RV Security and Safety Outdoor Security Cameras

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Been thinking a lot lately about RV security and safety on the road. At home, we have a wired alarm system and security cameras. But what do we do in our RV?

I mean technically it’s a car so you could have a car alarm type system which would be simple but doesn’t give the same level of security that a home system has, or do we want a home type? Or a combination of both? I’ve seen the question about which to choose posted on forums before and have heard a lot of different answers.  The answer I guess is, it depends. Factors like the reason for wanting an RV security system. is it for personal safety or property safety like theft.

For me, it’s more about personal safety.

I’m thinking a home type would be best for us. It will be our home after all. But home systems do have some limitations for RV use. First, they are meant to be stationary and most need a WIFI connection to work and record. There are, of course, exceptions to this and that is the direction I’m looking in.

I’ve decided to start by choosing cameras for the exterior of our rig.

I have heard that some RV parks don’t allow them outside, but I want them for a couple of reasons.

#1 The point of this post is RV security and safety. I’d like to see who or what is outside my door before I open it

#2 Wildlife, so many critters come around after the people go inside. I’d love to see some of the more elusive ones that we are sharing the area with. (Or maybe I wouldn’t if it’s a pack of wolves or a family of bears.)

I’ve seen a few RV’ers who incorporate a Ring Video Doorbell into their security setup. I like the idea of a doorbell because it allows two-way communication without opening the door if you don’t feel safe. It also has IR night vision, so you can see out there even after dark. But the Ring requires an internet connection to record and watch the video.

This article on Lifewire lays out the features of several video doorbells and I think, makes a great case for the VEIU Smart Video Doorbell from Eques as a good choice for RV security.

• The VEIU has 2GB of internal memory which is expandable to 32GB with a micro SD card
• It has a 180° wide angle lens so you’d be able to see the entire side of your RV
• The rechargeable batteries last for months
• And it comes with an LCD touchscreen monitor so you can view it even without your smartphone.

The VEIU does have some potential drawbacks; It is a fairly new company so there is not a lot of feedback or reviews on the cameras. Also, it requires that you drill a hole through your door or wall where you intend to mount it so that the monitor can be hardwired to the camera for offline viewing.

Another, I’m considering is the Reolink Argus 2. It’s not a doorbell like the VEIU but can send you an alert if it detects motion, if you have a wifi connection.

• It has a rechargeable battery that can be charged by plugging it in or there is an available solar panel which makes it a great choice for campers or boondockers.
• It supports recording to an sd card or the cloud
• It’s wireless except for charging

This little camera has a great reputation and lots of online reviews. It was also the camera recommended to me for ease of integration with home automation systems.

Overall I think these are both great choices for RV’ers.

Both have night vision, motion detection, and two-way communication. Both run on rechargeable batteries and have internal memory capability and they can both be viewed remotely if they are connected to wifi.

What I don’t know is how well either will hold up to changing climates and highway speeds. But their picture quality and the ability to see who or what is knocking at my door make them worth trying out.