2012Vehicles and Mounts forum
Full body harnesses for vehicle-mounted camera rigging
14 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Full body harnesses with shoulder D-rings provide better safety than half harnesses or vest-only setups when rigging on vehicle mounts.
- The Petzl Navaho and Sala full body harnesses are both considered effective options for insert car work.
- Daisy chains with loops not individually rated for fall protection can fail under impact loading, potentially leaving enough slack to allow dragging.
- Shortened daisy chain configurations present a greater risk than full-length setups because internal loops may break while still providing enough leash length for dangerous dragging.
- Individual loop daisy chains with each segment rated for full strength are safer alternatives to traditional daisy chains for anchoring both sides of a harness.
- Leash length must be kept short enough that a person cannot be dragged if fallen or thrown from the vehicle.
- The impact forces from vehicle collisions or emergency braking can differ significantly from free-fall forces and require careful consideration when selecting anchor points.
- Climbing slings from major manufacturers tested under laboratory conditions withstand significant drop loads, but real-world impact loading from vehicle incidents may produce different stress patterns.
Depends on
- The Petzl Navaho availability and specifications may have changed since 2012.
- Laboratory testing of daisy chains under controlled drop conditions does not replicate actual vehicle collision dynamics.
- Most discussion participants had not tested daisy chains to breaking point under vehicle-specific impact conditions.
- Comfort comparison between harness models is subjective and varies by individual body type and rigging position.
- Some participants expressed uncertainty about whether their chosen equipment had been adequately stress-tested for their specific use cases.