Well just being an entry level performance driver (who happens to be strapped for cash planning for college) I thought it would be fun for MOTD to get a bar for the in car video.. Well After researching I got some ideas and thought even I could do that.. I would love to help out the companies by giving them $190+ for a bar but me being industrious I made mine for less than $10

So I went to "The Depot" and couldn't resist but to park here...



After that I picked up:
(QTY. 2) - 1-1/2" U bolts = $1.38
(QTY. 1) - 2-1/2" Eye Bolt = $0.99
(QTY. 1) - 3/4 x 3/4 x 36" Aluminimum square tubing = $7.28

After I got home I drilled the holes where needed and added some padding for the head rest to resist vibrations. Also I put some rubber tubing around the U bult to help with both a snug fit and reduce vibrations...


For the mount for the camera involved angles so I had to think of something.. Sense the seats backs sit back at an angle that would put the camera at an angle, so I took the quick release from my old tripod and sanded the side to get the right angle to allow the camera to point to look more toward the dash instead of the top of the windshield..

I wanna say it was a 1 to 3 degree angle. Small but just enought for me to have to do something to fix it...



then started assembling the bar..







I will get more pics of the bar in the car tomorrow when its daytime, But here is a video of the first test run...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Jd-iIlPB4HM

Let me know if you have any ideas / alterations to the design.. I am sure there will be a v2..

 

Nicely done! The video sells it. Good job!

 

As promised here is some pics of the bar mounted in the car...

 

Very inventive! I've been wanting to make something like this for some time now but just haven't had the time to do. But now I plan to make the time to make something similar to this. I also like the video on YouTube.

 

I would recommend it. Start it on a Saturday and if you have a drill to drill the holes you should have it done in 3hrs MAX

5 holes ad some small measuring.. I am thinking about re making another one and make it look a little more pro.. Maybe have this bar painted or power coated or something... Thanks for the nice words, and if you have any questions let me know

I can give my measurements and templates if you want

 

Looks great!Can you take a pic with the camera installed on the bar?

 

Well Ill have to find another camera. I take it you want one looking in from outside or looking through the door at the camera?

Ill have to work on that, Ill get some pics up of that ASAP for you. The best thing that I figured out last night, in order to mount my buddies cam corder, all I had to do was get a different threaded "I" bolt that matched the threading of his cam..

So, so far its flexible to mount any camera all you have to do is buy a new bolt..


Now I am just trying to figure out how to make it better... v2...

 

Most cameras if not all use a 1/4 20 thread for their tripod mount thread. There are a few that use a different metric thread. There are adapters available. Check with the local camera store.

Nice job on your mount.

 

Thats what I thought, but it just seemed a little tough and I didn't want to risk anything with his $600 camcorder so I went and re-test fitted.

Maybe it had to do with the plastic threads and the temp, oh well..

Anyways thanks!

I was thinking of getting better at them then selling them for a budget racer/driver like myself.. but I dont know if it would really be worth it for the amount of people who dont have one... Hmm...

 

Almost identical to the one I built for my S, my first design I had the u-bolts around both headrest bars on each side, but very quickly I learned the error of my ways, you could not tilt or even adjust one of the seats without affecting the other.........

My next version I shortend the bar a bit and only attached it to the inside bar on each headrest. Better, but still not what I wanted.........

My final design just has the bar attached to both bars of the passenger headrest. I was concerned that it would vibrate and make noise, and sure enough it did, but adding a little rubber and retightening the u-bolts took car of that. I bought a camera mount to use with mine and made a tether for the camera just in case.......

 

Very nice!! Do you remember where you got the camera mount from?

 

Here's my current version, you can buy those black plastic caps for the end of your tubing at Home Depot too......

 

Where did you get your camera mount?

 

THATS SO FUNNY< MINE IS ALMOST IDENTICAL!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Local camera store, about $50.

 

www.adorama.com

Look under tripods, then go to heads. More mounts than you can shake a stick at. I would plan to spend at least $30 to make sure you get one that supports enough weight. I can personally recommend Giottos heads. After having used one of there "pro" tripod and a pan/tilt head by them they are turning out to be an awesome value for the money.

 

Here's my solution:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=125139
A bit more redneck than the ones above but I'm cheap.

 

Very nice! i've been meaning to do something similar for a while to get ready for the dragon (but now I'm just trying to get it back on wheels :()

Last year before motd I made a camera mount from the old cup holder to hold the camera on the down tube where I could safely see the screen and record/stop/pause. I use vacucams and in previous years the camera was just flopping around in the passenger seat and I couldn't stop it when I got behind a slower car :(