Do It Yourself (DIY) Affordable Flexible Stable Accessory Rail

[BlakeD69]

I didn’t want to spend up to $300 on some of the commercial accessory rails I have seen advertised and I wanted more space and flexibility than some of the $40 rails. So, I engineered a $20 rail that is extremely flexible, sturdy and more affordable. Please feel free to use this as a starting point for your own ideas. I have used it on highway and dirt trails and it has provided a stable base with my devices thus far.

Finished DIY Rail (USB hub behind the rail)

Rail Parts Used (Total $20 plus spare hardware I had)
18 inch 1010 Series 1x1 T-Slotted Bar Rail ($12)
You can also choose longer or shorter versions based on your needs.
URL: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IXNXO54

1/4-20 x 0.5 Inch Button Head Socket Screws and T-Nuts ($8)
Used two screws and four nuts to attach Corner Brace and Feet to rail. Also used several other T-Nuts to attach the accessories to the rail.
URL https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSRB7DRV

USB Expansion Hub
My Bronco Badlands Model Lux provided 2 dash top USB ports: 1 USB-C & 1 USB-A.
I used the following to extend the USB-C port to 4 USB-A ports.
USB-C 4 Port ($7) (You could use other ports to expand how you need)
URL: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BBL9DVCY

Spare hardware Used: Two Rubber Furniture Feet, One L Corner Brace, and Four 3/8” washers
Amazon examples shown here but similar items at Ace, TrueValue, Home Depot, or Lowes available if you don’t’ have this spare hardware on hand

Rubber Furniture Feet
Used two rubber furniture feet levelers and modified by cutting the length of screw short to fit in rail and screw into 2 T-nuts from above). These are used on bottom of rail to add stability at ends of rail.
URL: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095PDSNPM

1” Corner Brace
Used one corner brace with two Button Head Socket Screws from above and four 3/8” washers to attach to front of rail and to Bronco Dash Screw hole
URL: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FK9Q64

Shown attached to the rail

Here are a few accessories I have attached to the rail with good results

Tripod Photography ¼ to ¼ Inch Screw Adapter
Attached via T-nuts from above to the rail:
URL: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SH3XQLW

Quick Release GoPro Mount
Attached to rail with Tripod Screw
URL: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WMG4FVW

SmallRig Ballheads
Attached to rail with Tripod Screw
URL: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075M336JZ

Phone Holder Goose Neck
Attached to rail with its included Tripod Screw
URL: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MWHT935

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