Mounting an iPad

Submitted: Sunday, Mar 03, 2013 at 20:45

ThreadID: 100873 Views:6405 Replies:6 FollowUps:12

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AlbyNSW

I am wanting to mount my iPad for navigation in a 79 series landcruiser. I am not real keen on drilling holes in the visible parts of my dash. I had a spiral arm type mount fixed from my seat mount in my previous vehicle and it was ok but it moves too much on corrugations etc. so looking for an alternative.
Has anyone tried the windscreen suction RAM mounts? I don't know how they would go on corrugations though
Any experiences or advice would be appreciated

Thank you
Alby

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Reply By: Member - Nordave - Sunday, Mar 03, 2013 at 21:04

Sunday, Mar 03, 2013 at 21:04

Been using a RAM windscreen mount for some time. No problems have used it in heavy corrigations many times.

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Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Sunday, Mar 03, 2013 at 21:35

Sunday, Mar 03, 2013 at 21:35

Thanks for that, good to hear. Assume that is with an iPad or something of similar weight?

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Follow Up By: Member - Nordave - Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 00:05

Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 00:05

Yes with the IPad, was a bit worried at first but the only time it came off was when I did not put it on correctly.

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Follow Up By: Member - Stinger2 - Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 12:20

Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 12:20

yep, same as Nordave, just stuck it on the windscreen and didn't move for over 10,000k's with an ipad2..

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Follow Up By: Hema Maps - Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 14:21

Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 14:21

Alby

We run a RAM mount for the ipads in the car, we only have the large single suction cup but you can get up to 3 suction cups if you're extremely nervous.

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Follow Up By: Member - Berylvt - Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 15:51

Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 15:51

I have a RAM mount for my iPad. It does hold on quite well but it also bounces about, and sags, until the iPad is touching the dash. There it gets beaten about. The iPad also rattles in the holder and I have to pad it with paper ..... Suitable positions on the window are restricted so that the iPad doesn't block use of the L rear view mirror, or the view for the passenger /navigator. Not entirely satisfactory IMHO. I WILL BE LOOKING FOR A SOLID or in-dash mount in my next set-up.

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Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 16:50

Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 16:50

Thanks for all the replies so far, I was just thinking seeing as though I cant see out the rear view mirror with my canopy, I might look at fitting a bracket from behind the mirror mounts and using the Ram mounting plate and ball socket set up so that the Ipad sits up high close to the roof. I have the dual cab 79 so I don't want the ipad to block the view for the rear passengers

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Reply By: LeeJ - Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 08:08

Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 08:08

Check out www.holdmyphone.com.au. I got a iphone mount and I'm fairly certain they had ipad mounts there too. It's specific to the car as well.

AnswerID: 506014

Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 16:45

Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 16:45

I forgot about these, I will look into them further thanks

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Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 20:50

Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 20:50

Not a lot of space in a 79series. Mine didn't have airbags, and I gave up trying to mount a 10" Ipad. An Ipad mini or the equivalent 7" Android tablet could be mounted nicely on the dash just above the stereo. You could rivet a bracket to the top of the steel dash.

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Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 11:29

Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 11:29

Thanks Phil
The Ipad mini would be ideal but I already have the ipad and not keen on having another spend at the moment so will push on with working out a solution

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Reply By: Gold Stalker - Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 23:59

Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 23:59

I've been running a RAM mount for my laptop for many years but I did have to drill holes in my floor for that. With my new truck I'm thinking of running an Android tablet with OziExplorer and TomTom.

What I'm planning to do is attach Velcro to the dash and tablet's flip cover. I'll then also use some Velcro to support the base probably resting above the central air vents (don't know what the central area of your dash looks like) in order to get a good viewing angle and provide additional stability. I'll also use Valcro to take up the weight of the USB power cable.

I see lots of vehicles running around with suction cups but I've never had much success with them beyond short term periods. The best way I've found of attaching them is not off the windscreen but rather, off a base plate stuck on the dash. If you do opt for a suction mount, try setting it up so you can rest the weight of the tablet on the dash (or slip some 'packing foam' under it to support the weight).

I've found that removing Velcro off the dash is relatively easy with a bit of turps to clean up. Alternatively stick down some cheap gray/silver plastic duct tape onto the dash first (the cheap stuff will hold well but come off a lot cleaner than the expensive stuff). Also best to avoid sticking down that single/double sided white spongy stuff - comes off okay but is pretty messy.

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Follow Up By: Gold Stalker - Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 00:04

Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 00:04

Just noticed your later post re mounting it high behind your mirror....

Probably not a good idea - long way to fall and you may also want to power it via the USB cable. Also, legally, at least in Victoria, if it's not being used for navigation, it should not be visible to the driver.

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Follow Up By: Gold Stalker - Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 00:56

Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 00:56

Also... The heat on your dash will kill your battery. Tablet, mobile phone, GPS, whatever. If you can, try shielding it behind a white cardboard shroud of some kind. My mobile phone came packed in a white cardboard, form fitting (more or less) box and I was able to put part of that behind its mount. I also darkened the inside to hide most of the white from the driver's view.

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Reply By: AlbyNSW - Wednesday, Mar 06, 2013 at 08:55

Wednesday, Mar 06, 2013 at 08:55

Ok after a bit more thinking and research I think I will make up a bracket to mount the iPad over the radio head unit . We don't use it when in the bush and with a bit of fiddling about I think I can make up a mounting system.
Would there be any issue with using double sided magnetic tape effecting the iPad functioning or am I better to use Velcro ?

AnswerID: 506158