Another GoPro-to-Car Stabilizer Mount

It's only been a few days since I published GoPro-to-Car Stabilizer Mount, but as it always happens, I find myself seeking easier and more elegant ways to accomplish things I've just completed.

The other day, I came across a device called "Handle on Demand" or "HOD" consisting of a handle with a suction cup attached to each end. It's designed to lift heavy smooth objects like sheet glass and laminated furniture.

I ordered one for $10 and a gazillion dollars shipping. Had I taken the time, I'm confident I could have found one locally and been able to save our grandson's college fund.

The resulting stabilizer made from it is far simpler than the single mount, more powerful and robust. It even comes with two plastic caps to protect the delicate parts of the suction cups. However, these tremendous advantages are offset by its portability.

My single suction mount fits neatly inside the plastic box that holds my stabilizer. And that fits into the child size back pack that holds all my other stuff:

A remote tilt/pan mount and its remote, a chest mount, my velcro mount https://www.instructables.com/id/Velcro-GoPro-Stra... with plenty of straps, various size selfie sticks, an expandable extension for the stabilizer, a tripod, extra batteries for everything that needs them, plus all the chargers needed to keep everything functioning. The camera's waterproof case is in there as well, along with all of the standard backs plus two for the extended battery. There's a pocket filled with all the bits needed to make creative mounts and tools and parts for repair. Of course, the camera's in there as well, along with the large protective aluminum case it lives in. Plus there's an additional pocket for another camera, which maybe, if I'm good, I'll be able to get as soon as I replace the grandson's college fund.

This mount almost hides the back pack behind it, with all this stuff in it.

The HOD is longer than my bag is tall (14" latched) and the cups make it nearly 5" wide. This is huge compared to GoPro's $40 mount. It will definitely need its own porter and is not an everyday carry item.

Still, the size of the cups, their redundancy and the beefy construction instills a level of confidence any single cup mount wouldn't be able to come close to.

If the company that makes these experiences an increased number of sales, this may be the reason why.

The only other items you'll need are a GoPro handlebar mount, a 1/4-20 to GoPro adapter, a short 1/4-20 bolt and possibly, a modified GoPro tightening thumbscrew... Or, make this one yourself.

All the instructions on how to make and put these things together are in the other car stabilizer mount Instrustable, and it would only be redundant to redo them here, so here's the link again:

GoPro-to-Car Stabilizer Mount

Once the parts are ready, putting them together is fairly simple. Begin by drilling a 1/4" hole through the HOD's handle... Top, dead, center. The "O" in HOD is nearly center, making the task a bit easier.

Next, choose a short 1/4-20 bolt that'll stick beyond the plastic about 1/4" after it's installed. The bolt's head size will have a lot to do with the length of bolt you use. Try to use a bolt with a relatively large head. The larger the diameter it is, the less tendency it'll have to twist when tightening the adapter onto it. It will also need to be a bit longer. I believe the bolt I used was about 1/2" long, give or take.

The handle is hollow, so it's not difficult to push the bolt through the hole from the inside. There's no tolerance between the hole and threads however, so a little pressure will be needed to get it through. Don't make the hole larger. The snug fit will prevent the bolt from falling out when you let go of it, and if its like the one I made, once its been tightened up, it's pretty much locked in place.

Next, thread the 1/4-20 to GoPro adapter to the bolt and tighten it so it fits square, either to the length or crosswise, depending on how you want the suction cups to line up on your car. Side by side, or one in front of the other. The way I've set it in the photos, the suction cups will be sitting side by side with the camera facing forward.

With the handlebar mount and 1/4-20 to GoPro adapter facing each other the way I've shown, we need to get them to mate. Each of these parts have three legs intended to fit the two attached to the GoPro camera.

You can either cut one leg off one of the pieces, or modify a thumbscrew to fit through six legs as I've done here. Instructions on how to modify the screw to fit is also explained in the first Intractable.

One note here: It makes no difference which way the stabilizer faces with this mount, My stabilizer is shown mounted with the upper part of the "S" curve the joined pieces create facing rearward. Mounting it the opposite way makes my setup unbalanced. Yours might be different, so use what works best for you.

Once the handlebar mount is attached and secure, the project is finished. All that needs to be done is to mount your camera to the gimbal and the gimbal to the handlebar mount. The suction cups require a smooth surface to work, but having two makes traveling fast across a rocky landscape not so stressful.

I hope one of the mounts I've published this week will work for you.