Cat Man HHR

Here's my take on a GPS mount. The cost $3 (w/tax).
I have a Garmin Nuvi.
I don't like the mount to be on the windshield and wanted in the middle of the dash.
From home depot bought a 1/2" dowel rod and a metal cover plate for an electrical outlet box.
Wood dowel $1.75
Cover $.50
Cut the rod 8 1/2" long and attached the cover plate to it with a 1" sheet rock screw, the plate does not touch the plastic of the dash.


Wanted the dowel that long so it hit the back of the AC duct to help support it when I placed it in through the honey comb mess


Suction cup mount holds real well to the metal plate and doesn't interfere with anything.


There you go!

Cat Man HHR

Update:
Went for a ride and GPS swings a little going over roads that aren't smooth.
Going to put a hard foam pad opposite the fulcrum point (screw) to slow down the sway.
8 1/2" is good a good length for the rod in the spot I installed the mount but as a safe guard 9" would be better.

firemangeorge

I'm not digging the location. Covers up buttons, air bag light, half the vent, radio, etc.

Cat Man HHR

If you where to sit in the the drivers seat at the correct angle the only thing you wouldn't see is the air bag light. But who care's? Do you look at it while driving?
I can move the rod to the upper location of the vent to give more of a view to the rest you don't like.
Big deal that that one AC vent is blocked off. Don't some people do that anyway
by closing it off?
Shutting that one off only gives more air pressure to the other vents to blow the air out.

Oldblue

I just used 3M molding tape and mounted the GPS mounting disc to the centre of the waterfall above and between the vents

Trex08

Hmm... I just put a 1' strip of velcro in the dash storage bin, shaded from the sun, close the lid and its gone. Why would you need anything more elaborate, especially made out of wooden dowels??

firemangeorge

In Cat Mans defense, his car doesn't have a storage bin up there. The SS's RPD unit is rigid mounted in that bin location.

pg318

It's illegal in several states to mount a GPS on the windshield, but mine used to overheat and shut itself off on hot days when mounted there, now mounting it over the vent keeps it functional. Mine is mounted through the foglight switch hole (I don't have foglights), though it's a phone these days, the GPS is in a box in the basement...

firemangeorge

Got intrigued by this so decided to put my own ideas to work.
Using Cat Man's "vent mount" idea, I took a scrap piece of lg. diameter copper wire. Bent it to fit into the vents honeycomb. Slipped some old 1/4 inch gas line over it. Clipped on my cell phone holder.
Just a rough test piece. I might make a nicer version later on but I rarely mount anything on the dash.
Anyhow. No cost and only about 20 minutes of work.

Cat Man HHR

George I like your idea.
Yes I too didn't want anything stuck down to the dash that was adhesive.
The rubber suction cup of the GPS mount does fit between the vents but being the plastic is textured it will not hold.
The theory to my mount is that I only use the GPS now and then. When not in use I can take it out.