GPS Car Mount for E-Trex

Stargiver · Post by **Stargiver** » 08 April 03 10:47 am

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<td vAlign="top" noWrap align="left" width="20%"><a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/ugunnparker.sh ... e=EN">gunn
parker</a> 
Moderator 
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GPS mounting in car
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Hi All 
I have an etrex and I drive a xd Falcon so far I have been lodging the GPS
between the dash and the windscreen, has anyone got any better ideas or
use something particular for this. 
Thanks Andrew
Rivers know this: there is
no hurry. We shall get there some day: Winnie the Pooh
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<td vAlign="top" noWrap align="left" width="20%"><a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/bcachingaustra ... 
Admin 
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Re: GPS mounting in car
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LOL - I've been going through
this since getting an eTrex for my birthday last month. The eTrex is
particularly light so I would simply stick some velcro on the back of the
eTrex and the other half on the dash and I'm sure it would stay put. But,
the eTrex doesn't make it easy to put someting on the back because of the
round indentation. Anyone had any luck with this approach? 
 
I've tried wedging it between the dash and the windscreen as well, but it
seems I need to have the right combination of humidity/temperature and
good old fashion luck for it to stay there! I think it helps to have a
full moon as well, but the data isn't in on that yet 
 
So until the right solution comes along the GeoNavigator will have to hold
it! 
 

&
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<td vAlign="top" noWrap align="left" width="20%"><a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/bcachingaustra ... 
Moderator 
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Re: GPS mounting in car
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I have a garmin GPS12 that i
have stuck two strips of self adhesive velcro to the back of. I used the
pile on the gpsr and the hooks as long strip stuck to the dash at the
console so it hangs over free. I then got a piece of aluminum plate cut to
fit in the airvents and bent the front edge up in a lip and glued some
more hook velcro to there. 
 
I attach the gps to the floating strip and the attach the aluminium plate
to the gps and then slide the plate into the airvent. This uses the weight
of the gps to hold itself in position and I can still read it while
driving. this set up sits the gps at about 45 degrees and still allows
reception of the sateittes through the windscreen. 
 
Will post pics of my set up later. 
 
It also allows me to plug the gps power lead into the car as well.
&
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<td vAlign="top" noWrap align="left" width="20%"><a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/umindsocket.sh ... e=EN">Mind
Socket</a> 
Registered User 
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I've tried velcro
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I've used 2 thin strips of
velcro. It sticks and does it's primary job, but has it's issues: 
1) The adhesive backing melts in the sun and the strips have moved
slightly on the dash 
2) The adhesive backing is not quite strong enough on the back of the
eTrex relative to the velcro itself, so sometimes I end up separating the
strip from the GPSr instead of separating the velcro strips. I end up
mounting the GPS across the velcro strips so the velcro contact isn't as
strong. 
3) The angle is inconvenient on my dash (too flat) 
 
I'm planning on trying an angled platform or suction cup to windscreen
based solution sometime. 
 
- Rog
&
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<td vAlign="top" noWrap align="left" width="20%"><a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/ugunnparker.sh ... e=EN">gunn
parker</a> 
Moderator 
 
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Re: I've tried velcro
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I have looked for a suction
cup to windscreen based solution here in W.A. but have had no luck so far

Rivers know this: there is
no hurry. We shall get there some day: Winnie the Pooh
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<td vAlign="top" noWrap align="left" width="20%"><a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/bcachingaustra ... r">Biggles
Bear</a> 
GeoCacher 
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Re: I've tried velcro
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We started with three lumps of
Blutac, one on each of the bottoms corners of our Garmin GPS 12 and a
larger lump on the top, this then held the unit nicely between the
windscreen and the dash. We have subsequently discovered that one larger
lump on the top of the unit does just as well.
&
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<td vAlign="top" noWrap align="left" width="20%"><a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/bcachingaustra ... 
Registered User 
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Re: GPS mounting in car
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I bought a mobile phone holder
for my car from one of those little kiosk phone stands at Chadestone
shopping centre. 
The unit only cost me $12.00 and you can mount it in the car in a variety
of ways which includes double sided tape which is how I mounted mine. The
unit has adjustable sides with a ratchet lock and a soft rubber lining and
will hold just about any mobile phone. It also makes a great holder for my
Magellan 315. 
Hope this helps 
 
Regards Jeff
&
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<td vAlign="top" noWrap align="left" width="20%"><a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/bcachingaustra ... 
Admin 
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Re: GPS mounting in car
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This was sent to me by an
eTrex owner in SA, he said I could post it here for comments. 
 
In his words - 
 
&I've just mounted a rectangle of velcro with double sided sticky
onto the dash to mount this doova. The first part is a bicycle reflector
mount with the reflector bit removed and replaced with velcro. Then a
short piece of 15mm pvc joins the etrex bike mount to the reflector mount.
The etrex bike mount comes with the new back for the actual gps unit (I
leave it on all the time) Clip it on and go caching....&

Not the cheapest method by far, embi tells me the bike mounts are about
$45, and a few dollars for the reflector and other bits, so it'd cost
about $50 I guess. Looks bulky but personally I love it, with the velcro
and the reflector mounting it looks like you could turn it any which way -
well done David and thanks for sharing it with us. 
 

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<td vAlign="top" noWrap align="left" width="20%"><a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/bcachingaustra ... 
Administrator 
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Re: GPS mounting in car
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Guess who is taking his mount
off his bike soon

&Before beginning a
hunt, it is wise to ask someone what you are looking for before you begin
looking for it.& Pooh
Edited by: <a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/bcachingaustra ... i">embi</a>
at: 10/11/02 11:22:17 pm 
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<td vAlign="top" noWrap align="left" width="20%"><a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/ugunnparker.sh ... e=EN">gunn
parker</a>& 
Moderator 
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re: gps mounting
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well that must be the best
idea yet shame about the cost, bit could be the best way to go. 
Thanks Andrew

&
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<td vAlign="top" noWrap align="left" width="20%"><a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/umindsocket.sh ... e=EN">Mind
Socket</a> 
Registered User 
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Thanks for the ideas!
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I think I'll stick with the
velcro for the long haul stuff (ie no need to concentrate on display), and
I'll try the blu tac idea for wedging vertically between dash and
windscreen. 
 
- Rog
&
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<td vAlign="top" noWrap align="left" width="20%"><a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/bcachingaustra ... 
Registered User 
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Re: Thanks for the ideas!
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I found a few ideas at GpsOz,
they may inspire someone 

<a href="http://www.gpsoz.com.au/Installations.h ... 

&
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<td vAlign="top" noWrap align="left" width="20%"><a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/ubronze247au.s ... 
Moderator 
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<td class="m" vAlign="top" align="left">Re:
GPS mounting in car
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I use a special mobile phone
holder to mount the GPS onto the dast in either car, My Geocaching BajaBug
Volkswagen or the Wifes Ford TX5 and these work extremely well. 
 
They are a Big W, Dash mobile phone holder which has a two side clamps and
a button which allows the holder to open wide. Pch the button, insert the
GPS / Moblie phone and push the sliding side to hold the item in place.
Push the buttin to release. 
 
Three supa adhesive pieces of tape hold the backing plate to the dash and
the clamping but can slide out of this so the GPS/Phone can remain in the
clamp for whatever reason. If adhesive tape is not your thing then you can
unscrew the catch from the backing plate and screw it into your dash. 
 
$10 from BigW in the Automative section. I put the purchase off for weeks
but now throughly satisfied with the results. Accident free caching. 
 
The Bronze.
&
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<td vAlign="top" noWrap align="left" width="20%"><a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/bcachingaustra ... 
Registered User 
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Mount
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Couldn't have done it better
myself. 
Good job! 
Dave
&
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<td vAlign="top" noWrap align="left" width="20%"><a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/bcachingaustra ... >GeoMonkey
Prime</a> 
Moderator 
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<td class="m" vAlign="top" align="left"> Re: Mount
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I still think the new
(patented) monkey-grip works better, and is far cheaper. ( to be found in
a cache near you really soon!) 
 
12-monkeys... its deadly serious!
&
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<td vAlign="top" noWrap align="left" width="20%"><a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/bcachingaustra ... 
Registered User 
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<td class="m" vAlign="top" align="left">
GPS car mount for eTrex
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If you are willing to spend
$66 you can get a good vehicle mount which sticks to your dashboard. I've
had no problems with the stick melting or coming off and I've had mine
attached for over 6 months now. The product code is MKT9 from Johnny
Appleseed GPS (where I got mine). I'm very happy with their service and
advice. 
 
The mount is ratcheted and swivelable, so optimum placement easy. The only
problem I did have was the curved dashboard...overcome by using some of
the temporary goo to make a flat surface for the permanent fitting.
Worthwhile using the temporary stick for a bit till you're happy with the
placement. 
 
Blocko
&
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<td vAlign="top" noWrap align="left" width="20%"><a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/bcachingaustra ... 
Registered User 
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Re: GPS car mount for eTrex
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We started with a cheap Mobile
phone holder, but that was a little too flimsey. Then, in an inspired
moment, we found some little suction cups with hooks. If you remove the
hook you have a simple suction cup with a nice hole for a screw. I used a
block of wood with some metal bits sticking out to hold the GPS. So the
block of wood sticks with four suction cups t the windscreen and the GPS
hangs on the front of the angled wood block. I hold it there with some
rubber bands hooked over some screws sticking out of the wood. 
 
This solution lets you place it anywhere on the windscreen, and if you get
the angle of the block of wood right, it is at a perfect angle for reading
while driving. 
 
I tried to draw a character picture, but it gets messed up with the
formating of the post. 
 
 
 
Jedi4 
 
 

&
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<td vAlign="top" noWrap align="left" width="20%"><a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/bcachingaustra ... rker">gunn
parker</a>& 
Moderator 
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Re: GPS car mount for eTrex
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I have now bought a phone
mount from Coles it is called &hold the phone& and came from the
electrical section near the batteries. 
The distributor is 
Everglow Group (Aust) Pty 
phone (61-3) 96991991 
I have included some pics I have taken 
Andrew 
Almost forgot it's only $6.95

Rivers know this: there is
no hurry. We shall get there some day: Winnie the Pooh
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<td vAlign="top" noWrap align="left" width="20%"><a href="http://pub66.ezboard.com/bcachingaustra ... >GeoMonkey
Prime</a> 
Moderator 
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Re: GPS car mount for eTrex
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Ok I have been working on this
for a while. here is a link to our prototype Dash-Buddy, or Monkey Grip,
For want of a better name. ( and we always have to associate anything we
do with monkeys some how) 
 
it really just a simple bean bag, or sand bag, with a piece of Velcro
attached and a rubber mat attached to the base. 
 
After several rigorous in-the-field tests I can say it has outstanding
performance, even in offroad conditions. providing excellent gps holding,
and ease of positioning, providing the best viewing angle in any vehicle. 
 
With any luck, they will be available this year in a cache near you. 
 

<a href="http://geomonkeys.com/Grant/dashbuddy/" target="top">click here for photos</a>
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