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I know that somewhere I have seen a trailer hitch mount for a mast but can't seem to find the manufacturer now. The same company also made a mount that was secured by the weight of a car tire driving onto it
I've searched on here and the Clark Masts come up...that's not the one I'm thinking of.
I wish I was as handy with fabrication as Hogster...but...well...I'm not even close
I welded and built one for my Wonderpole out of a bicycle rack. It folded down for bicycle access which was handy for loading the camera. I need to make one to fit my new mast now, just haven't gotten around to it. I have the "drive on" kind, but only tried it once. It has to be on totally level ground, which doesn't always work. The bicycle one I built was adjustable for level. I kind of "overbuilt" it though and it got pretty heavy, so the next one will be light and simple.
Tip, could you post a picture of that? It might trigger some ideas.
Sure, this is the wonderpole mount. It tilts for camera loading, which I don't really need on the aero-photo mast since it starts out shorter. I also made a small step on the side and welded a "C" clamp that grabs a 1/4" plate. Lots of adjustment for and aft, the "Hood Prop" goes on the low side for tilting and stabilizing. I just had fun playing with my plasma cutter and welder. My wife asked me if it could still hold bicycles. ;D ;D
Quote:
Tip...where did you buy your 'drive on' mount?
I actually got that from Wonderpole, but didn't like it. It was just too hard to level and didn't support the mast very well. Those linked ones look much better and adjustable.
Here's a link to pics of my hitch mast-mount. I had a friend that is an aluminum fabricator build it for me. It holds my Wonderpole mast quite well. I can transfer the unit to a metal garden cart to be even more mobile.
We've done some business cards and a simple website for a local welding and fabrication shop...I think I'll draw up some plans and see what they can do.
Tommy,
The cart looks great. I've learned that portable is good Nothing quite like getting the mast up to 50' and thinking...'gee, I wish I were 2 feet to the right'
I see the pin from front to back, but not side to side, thats why I was wondering if you just had a pin in the bottom of the mast is it stayed in place by gravity.
Troy
__________________ Even if the Voices aren’t real they still have some pretty good ideas.
Is the cross piece slightly bent to adjust for 'tilt'? That's pretty neat!
I can't decide if a tube to put the base of the mast down into is the way to go...or something more like cky's with really just a place for the mast to sit securely.
Hang on a sec! I can't see how both cross pieces can move. If the transverse piece can slide through, that means that the for and aft piece has to have a hole through it. If the for and aft piece can have the mast slide backwards and forwards, that hole needs to be a large slot covering all the for and aft travel of the transverse piece, which would greatly weaken it.
cky, may I ask how you are holding the mast in place further up? I'm using a bike rack with a home made tow hitch plate a the moment which is a real pain to set-up...
Is your mast pneumatic? It looks very tall in the down position to be sliding up manually.
Have you even gotten into the truck or the back of the truck with the mast extended? Looks like any movement of the truck would cause the rig to sway quite a bit...especially at 45'. Maybe a jack at the back would minimize the motion.
I have a couple questions on the Element attachment. What type of modification had to be done to the rear of the vehicle to support the extra weight?(how is it attached? removable?) Also, did the finished product have any stability or leveling arms? How was the the mast adjusted to vertical? Do you have any photos of the finished product?
Troy
__________________ Even if the Voices aren’t real they still have some pretty good ideas.
The mount assembly slides out and can be completely removed from the vehicle. The entire assembly mounts onto three (3) 2" receivers, which are fastened onto the vehicles frame rails and suspension hard points. This was probably the biggest challenge, given the Honda's uni-body construction.
There are also four (4) fully adjustable outriggers that slide/mount directly into the 4 receivers which are located around the platform base. There is also a X-Y slide yoke which is located at the top of the mast platform (not seen in the pictures) which allows the mast to pivot + or - 5 deg. in each direction. The mast platform is almost complete, ready for matching paint, diamond plate, and reflective vinyl. Once complete, the vehicle will used to promote Will-Burt mast systems in Southern, Central, and Northern CA.
Designing and fabracatiing complex systems is what I do. I am a protoype machinist by trade and certified welder, and machine shop owner. I also program 3, 4, and 5 axis CNC milling machines for a living as well. AP is a side business for me, which allows me to test both military and commercial camera gimbal systems that we build.
No, I have no intension of being a Dealer. I just have a good business connection on Will-Burt products and mast systems. My goal is to manufacture products for the AP industry, which will be competively priced, and utilize some of the same features found on both commercial military products.
Since manufacturing is what I do, I've learned to stay within my industry. AP was basically a hobby, turned business. Since I have pneumatic mast connections, this makes it a lot more affordable than going out and paying full pop. Pod casting is one of our latest ventures, because everyone wants aerial footage of football, baseball, and soccer games.
So, that why I use "Broadcast" type pneumatic mast assemblies. Because these things are like fricken telephone poles, and can be used in any type of wheather or location. Plus, you don't ever have to worry about some idiot tripping over your mast assembly, as your gimbal and camera system plummets to the earth. If somebody walks into one of the babies, they're walking away with a serious headache.
Mast Trailer Hitch Mount
Linear Mode
