How to: Permanent GPS mount

So I've had my GPS unit (Garmin 1370T) for a couple of years now. When I first got it I immediately did a hardwired to it, so the cords would be invisible. I did something very similar to:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/51313-how-easy-gps-hardwiring.html

I had it suction cupped mounted to the windshield. That worked well for about a year, then the suction cup would just fall off pretty much every single day. I got sick of dealing with that, I didn't really want to get one of those bean bag things (I'm really cheap, and don't really care for the way they look sitting on the dash).

I looked through a bunch of threads to get an idea how to do it. The only one that popped out at me was
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/93807-ram-gps-mount.html

But I really like the GPS in the center of the windshield, so my wife can operate it while I am driving. So I thought to myself, hey, the rear view mirror is mounted to the windshield, and they hardly ever fall off (maybe once every 10 years.) I bet I could get a rear view mirror mount from the junkyard, modify it to work with the GPS and stick that on the windshield. I know http://www.rammount.com/ makes an adhesive dash mount (But remember, I said I was cheap.)

So I went off to the junkyard and got myself one of these, it came off of a late 70s early 80s pickup truck


Next step: epoxy the gps holder onto the end of the mirror bracket. It was actually a very snug fit, the diameter of the mirror bracket was the exact perfect size for the gps holder's hole.


Then clean the button up that attaches to the windshield and get some rear view mirror glue from your favorite retailer and glue it to the windshield.


Wait for the glue to dry and attach the arm onto the button, snap your gps into place and presto! no more falling GPS.

 

wow, impressive! I may end up having to do something like this. Good write up!

 

X2 clean work there OP, good job!

 

Thanks guys, I'm really surprised no one makes a mount like this for gps or smartphones.

 

my gps fell off the windshield today while I was driving, I gotta do something like this!

 

sucks to suck... hahaha this is something you should do Steven.

 

Great job and great write up. Some states have laws against blocked forward view.

 

Wouldn't have thought of that solution. Looks like it will work well.

Here's another approach if you don't want to block the windshield.

 

That's a good idea. I've got a Garmin nüvi 2797LMT 7-Inch GPS and so far the suction cup that holds it has not failed. They seemed to have much improved the design over the last one that I had. If it does start falling you can bet I will do something like this. Thanks for the idea.

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On a side note that is exactly why I bought this mount for my radar detector.

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Outstanding Vladimir +1

 

Wow, I am might try and make one of these this weekend.

Thanks for the cool idea OP and ideas to the others

 

Ram Mounts makes one for most any GPS that mounts to the rearview mirror mount..I like mine, keeps it all together and I also have the rear view mirror re-mount from here so it is all up high! I will post a picture shortly!

 

Very good OP. Question, how does the GPS survive summer heat on the dash?

 

I think it was the summer heat that killed my suction cup mount, as it worked great for about a year.

So far the gps unit has had no issues sitting in the dash 24/7 even with the ungodly sun/heat we get here in AZ. I try to keep a sunshade up between the gps and the windshield whenever I park the truck. Mostly because I don't like burning my fingers on the steering wheel when I go to drive somewhere.

 

I saw those, but I already had the wires run to the center of the windshield, and like I said in my opening post, I'm really cheap

 

Very nice paradigm shift, OP. Thinking outside the box found a new way to do it!