2011Vehicles and Mounts forum
Rigging a Mitchell High Hat as a vehicle mount on a Chevrolet Suburban for camera work on sand dunes
15 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- A Mitchell High Hat mounted to the back of a vehicle requires secure bolts and a sturdy board to handle significant torque forces.
- When using a High Hat on a moving vehicle, the operator should straddle the High Hat while sitting on weighted shot bags placed on the inner side of the mounting board for stability and control.
- For rough terrain like sand dunes where the vehicle may bounce or come close to the ground, keep the High Hat rig shorter rather than fully extended to reduce risk of collision with the terrain.
- Tie open or remove vehicle doors near the mounted rig to prevent them from swinging closed during operation.
- Using speed rail and knuckles, a frame can be built inside the vehicle that extends outward for the hard mount, with weight distributed to the deepest interior section for counterbalance.
- Wear a helmet when operating a vehicle-mounted camera rig in case of falls.
- Always verify rental company insurance certificates by contacting the provider directly, as fraudulent documentation has been encountered.
Depends on
- This advice applies specifically to shooting on sand dunes with a Suburban where only specialized vehicles are permitted.
- The recommendation to use a vest-mounted system was rejected due to safety concerns from bouncing and terrain contact.
- The scenario involved a skeleton crew without a dedicated grip department, which constrained available equipment and personnel.
- No speed rail was initially available and would need to be ordered separately.
Parts
Same gear or parts
- 2026Hard-mounting the rig to a vehicle: the two riggings, the honest speeds, and when not to do it at allOperator practice
- 2026Rigging a Steadicam® Zephyr with Sony FX6 to an off-road vehicle (UTV) for live transmission: Hard Mount preparation and alternativesFacebookSteadicam operators group
- 2026Preventing socket block fracture on GPI-PRO arms during hardmount on rough terrain: rod end durability and assembly technique.DisputedFacebookThe Steadicam Group
- 2025Power supply for Steadicam® Axis on hard mount: cable routing and battery options for extended interview operation without camera batteryDisputedFacebookSteadicam operators group