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New Garmin GPS Mount


Berto

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So I posted this as a DIY on the civic forum and I'm bored now so i'm posting it here to. What are your opinions on it?

 

So I recently got my Garmin Nuvi 650 from Costco ($299 FYI!). The suction cup mount sucks, a lot, and not in a good way. It seems that the damn thing falls off after an hr of driving. So the next natural thing was for me to look for alternative mounts on ebay. I decided to go with the cigarette lighter mount. The seller is Trueion (trueion.com). The best way to look for this thing on ebay is 'Powered Garmin GPS Mount'. I got it for ~$20 after shipping. Well After getting it I realized it was complete junk, I wouldn't trust my GPS on it! I decided not to return it since the shipping was half the price of the item, by the time I shipped it back I would only get like $6 back out of $20.

 

So I decided to take matters into my own hands and make my own mount.:cheerleader:

 

First I went ahead and removed the center console that surrounds the shifter, this includes the plastic pocket/cubby hole infront of the shifter.

 

Then I looked through my brackets and happened to have one in my bin of parts. You can get this at any hardware store, I actually think I got this one at Walmart.

 

Below is a picture of the cigarette lighter mount that sucks. I took it apart at the elbow, this was pretty easy because its held up with wing nuts.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00010600x450.jpg

 

The next step for me was to bolt everything together as I envisioned it and make sure it wasn't going to interfere with the cigarette lighter or the lip on the console bin. The two next pictures show me putting it into place

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00014.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00015.jpg

 

Next you are going to want to get your drill out and mark up the holes using the bracket you bought and choose the right bit depending on the size of the screws you decided to buy. I bought some low profile head screws because I was unsure how the interface we are drilling into interacts with the rest of the dash.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00016.jpg

 

Then mount up your contraption! I used washers and wing nuts. The reason I chose to use wing nuts was because they are easy to adjust and remove if needed. I can take out this mount in less than 5 minutes with no tools. Also the wing nuts are hidden under the bin lip.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00017.jpg

 

The cigarette lighter section has little teeth at the elbow (tried to show them in the picture). Since I like to over engineer things I cut a peice of Dynamat and put it on the metal L-bracket to give the teeth something to sink into and keep the elbow in the bracket from wiggling lose with use. It was holding fine without the Dynamat though.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00018.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00019.jpg

 

The following are progressive pictures of how everything was completed and is put together!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00020.jpg

 

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00023.jpg

 

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00026.jpg

 

Give me some Rep points I don't have any yet!

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i made a similar setup for my sirius. but not down below. its under my radio. the mounts that come with it blow.

 

but nice setup berto.

 

i need to make some kind of mount for my cell phone (sprint mogul) i have turn by turn navi on it and would like to have a quick in/out mount for when i need to use it

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I don't mind them down low, and being on the pillar or windshield is just plain tacky.

 

One thing I would do different is wire up a socket behind the dash and wire in the power plug to that, so it hides those wires.

I might do that today, I have that spare socket, thanks for the input!

 

I don't mind the GPS down low like that. its not like I am constantly looking down at it!

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Hehe I drive starring at my GPS screen. Nice work BTW. I hate the mounts they sell you as accessories or that come with the units. They are always kinda shitty for the money they cost.

 

Evan

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Looks really good man. That was a good deal on the unit as well.

 

I've never personally had a problem with the mount falling off. As long as the windshield/suction cup is clean.

 

I'm planning on doing something similar to the legacy. Apparently in Texas people are jacking GPS units left and right. My boss told me they're breaking into cars that have the little rings left behind from the suction cup to find the things.

 

http://www.subaruoutback.org/gallery//500/13494gps3-med.jpg

http://www.subaruoutback.org/gallery//500/13494gps2-med.jpg

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Yeah, OEM Honda navigation rules! I had one in my TL and I miss it constantly. Although, I guess $299>$1500.

BTW, how is the Garmin? I have been thinking about getting one for the 3.

 

The OEM is nice but here is my main reason for getting it.

 

- I got tired of AAA's bank hours about 45 mins from my house. So instead of having to leave work at 3 everytime I have to get a map for every trip I go on, I got this instead of renewing my membership.

 

- The OEM one I can take with me when I go for work, or when I want to use it in my truck when we go out 4 wheeling.

 

The Garmin is sweet, its not perfect (like any new technology) but its pretty darn close. It is worth every penny.

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Nice work. I couldn't handle that though. I have my GPS on the left most side of my window. I like to drive around a lot with just the map showing where I am driving. It is on the window in a perfect spot. It hangs just left of my hand on the steering wheel if it is positioned at 10 oclock
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