HOW TO: What is the Best Way to Permenently Install a GPS in Your Car?
Mon, 07/07/2008 - 4:30pm
|
15 years
|
Since I live in California it is illegal to affix the GPS to the window. I heard that it is possible to have your GPS permanently installed so that none of the wires (ie power cords, audio jax) are visible. Does someone know how that is done? or know of a website that explains how to do this?
Permanent install
I belive that Best Buy and Circut City will do the wires for around $35.00. For the mount I do not know.
Paul..... Nuvi 765T
did it myself
Since I live in California it is illegal to affix the GPS to the window. I heard that it is possible to have your GPS permanently installed so that none of the wires (ie power cords, audio jax) are visible. Does someone know how that is done? or know of a website that explains how to do this?
It would greatly depend on the car...
I did it myself in my Honda Element. Well, only mounted the suction disk permanently, the rest can still be taken out when needed. In the Element, though, there's a power outlet in the dash bins, so after wrapping the wires up, there's nothing protuding.
I would caution about permanent mounts of hand-held units, though, as they need to be connected to a PC for updates. Typical in-dash mounts use an insertable DVD for updates.
nüvi 200
Depends on your car...
Some folks (such as the Mini Cooper crowd) use mounts from Kuda USA (http://www.kudausa.com), but that's only part of the story -- you still have to install the mount and do the wiring. You can do a very nice installation using the Kuda bases. Expect to pay around $80 for the base and an adapter for something like the Nuvi.
Here's a picture of a Nuvi in a Mini, using a Kuda mount (the mount isn't visible in this pic):
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/6753/65053514gm5.jpg
Here's a pic of the Kuda mount in a Mini:
http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/8513/80354492rl4.jpg
I'm still playing with ideas. Currently I'm using the suction cup on the Mini's (very large) speedo:
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/500/medium...
What kind of car? What GPS? Where would you like to have it mounted? More important, where do you NOT want it mounted?
Nuvi 2460, 680, DATUM Tymserve 2100, Trimble Thunderbolt, Ham radio, Macintosh, Linux, Windows
dash mount
I found a spot near the top of my dash and use velcro, hasn't fell off yet
You can use bean bag mount
Since I live in California it is illegal to affix the GPS to the window. I heard that it is possible to have your GPS permanently installed so that none of the wires (ie power cords, audio jax) are visible. Does someone know how that is done? or know of a website that explains how to do this?
I would advise against mounting a GPS unit permanently in your car. That will only invite thief to break into your car to take the unit. A bean-bag mount is LEGAL in CA (I live in CA so I know as long as not suction cup, it's legal) and much easier to hide when you park a car. I hope this help.