Attaching things to plastic dashboard

[Climber Rob]

How are you attaching items to your dashboard? I have a few things I want to secure to the lower dash extension, down towards the bottom. I'm thinking about just putting a couple of screws into the plastic, but am wondering what other people are doing to secure things to the dash. Thanks for your input!

 

[Hill Bill E.]

Depends on the weight. But I've had good luck using 3M two sided adhesive. It's like tape, but is about 1/16" think.

Cleans up nice, with no holes in the plastic. Used it for small GPS mounts, cell phone mounts, etc.

Things like the CB were to heavy when mounted vertically, (Cobra 29 LTD) but I have used it when I mounted one horizontally on top of the dash.

Clean the surface well with rubbing alcohol, let dry. Do it when it's warm, or use a hair dryer/heat gun to warm up the mounting area.

 

[4x4x4doors]

I went with machine screws backed by a flat washer and nut. Only works if you have access to the backside.

 

[Climber Rob]

Depends on the weight. But I've had good luck using 3M two sided adhesive. It's like tape, but is about 1/16" think.

Cleans up nice, with no holes in the plastic. Used it for small GPS mounts, cell phone mounts, etc.

Things like the CB were to heavy when mounted vertically, (Cobra 29 LTD) but I have used it when I mounted one horizontally on top of the dash.

Clean the surface well with rubbing alcohol, let dry. Do it when it's warm, or use a hair dryer/heat gun to warm up the mounting area.

I've used the 3M double-sided foam adhesive a lot. Good idea for the smaller stuff. I'm more concerned about heavier things staying in place.

 

[Climber Rob]

I went with machine screws backed by a flat washer and nut. Only works if you have access to the backside.

I have done this in the past, but my current truck does not offer easy access to the backside of the dash.

 

[cnynrat]

I have used screws to attach some things to my dash. For example, I have a small remote speaker for my ham radio mounted on top of the dash using small screws. Works well, but it does leave holes. Of course, there will be no holes if I leave the speaker in the truck when I sell it!

I have a couple other items mounted using peel and strip adhesive. I have a mount for my Kenwood ham radio faceplate mounted that way, and also a mount for my Droid phone. In both cases the mounts came with the adhesive on them. These also work well with proper surface prep, and obviously have the advantage that you can probably remove them and clean up the dash without leaving holes.

 

[Schattenjager]

Screws. When I mounted my Ram Mount I had no choice due to weight and leverage. That as aide, I am not a big fan of things on the dash, but if something has to be there for some dread purpose, I'm going to use self taping screw and small bit of RTV.

 

[mhiscox]

This official RAM Mount plastic disk RAM 3.5" ADHESIVE SUCTION CUP BLACK BSE sticks great to the dash and that gives you a platform to attach any base with a suction mount, or one of the RAM mounts with suction base that you can attach most anything to. They cost a lot ($8+) for nothing-very-exciting, but they work very well without creating any permanent damage. (It's probably just me, but I work hard to avoid permanently messing up the plastics on trucks I may have to sell someday, figuring the new owner may not want to look at my self-tapping screws or screw holes.)

 

[squint]

Try superglue gel. It works very well. Once glued on, go back and "caulk" the gel all the way around it where you have contact and let dry for 24 hours. I have had my CB glued to the lower dash for 3 years and it has not come off. Self tapping metal screws work well and if you cannot get behind it and you want permanence, you could try a metal drywall anchor.

 

[keezer37]

I've used the 3M double-sided foam adhesive a lot. Good idea for the smaller stuff. I'm more concerned about heavier things staying in place.

3M does make a heavy duty double sided tape I've bought at Dixieline before. Probably available at many hardware stores. It is not a foam tape. It's dark grey in color with a red peal off backing.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Don't you have to go pretty deep into the plastic to get to anything that will hold any weight? I know the outside of my dash is that soft, spongy plastic that is designed to save your head from a bump, but I imagine that if you drill deep enough you'd get to something a little stiffer.

When it's time to mount something to the dash I do miss the days of metal dashboards. I think the last vehicle I had with a metal dash was my '71 Blazer, although my 1990 Montero had a pretty hard plastic dash that was stout enough to mount my first GPS unit to.

 

[life_w_vagabonds]

I mounted my GPS on the Scoobie with gorilla glue. I used the suction mount that came with the unit, pulled the rubber off and glued the mount right to the dash. Two Phoenix summers and many miles of washboard still hanging tough. I really like gorilla glue, you just have to watch the expansion!

 

[y5e06]

I mounted my brake controller to an unsupported part of the dash. although not heavy I wanted a solid mount. I cut a sufficiently sized piece of aluminum stock, bent it slightly to match the curvature of the dash, drilled & tapped it, then used proper sized machine screws. the aluminum plate was mounted on the backside of the dash/plastic while the brake controller bracket is on the outside. bolt it right up nice and secure. use whatever scrap metal you have around that will work. I'm sure you can use the proper nuts with the machine screws but you don't need to use a wrench on the backside once both screws (bolts, really) were started.

 

[mep1811]

Scotch makes an outdoor double sided tape I have found to be very strong. I get mine at Lowes. 3M also makes a very Heavy Duty velcro . Using this velcro is pretty much permanent it really can't be pried apart . It is FAA approved and very strong.

 

[lx450landcruiser]

You want VHB tape Youll prolly have to special order it and its kinda spendy but you can mount anything (regardless of size) with it
Clean the surfaces before use as well as heat them up a bit (hair drier or heat gun) its double sided put pressure on it for a bit when first mounting and youll be good to go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_fM5cqSODc