ok gang, here is the latest little mod: a DIY articulated tablet/cell phone/gps/whatever you want to put on it holder for the dash of the rv.
i managed to scrounge up a 6 x 6 x 1/2" piece of phenolic, an old-time cell phone holder, and a piece of pegboard.
i cut and sanded the phenolic into a size that would fit tightly into the slot above the dash radio. the slot is just a plastic filler used to take up extra space in the dash, which is cut for a DIN-and-a-half radio.
then i drilled and tapped the phenolic for 4 1/4-20 cap head screws (in black), and attached the mount to the phenolic.
next step was to attach the pegboard to the mount. i used 4 flat head screws, counter-sunk into the pegboard, and attached with nuts and locktite.
five pieces of high-strength velcro on the pegboard and the back of the vizio tablet and it's good to go!
edit: almost forgot. total cost: nada. zilch. nuttin'. zero! i had all the stuff lying around. well, except the tablet.
1999 Winnebago Minnie, 29', Triton V10, mostly stock. So far...
Your MH has the Ford Van with that HUGE DASH area and IMO you should mount that GPS or whatever it is on the dash using the many options available. Things you might need to look at carefully should be up in your line of sight when driving and not require you to look away from the road and try and concentrate. Dash radios/CD systems and even the instrument panel are bad enough, but something like you showed is IMO over the edge.
I don't care for it and think its a bad idea. Looking at even the pic in your post which is much better than what you would see from the driver's seat I have a hard time telling what information you would be trying to get from that picture.
Looks like he is using the tablet for a GPS with the satellite view. I like the setup a lot. Nice GPS holder without obstructing the view through the windshield or having to put up with the lousy suction cup mounts most peopl have to deal with. Great idea.
highlife4me1 wrote: Looks like he is using the tablet for a GPS with the satellite view. I like the setup a lot. Nice GPS holder without obstructing the view through the windshield or having to put up with the lousy suction cup mounts most peopl have to deal with. Great idea.
I understand the concept of obstructing the view thru the windshield, but as a 30+ year van towing owner unless you are mounting a 30" TV on the dash this obstruction issue is really a non issue. When towing I have the following on the dash in the middle along with a Garmin 1490 on one of the weighted mounts directly above the instrument cluster and even have an A-pillar full of gauges and with all that including that "SHELF-IT" extending almost down to the factory rear view mirror level I still have a clear view of everything in front of me. I do have trouble seeing overhead stop lights when really close waiting for them to turn green so that is an obstruction that I just deal with. See pic below.
BTW that square grey box is my AIC that shows my RPMS and while I don't monitor it since it requires me taking my eyes off the road I do use it to glance at to set the cruise for the RPMs I want to cruse at. I could never concentrate or use a GPS mounted in that position/location and safely tow. I guess it can be done, but I really question how safe these factory dash GPS units are.
the height of the tablet vs the distance away from the dash is adjustable by loosening the top and bottom wingnuts. from my viewing angle, with the tablet adjusted all the way up, the top edge of the tablet is level with the top edge of the windshield wipers. no obstruction of the view. and actually above the radio. if i were to mount it on the top of the dash it would block a huge portion of my view. and since the whole thing swivels, the DW can do all the programming on the fly. also, it uses audible turn-by-turn directions, so i hardly have to look at it anyway.
W4MBG wrote: the height of the tablet vs the distance away from the dash is adjustable by loosening the top and bottom wingnuts. from my viewing angle, with the tablet adjusted all the way up, the top edge of the tablet is level with the top edge of the windshield wipers. no obstruction of the view. and actually above the radio. if i were to mount it on the top of the dash it would block a huge portion of my view. and since the whole thing swivels, the DW can do all the programming on the fly. also, it uses audible turn-by-turn directions, so i hardly have to look at it anyway.
You say it would block a "huge portion of my view" and I just disagree with that unless you are trying to avoid a penny on the road. To be honest this "blocking your view" is more of a Chicken Little view than an actual issue. Also simply moving your head will eliminate almost any blockage for items on top of the dash.
Sorry, but I just don't buy the blockage reasoning. Also this blockage is limited to a very small area in front of the Van where you are only concerned with at VERY LOW SPEEDS like parking, etc. and simply moving your head will clear those areas up immediately.
I guess it ok, for some, including yourslef. Myself, I think I could come up with some better looking items that would do the same thing.
Just a question for you. Why haven't you finsihed the Stain, on your Cup Holders, kind of looks Tacky not finished. Als something on the back side of your so called mount looks unfinsihed.
Maybe its just me, but I like all of my work and Mods to look as perfect as possible, and have a nice finsihed look to them. Just our 2 cents worth.
actually, the drippy stained area is going to be covered with a strip of velcro (the loop part, not the hook part) to keep cans from rattling. as for the back of the tablet mount, the entire thing will be painted satin black. not as easy to show in a picture that way though, it all blends together. this way you can see the individual pieces that went into the build.
Offline
.jpg)
