Ram Mount Asus netbook mount
- Thread starter Echodawg
- Start date
xpdishn
Adventurer
Well my laptop mount didn't cost much so I don't know if anyone will be interested, but I found that the store bought mounts take up too much room on the passenger side. Therefore I made my own. The mount can be made with any size tray for various sizes of laptops. Here is a link to what I did.
http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/stereo-electronics/46455-another-laptop-mount.html
This mount has been proven vibration proof over several thousand miles of desert back roads. The laptop is held in place by two strips of velcro and has never moved at all.
My nagivator really likes it after checking out the Ram Mount and another one before I built this.
http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/stereo-electronics/46455-another-laptop-mount.html
This mount has been proven vibration proof over several thousand miles of desert back roads. The laptop is held in place by two strips of velcro and has never moved at all.
My nagivator really likes it after checking out the Ram Mount and another one before I built this.
Echodawg
Wanderer
What a great idea! I'm thinking of maybe using the Tough Tray II along with a custom mount along the lines of what you did. I could then make it as low profile as I would like. Did you ever paint the mount? If so, how did the paint react to the copper?
xpdishn
Adventurer
Yes, I did paint everything flat black. I thought sure I had a picture or two to post but I got nothing.
The paint has adhered really well, there is no flaking or peeling. It take about 1 minute to remove the whole mount, except that part bolted to the floor. I have done this many times and no paint problems.
With copper water pipe and fittings, you can go anywhere you want to have the actual laptop table positioned exactly where you want it.
Post up pics when you're finished, it's nice to see other home made mods.
off-roader
Expedition Leader
I faced a similar problem but didn't want the cost and complexity of a 3rd party mount like RAM, etc.
Here's what I did to mount my netbook (Acer Aspire One) which is similar enough to your Asus...
That's a piece of 1/16" thick aluminum plate cut to fit & bent to the right shape. It's bolted in place using the existing bolt holes that the 3 gauge cluster uses. I used 2x 2x6" pieces of stick on velcro (rough side on plate & soft side on netbook) to secure the netbook to the plate.
I've had it on washboards, rock crawling, etc. and it hasn't complained a peep.
On freeways, it does occasionally vibrate reaching a resonant frequency but I simply push the lid towards the gauges and that stops any oscillations almost completely. It doesn't come back for at least 3-4 hrs so making it more secure versus doing that 2-3x a day on road trips was not worth it for me. Off road, this doesn't happen due to the irregularities in the terrain. Also since most of the weight in at the back, close to the attachment point, the whole unit doesn't vibrate like you would think it would.
I did have a backup plan if the vibrations were too much and that was to use a thicker piece of aluminum.
:sombrero:
HTH.
Here's what I did to mount my netbook (Acer Aspire One) which is similar enough to your Asus...
That's a piece of 1/16" thick aluminum plate cut to fit & bent to the right shape. It's bolted in place using the existing bolt holes that the 3 gauge cluster uses. I used 2x 2x6" pieces of stick on velcro (rough side on plate & soft side on netbook) to secure the netbook to the plate.
I've had it on washboards, rock crawling, etc. and it hasn't complained a peep.
On freeways, it does occasionally vibrate reaching a resonant frequency but I simply push the lid towards the gauges and that stops any oscillations almost completely. It doesn't come back for at least 3-4 hrs so making it more secure versus doing that 2-3x a day on road trips was not worth it for me. Off road, this doesn't happen due to the irregularities in the terrain. Also since most of the weight in at the back, close to the attachment point, the whole unit doesn't vibrate like you would think it would.
I did have a backup plan if the vibrations were too much and that was to use a thicker piece of aluminum.
:sombrero:
HTH.
off-roader
Expedition Leader
Thanks. Did the same thing in my other 4x4 (89 Montero). Same general design, with a couple of tweaks to make it fit properly.
Echodawg
Wanderer
X2 Nice mount. I suppose it's all vehicle specific so I'll have to see what I can come up with.
off-roader
Expedition Leader
On both of mine, they mounted to a center gauge pod but I've seen others attached where the lower center dash section attaches to the main dash.
It certainly does depend on your interior setup. If your dash is like this one I found online...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/willwilson-sirius/2997769984/
Then if it were me, I'd first try 'squeezing' (if possible) a piece of aluminum plate above your radio and mounting it there.
Otherwise, a floor mounted base may be the only real option.
It certainly does depend on your interior setup. If your dash is like this one I found online...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/willwilson-sirius/2997769984/
Then if it were me, I'd first try 'squeezing' (if possible) a piece of aluminum plate above your radio and mounting it there.
Otherwise, a floor mounted base may be the only real option.
Last edited:
Echodawg
Wanderer
Yeah it is real similar to that dash. I ordered the Ram Tough Tray II for a base and I'll look at mounting options once I get it.
daverami
Explorer
Got mine in this afternoon.
Looking good!
off.track
Adventurer
oh man, that's awesome.. i like it.. this may work for me well as i have a stick to contend with.
do you have any details on the tray and how it attaches to the copper piping?
also, did you just solder the bottom to some copper sheeting?