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Cellular forums Home > Archive > Garmin GPS > February 2008 > garmin legend cx windshield or dash mount
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garmin legend cx windshield or dash mount
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| Why are Garmin mounts so expensive and, well, funtionally
deficient? I just looked at a $30 bean bag thing that
didn't even have a simple plastic adapter to hold an
etrex. :-( I passed on it, as the store didn't even
know how to get the extra adapter. Elegant design
it certainly isn't.
I think I'll buy a cheap bean bag ashtray with a metal
bottom, fasten a steel L bracket to it, and drill a
hole to put a thumbscrew mount to the back screw hole.
Anyone know what thread size and pitch is used on the back
of a etrex legend cx, or can suggest what the specifications
are for a good thumb screw? Armed with an appropriate thumb
screw there are an endless number of very cheap mounts one
can build with no more than a scrap of metal and a couple
of bolts.
Anyone suggest any other home made designs?
I'm also tempted to just attach a little piece of velcro
to the dash or windshield, the mating piece on the back
of the device. Another $0.02 solution but with a little
less choice in mount angle.
Thanks, John
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| nat@na.net 2008-02-02, 10:33 am |
| do like i did.
get the belt clip and hand it on a cell phone mount/stick up.works
with both - that's what i use in the car and it works great plus you
have a belt clip too.
The clip/screw was around $11 on ebay (incl shipping)
On Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:24:29 -0500, John <jhy001@earthlink.net> wrote:
>Why are Garmin mounts so expensive and, well, funtionally
>deficient? I just looked at a $30 bean bag thing that
>didn't even have a simple plastic adapter to hold an
>etrex. :-( I passed on it, as the store didn't even
>know how to get the extra adapter. Elegant design
>it certainly isn't.
>
>I think I'll buy a cheap bean bag ashtray with a metal
>bottom, fasten a steel L bracket to it, and drill a
>hole to put a thumbscrew mount to the back screw hole.
>
>Anyone know what thread size and pitch is used on the back
>of a etrex legend cx, or can suggest what the specifications
>are for a good thumb screw? Armed with an appropriate thumb
>screw there are an endless number of very cheap mounts one
>can build with no more than a scrap of metal and a couple
>of bolts.
>
>Anyone suggest any other home made designs?
>
>I'm also tempted to just attach a little piece of velcro
>to the dash or windshield, the mating piece on the back
>of the device. Another $0.02 solution but with a little
>less choice in mount angle.
>
>Thanks, John
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| nat@na.net wrote:[color=darkred
]
> do like i did.
> get the belt clip and hand it on a cell phone mount/stick up.works
> with both - that's what i use in the car and it works great plus you
> have a belt clip too.
>
> The clip/screw was around $11 on ebay (incl shipping)
>
> On Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:24:29 -0500, John <jhy001@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
ok, I now have a free (to me) dashboard mount. I found an old generic
device cradle with flexible arms (so I can put a GPS, cell phone,
or iPod in it). I probably got it from Pep Boys for under $5 a
few years ago, but the back mount was broken. But it was well
engineered, and had 4 Phillips screws holding the flexible arms
to it. I loosened them, slid a piece of steel pipe hanger strip
in between and tightened it in. I shaped the steel into an L
shape (actually an acute angle to mount on the dash board). I
then bolted another cross piece of the steel pipe hanger strip
(it has holes every inch or so) so the base is an X or a +
depending on how you look at it (for stability on the dash).
Then, with the double sticky velcro tape, I put some on the
bottom X, some on the dash board, and I have myself a free
(ok, from crap I had lying around) dash board mount, and can
bend the steel to just the right angle I want on the dash. No
more Rube Goldberg than the Garmin (overpriced) stuff that comes
with multiple device mounts, none of which are useful for the
eTrex.
And this is after an unsuccessful Home Depot and Ace hardware trip
to find a screw that fits the hole on the back. I'm kinda glad
I didn't find one, because I like my new design much better. Nothing
to screw in, the flexible cradle arms hold it as loosely or tightly
as I want and it goes in and out easily. I give Garmin permission
to steal my sensible design. But they'll probably charge $45 for
it. :-)
John
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| jstech 2008-02-05, 10:33 pm |
| my etrex legend fits in the cell phone holder that mounted on the inside of
my dashboard. it picks up signal fine, and if i leave the light on (i use
lithium batteries for long life) i can even see the directions as i drive.
"John" <jhy001@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:47A52100.3010304@earthlink.net...
> nat@na.net wrote:
>
> ok, I now have a free (to me) dashboard mount. I found an old generic
> device cradle with flexible arms (so I can put a GPS, cell phone,
> or iPod in it). I probably got it from Pep Boys for under $5 a
> few years ago, but the back mount was broken. But it was well
> engineered, and had 4 Phillips screws holding the flexible arms
> to it. I loosened them, slid a piece of steel pipe hanger strip
> in between and tightened it in. I shaped the steel into an L
> shape (actually an acute angle to mount on the dash board). I
> then bolted another cross piece of the steel pipe hanger strip
> (it has holes every inch or so) so the base is an X or a +
> depending on how you look at it (for stability on the dash).
> Then, with the double sticky velcro tape, I put some on the
> bottom X, some on the dash board, and I have myself a free
> (ok, from crap I had lying around) dash board mount, and can
> bend the steel to just the right angle I want on the dash. No
> more Rube Goldberg than the Garmin (overpriced) stuff that comes
> with multiple device mounts, none of which are useful for the
> eTrex.
>
> And this is after an unsuccessful Home Depot and Ace hardware trip
> to find a screw that fits the hole on the back. I'm kinda glad
> I didn't find one, because I like my new design much better. Nothing
> to screw in, the flexible cradle arms hold it as loosely or tightly
> as I want and it goes in and out easily. I give Garmin permission
> to steal my sensible design. But they'll probably charge $45 for
> it. :-)
>
> John
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