Front trail camera relocated to skid on ARB Bondi bumper

[BDinTX]

After putting the ARB Bondi bumper on with the low bar and lights the front trail cam was pretty useless. I finally got around to making a mounting block for the camera and moving it down to the skid under the bumper. My goal was to be able to see what’s over a ledge without having to get out of the Jeep or just “feeling my way” over a drop off.

Here’s what I came up with:

No, I didn’t move the spray nozzle. Yes I did a crappy job putting touch up paint on the raw metal.

You can see the chock blocks the tires are up against so I think this will work

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[jhackathorne]

Links aren't working FYI.

 

[BDinTX]

Thanks for the heads up @jhackathorne.

I figure I would add - I bought some 1” black nylon plugs. I figure I’ll just keep the camera covered unless I’m actually on the road. I don’t know that it will catch more road debris down there, but I don’t know that it won’t.

The first cap popped out on the road though. I think the metal is a tad too thick so I ordered a half round file to thin it and hopefully the plug will stay put. I may also have to lose the chamfer on the plastic block. In either case it looks like I’ll need to pull it off to modify.

 

[545moose]

Well that answers my ARB Bondi bumper question lol, can't see sheeittee huh?

 

[BDinTX]

hah no not really. although to be honest... I'm not sure the stock location is the best placement for the camera to begin with. The AEV relocation kit puts the camera in a good spot but you have to have their bumper.

 

[GATORB8]

Thanks for the heads up @jhackathorne.

I figure I would add - I bought some 1” black nylon plugs. I figure I’ll just keep the camera covered unless I’m actually on the road. I don’t know that it will catch more road debris down there, but I don’t know that it won’t.

The first cap popped out on the road though. I think the metal is a tad too thick so I ordered a half round file to thin it and hopefully the plug will stay put. I may also have to lose the chamfer on the plastic block. In either case it looks like I’ll need to pull it off to modify.

What about using a rubber grommet that "seals" around the camera trim. That way you don't have to pop it on and off, but will still help keep dirt and water out.

Looks like it may reduce the peripheral of the image, though.

 

[BDinTX]

What about using a rubber grommet that "seals" around the camera trim. That way you don't have to pop it on and off, but will still help keep dirt and water out.

Looks like it may reduce the peripheral of the image, though.

Nice thinking! With a little effort I could push the camera a little further forward. That would also cover up my rough edges.

 

[Terrymo]

@BDinTX I recently installed an ARB Bondi Stubby front bumper and would like to move the front trail cam like you did. Since you have had this set up for a while, are you still happy with the camera location? Anything you would do differently? Thanks

 

[BDinTX]

@BDinTX I recently installed an ARB Bondi Stubby front bumper and would like to move the front trail cam like you did. Since you have had this set up for a while, are you still happy with the camera location? Anything you would do differently? Thanks

I love the position. It conveniently puts the tires right at the lower corners of the screen. Helps when dropping off ledges or trying to put your tire on a specific rock.

It doesn’t help much with parking though.

If I were doing it again I’d probably push the lens a little further forwards so it’s not recessed. Drill that hole another 1/8” larger so I could brush paint on the raw metal to prevent rust better, then cover and trim it out with a rubber grommet.

 

[Terrymo]

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Old Jeeper]

Brad, LOL like the names of your Jeeps.

Ole Dallas boy here. Grad SMU in 73...

Few things not many folks know about Dallas:

NE corner of LBJ and Inwood road when I was in college my buddies and I would drive up there park our cars on Inwood and go HUNTING for Dove, Quall and Squirrel.

LBJ going N had 3 main roads, Preston, Marsh and Inwood, the rest of them turned to DIRT just No of LBJ.

Sunday night around 2 am, we meet on LBJ just down the Marsh Lane on ramp , heading W and drag race our Corvettes (I was in the Dallas Corvette Club). The Dallas Police would show up and run their radar on us. Then tell us how fast we were going, we make a U turn and go back and race someone else. Usually about 10 of us out there.

SW corner of Central Expway and Northwest Hwy there was a Cotton farm they grew cotton. This was the family farm of the Byrd family, Admiral Byrd the Artic Explorer back in '46. The North end of the farm was sold to North Park shopping mall.

I retired to Colleyville in '94 and never looked back at Dallas again...

 

[BDinTX]

@Old Jeeper lol they might have been inspired a bit by the movie Idiocracy.

I’m a North Texas transplant myself, moved here in 2003. What you’re describing would have been a sight for sure!

I gotta tell you though, I’m ready to move on down the road. It’s getting too crowded here. Wife’s family is up on Oklahoma and I’m thinking that’s more my speed.

 

[Old Jeeper]

@Old Jeeper lol they might have been inspired a bit by the movie Idiocracy.

I’m a North Texas transplant myself, moved here in 2003. What you’re describing would have been a sight for sure!

I gotta tell you though, I’m ready to move on down the road. It’s getting too crowded here. Wife’s family is up on Oklahoma and I’m thinking that’s more my speed.

Yea it why I headed over to Colleyville W of DFW. Nice little town, one of the best school Districs in the US. in my neighborhood QB LA Rams lived across the street from me. Terry Bradshaw only lived a few blocks away. I saw Terry while and where had moved and said he bought a ranch in Oklahoma. OK is a good place t live, very conservative...GO FOR it on head S down around San Antonio into the Tx Hill coutry, where my ranch is. Go rural if you want good living in Tx. I think DFW Greater Metro (Greenville W > Weatherford, N to Denton and S to Hillsboro) 7 Million...yikes!

 

[Terrymo]

Using the info from @BDinTX I moved my front trail cam to my skid since the view was mostly blocked by the bumper hoop. This also let me install the Bolt hood lock. I used parts from the American Adventure Labs camera housing and some 2 inch wide aluminum flat stock to piece together a protective housing. Not as good of a solution as his delrin housing but it works. One photo is from the rear of the skid looking toward the bumper to show the camera housing.

 

[2mnycars]

Great posts....thanks!

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