6 Best Versatile Mounts for Photography Equipment in RVs Capture Any Angle
Discover the 6 best versatile mounts for RV photography. Secure your gear in tight spaces to capture stable, creative shots from any angle on the road.
You’ve framed the perfect sunset shot through your RV’s dinette window, but your tripod takes up the entire walkway. Or maybe you want a stable time-lapse of the clouds from your dashboard, but there’s nowhere to safely place your camera. Living and creating in a small, mobile space demands a different way of thinking about camera support.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!
Why RV Photography Needs Versatile Mounts
Trying to use a traditional tripod inside an RV is an exercise in frustration. They are bulky, have a huge footprint, and inevitably get kicked or knocked over in tight quarters. Floor space is the most valuable real estate you have; you can’t afford to dedicate six square feet to a tripod just for one shot.
The real challenge is leveraging the vertical and unconventional spaces an RV offers. We’re talking about cabinet edges, window frames, overhead bunks, and metal surfaces. Versatile mounts allow you to secure your gear in these out-of-the-way spots. This not only saves floor space but also unlocks creative angles that are impossible to get otherwise, turning your entire rig into a functional studio.
These tools are about more than just convenience. They are about stability and security for your expensive equipment. A camera precariously balanced on a stack of books is asking for disaster. The right mount provides a rock-solid base, whether you’re shooting a long exposure of the stars through the skylight or filming a cooking video on your tiny countertop.
Manfrotto Super Clamp: The Ultimate RV Grip
Securely mount equipment with the Manfrotto 035RL Super Clamp. This clamp features a standard stud and wedge insert for versatile and reliable attachment.
If you can only own one piece of grip gear for your RV, make it a Super Clamp. This thing is the gold standard for a reason. It’s a small, incredibly strong clamp that can bite down on almost any surface up to two inches thick. Think dinette table edges, overhead cabinet supports, or even the ladder to your bunk.
Its genius lies in its simple, rugged design. You tighten a single handle, and its jaws lock onto a surface with immense force. It has a standard 5/8" socket and a 1/4"-20 female thread, meaning it can connect to almost any light stand, tripod head, or magic arm you throw at it. This is the foundational piece of a modular mounting system.
I’ve used a Super Clamp to hold a full-frame DSLR and lens off a cabinet door for a top-down shot of my stovetop. I’ve also used one to mount a small light to a shelf for better video call lighting. Its versatility is unmatched, and its all-metal construction means you can trust it with your most valuable gear.
Joby GorillaPod 5K: Wrap, Grip, and Shoot
Secure your professional camera to any surface with the JOBY GorillaPod 5K Kit. Its flexible, wrappable legs and Arca-Swiss compatible quick release plate ensure stable, instant setup for payloads up to 11 lbs.
The GorillaPod is often mistaken for just a flimsy mini-tripod, but the pro-level 5K model is a different beast entirely. Its primary strength in an RV isn’t its ability to stand on a table. It’s the ability to wrap its flexible, grippy legs around things.
Think about the awkward shapes in your rig. You can wrap it around the steering wheel (while parked!) for a perfect dashboard shot. It can grip the grab handle by your entry door for a wide shot of the interior or wrap securely around a roof rack support for an elevated exterior perspective. It’s fast, intuitive, and requires no tools.
The tradeoff for this flexibility is a slightly lower weight capacity compared to a clamp, and it can be prone to tiny vibrations if not wrapped tightly. However, for run-and-gun shooting or capturing spontaneous moments, nothing is faster. It packs down small and can live in a drawer, ready to be deployed in seconds.
Delkin Fat Gecko Mount for Smooth Surfaces
Securely mount your camera to any smooth surface with the Fat Gecko Triple Suction Mount. It features three powerful suction cups and offers 360° adjustability for the perfect angle, supporting up to 12 lbs.
Your RV is covered in smooth, non-porous surfaces, and the Delkin Fat Gecko is designed to stick to them like glue. This isn’t your average GPS suction cup mount; it’s an industrial-strength tool designed to hold heavy DSLRs securely. Its primary targets are your windows, but it also works on smooth fiberglass exteriors, glossy cabinet faces, or even a clean countertop.
The key to its strength is the locking suction cup. You place it, push a button, and flip a lever to create a powerful vacuum seal. This makes it ideal for mounting a camera to your passenger-side window for a travel time-lapse or to the large rear window for capturing the view from your campsite. Always ensure the surface is perfectly clean and flat for a reliable hold.
While incredibly strong, a suction mount is still a temporary solution that relies on a perfect seal. I wouldn’t leave a camera mounted to the exterior while driving down a bumpy road, but for stationary shots, it’s an amazing tool. It opens up angles that are otherwise completely inaccessible without drilling holes in your rig.
SmallRig Magic Arm for Precise Positioning
Securely mount accessories with the SmallRig Clamp and Articulating Arm. The clamp attaches to surfaces (15-54mm) via 1/4" and 3/8" threads, while the arm offers 360° rotation and rubber cushions to protect equipment.
A magic arm isn’t a mount itself, but it’s the critical link that gives your mounts superpowers. It’s an articulated arm with elbow and ball joints at each end that allows you to position your camera with incredible precision. You attach one end to a Super Clamp or other mount and the other end to your camera.
The best part is the single-point locking system. You position your camera exactly where you want it, then tighten one central knob, and the entire arm—both ball joints and the central elbow—locks rigidly into place. This is a game-changer. No more fumbling with three different knobs to get the right angle.
Imagine you’ve clamped your camera to an overhead cabinet. Without a magic arm, your camera is stuck in a fixed position. With a magic arm, you can extend the camera out, down, and angle it perfectly for a shot of you working at the dinette. It turns a simple, static mounting point into a fully adjustable camera positioner.
RAM Tough-Track System: A Permanent Solution
Securely mount your Humminbird Helix 7 to any track system with this durable, marine-grade aluminum RAM Mount. Featuring a 1.5" ball and socket arm for infinite adjustability, it ensures optimal viewing angles for your fishfinder.
For those who want a dedicated, integrated mounting solution, the RAM Tough-Track is the answer. This is a more permanent installation, but it provides unparalleled security and flexibility. You install a low-profile composite or aluminum track directly onto a wall, your dashboard, or even the ceiling.
Once the track is installed, you can slide various RAM ball mounts into it and position them anywhere along its length. This creates an incredibly robust and modular system. You could have one track on your dash for a GPS, a phone, and a camera, and another near your galley for mounting a tablet for recipes or a light for task work.
This approach requires a commitment—you have to be comfortable drilling a few small holes in your rig’s interior panels. But the payoff is a clean, professional system that is stronger and more reliable than any temporary solution. It’s the perfect choice for full-time RVers or anyone who uses their camera gear daily and wants a "set and forget" mounting point.
9.Solutions Magnetic Clamp for Metal Surfaces
Don’t underestimate the power of magnets. The 9.Solutions Magnetic Clamp is a specialized tool that can be surprisingly useful in an RV. It features an incredibly powerful rare-earth magnet that can attach to any flat steel surface, providing an instant and non-damaging mounting point.
Where do you find metal in an RV? The most obvious spot is the refrigerator door. But you might also have steel supports in your slide-out, a metal range hood, or steel components in your chassis or storage bays. This clamp allows you to mount a small camera or a microphone in seconds without any tools.
This is a niche tool, but for the right situation, it’s brilliant. Its holding power is directly related to the thickness of the metal it’s attached to. It’s perfect for lightweight gear like a GoPro, a point-and-shoot, or an audio recorder. Just be mindful of placing powerful magnets near sensitive electronics or magnetic storage media.
Choosing the Right Mount for Your RV Space
There’s no single "best" mount; the right choice depends entirely on your rig and your shooting style. The best approach is to build a small, versatile kit that covers multiple scenarios. Think of it as a toolbox, not a single magic bullet.
Start by assessing your needs and your space:
- For ultimate, non-destructive flexibility: Start with a Manfrotto Super Clamp and a SmallRig Magic Arm. This combination can tackle 80% of interior mounting challenges.
- For quick setups and awkward shapes: Add a Joby GorillaPod 5K. It’s perfect for wrapping around railings, mirrors, or even tree branches at your campsite.
- If you shoot a lot of travel footage: The Delkin Fat Gecko is essential for stable window and dashboard shots.
- For a dedicated, rock-solid setup: Consider installing a RAM Tough-Track in a key location like your dashboard or workstation.
Most experienced RV creators don’t rely on just one of these. They might use a Super Clamp to hold a key light, a Fat Gecko on the window for a time-lapse, and a GorillaPod on the counter for a quick behind-the-scenes shot, all at the same time. The goal is to have a few key pieces that work together, allowing you to adapt to any location and bring your creative vision to life, no matter how small your space is.
Ultimately, mastering photography in an RV is about seeing opportunity where others see limitations. These versatile mounts are the tools that bridge that gap, transforming your rig from a simple vehicle into a dynamic, mobile creative studio. Experiment with them, combine them, and watch as a whole new world of angles and possibilities opens up, right from the comfort of your home on wheels.
