. The internal dash cam unit — mounted in the cab near the windscreen — is exposed to sustained high temperatures.
All BlackVue ELITE series models use supercapacitor designs for maximum heat resistance. The DR970X and DR770X models are engineered with thermal management designed for Australian conditions, including high-temperature operational ratings.
For extreme environments — remote site work, persistent outdoor parking in northern Australia — a supercapacitor-based model is the strongest choice.
Extended Recording for Long-Distance Drivers
Long-haul driving across Australia means hours of continuous recording. A few things to consider:
MicroSD card size — for long trips, a larger card means more footage is retained before loop recording overwrites older files. All current BlackVue models support up to 1TB. We recommend minimum 128GB for commercial vehicles; 256GB or 512GB for long-haul.
Recording quality vs file size — 4K records the most detail but creates the largest files. For commercial vehicles where multiple days of footage retention is important, consider a 1080p front model with a 256GB or larger card, or a 4K model with a 512GB card.
Battery packs for parking mode — for vehicles parked overnight at depots or truck stops, a Cellink NEO8+S battery pack or BlackVue B-130A Ultra Battery Pack provides extended parking protection without any vehicle battery drain.
Fleet Tracking for Commercial Vehicles
For businesses running multiple trucks or utes, real-time GPS tracking and remote monitoring add significant operational value alongside basic incident recording.
BlackVue Cloud (via Wi-Fi or optional CM100GLTE LTE module) provides live GPS, remote footage access, and event push notifications for BlackVue-equipped vehicles.
Jimi IoT range offers a purpose-built fleet management solution with no subscription fees, built-in 4G LTE, real-time tracking, driver behaviour monitoring, and a free fleet management dashboard. Bring your own SIM card. For fleets of any size, the Jimi IoT range is worth a serious look.
Professional Installation for Trucks and Commercial Vehicles
Installing a dash cam in a truck or ute — particularly with an external rear camera and 15m cable run — is more involved than a standard passenger car installation. Professional installation ensures:
- Clean, secure cable routing through the vehicle
- Correct fuse tap for parking mode
- Proper sealing around external camera mounting points
- Full test and verification before handover
Our Melbourne team handles truck and commercial vehicle installations. Contact us to discuss your vehicle and requirements.
📞 (03) 9350 2605 | 📧 info@dashcamsaustralia.com.au
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best dash cam for a ute with a canopy in Australia? A: The BlackVue DR970X-1CH Plus II or DR770X-1CH Plus II paired with the BlackVue ERC-1C external rear camera is the best solution. The ERC-1C mounts externally and comes with a 15m cable for routing through the vehicle.
Q: Is the BlackVue ERC-1C waterproof? A: Yes — the ERC-1C is designed for external mounting and is rated for all-weather use, making it suitable for vehicles exposed to rain, dust, and Australian outdoor conditions.
Q: Can I get parking mode on a truck dash cam? A: Yes. Parking mode requires constant power via OBD-II cable or hardwire kit. The BlackVue OBD-II Power Cable is the simplest plug-and-play option for most commercial vehicles. A battery pack (Cellink NEO8+S or B-130A) is recommended for overnight protection without vehicle battery risk.
Q: What microSD card size do you recommend for long-haul trucks? A: 256GB minimum, 512GB preferred for long-haul vehicles. Use genuine BlackVue microSD cards for best reliability in BlackVue units.