Vehicle Camera Mount...External Mount

[Skip Talbot]

Many of you have dash cam mounts, but I was wondering if anyone had an external camera mounting option? It would be a good way to reduce some of the obstruction issues you have within the vehicle, and if you could point the camera, you could have a 360 degree view to record while enroute.

 

[John Diel]

Many of the better Security Cameras have PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) options and are software controlled. You have to watch for the quality of the camera though. The cheap little chinese e-bay jobs will not do at all.

The other negative, is, they are not cheap. Sony has some of the better one's.

As far as mounting a standard Handi Cam, I suppose it can be done, but weather proofing it will be the biggest prblem.

I know there's at least one person on the board that has done this with a used security camera set up and streams video from the field.

 

[fplowman]

I thought it was funny that the stickypod guy was trying to sell me on mounting my unprotected 3,500$ camera on his mount outside of the vehicle for chasing.. Screwy and out of touch. lol

 

[Skip Talbot]

A security camera seems like a good idea. I still think an enclosure might be necessary for it though under some of the more extreme conditions. I was thinking a Plexiglas dome, which should provide ample strength for hail. I was also thinking a little weather sealing under a well secured Plexiglas dome might allow a regular camcorder to be used. However, then controlling it and cabling is an issue as you'd have to run a lot of wiring into the vehicle...

 

[Dan Robinson]

The main problem with external mounts is that there is no way to clean the front when it gets raindrops, dirt, mud or grimy vehicle spray from wet roads on it.

 

[Skip Talbot]

How about a nice coat of Rain-X for the rain? I guess you are out of luck if you are behind a truck on a dirt road, but I think that for the majority of the chase you'll still have visibility through the glass, and you can always wipe it down during pit stops.

 

[fplowman]

How about a nice coat of Rain-X for the rain? I guess you are out of luck if you are behind a truck on a dirt road, but I think that for the majority of the chase you'll still have visibility through the glass, and you can always wipe it down during pit stops.

I seen a Mercedes once with lil windshield wipers on the headlights. Im sure there are some smart people here that could make something like that work.

And you'd have the only one there is around. ( Johnny Cash "One piece at a time ) lol

 

[David Drummond]

http://www.tecnovideocctv.com/camera_housings_washer_wiper.htm
.
.
Took me 3 seconds in google to find it.

 

[fplowman]

http://www.tecnovideocctv.com/camera_housings_washer_wiper.htm
.
.
Took me 3 seconds in google to find it.

eh thats perty trick.... I guess Im not the only brilliant one out there.. lol

 

[David Drummond]

eh thats perty trick.... I guess Im not the only brilliant one out there.. lol

I like that it's stainless steel. Would stand up to the hail pretty well.

 

[John Diel]

There are PTZ Camera enclosures built for high impact areas. They are a thicker plexiglass dome structure and are built to be placed in areas where inmates, explosives, etc. need to be monitored without replacing a camera system every couple of weeks.

Look to any of the "good" security and surveillance companies for advice as to what would work best. An e-mail or two to these guys will net you quite a bit of good information.

 

[Dan Robinson]

How about four cheaper cameras mounted inside, pointing in four directions? Or one swivel-mounted cam on the front dash? Those would be cheaper than a single weatherproofed, remote-controlled outdoor camera.

I'm using a cheap $50 camera as my dash cam, but I eventually would like to replace it as the low light capabilites on it are non-existant. I don't want any night-vision or infrared, just something with a good lux rating and RCA outputs under $100.

 

[Skip Talbot]

A dash cam is definitely the cheaper and hassle free route, however, one of the big reasons why I'm interested in an external mount is to keep tabs on the storm while I'm driving via monitor/laptop screen. It'll be nice being able to record the chase, but more valuable if I can actually see what is happening on my sides or if there is a debris cloud on my six.

 

[Kurt Hulst]

Skip,

Dave Fick
http://home.mindspring.com/~inflow/index.html

Did something back in 05 similar to what you are wanting to do. His website does not have a picture of his set up but should at least have some contact information. He put a mount on his roof that swiveled 360 degrees. The following year he was not using it, I don't remember the reason. But thought maybe he might be able to give ya some more ideas possibly.