jason kissam
EF2
Looking for a sturdy laptop mount for my truck and at a low cost. Any suggestions?
Laptop mounts for vehicles?
- Thread starter jason kissam
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Ben Pinette
EF1
I guess that depends on what you consider "low cost". I've used a RAM mount for a couple years. New from gpscity.com it was around $200. Very sturdy manufacturing, and very flexible movement for different viewing capabilities. RAM has general purpose mounts, or vehicle specific mounts, whichever suits your preferance. I purchased a general purpose mount for adapting to a custom console I made in my '98 F150. Overall, I'm very satisfied.
John Erwin
EF5
Sure, check out some of the many previous threads here on this subject. The best solutions often cost a fair amount, but many folks have homebrewed some good solutions that worked quite well. Give e-bay a look too; some models have come up for sale there but beware of snake-oil type solutions.
Cheers
Mikey Gribble
EF5
I have a joto desk now which is great. Before that I built a wood framed desk with plastic sheet for the top. I would put it in the passenger seat, attached the computer to it with velcro tape, and uses bungee cords to keep it tight to the back of the seat. It actually worked pretty good. I like the jotto desk a lot better though. I think you can get one for around $150-$200.
Dan Robinson
The Jotto is the best of the bunch (~$150-$200). Its ergonomics and adjustability are something you will really miss with other models.
I was a user of a couple of the 'homebrew' setups, ranging from a Pelican case on the seat to a small wire desktop office shelf. I can say that the Jotto is worth the money, if only just to avoid those configurations.
It can't be said enough about the safety implications of laptop mounts. Many of the homemade rigs, particularly the ones on the passenger seat, require you to turn your head 90 degrees to look at the screen. While looking at a laptop while driving is an extreme hazard to chasers to begin with, looking at a laptop 90 degrees to your right while driving is suicidal. When you turn your head that far, you completely take your eyes FAR off the road and will almost reflexively turn the wheel as well. Some of my closest calls of near run-off-the-road at highway speeds came from the 90 degree configuration.
I was a user of a couple of the 'homebrew' setups, ranging from a Pelican case on the seat to a small wire desktop office shelf. I can say that the Jotto is worth the money, if only just to avoid those configurations.
It can't be said enough about the safety implications of laptop mounts. Many of the homemade rigs, particularly the ones on the passenger seat, require you to turn your head 90 degrees to look at the screen. While looking at a laptop while driving is an extreme hazard to chasers to begin with, looking at a laptop 90 degrees to your right while driving is suicidal. When you turn your head that far, you completely take your eyes FAR off the road and will almost reflexively turn the wheel as well. Some of my closest calls of near run-off-the-road at highway speeds came from the 90 degree configuration.
David Drummond
Member
http://stores.ebay.com/Deep-South-Motorsports-Inc
I bought one of these and I am absolutely PLEASED with it, especially considering what I paid for it. I did modify it just a touch by putting the soft side of some industrial velcro around the edges since the tray was metal and across the tray so the velcro on the back of my laptop would stick. I also plan to change some of the thumbscrews to knobs at some point since you really need to use the included allen wrench to get the joints good and tight. But for the price you can't get a nicer mount IMO.
I bought one of these and I am absolutely PLEASED with it, especially considering what I paid for it. I did modify it just a touch by putting the soft side of some industrial velcro around the edges since the tray was metal and across the tray so the velcro on the back of my laptop would stick. I also plan to change some of the thumbscrews to knobs at some point since you really need to use the included allen wrench to get the joints good and tight. But for the price you can't get a nicer mount IMO.
jason kissam
EF2
thanks all for the input, Drummonds post is the type im looking for.
happy hunting
happy hunting
Brett Adair
EF5
You have a pic of your mount in your chase vehicle that we could check out? Thanks!
John Diel
EF5
David's ebay mount looks very much like a home engineered Jotto type desk. From what I could see it's basically the same idea using a little different style articulating arms. Can't say I like all the Hex screws, but if works? and the Price is right? Go for it!
I should add it appears to be a well engineered mount. Looks pretty good.
I should add it appears to be a well engineered mount. Looks pretty good.
David Drummond
Member
Yeah, the hex screws are a bit of a pain when adjusting, but not too bad. As I said, I plan on swapping the ones I adjust the most out with some knobs. For the price you can't beat it and it IS well engineered. I went ahead and braced mine against my console because I have a LARGE laptop that is heavy. Smaller laptops probably wouldn't need that.
jason kissam
EF2
I have a 93 gmc jimmy with not much room after i have my lightbar switch box and cb installed. the next to install is the laptop mount. i have looked at police catalogs but abit pricey. Drummonds mount looks cool. I may have to do something similar. Walking around my job site i found a keyboard mount which fits the laptop but need padding and such for the bumpy colorado roads. i will try to get a inside shot of my vehicle posted for any more suggestions.
Jody Radzik
EF2
Check out autolaptoplink.com. My truck stand was only $50 and is totally adequate for the task. It mounts to the passenger seat rail with no drilling necessary. There are various models of various pricing. They apparently supply a good deal of police agencies with their products.
Brett Adair
EF5
Yeah, the hex screws are a bit of a pain when adjusting, but not too bad. As I said, I plan on swapping the ones I adjust the most out with some knobs. For the price you can't beat it and it IS well engineered. I went ahead and braced mine against my console because I have a LARGE laptop that is heavy. Smaller laptops probably wouldn't need that.
Nice! I'm assuming that is the truck/van mount? I'm going to purchase it I do believe for my Montero. I need to brace it up like you have yours there. Also, what are those wires that you have ran there David? I'm going to have to come up with a way to cleanly install all of this incase I have to remove anything from the vehicle. Anyone know where I can get some suction cups to attach to my GPS wire so I can stick it on the bottom of the windshield? Thanks!!
One more thing David, what kind of mods have you made to the desk since you purchased it from what it originally was? Thanks again.
EDIT: NVM...I see where you said that you added the velcro. I need to do something like that with my laptop. Do you have a strap or something that goes over the top of the PC as well?
David Drummond
Member
One of the wires if the USB cord from my USB hub in the console, which currently only has the Delorme GPS attached to it. The other one is the USB cord to the WXWORX, which is also hidden away in the console.
The mount comes with a long double sided velcro strip to secure the laptop to the desk, but I have male velcro on the back of my laptop that sticks to mine just fine. It doesn't even try to go anywhere.
The mount comes with a long double sided velcro strip to secure the laptop to the desk, but I have male velcro on the back of my laptop that sticks to mine just fine. It doesn't even try to go anywhere.
jason kissam
EF2
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