View Full Version : Roll Bar Camera Mount
frankeeski
03-23-2011, 10:30 PM
As usual, I have more time then money in most cases. And also I have waited until the last moment to make something needed or wanted before a run or car event. A little history, Julie has done her best in the past with video of events and runs but sometimes the video is a bit shaky. After talking with Dan Ziol today and asking what he uses for a video mount in his car I made a trip to the local home improvement center. I bought a flexible 2" drain coupling, a 1/4" thumb screw and some nylon bushings. This design I came up with can mount not only on the full roll bar I have but also a single hoop as well. It can also be mounted vertically as well as horizontally as I have it. First picture is of the plumbing fitting I bought.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/frankeeski/IMG_20110323_174902.jpg
The following pictures are how I modified it.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/frankeeski/IMG_20110323_174937.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/frankeeski/IMG_20110323_174947.jpg
Next are the two pieces of .090 6061 aluminum I fabricated for the mount. Also the hardware I bought from the home center.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/frankeeski/IMG_20110323_181837.jpg
frankeeski
03-23-2011, 10:33 PM
The assembled aluminum parts ready for mount to the roll bar.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/frankeeski/IMG_20110323_183106.jpg
And the finished mount on the roll bar with the camera attached.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/frankeeski/IMG_20110323_184932.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/frankeeski/IMG_20110323_185013.jpg
Just passing on the info for those of you as cheap as I am. The mount is generic enough that it can be made to fit pretty much any camera with a threaded mount in the bottom. The entire assembly took me about an hour and a half from start to finish to make but I do have a brake and a shear, You could make one similar in a little bit more time with a hack saw, a bench vise and a mallet.
Sorry about the crappy photos, I used the phone because it's raining really hard here and I didn't want to take the good camera out to the garage in the weather.
Mike N
03-24-2011, 08:18 AM
What raining in California? NEVER!
Nice job Frank.. I should be out in LA for a bunch of testing again at the end of the year, looking forward to hooking up with you guys again then.
Indy14
03-24-2011, 08:50 AM
Thanks for the pics. I'll probably be making one.
Jeff Kleiner
03-24-2011, 09:11 AM
Nice and clean Frank! Have you used it yet? I'm wondering if you'll have some vibration/movement at speed. If so I'd think adding another piece to triangulate it from the base where the camera mounts up to the "T" under the clamps would probably stabilize it.
Show us some video after you try it out!
Jeff
frankeeski
03-24-2011, 12:27 PM
Have you used it yet? I'm wondering if you'll have some vibration/movement at speed.
Show us some video after you try it out!
Jeff
I was planning to use it this Saturday on the Pines to Palms run. However it has been canceled due to weather in the canyon the run goes through. Still may make a run this weekend to see how it works out and I'll report back
Wayne Presley
03-24-2011, 02:06 PM
I've been using a www.cheapcameramount.com mount and it works well.
Chepsk8
03-24-2011, 02:40 PM
I made a very simple one from muffler clamps and a scrap piece of aluminum extrusion for my Go-PRO...
works well, no shake, just alot of wind noise having the camera in the air above the car.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v431/Chepsk8/Cameramount.jpg
3kcarbon
03-24-2011, 04:02 PM
Go Pro makes a nice one that isn't much more than a homebuilt one. They also so have awesome wide angle Hi Def cameras....
3kcarbon
03-24-2011, 04:32 PM
Here ya go... $29.00
http://gopro.com/camera-mounts/roll-bar-mount/
Watch the videos while you are there...
frankeeski
03-24-2011, 05:23 PM
Nice, but I spent $6
csx2000
03-25-2011, 08:56 AM
You guys need to see the GoPro videos.
3kcarbon
03-25-2011, 07:22 PM
The Go Pro cameras with the HD and wide lens are awesome. I first saw them at SEMA last year.
Here ya go... $29.00
http://gopro.com/camera-mounts/roll-bar-mount/
Watch the videos while you are there...
From everything I have read, that GoPro rollbar mount is flimsy and not very good. Just for the record I haven't had much luck with the suction cup mount that is provided with the camera either. It fell off during one of my track sessions this past week. Luckily I had it tethered, so I still have the camera.
This rollbar mount from www.eyeofmine.com (http://www.eyeofmine.com) looks to be much better for just a little more money.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3DHQ8_QGG0&feature=player_embedded
Frank, nice job on the homemade mount!
Mustang Man
03-29-2011, 07:09 AM
Not sure what you are doing on mounting the suction cup GoPro mount, but I've used it for three years now on dozens of cars (well over 100mph) in testing and it's never come off, even in wet autocross runs (and I mean wet with a sprinkler at a test track). I've used it on steel, aluminum, and fiberglass body panels with the same success. Also used it on the interior via windshield and side glass with no issues. This includes high-G drag starts, high speed runs, and track use. Make sure the car is clean and the suction cup is clean. I also wet the cup a little for better suction (just like my GPS mount)...
I have the roll bar mount from GoPro as well (and their handlebar mount which works great for smaller tubing) but have yet to use either one since I got them middle of last year.
Mark
Not sure what you are doing on mounting the suction cup GoPro mount, but I've used it for three years now on dozens of cars (well over 100mph) in testing and it's never come off, even in wet autocross runs (and I mean wet with a sprinkler at a test track). I've used it on steel, aluminum, and fiberglass body panels with the same success. Also used it on the interior via windshield and side glass with no issues. This includes high-G drag starts, high speed runs, and track use. Make sure the car is clean and the suction cup is clean. I also wet the cup a little for better suction (just like my GPS mount)...
I have the roll bar mount from GoPro as well (and their handlebar mount which works great for smaller tubing) but have yet to use either one since I got them middle of last year.
Mark
Hi Mark, I know what you mean about the suction cup mount. I for one couldn't believe that it fell off either. On my second run, by the time I got to the paddock I noticed that it was about to fall off a second time. It's a pretty simple thing, but mine doesn't stick for longer than 20-30 minutes for some reason. I push the button down which compresses the suction cup and then pull the lever up. It seals tight, but just doesn't hold. I'm mounting it on the very smooth painted body surface between the seats and in front of the trunk lid. Guess I need to try to find some sort of contact for GoPro and see if they can exchange it. I just purchased it a couple of weeks ago off of Amazon.Com. Do you have any good contact info for them that might assist me?
Thanks, Joe
Mustang Man
03-29-2011, 08:16 PM
Go Pro is in California...
They're usually very good at answering tech emails. I'd just hit their website and fire them a note and see what they say...
Mark
3kcarbon
03-29-2011, 08:36 PM
I bought mine to fly on R/C airplanes before I started the Mk 4. I was impressed with the videos on display at the SEMA show where GoPro had a booth in 2009. I went by their booth again in Nov. 2010 at SEMA and they now have a 2 camera setup that does Hi DeFf 3D. I've never used the mount that came with mine so I can't say I 've had a problem with it. It sits in the box without any issues.