2004Vehicles and Mounts forum
Safety and operational limits of rickshaw-mounted camera rigs for vehicle-based filming
22 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.
What the thread found
- Rickshaw mounts are designed for slow-speed work on smooth, flat terrain and become unsafe at high speeds or over obstacles like speed bumps.
- The structure of a rickshaw mount creates large lever forces because the weight is mounted far from the attachment point, making it vulnerable to twisting and lateral forces in curves.
- Speeds above 35 mph on a rickshaw mount subject the operator to significant physical forces, especially when accelerating or crossing obstacles, potentially causing injury.
- A flexible mount may actually be safer than a rigid one when experiencing extreme forces, as it can absorb shock rather than transmitting it directly to the operator.
- Even at low speeds, speed bumps create jarring forces on a mounted camera rig and should be avoided or traversed at a complete stop.
- Motorcycle-based camera rigs with mounted operators present extreme safety hazards and should not be used for high-speed chase work.
Depends on
- The rickshaw mount discussed has a specific design with side-mount attachment for 2-inch square hitches; other designs may differ.
- Experience reported is primarily from filming applications between 2002 and 2004.
- No formal engineering analysis of structural forces was conducted; assessments are based on operator experience and observations.
- Speed recommendations vary by operator and specific mount design.
- Disagreement exists over whether 35 mph constitutes high speed for this equipment.