GoPro mount outside the truck

[jondle]

I was reviewing old threads and trying to decide on which camera mount to use externally. A lot of people seem to have luck with the GoPro branded suction cup, but I'm not convinced. I was actually looking at the Fat Geko mount, which amazon has for $50. I saw @BOJANGLES mention it in the GoPro Mount Best Locaiton thread, but he doesn't really include reviews or experience. I'm leaning towards that because it holds 6+ pounds, so I could use my SLR at times as well, although I probably wouldn't ever trust that while the vehicle is moving. I also like that it has a little bit of extension to it so I could mount it on the side pointed at the wheel and have it stick out a little bit.

Later in that same thread, @CineSLR mentions a $100 suction cup by Matthews. Does anyone have any experience with both? Is the $170 setup for the clamp mount plus suction cup really worth it when the Fat Geko is only $50?

Also, does either option provide better image stabilization than the other?

 

[CineSLR]

The clamp is always going to be the best mount but you have to have metal to mount it to. If suction cup is what you really are after they have this now... Its still not cheap but better and will be overkill for a go pro. If you want truly still you need to triangulate the vibration. The environments we are putting these mounts in are about as tough as they come...

Cup
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/337476-REG/Matthews_427006_Suction_Pump_Cup_with.html

Real deal triangulation mount for an slr...
This is the type of setup they use on Drive etc...
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/751519-REG/Matthews_415168_PRO_Mount_Car_Mounting.html

 

[jondle]

I think think the $500 triangulation setup might be a little more than I want.

Have you used the Fat Geko? Do you think the Mathewes cup is really better than the Fat Geko?

 

[Steve-O]

The gopro suction cup is just fine. Make sure you have a clean surface. Ive seen them hold up at 155 mph on a corvettes windshield and I always mount mine on the side of my truck. Holds up to a lot of abuse. I still tie a tether just to be safe but never had to actually use it.

 

[onesickpuppy]

GoPro suction cup works for me.... hero 2 & 3

 

[t_j]

Gopro suction cup came of at Time Attack on the trails landed in my lap via the sun roof.

 

[onesickpuppy]

Inside of wind shield it lasted a whole prerun at Freedom 250 lap at Barstow.....

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

i borrowed a gopro and a suction cup mount so i could run multiple cameras on a run. the suction cup mount failed a few hours in. guess who had to buy a new gopro for the guy i borrowed it from....... the rubber tore over some of the hard bumps. we were going 60 or so and it fell off. i was riding passenger and i saw it start to wiggle so i rolled down the window and tried to grab it, but i was about 2 seconds too late.

 

[Baddoug]

I have just about every GoPro mount they offer. I use them for everything. From my motorcycle and 4wheeler to 150+ mph on my Steeda Mustang. I haven't had any fail yet but I ALWAYS run a tether! I built my own tethers from small stainless cable and eyelets. I also put some heat shrink plastic on the cable to prevent scratching any painted areas on my rides. I'm sure that even the best mounts will fail at some point (GoPro is ALL plastic) from either extreme use or overuse. So just build some good tethers and secure them in a manor that when the mount fails you just replace the mount and not a $400 camera plus all your footage too.

 

[COBRA90GT]

^ Tether all the time.