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WhiteD3
3rd October 2007, 08:31 AM
Hiya,

I'm interested to know if anyone's worked out a method to mount a video camera to the dash of a D3 without drilling holes, etc.

I acquired a small tripod which sits on the flat surface (Where the ICE system sits in the HSE) above the radio controls but it needs to be anchored.

Brilliant idea No1 was to use some ocky straps from the neck of the tripod to (either side) the bottom of the plastic panels covering the transmission tunnel, forward of the seats. But however I try this method, there's too much rear tension meaning the tripod is prone to tipping backward onto the gear shift and I can't figure out a forward anchor point to counter this problem.

Cheers.

PS....delusory comments about D3 owners from D3 owner wannabes are expected and welcome:p.

PCH
3rd October 2007, 11:06 AM
Here is my solution but is not recommended in the interest of safe driving.

I (the driver) holds the steering in the LH and holds the video in the RH and presses the record button. Keep the LCD screen out of your exterior viewing angle.

Not to be used on hairy downhills requiring two hands on the steering wheel.

The other solution is to get the SWMBO to video for you but sometimes the quality isn't that good because she ain't holding the video very securely.

Sorry I haven't got another remote mounting method but it would be a good idea if someone came up with a solution.

Chris

WhiteD3
3rd October 2007, 11:38 AM
My current method is similar to your SWMBO one in that my 10 or 11 YOs do the filming. Unfortunately the result can be a bit sickening to watch!

Aedo
3rd October 2007, 12:22 PM
depending on how heavy your camera is have you tried to bluetack the tripod down?

or better idea - make a vertical extension rod to the top of the windscreen from either the top of the camera or the top of the tripod (whichever is most stable). This will give great security with no impact on the dash.

WhiteD3
3rd October 2007, 01:12 PM
depending on how heavy your camera is have you tried to bluetack the tripod down?

or better idea - make a vertical extension rod to the top of the windscreen from either the top of the camera or the top of the tripod (whichever is most stable). This will give great security with no impact on the dash.

You got me thinking but bluetack won't hack it. Camera weighs 825 gms. Here's what I'm trying to achieve. But maybe the tripod idea is no good.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/[/URL][/IMG]

drivesafe
3rd October 2007, 02:03 PM
I have a mount fitted to the RR and I’ve had a look at the D3 and you could probably do the same.

I just made a bracket that fitted under the Sennheiser mount.

Unscrewed the Sennheiser mount, placed the bracket between the roof lining and the Sennheiser mount and secured the the Sennheiser mount back into position.

There is a catch, you need a video editing program that can rotate the picture 180 degrees as the camera is mounted upside down.

The up side to this type of mount is that camera’s LCD screen is now on the driver’s side of the camera and as mine has a touch screen it makes operating the video camera a one man event.

Also because the camera is up high, you see more of the road just in front of the vehicle, you also don’t get anywhere near the amount of reflection off the dash that a low camera mount attracts, been there and done that.

Also the camera is much closer to the windscreen so it does not get much of a reflection off the glass and as most of the camera is actually up under the roof lining, very little of the camera is in direct sunlight.

Cheers.

Aedo
3rd October 2007, 02:30 PM
You got me thinking but bluetack won't hack it. Camera weighs 825 gms. Here's what I'm trying to achieve. But maybe the tripod idea is no good.

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/4020/pict0002resizedkg5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

You're right - that is a bit bigger than I first thought. Will be test driving one again tonight and will have another look!

WhiteD3
3rd October 2007, 02:45 PM
I just made a bracket that fitted under the Sennheiser mount.


Ignorance time :confused: What's a Sennheiser mount?

VladTepes
3rd October 2007, 03:05 PM
Maybe it's a German sun visor ?

drivesafe
3rd October 2007, 03:07 PM
Sorry White, I used spellcheck and didn’t take notice of the replacement word.

Sennheiser is the brand of microphones I use but the word or words that were supposed to be placed were ”sun visor”.

Cheers.

WhiteD3
3rd October 2007, 03:13 PM
Now I get it!

I assume you've used the sun visor clip mount toward the centre of the car, not the swivel mount adjacent the driver's door?

What would you say your camera weighs? Mine's only 5 yo but they've got a lot smaller and lighter in the last few years.

drivesafe
3rd October 2007, 03:52 PM
I have used a Sony thats a tad bigger than yours but the Sony I use now is quite small.

I’ll get some pics and post them when I get some time.

Cheers

PCH
3rd October 2007, 04:01 PM
Sorry White, I used spellcheck and didn’t take notice of the replacement word.

Sennheiser is the brand of microphones I use but the word or words that were supposed to be placed were ”sun visor”.

Cheers.

I thought LR ripped me off and didn't supply this on my D3 but it looks like I got the sun visors.

Chris

Aedo
4th October 2007, 11:56 AM
OK - looked at the dash layout last night. A simple strut from the top of the tripod to the rearview mirror mount where it meets the windscreen (should be only 250-300mm long) should be sufficient - located as in my (horrible) sketch below. The top end of the strut just needs to be rubber coated to prevent scratching anything and you will probably need it to be adjustable to be able to install and remove it.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/10/467.jpg

wovenrovings
4th October 2007, 01:12 PM
How about duct tape? With enough you could attach it anywhere.

Mick-Kelly
4th October 2007, 06:43 PM
one ive used a bit is a simple wedge. A flat piece of material with a suitably located hole to allow attachment to the base via the tripod mount with a small (1/2 inch) piece of wood at the front end put on top of the instrument binnacle and wedged up against the windscreen. Works well LCD can be flipped out for driver to view and it is simple one button recording. It is also relatively easy to fabricate a mount that attaches to a drivers headrest posts and sits up just behind and beside the drivers left shoulder.

WhiteD3
7th October 2007, 05:01 AM
Thanks for the ideas guys. I'll see what I can come up with.

Cheers.

Ricey
7th October 2007, 11:36 AM
I used a bracket that belongs to Gorby last weekend. He got it off ebay & it is a bar which clamps onto the steel rods holding the passengers head rest. on the end is the usual thread which holds most cameras. Positioning is variable for tilt & angle but not height. The camera sits in between both front seats at head height. There was a little reflection from the dash at times, but on a whole the setup provided very stable recorings. I was just looking on ebay before reading this but couldn't find anything. If I bought one I'd use my cameras remote & turn on the beeps for when recording & pausing. Hope this helps.

WhiteD3
7th October 2007, 11:45 AM
I used a bracket that belongs to Gorby last weekend. He got it off ebay & it is a bar which clamps onto the steel rods holding the passengers head rest.

Interesting idea but the head rests on the D3 are fixed.

Cheers.

Ricey
7th October 2007, 11:59 AM
Interesting idea but the head rests on the D3 are fixed.

Cheers.

Oh well, back to the drawing board!

garryc
7th October 2007, 01:48 PM
You got me thinking but bluetack won't hack it. Camera weighs 825 gms. Here's what I'm trying to achieve. But maybe the tripod idea is no good.

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/4020/pict0002resizedkg5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

On the Simpson trip I had a full size tripod that I occy strapped to the passengers side seat and floor, worked well(no passenger that time). However looking at your idea with the small tripod, all you need to do is take the dimpled rubber mat below the tripod away and you can fix it with screws, brackets etc. Just put the mat back at other times and you won't see the holes ;) I have a 7 inch screen for rev. camera and voltmeter in that space with the mt removed.:D ps. Set your camera to manual focus over hilly terrain as I discovered after my trip that each time you went over a dune and looked at the sky the camera would take a second to focus when the ground came into view!!

WhiteD3
7th October 2007, 04:43 PM
..all you need to do is take the dimpled rubber mat below the tripod away and you can fix it with screws, brackets etc.

GarryC, yeah I can do that :). Any clues on where to start to remove the centre dash covers so I can mount the screws?


Cheers.

djhampson
8th October 2007, 06:04 AM
To remove the centre console you need to remove the rubber mats and then pull with some force on either side of the console down low. Either side of the cup holders is where I did it from.

The whole thing goes up round the A\C vents and down around the climate controls. This will give you good access to drill into the dash. Just be careful because there is a female mate to each clip that can fall out of the holes which will mean spend 15 minutes trying to get 2 of the little suckers out from deep inside the dash.

We did this to Dad's D3 to mount his PDA using RAM mounts from Johnny Appleseed.

WhiteD3
8th October 2007, 11:31 AM
To remove the centre console you need to remove the rubber mats and then pull with some force on either side of the console down low. Either side of the cup holders is where I did it from.

The whole thing goes up round the A\C vents and down around the climate controls. This will give you good access to drill into the dash. Just be careful because there is a female mate to each clip that can fall out of the holes which will mean spend 15 minutes trying to get 2 of the little suckers out from deep inside the dash.

We did this to Dad's D3 to mount his PDA using RAM mounts from Johnny Appleseed.

Thanks dj but you've got me confused :confused: with this line "The whole thing goes up round the A\C vents and down around the climate controls."

Remove the rubber mat forward of the gear lever and under the 12v outlets?
Am I pulling the centre console (the vertical console holding the radio and climate controls) out and therefore towards me or the centre console (the horizontal console with the gear lever) up?

Cheers.

djhampson
8th October 2007, 11:58 AM
Yep your pulling the vertical facing out. The AC vents are part of this facing. The Radio \ Climate Controls and Door Lock buttons will all remain behind.

WhiteD3
8th October 2007, 02:20 PM
Yep your pulling the vertical facing out. The AC vents are part of this facing. The Radio \ Climate Controls and Door Lock buttons will all remain behind.

So, what, the thing just clips in? No screws? I was envisaging some ultra tough design (all sarcasm aside):D

djhampson
8th October 2007, 02:29 PM
So, what, the thing just clips in? No screws? I was envisaging some ultra tough design (all sarcasm aside):D

Yep no screws.... You need to buy a F2 to get a dash that's screwed in :wasntme:

WhiteD3
8th October 2007, 06:57 PM
I'll have a go on Saturday as the Mrs will be out scrap booking and she'd have kittens :eek: if she saw me pulling it to bits!:)

dullbird
9th October 2007, 03:27 PM
sorry to butt in guys as i dont have a d3
but i just wanted to say before tearing up your dash have a look at ram mounts in the states they do mounts for everything and adapters you may find something on there that suits your needs...............


failing that keep your tripod for outside filming setting up camera on a rock while you drive down or something and buy a purpose made camera mount

i just brought one from the uk haven't tried it yet but god its beefy really big sucker mount probably about 8"/9" in dia and you pump it up to create suction my'n is for use outside of the car but you can use it inside if you wish, just suck it to the windscreen

hope this helps oh my camera mount cost be about $230 all up i think that was with postage too

WhiteD3
9th October 2007, 03:39 PM
Thanks Dullbird, I'll check it out.

Franz
9th October 2007, 05:01 PM
Hiya,

I'm interested to know if anyone's worked out a method to mount a video camera to the dash of a D3 without drilling holes, etc.

I acquired a small tripod which sits on the flat surface (Where the ICE system sits in the HSE) above the radio controls but it needs to be anchored.

Brilliant idea No1 was to use some ocky straps from the neck of the tripod to (either side) the bottom of the plastic panels covering the transmission tunnel, forward of the seats. But however I try this method, there's too much rear tension meaning the tripod is prone to tipping backward onto the gear shift and I can't figure out a forward anchor point to counter this problem.

Cheers.

PS....delusory comments about D3 owners from D3 owner wannabes are expected and welcome:p.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/10/383.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/7245)

I bought a mount off e bay which fixes to the seat bolt on a Discovery 2a - should be able to work on a D3 as well.

WhiteD3
9th October 2007, 05:37 PM
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/10/383.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/7245)

I bought a mount off e bay which fixes to the seat bolt on a Discovery 2a - should be able to work on a D3 as well.

Now that's clever! I assume there some sort of restraint at the top where the camera is to stop the thing wobbling around?

What's it called and where'd you get it?

Franz
9th October 2007, 06:49 PM
Now that's clever! I assume there some sort of restraint at the top where the camera is to stop the thing wobbling around?

What's it called and where'd you get it?
The top butts up against the dash (with a bit of padding to stop wear on the dash) and this eliminates all but the worst vibrations (you'll have less vibration in the D3 though).

Also had to make a stronger mount for the floor (unit comes with three different variants but these are not strong enough and I welded up my own with additional bracing)

I got it from a mate who bought a few off E bay - I'll try to find some more details and let you know.

Overall, very happy with the unit though.

Franz
9th October 2007, 07:02 PM
Now that's clever! I assume there some sort of restraint at the top where the camera is to stop the thing wobbling around?

What's it called and where'd you get it?
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/10/382.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/7246)

One other feature I forgot to mention is that in "periscope up" mode it does not disturb or impede on the passenger and when folded down, it's also pretty much out of the way.

dullbird
14th October 2007, 08:36 PM
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/10/279.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/7301)


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/10/280.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/7299)


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/10/281.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/7300)



used it for the first time today off road and it took some punishment!!!!
my god when this thing sticks on, it STICKS ON!!!

Franz
16th October 2007, 04:21 PM
Now that's clever! I assume there some sort of restraint at the top where the camera is to stop the thing wobbling around?

What's it called and where'd you get it?
OK, found the listing on e bay - 170156442102

Hope this helps.

Franz
16th October 2007, 04:24 PM
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/10/279.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/7301)


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/10/280.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/7299)


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/10/281.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/7300)



used it for the first time today off road and it took some punishment!!!!
my god when this thing sticks on, it STICKS ON!!!
Hey Dullbird,

That's a pretty flash mount. Guess it could be used on the inside of the windscreen to prevent camera damage from mud etc? Where did you get it and ghow much did it cost?

Franz
16th October 2007, 05:11 PM
Hey Dullbird,

That's a pretty flash mount. Guess it could be used on the inside of the windscreen to prevent camera damage from mud etc? Where did you get it and ghow much did it cost?
OK, just found it.

http://www.b-hague.co.uk/camera_suction_pads_vacuum_mounts.htm

Cheers,

djhampson
16th October 2007, 06:14 PM
I wonder if they'd do a bulk order if we get a few people together?

WhiteD3
16th October 2007, 07:36 PM
OK, found the listing on e bay - 170156442102

Hope this helps.

Thanks Franz, here it is:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170156442102&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com.au%3A80%2Fsearch%2 Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm37%26satitle %3D170156442102%26category0%3D%26fvi%3D1