240dude

This in-car camera mount is realatively cheap to make and can be done in an hour or two. Just make sure you have the required tools and hardware. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to make the mount, as well as the required hardware and tools.

1. Camera pivot mount. These pivots are the top moving part you find on most tripod assemblies.
2. 4 bolts, washers, and nuts. Bolts must be 2-1/2" or 3" long
3. 3/8" ratchet and deep socket (or wrench) that will fit the bolts you bought.
4. Masking tape
5. Measuring tape
6. Bolt for camera pivot mount (must fit camera pivot mount and must be about 1-1/2" long)
7. Drill (drill bit not shown)
8. 36" x 1/2" square aluminum tubing, cut to 13" and 23"


Step 1
Go to your local hardware store (i.e. Home Depot) and buy a 36" x 1/2" square aluminum tubing, four bolts, washers, and nuts (as shown in picture above). You will then need to cut the tubing, so that you will have one piece that's 13" long and the other that's 23" long.

Step 2
Tape the area you will be drilling the holes for the four bolts using masking tape. The masking tape will prevent the drill bit from moving around or scratching up the aluminum bar. (NOTE: The holes are already drilled in the pic below because I made this mount before writing this article)

Step 3
You will now need to drill a hole on the far end of the long tube (as marked with yellow circle below), where you will mount the camera. You can pick any location you want, since this will let you place the camera however far you want on the horizontal axis.


Step 4
At this point, your mount is pretty much complete. Go to your car and pull out the headrest. When I originally made the mount, I did not put any rubber padding between the tubing that make contact with the headrest. You can tape (or glue) rubber padding for extra cushion and grip if you like. And here's a pic of the mount mated to the headrest.



Step 5
Next is to put the camera pivot mount. These pivots are the moving assemblies you see at the top of a tripod, the one on which you mount your (video)camera, as show in the pic below.



Step 6
That's it, we're all done. Tighten the bolts, mount the video camera, and reinstall the headrest back in the car. At this point, you want to get into the back seat and adjust the camera's view so you can get the desired shot. Then take it for a spin and try the camera out.