Where to put a GPS?

[matt-chops]

So... I have finally ditched the 'wife hopelessly reading a map and giving me the wrong directions' form of navigation by ordering a TomTom GPS last night, specifically the XL340 model.

Because I'm a little bit OCD and don't want to have wires n shit hanging everywhere, I'd love to hear some suggestions on neat and tidy ways to mount the gps in the car and hide the USB charger cable so it's virtually out of sight.

Questions are:-
- Can I run the USB cable under the dash somehow to plug into a lighter plug or even hard wire it for power easily?
- What are opinions on the best spot for mounting the GPS? Right of wheel, left of wheel above the air con vents... maybe even down just behind the shifter where the HBD factory units were fitted?

I did have a crazy idea a while ago that a good spot and implementation of a GPS unit would be just above the center air con vents by replacing the plastic panel there with a custom one made to mount the GPS... in a similar way to how the SSZ gauges are mounted. Would look great, but then I don't know how to mould plastic and futhermore have NFI how I would match the grey colour of my console.

Anyway, thanks in advance for the feedback guys.

[Benboy]

Where to place it....wherever you like and it is most functional for you. No big deal.

[VesperZ]

In response to this I was thinking of something similar but kinda gave up because I was too lazy to attempt it. You could I suppose take your dash apart and guide your cable through from behind the dash thus not having your GPS cable awkwardly running messily around the front, however you'll then realize it won't reach the cigarette lighter plug placed in the center console. Furthermore if your good with electronics and proficient enough, you could cut the cigarette lighter plug off the end of your cable and hardwire it into your accessories wiring. If you haven't done this before I would definitely not suggest to attempt it. In terms of mounting it, well once again if you know how to fibreglass you could always go down that road but to me it just seems like more effort than it's worth. Hiding the cable is one thing, but implementing it into the dash is another.

[Slipper]

you could try and put the GPS where the factory ones are fitted (directly under headunit) you can buy mounting brackets and covers so it looks real nice

[VesperZ]

you could try and put the GPS where the factory ones are fitted (directly under headunit) you can buy mounting brackets and covers so it looks real nice

Probably won't fit being a 4.3"

[PaulSV6]

Just mount it in the centre of the windscreen, tats where i mount mine. Easy field of view

[123oriordan]

I installed mine a navman F20 years ago on the bottom right of the screen.ran the cable down inside the inside of the front door seal, under the dash, there i installed a acc plug pluged in the charger and taped it together and cable ties off something I cannt remember. to get the power to the acc socket I used a piece of fig 8 wire (yes I know its over kill) ran it back throught the centre console, removed the rear passangers vents to gain access to the wires of the ciggie lighter then used the blue inline taps from repco and all good worked a treat. also installed the antenna ran cable up inside front pillar and screen.

[Torquative]

Just mount it in the centre of the windscreen, tats where i mount mine. Easy field of view

ditto. I just hide the cables under the plate at the top and pop it out to grab em when we're going on a longer trip. Hidden from view when not in use, yet hard wired in for when it is in use.

But yeh sounds like your putting a little bit too much thought into this!!!

[Junny]

I did have a crazy idea a while ago that a good spot and implementation of a GPS unit would be just above the center air con vents by replacing the plastic panel there with a custom one made to mount the GPS... in a similar way to how the SSZ gauges are mounted. Would look great, but then I don't know how to mould plastic and futhermore have NFI how I would match the grey colour of my console.

Anyway, thanks in advance for the feedback guys.

do that idea... my mate bought a gps and placed it in where his screen goes in his s15... looks sweet

[rpurser]

Ill try and get some photos of mine for you shortly, but in words - the unit is mounted to the left of the dash and is taken off when not in use. the cable runs down behind the trim along the side of the stereo and plugs into a 12v outlet i wired up into the loom for the smokers pack behind the left side kick pannel in the drivers footwell. works a treat

[danja]

The factory location is retarded, you can't see the GPS and the road at the same time, and the gearstick gets in the way of it. Whatever you do, don't put it there.

[Slipper]

clearly you've never used a car with the factory GPS in place, its in a great position, its only obscured if your driving with the gear shifter in P, or R, mounting GPS on the glass just looks tacky and obscures your vision

[rpurser]

I've had a factory nav system and it was fine, however update disc were more expensive than a new portable unit and typing on the screen can be difficult i found (and the remote style - irritating and time consuming), plus you cant glance at the map and count streets or see the proposed path without taking your eyes off the road completely.

Anyway, this is my install as discribed in my earlier post; ive also got my phone charger hooked into the double socket so its perfect for me.

[danja]

I've had a factory nav system and it was fine, however update disc were more expensive than a new portable unit and typing on the screen can be difficult i found (and the remote style - irritating and time consuming), plus you cant glance at the map and count streets or see the proposed path without taking your eyes off the road completely.

Anyway, this is my install as discribed in my earlier post; ive also got my phone charger hooked into the double socket so its perfect for me.

So, aside from being overpriced, difficult, irritating and often dangerous to use, the factory system is fine?

Nice custom install by the way, very neat!

[rpurser]

if you have the factory one installed, or want to spend the money then yeah they're fine. My VDO system got me where i needed and got me home every time. ie- it did whast it was designed to do. if it wasn't installed when i bought my previous car, would i have paid for it - no.

With my current car, having no satnav system pre installed, and picking up my Navman MY50T for $140. I looked at doing a custom style install (however no gps signal could be gained and no aerial available for my model), thought about making a pop up bracket and fitting it into the top of the dash (to hard and cbf). Hence my current install - its clean and tidy (you dont even notice the cable after a week) when the navman is not in use and practical when it is with constant power.

so therefore comparing the two systems i had/have is how i drew my above conslusions on the factory system in compatrison to my navman. Navman wins without a doubt

thanks, i have ocd with my being clean on the outside, neat on the inside and i hate wires

[showxpony]

Here's mine:







Bit of a ballbreaker to make. But I got the idea from an iPod dock. The GPS system is removable when i'm parked, and i throw it back in when im driving. Takes it off the window, allowing full visibility, is secure in the holder when driving, and doesn't leave that stupid circle mark on the windscreen. I Hard wired the power supply in behind the dash. I love it, looks great at night. Cheers.

[K9UTE]

Ive done something similar to showxpony,using a spare blanking plate on top of the dash put a small indent on the front edge to lead the wire out from underneath, hard wired a ciggarette lighter plug under the plate, and put a mounting disc on the top for the suction mount to go onto. So no suction mount marks on windscreen, and only an inch or two of lead poking out. Plus takes two seconds to pull plate off and grab the lead if i need to use it in another car....

[matt-chops]

Well, I finally got around to working where and how to do it. I've gone with a very similar setup to showxpony in that ive mounted it on top of the dash/console.

To power the unit I've run a USB cable behind the dash and into the console where it plugs in to the lighter socket. Behind the GPS there is a flush mounted USB port in the panel so the GPS can be unplugged without stuffing aroung.

The method doesn't involve cutting any wires or potentially stuffing anything up, and means when I leave the car i can easily remove it so no one will steal it.

I'm just waiting on a short (20cm ish) right angle USB cable to come in the mail so I don't have to use the coiled up one.

Driver's View - Plugged in and charging


Close-up from the passenger seat


From outside - can see the USB port in the panel on top of the dash


The plug inside the console - can be unplugged any time to power other things or charge my phone

[D3CID3R]

looks pretty good, from a technicians view, it looks like a pretty nice and neat install.. where did you get the recess mount USB socket for the dash plate?

[matt-chops]

From ebay, a seller in HK. Cost a few bucks. About 1.5m long. Basically this one...

panel mount USB female AF To Male AM extension cable - eBay, Cables, Components, Computers. (end time 18-Aug-10 04:45:19 AEST)

Just have to trim back the rubber screw holes so that the socket sits flush with the panel you mount to.

[D3CID3R]

Awesome, cheers

[VesperZ]

From ebay, a seller in HK. Cost a few bucks. About 1.5m long. Basically this one...

panel mount USB female AF To Male AM extension cable - eBay, Cables, Components, Computers. (end time 18-Aug-10 04:45:19 AEST)

Just have to trim back the rubber screw holes so that the socket sits flush with the panel you mount to.

The only thing with that is I wouldn't have used screws to mount it. I would've used some really awesome super glue that way on the exterior it's all flush, otherwise a nice install. I'm looking to mount mine inside cause mines a popup compartment. Already checked if mine fits and it fits easily. Just a matter of fabricating it to slide out.

[keeny]

here is a pic of mine





I hate mess and wires too so ive ran the power cable across into the side vent on the drivers door. Then i have picked up a positive from the accesories/ cigarette lighter hard wired it to the gps plug, and ran the negative from the gps plug to the body to get a negative.

simply with no mess

[baracuda]

this is what i done
got the tom-tom car kit and hardwired it into the plug underneath the radio(behind the trim)