Aug 27, 2021
Many of us are excited about capturing our Bronco adventures to share with family and friends or the rest of the internet. At launch, Ford showed off a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) rail that would mount on the dash of your Bronco and allow you to mount cameras and other gear. For months that was all we heard of the rail and details were few. Then, this spring, Ford confirmed that they would not be making the BYOD rail and the 4-Wheel Parts would be producing it. However, the rail still isn't available to the public and *some* Broncos have been delivered to customers.
So how do you get video captured from your dash without the BYOD rail? Well...you kinda fake it until they make it. Let me explain the solution that we're taking to Bronco Super Celebration West this year.
First, there's a lot going on with this solution. There are around 15 separate parts but that makes it quite modular and it gives you options for finding the right set up for you. Let's break it down.
Getting Everything Mounted
The most essential element for mounting anything on the dash is the 1/4in threaded female mounting point right below the rear view mirror of your Bronco. However, most mounting hardware also has a threaded female end so we've found a male-to-male 1/4in threaded post to be helpful. Links for this, and everything in this setup are below.
Once you have that mounted in the Bronco, you have a couple directions that you can go. If all you want to do is mount a phone for some trail capture, then you can pick up a simple phone mount and screw it on. Some kind of compression washer between the male post and the mounting so that you have a tight fit at multiple angles. I didn't have any on me when I tried this set up but I did have a couple rubber bands from my son's braces, adapt and overcome.
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Now, if you want to mount some other devices, like an external microphone or light, you'll need some extra hardware. We have an extension arm with a cold shoe mount, this gives us some options. The thumb screws of the extension arm also have a female 1/4in threaded hole in them so that it can screw right onto the post. We mounted the microphone on one side and the phone mount on the other. Using the mini mic requires some extra little gear though.
Audio Chain and Charging
I use an iPhone so this part is going to be a bit iPhone-centric but the principles are similar for Android devices even though the ports are different. First, I'd recommend picking up a 90 degree splitter, this will give you a port for the mic and a port for charging. On most of these adaptors, the ports are not interchangeable so make sure that you are plugging in the right side. To get to the mic, you'll need to go from your phone's port connection to a 3.5mm headphone jack. Apple makes the adaptor and included it with a few iPhone iterations so you might already have one of these laying about. To complicate things, not all 3.5mm headphone cables are the same. You'll need a TRRS (Tip, Ring, Ring, Sleeve) end to go into your Apple adaptor and then the TRS (Tip, Ring, Sleeve) end will plug into your mic.
And there you have it, a functional BYOD knockoff. This is a space where creativity and ingenuity really pays off, let us see your solutions below!
Audio Chain Links
So how do you get video captured from your dash without the BYOD rail? Well...you kinda fake it until they make it. Let me explain the solution that we're taking to Bronco Super Celebration West this year.
First, there's a lot going on with this solution. There are around 15 separate parts but that makes it quite modular and it gives you options for finding the right set up for you. Let's break it down.
Getting Everything Mounted
The most essential element for mounting anything on the dash is the 1/4in threaded female mounting point right below the rear view mirror of your Bronco. However, most mounting hardware also has a threaded female end so we've found a male-to-male 1/4in threaded post to be helpful. Links for this, and everything in this setup are below.
Once you have that mounted in the Bronco, you have a couple directions that you can go. If all you want to do is mount a phone for some trail capture, then you can pick up a simple phone mount and screw it on. Some kind of compression washer between the male post and the mounting so that you have a tight fit at multiple angles. I didn't have any on me when I tried this set up but I did have a couple rubber bands from my son's braces, adapt and overcome.
. Now, if you want to mount some other devices, like an external microphone or light, you'll need some extra hardware. We have an extension arm with a cold shoe mount, this gives us some options. The thumb screws of the extension arm also have a female 1/4in threaded hole in them so that it can screw right onto the post. We mounted the microphone on one side and the phone mount on the other. Using the mini mic requires some extra little gear though.
Audio Chain and Charging
I use an iPhone so this part is going to be a bit iPhone-centric but the principles are similar for Android devices even though the ports are different. First, I'd recommend picking up a 90 degree splitter, this will give you a port for the mic and a port for charging. On most of these adaptors, the ports are not interchangeable so make sure that you are plugging in the right side. To get to the mic, you'll need to go from your phone's port connection to a 3.5mm headphone jack. Apple makes the adaptor and included it with a few iPhone iterations so you might already have one of these laying about. To complicate things, not all 3.5mm headphone cables are the same. You'll need a TRRS (Tip, Ring, Ring, Sleeve) end to go into your Apple adaptor and then the TRS (Tip, Ring, Sleeve) end will plug into your mic.
And there you have it, a functional BYOD knockoff. This is a space where creativity and ingenuity really pays off, let us see your solutions below!
Audio Chain Links
- Lighting Headphone/Charging Splitter
- Apple 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adaptor
- IENZA TRS to TRRS Cable
- Movo VXR10 Mic
Bronco Nation Member #144
David in the Bronco Nation Forums
BroncoTroubadour on Instagram
David in the Bronco Nation Forums
BroncoTroubadour on Instagram
LoneRanger, Ditchrunner
