Mounting your GPS in the car

Discussion about software such as GSAK, OziExplorer etc, as well as all things hardware, GPSrs, laptops, PDAs, paperless caching, cables etc
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Webguy
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Mounting your GPS in the car

Post by Webguy » 15 June 04 12:54 pm

Ok, I probably do what most people do, and that is just sit the gps on the centre console. But, I'm looking for a better solution.

The genuine Garmin Etrex solution(s) is/are just a crazy price!

Has anyone tried any mobile phone holders to hold the gps? I really don't want to start sticking stuff to the dash etc, and I have a nice spot between the middle vents, but, just gotta figure out how to mount it there.

Any ideas? Any DIY projects that you have whiped up and work a treat?

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ideology
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Post by ideology » 15 June 04 1:57 pm

a trick we learned from leek:
wedge it at about 45 degrees between the dashboard and the windscreen

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Post by teamkittens » 15 June 04 2:04 pm

Yup I do that too.

Doesn't work to well with eTrex's if you have a data/power cable plugged in at the time though.

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Post by Webguy » 15 June 04 2:21 pm

I was thinking that, as we have the cable plugged in all the time when in the car. May have to do a visit to Strathfield Car Radio with GPS in hand to look for one of those $5.00 car kits that may just fit the bill.

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Post by Dooghan » 15 June 04 8:15 pm

My Etrex sits in a mobile phone holder which has a suction cup on it. The suction cup is on the top of the holder so I can stick it to the windscreen. Makes it easy to remove and I've never had it fall off the windsreen yet. I think it cost $5 from the $2 shop. Maybe you should look for something like that.

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Webguy
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Post by Webguy » 15 June 04 8:34 pm

Thats exactly what I was meaning, going to be looking for a compatible one in the next day or so.

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Post by Devar » 15 June 04 9:13 pm

Make something out of wire that you can hook into the vent, perhaps.
There are so many ways to mount a GPS in a car, engage the imagination and come up with something. ;)

I did, until I splurged and bought a proper car mount for my GPSMAP76. Hehehe. :roll:

Image
The dash setup with obligatory window crack! :oops:

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Post by Biggles Bear » 16 June 04 8:47 am

ideology wrote:a trick we learned from leek:
wedge it at about 45 degrees between the dashboard and the windscreen
A little blu-tac helps to stop it bouncing out on rough roads :)

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Post by HMAS MB » 16 June 04 11:23 am

Go to spotlight or equivialent and get the Sticky Tape Velcro. Put it on the top and bottom or your "R" and Bob's ya Uncle (well he is mine but that is another story). Another solution is double sided tape but you need to replace that. I have a MLR and a Sportrak ap velcroed to my wind screen. :D

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Post by Webguy » 17 June 04 2:36 pm

Problem solved by a quick trip to strathfield car radios at lunch time, generic phone holder, adjusts to width, tilting bracket, stick on foot $1.50

Holds the extrex very firm, can tilt it to a nice angle, cable does not cause a problem, though the whole unit is a bit plasticy, but, what do you expect for $1.50?? If the adjustable ratchet dies, I'll superglue the ratchet into place, and just push the gps into the mount instead of closing it onto it.

I grabbed a couple just incase i break one. I may even grab a couple more and put em in caches.

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Post by Dingbats » 17 June 04 3:57 pm

We've been using a $10 mobile phone holder that attaches to the air vents by way of a clipping mechanism. No suction caps, no drilling holes, no sticky tape, no damage.<p>

It worked well until the 12V power cable from the cigarette lighter got caught around a bag being removed from the car and the clip snapped.

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Post by Webguy » 20 June 04 10:01 pm

Here it is, in use, had it in the car for two days now, and it's working a treat, though, in this shot, you really can't see it.

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Securing GPS

Post by tech34 » 28 June 04 12:40 pm

Try Blue-Tac. I use a small piece on the top and bottom of the GPS and wedge it between the dash and windscreen. Works a treat even with the power/data cable attached. I also have some industrial velcro attached to the rear of the GPS and I stick it to the motorbike with a matching piece on the fairing.

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Post by Aushiker » 21 October 04 11:09 pm

Having read the suggestions here (thanks for the ideas) I picked up a mobile phone holder today from K-Mart for $7.99. One that can be clipped on to the air vent or alternatively uses double sided tape on a mounting pad. Seems to work okay so far holding my Geko 301 clipped to the air vent. It is a "Type S Adjustable Mobile Phone Holder" if anyone is interested.

Andrew

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Post by Gunn Parker » 22 October 04 12:34 am

Maybe one day I will let you into the secret, Team Gunn Parker etrex mount.
:P

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