Laptop Mounting Help Needed

[Ajaxus]

Alright, I crunched some numbers on a few things and decided to combine several mods together and go a cheaper route.

So here it is, I want a laptop mount for my car that has high durability as well as does not take up that much space. I'm going to be using it as both my gps and also wire it into my stereo for access to my full mp3 collection. And hardwire an inverter, I've found a bit here on that, so no worries in that department.

So basically I need some good mounts recommended, I didnt find that much info on them here and I'd prefer some good recommendations to help me out in my search.

FYI, the gps that I'm thinking of is either the Garmin 10 Deluxe or the Garmin 18 USB Deluxe both viewable at http://www.megagps.com

This setup should save me on a multiple cd changer/mp3 player and separate GPS Navigator..so basically I'm saving tons of $$$$$$$ for other projects.

[Ajaxus]

well it seems knappy1 has the type of mount i want but im having trouble getting ahold of him. can anyone take a look at his cardomain and give me some ideas on either where to find something like that or how to build one?

[DrFabulous]

I'm assuming you don't want a floor mount like such? http://www.mobiledesk.com/

[Ajaxus]

ive seen every floor mount out there, and id prefer one that takes up less space. if i cant figure out a way to build something similar to what knappy1 has then im considering going the route of:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Car-Laptop-Mount...QQcmdZViewItem

scary as it is.

[DrFabulous]

Yea I saw that one on eBay.... go custom, you could make something pretty cool.

[Ajaxus]

custom shops here i come

[DrFabulous]

Good.

[Inferno]

Our fire trucks have a mount made by Toshiba, but it looks like it is solely designed for the toughbook. I will look next time I am at work

[Jeremy]

Originally Posted by Ajaxus

well it seems knappy1 has the type of mount i want but im having trouble getting ahold of him. can anyone take a look at his cardomain and give me some ideas on either where to find something like that or how to build one?

IIRC with Knappy's setup all he did was take his laptop docking station and came up with a way to mount it inside the glove box so it was semi permanent. Pretty sure he had a power inverter installed inthe car to power the docking station off of 110. The problem now adays is most "consumer level" laptops don't have a manufacturer provided docking station. You usually only see a laptop model specific docking station when you get into the business level (i.e. Latitude with Dell). They make universal USB docking stations, but you don't really "mount" your laptop in them, you just plug it in to a USB port.

Easiest way to tell is go to your laptop manufacturers website and check the accessories section for your model and see if they have a docking station option available.

[Ajaxus]

actually i heard back from him and he said he used a basic keyboard pull-out drawer and then heavy duty velcro to strap it in place. ive looked at a few models and im having trouble with dimensions, i think im gonna use the concept of one as a model and buy the parts necessary to build one and make it myself.

[GrahamKracka]

kinda off topic

my trucks center console is freaking huge....i can fit a small desktop in there if i striped the dividers out

[botlfed]

I ordered the Garmin 18 yesterday..... thanks for the link Ajax =) now I also need to search for a mount for the laptop

[Ajaxus]

dont bother searching, ive seen everything out there brandon. do what im doing and build your own, use a laptop pull out drawer as a model, rollers on the sides. you wont find the right dimensions online so you have to build your own. im thinking of plexiglass with some rollers from a hardware store on the side. velcro straps to hold it in place.

the ones on ebay are crap, and the heavy duty ones take like jottodesk take up waaaaay too much space for my tastes..plus drilling for some isnt on the top of my to do list.

[Ajaxus]

alright just made my measurements, i know its sad i havent done it yet. the glove box is 10" wide and 10" deep at its best. so ive gotta figure out if i want a 10x10 slab of plexiglass and 4 straps of heavyduty velcro, or if i want to make something extra fancy that will pull out of the glovebox and then expand a bit and get wider. otherwise i'll be back to square one and be looking at something like those crap ones on ebay.

alright, my computer is 11.5"x14" and about 7-8lbs..hmm

edit: alright, after some brainstorming and help from terese i think i know how this is gonna go down, i'll be running to menards today to get the pieces i need, and hopefully have this thing in sometime over the next few days. i'll write up a how to when all is said and done.

edit: minor setback, i found what i needed there for the slider portion, but it was too long, gotta find it online i guess. plexiglass was a no go, they tried to sell me a 4'x8' to cut myself, im not buying a piece that big for a 10"x12" square that i want. so its off on the net to find the pieces i need, bear with me.

[Ajaxus]

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...C22&lpage=none

somebody find me this only 10" long and i'll worship them for a week.

found it

http://www.usacabinethardware.com/cg...id=B:262H-2290

ordered, im going to also custom order a plexiglass piece that is half an inch thick, i assume this will do the job.

[GrandAmGT1996]

http://www.ovisonline.com/store/sear...el=2&subcat=40

Is this what your looking for?

[Ajaxus]

yeh ive already seen those, the problem is that those are for the sides of it, i wanted a single slide that goes in the bottom middle, under it. those arent built right for it, i was at the store checking out models earlier. i linked the one i bought to try out up above, ill check it out in a few weeks and if it looks feasable then i should have a how to put together in no time.

[GrandAmGT1996]

Well, best of luck. I tryed,. Def. post pics once its done

[Ajaxus]

im reviving this because ive got an issue and cant find the answer here.

I bought a radioshack power inverter, 350w continuous 700w peak. Here's the issue, just trying to do a temp hook up and use the wire that goes to the lighter, i put it in, turn the car on, then when I push the on button on the power inverter, nothing happens.

I checked the fuse the inverter comes with, it came apart in my hands, I replaced it with another and still nothing.

I checked Radioshack's website, they discontinued this model and do not have the product support page available anymore. Anybody have ideas or know where I can find a support page for this?

I would REALLY like to get this fixed before the meet this weekend.

[Metallman56]

i thought you had a bigger screen. j/k aj, did u call audio exchange?