For a flexible dolly track solution, I looked at various options to get the cheapest heavy duty rubber hose I could. The lowest I could work with, seemed to be 2.5 cm or 1-inch O.D. rubber hose. That corresponds to 3/4″ or 20 mm ID black heater hose. I called around for prices and got a really good deal from AutoZone Dulwich Hill (Newtown). I got 60 m total for about 70/- for a reel of 15m. A total of 280/- bucks. All prices in AUD. From experience, irrespective of the exchange rate, Americans get half the price we get. So just divide the price by half, for the price in USD. For Euros, you usually pay the same amount we pay, but in Euros – since Europe is so expensive to live in.

For most people there will be no need for so much hose. However, I need to film 2 dancers waltzing around a fountain for my directorial venture, Fountains. That needed a really long dolly track.

I needed a solution to join 2x 15m hoses to 1 single 30m hose. This was accomplished with garden hose joiners from bunnings for 4 bucks each. There will be a bump when the camera passes over this joint, however that should be easily fixed in post.

I sealed one end with a rubber furniture end cap ( a cheaper solution than the proper end -cap hydraulic seals). I use reducing hydraulic connector to go down to 1/8-inch and then attached a auto tire nipple for inflating the hose. This is the same as a universal bicycle nipple.

I tested the assembly after inflating by immersion in a bucket full of water. When I could not see any bubbles, I left the inflated hose overnight to check if it still was inflated the next morning.

I bought a garden hose storage reel on wheels from Bunnings and took out the wheels.

Finally, I used heavy duty metal twist ties from Aldi to hold down the hose.

Now I have 2 parallel 30m flexible dolly tracks.

Look at my second post about the camera track that goes on this dolly.

2 Responses to “DIY – Rubber hose for a Flexible Track Dolly”

1. Julio Alvarez says:

   May 14, 2010 at 11:41 am

   Cool idea. I am researching building my own track and dolly now. How has it worked for you so far?
2. admin says:

   May 19, 2010 at 4:40 pm

   Hi Julio. It does work pretty well. I would suggest using a smaller diameter rubber hose i.e. 3/4-inch OD rubber hose to seal the 3/4-inch ID hose at the join fitting to keep the surface smooth.