Custom Laptop Mount

JustinGray · 04-20-2005, 11:12 AM

I am working on a custom laptop mount for my insight. I wanted somethign that used the bolt that holds the seat down... that made for easy installation and removal with no modifications to the car whatsoever.

I needed to be pretty articulate, so it could have lots of positions for either driver-centric or passenger-centric configurations... and also so it could fold out of the way easily enough.

I have come up with a pretty good solution. I started with something simple i purchased of ebay and modified it a little bit.

I am almost done, only thing left is to add one more armature, and to re-inforce the mounting bracket a little bit.. It is an all aluminum, simple setup.

I should post some pictures when im done... i will try to remeber to take some.

Now that its nearing completion, i am a little worried that the laptop will be too distracting! I will probably crash! So maybe this is a bad idea!

Anyway, anyone interested in this too?

**IamIan** · 04-20-2005, 11:18 AM

Why use a laptop ... space is a bit tight already... I would recomend using one of the UPCs ... I use an OQO in my insight and it works great and takes up like .. no space at all.

JustinGray · 04-20-2005, 11:23 AM

I used the laptop because i had the laptop.... my laptop is no OQO but its pretty small and light...

Plus i liked having the larger screen for looking at maps and such for gps. That was my real motivation.

I use delorm GPS and the maping software alot. I make frequent 13 + hour drives all by my self.... so having the Laptop in the car is nice. I have 30 + gigs of music, the GPS, and an easy way to take notes if i need to. I already had it... so why buy something new?

I guess this thing could work to mount just about anything really though. You could moutn an OQO if youwanted to ... but it would probably be easier to just use some velcro and stick it to the dash with that thing

**IamIan** · 04-20-2005, 12:25 PM

Fair Enough...

I thought you bought the laptop for this project... sorry i misunderstood.

Yeagh the OQO has smaller Screen but when driving I look at the road anyway... And Yup if you have 30+ Gigs of stuff the 20GB OQO won't be enough... I usually load 2 or 3 GB of Music on my OQO I have a Movie or 2 Loaded on it and then of course the GPS Mapping and Web Surfing Via Cell Phone.

But You can Easily get twice the computer for the money of the OQO if you are happy with Laptop Size...

I had thought about velcro for the OQO but just use the cassette holder in the center it fits the OQO and my Cell Phone.

Best of luck.

LoNOx 1 · 04-20-2005, 12:26 PM

Sounds like the same mount I purchased. It is an aluminum laptop mount from a seller at eBay in February before I made a 2200 mile round trip to Florida. I used Delorme Streets and Trips and OBDll software on a Dell 4150 (7lbs.) laptop.
A current auctionis:http://tinyurl.com/73xvn
I made an aluminum mounting plate and attached it to the front left passenger seat bolt. It articulates, adjusts up and down, and the laptop platform angle adjusts. There is still room for a passenger or it removes by taking out one bolt.
The laptop was great company for the long trip. The only thing that was distracting was the first time the Delorme dude told me that I needed to take the next exit in 1 minute 13 seconds!!!

originalbadbob · 04-20-2005, 12:36 PM

Hey Mr. LoNOx,
I just bought one of the mounts. I didn't know they existed and was thinking how to make one that connected to the seat mount. You saved me a bunch of work. Next question....what type of bracket did you make and how does it attach?
Thanks,
robert

LoNOx 1 · 04-20-2005, 12:47 PM

I will try and post a pic tonight.
(from memory) I cut a 2"x3"x3/16 piece of strap, rounded the end, drilled one hole for the seat bolt and two holes for the mount base. It was quick and easy since I had everything "in stock". There is some flex since only one end is attached and the other end is floating.

JustinGray · 04-20-2005, 01:04 PM

You dont even need to go that far... but you may want to...

I orginally did something simlar. But i found i could get alot less flex if i just drille d ahole in the mounting plate they provided and then bolted that directly to the seat mount.... worked pretty well...

I am going to put a thicker plate under the standard mounting bracket though, and that should get rid of all the flex!

Two things to be weary of.... today i have found that i am not terribly happy with the length of the included hight adjustment tube. Its too short for my legs to fit comforatbaly under... so i had to buy a longer aluminum rod (5 bucks or so at lowes). Also, i have noticed upon inspection of my mount (i was told there is only plain aluminum left i could not order color)
that the fit and finish is pretty crappy. Lots of sharp edges, and cut and grind marks. Plus there apears to be a part missing from mine. Its small and not functional, but was a trim piece that sat ontop of the main upright tube.

All and all this thing works well... but if i had to do it again... i would buy the aluminum and make it my self. He charged 20 bucks for shiping... so it comes to 55 bucks total. The more i look at this thing the more i think thats a rip off! Like i said, it works fine, and really would be worht 50 bucks to me, if he had taken the time to make mine look as nice as the ones in the picture!

LoNOx 1 · 04-20-2005, 01:21 PM

Originally I was going to mount it to the base plate, but since it was very light metal (about 20 ga.) I opted to mount it to a thicker plate with two bolts. I was afraid one bolt would tear out of the carbon steel since it was so thin.
Yes, the finish was crude but a file, sandpaper and buffing wheel would work wonders. Enough short sticks of T6 aluminum would have cost more than the eBay product.

Do you have it mounted on the driver or passenger seat?

originalbadbob · 04-20-2005, 01:39 PM

Did either of you guys mount it above or below the seat track?
Thanks,
robert