Ok,

I travel a lot during the week. In and out of the truck 15 or more times a day. I really don't want to give someone a reason to break in because they can see the gps through the window. So I thought it would be neat to flush mount it under the rubber mat in the center dash. When you remove the rubber mat it would be able too raise up on a hinge so you can use it. When you don't need it, hidden under the mat and nobody knows.

I have cut the hole in the trim panel under the rubber mat so the gps can sit flush with the panel. The problem I have is that the gps would have to raise up about 1/2 an inch before it swings forward to the straight up position. If I just hinge it to the flat part of the panel the gps will sit 1/2 inch low because the panel dips into the dash.

So I need some creative ideas. Maybe someone out there has already done this and has pics of doing it, or knows where I can get the materials to do it. I was going to attach some pics so people could see what I am talking about, but appearently I can't.

Any help would be greatful.

Thanks

 

I can visualize the issue but I am not sure how you are connecting your GPS to the hinge itself. Regardless, there are many cabinet-type hinges that are made for different types of offsets. I would go to somewhere like the Home Depot, Rona or Lowes and look at all types available. I am sure you will be able to come up with a suitable solution.

Just as an aside.....I watched a You Tube video yesterday of a guy that mounted a 10" monitor on the passenger side of his dash. He mounted it so it slid up vertically out of the top of the dash. He used a power window motor to actuate it and it automatically came up when he turned on his stereo and retracted when he turned it off. Very cool. Can you imagine running your GPS video signal to that screen!

There is also another one of a guy that installed an iPad in his dash where the radio goes. This was in a Toyota Highlander though but with a little customization, it was an awesome fit. He could even slide it out, disconnect it and take it with him in under 10 seconds.

 

Could you fit it in the overhead center console. Would be much easier and could be quickly removed.

 

Rick, and 150 thanks for the responses.

Actually the first place I thought of was the over head compartment. The problem is veiwing the gps while driving from that location. It would force you to take your eyes off the road for to long of a time.

Rick, I was going to build a base plate from the original windsheild bracket from the gps. The windsheild bracket was a two peice. I took the part that actually holds the gps and trimmed all the excess plastic off of it so it could be mounted flat to a base plate that the hinge would connect to.

I did stop by lowes today and check out all the cabinet hinges they had. I found some that may work, but it would be nice to find one with a slow spring action.

Keep the ideas coming! I could use them.

Thanks.

 

Why not make it rise straight up from the dash instead of the hinge method? Like a little tiny elevator!!

 

I know exactly what you mean. I was going to run a 7" monitor there when i first got my truck so i went thru the same stuff.

Couple of questions.
First off, where will it be hinged? the side closest to you or the side closest to the windshield.
The most simple and workable solution is to have the hinge closer to you and on the GPS side offset by however much you want it to rise.
Very generic description but you basically have this

Tray depth
....v
L____./ <--GPS, too low due to tray depth
tray ^


and you want this

........../ GPS
L____./ plus 1/2" offset/extension at the bottom between GPS and hinge to make up the tray depth.
Tray ^
nevermind the periods they are there for spacers due to the forum altering spaces.

Just post here or you can PM me if you have any questions. Also you can upload pics into your profile to share with us.

That was actually me, AND i can run my GPS thru that screen as well as video or a gaming system, camera, you name it. The Nav was actually the main drive behind that project so that my pass could see the much larger 10" screen and tell me where to go. Theres a thread lurking around here somewhere with it.

Not enough room between the tray and the radio for this unless you run the GPS unit flat like the OP wants and have it motorize up.

 

That is the same thing I was thinking but if it comes up at an angle you may have to make the arm a bit longer. That will be an awesome project when your done so take pictures.

 

Sorry for the delay guys, home network has been down for a few weeks now.

Fabian06SC,

My thought was to have the GPS hinged closest to me. With the hinge mounted under the plastic tray and when released it would swing up 90 degrees to the useable position.

I will post some pics in my profile for you guys to see.

Thanks

 

Ok, pics are posted in the profile. Check it out.

Thanks.

 

Use some ABS sheets and build you a cradle out of it so that your GPS can simply slide into it. Connect the hinges to the ABS cradle that you have fabricated. This way you are not mounting anything to your GPS and it's still portable if needed.

To flip it up you could use maybe one of those plate flipper motors for the motorcycles.