2004 White Rubicon build up
- Thread starter orangeTJ
- Start date
TenaciousTJ
Explorer
Excellent thread :wings:
GPS mounted on the sport cage's dash bar (mid December 2006):
Background:
I've been using GPS units since the summer of 2000 on my dual sport motorcycle.
They provide a lot of information about the surrounding terrain if used with
Garmin's Map Source TOPO software, which lets you load more detailed maps in to the GPS.
The 276C is my third Garmin unit. I started with a III+ then upgraded to a 176 because I wanted a bigger screen. About 2 years later I switched to the 276c to get a model that supports "auto routing" and would work with Garmin's City Select/City Navigator software - which is needed for more detailed "auto routing" capabilities.
The color screen is a nice feature to have too. In my off road motorcycle travels, the grayscale screen made it difficult to distinguish a road from a trail from a river / stream from an elevation contour line.
I mounted my GPS to the dash bar of the Rockhard4x4 Sport Cage.
I got the idea from my brother's Rubicon, which is set up the same way.
I used RAM mounts purchased from Cyco Active, a local dealer of GPS units and mounting accessories. I used several parts from them. Click the link above to go to the page that has the parts I used.
Parts list:
1. Bar mount/clamp: It's part labeled "O" in the picture at the top.
The part number is GRA108 - A large rubber sleeve covers the hose clamp, and it clamps a metal bracket to the dash bar. The bracket has a swivel ball on the end .
2. Short Arm - item "I", part number GRASA
3. Cradle - not shown at the top, but it is lower on the page - part number GR176CR
4. Diamond base mount adapter - Item "D", part number GRAD
The next photo also shows the GPS power wire. I routed it down through the defrost vent, behind the dash and over to the passenger foot well where I connected it to an auxiliary fuse block.
i dropped a string down through the vent first, pulled it through, then taped the string to the wire and pulled the wire up through te vent. You might also be able to use a coat hangar and poke it up from the glove box area to the vent, then tape the wire to the coat hangar and pull it through.
My GPS wire was bare wire on the end and had no cig lighter plug on it, which is likely the only way you will be able to fish the wire down through the vent, unless you want to cut some of the mesh dividers out of the vent to enlarge it. Since my game plan was to hardwire the GPS anyway, i ordered a spare cable with no plug on it.
The only really tricky part is once the wire or string drops down behind the stereo is getting it far enough to the right side (towards the glove box) so you can grab hold of it.
I tried another mounting location - the vertical bar of the Rockhard Cage, just below the grab handle. Works very well here - I can push the buttons without taking my hand off the wheel.
I ended up liking the extreme left side mounting better because it was easier to use the GPS there.
I chose Cyco Active because I've bought a lot of GPS accessories from them in the past, and like to see my money go to local vendors who support our sport. They are located in Seattle, WA. If there's any RAM parts they don't have in stock, they get them fast since RAM is also located near Seattle.
The folks at Cyco Active USE GPSs on a regular basis and are familiar with the in and outs of using them for back country travel.
Background:
I've been using GPS units since the summer of 2000 on my dual sport motorcycle.
They provide a lot of information about the surrounding terrain if used with
Garmin's Map Source TOPO software, which lets you load more detailed maps in to the GPS.
The 276C is my third Garmin unit. I started with a III+ then upgraded to a 176 because I wanted a bigger screen. About 2 years later I switched to the 276c to get a model that supports "auto routing" and would work with Garmin's City Select/City Navigator software - which is needed for more detailed "auto routing" capabilities.
The color screen is a nice feature to have too. In my off road motorcycle travels, the grayscale screen made it difficult to distinguish a road from a trail from a river / stream from an elevation contour line.
I mounted my GPS to the dash bar of the Rockhard4x4 Sport Cage.
I got the idea from my brother's Rubicon, which is set up the same way.
I used RAM mounts purchased from Cyco Active, a local dealer of GPS units and mounting accessories. I used several parts from them. Click the link above to go to the page that has the parts I used.
Parts list:
1. Bar mount/clamp: It's part labeled "O" in the picture at the top.
The part number is GRA108 - A large rubber sleeve covers the hose clamp, and it clamps a metal bracket to the dash bar. The bracket has a swivel ball on the end .
2. Short Arm - item "I", part number GRASA
3. Cradle - not shown at the top, but it is lower on the page - part number GR176CR
4. Diamond base mount adapter - Item "D", part number GRAD
The next photo also shows the GPS power wire. I routed it down through the defrost vent, behind the dash and over to the passenger foot well where I connected it to an auxiliary fuse block.
i dropped a string down through the vent first, pulled it through, then taped the string to the wire and pulled the wire up through te vent. You might also be able to use a coat hangar and poke it up from the glove box area to the vent, then tape the wire to the coat hangar and pull it through.
My GPS wire was bare wire on the end and had no cig lighter plug on it, which is likely the only way you will be able to fish the wire down through the vent, unless you want to cut some of the mesh dividers out of the vent to enlarge it. Since my game plan was to hardwire the GPS anyway, i ordered a spare cable with no plug on it.
The only really tricky part is once the wire or string drops down behind the stereo is getting it far enough to the right side (towards the glove box) so you can grab hold of it.
I tried another mounting location - the vertical bar of the Rockhard Cage, just below the grab handle. Works very well here - I can push the buttons without taking my hand off the wheel.
I ended up liking the extreme left side mounting better because it was easier to use the GPS there.
I chose Cyco Active because I've bought a lot of GPS accessories from them in the past, and like to see my money go to local vendors who support our sport. They are located in Seattle, WA. If there's any RAM parts they don't have in stock, they get them fast since RAM is also located near Seattle.
The folks at Cyco Active USE GPSs on a regular basis and are familiar with the in and outs of using them for back country travel.
RunninRubicon
Adventurer
ORB vs ours vs Posion Spider
I have installed several of ORB and own a Posion Spyder trai cage myself. I like the bolt on idea though I feel safer in a welded cage.
:clapsmile
I have installed several of ORB and own a Posion Spyder trai cage myself. I like the bolt on idea though I feel safer in a welded cage.
:clapsmile
Added some more stuff to it last week, see the write up here:
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13388
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13388
Been a while since I updated this thread.......
Upgraded my sPOD switch system with "The Source" (a relay/fuse/terminal block unit) which make the wiring of accessories truly "plug and play"
Here's a few teaser photos. The entire write-up is here:
http://www.dualsport.info/rigs/tj/s-pod/source/index.htm
Finished project:
Upgraded my sPOD switch system with "The Source" (a relay/fuse/terminal block unit) which make the wiring of accessories truly "plug and play"
Here's a few teaser photos. The entire write-up is here:
http://www.dualsport.info/rigs/tj/s-pod/source/index.htm
Finished project:
