Pick-up theater system ( laptop mount )

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 7:21 pm

Just got back from a trip north. I built a quick place to hold the notebook for viewing DVD's on the trip.

I used some of the "No-slip" shelf liner (for RV's) to keep it from moving around. It worked great!

Tach rates it "Two Thumbs up"

I just plug it into the powerport via a 150W power inverter, and use the RCA aux. inputs to play the sound through to stock sound system.

It made a long trip a little shorter.

Mike H. · Post by **Mike H.** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 7:54 pm

Good thinking. My kids would like that. It beats the $300 or more they want for one of those seatback hanging models.

Question: What's that gauge you've put on your steering column? It's too small to make out in the pic.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 8:11 pm

Mike H. wrote:
Question: What's that gauge you've put on your steering column? It's too small to make out in the pic.

That's the fuel guage for the Aux. fuel tank, there are better pics of it in the "write-up".

Mike H. · Post by **Mike H.** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 8:13 pm

Got it, thanks.

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Mon Jul 07, 2003 1:51 am

nice to see you on the forum while driving down the road

Justin · Post by **Justin** » Tue Jul 08, 2003 2:37 pm

nothing wrong with watching movies or playing xbox/playstation while driving..I do it too

I have a laptop too with an s-video output and the system above has the input. I had a 7 hour drive where the rear passangers watched the laptop while myself and the girlfriend watched the same thing on the 6" screen in front..It sure does beat paying $300 for the flipdown lcd's.

quickbiker · Post by **quickbiker** » Tue Jul 08, 2003 7:04 pm

ok Henry, aka Mr. Gadget. Go go gadget truck!

AZS10Crew · Post by **AZS10Crew** » Tue Jul 08, 2003 9:27 pm

And there's people worried about talking on a cell phone while driving!

Doc · Post by **Doc** » Tue Jul 08, 2003 10:04 pm

How do you DRIVE and watch TV?

As a Firefighter/EMT, part time law enforcement and a motorcyclist I wish people would pay closer attention to there driving. I have seen too many accidents that were caused by the driver not paying enough attention.

Sorry to get on my soapbox and I don't mean to offend... Those are some cool upgrades for passengers to watch..., I just don't think a driver should be preoccupied with that or a video game, OR a cell phone.

Ok I will get off the soapbox.

Cool toys...Just be careful, I would hate to have to use the "jaws of life" to rip your "Crew" apart to get you out.

Warnoffroad · Post by **Warnoffroad** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 8:32 pm

Doc wrote:How do you DRIVE and watch TV?

You have 2 eyes right? Keep on on the TV and the other on the road

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Fri Jul 11, 2003 3:14 pm

Doc wrote:
Cool toys...Just be careful, I would hate to have to use the "jaws of life" to rip your "Crew" apart to get you out.

as long as you get some pictures

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Jul 11, 2003 3:44 pm

Doc wrote:How do you DRIVE and watch TV?

Sorry to get on my soapbox and I don't mean to offend... Those are some cool upgrades for passengers to watch...

Exactly as it is intended for PASSENGERS, I do enjoy listening though.

There was no other option to mount something of this size anywhere else , that I could find. Plus it really comes in handy as a table for writing notes, setting drinks and food, etc. (not while driving

)

Post by **HenryJ** » Mon Nov 10, 2003 9:45 am

I know that at least one person is interested in adding a laptop mount for their truck, and I ran across this:

Nice idea using existing seat mounts to attach. I'll have to keep that in mind

Base and pole mount

Laptop mount

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 8:29 pm

Update: added a cup holder to the table top-

code3crew · Post by **code3crew** » Mon Dec 15, 2003 8:17 am

I agree with doc that driving and worring about distractions gets people hurt. Doc your not law enforcement!

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun May 02, 2004 3:01 pm

Came across another mount-
Jotto desk

It is near the bottom. Fully adjustable and priced at $150, I would probably have bought this one

smokinjoe · Post by **smokinjoe** » Sun May 02, 2004 6:24 pm

the one 2bunik did was a nice idea, and you could also easliy add one in the back like that as well if you mounted it on the back of the center console

Post by **HenryJ** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 4:15 pm

Yet another mounting system for the laptop- Ram-mount.com laptop mounts

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:26 pm

And yet another mount for 30 bucks and as the pics show here it appears to be worthy of "wheelin'" I ordered one this evening for my wife to "give" to me

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 11:08 pm

Got my power inverter in today. Picked up a 400 watt model on ebay for 19.99 but I don't think it will last long. My first clue was on the packaging.

"has an external spade type 'fush'" If they can't have someone proofread packaging I am a tad leary of the product.

Just hope it powers my laptop without "frying it".

Oh well

I'll just make sure to have extra fushes when wheeling.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 2:45 pm

There have been some more questions about my laptop shelf , so I threw together a few more photos and a quick mod page- Laptop Tabletop

Post by **HenryJ** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 4:31 am

At $50 this looks like a great solution : http://www.jeniko.com/

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 6:03 am

HenryJ wrote:At $50 this looks like a great solution : http://www.jeniko.com/

I am going to try one. It comes to $66 with shipping and handling. I may install it in the truck if it looks really good. That will free up the table top for other things and add some adjustability.
If that doesn't look like it will work there very well, it will go in the wifes Maxx.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 1:17 pm

That is a good price but, you will soon find out the sheet metal screws will not mix with our floorboards. The stuff is is what I call "pot metal", way to soft to hold. Of course, you will fab up something to make it work with a backing plate of a similar method.

I just had a rough time with my mount and the only good metal is close to the seat anchoring points.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 1:39 pm

f9k9 wrote:...you will soon find out the sheet metal screws will not mix with our floorboards...you will fab up something to make it work with a backing plate of a similar method.

That is my plan. I have no doubt that reinforcement will be needed on the back side. I like to use bolts, but may use Nutserts if the location is inconvenient for access to a nut on the back side.

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:39 pm

The Jeniko laptop mount arrived today. It did require some modification to fit the way I wanted it to.

I drilled out all six mounting bolts to accept 5/16" bolts. The base was mounted between the seat and console. Centered just behind the front seat bolt.

This area has a reinforcement on the underside. Five out of six bolts when through this extra plating on the underside. It should be plenty sturdy. Some massaging of the interior sheet metal and the back of the bracket was bent down to conform.

The carpet covers it nicely.

I cut the top T-bar down. It was nearly twice as long as I needed.

Of course the modding did not stop there. I had to have my cup holder. This time I cut two 3" holes for twin cup holders.

These help to hold the "no slip" cover in place and come in very handy. I was not able to retain the "Laptop Tabletop" The mount for it interfered with this one, so it has been removed.
This looks good so far. It seems to be sturdy. Time will tell.

Oh! I did have one casualty. I twisted the knob for the height adjustment apart

I sent an email to see if I can get a replacement.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:52 pm

Looks great! Will you passenger seat move it's original range of motion or can't you tell yet?

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:58 pm

It will not move to the full forward position. It lacks about an inch or two from full forward. I have no need for it that far forward anyway.
It is a soft hit. The base for the foam is where it comes up against the support. I could pull the cover and massage the base with a BFH to make it clear, and may if I need to someday.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 4:44 pm

About the same with mine. The power seat tries to move it but, Mrs. Hoff usually remembers in time when she is moving her seat. 3+ yrs and she has only driven it twice. I wish she would drive it so, I can get some minor work done on her car.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 11:01 am

I made a trip to the hardware store after deciding that I need to make my attachment system adjustable. I have a couple different laptops that may be used on the new mount and who knows what will be next.

Here is the hardware that I used:
Two 1/4" threaded hooks, two 1/4"x7" turnbuckles , two 3"x1/2" dia springs , 6" of 1/4" rubber vacuum line tubing, 16" of 3/4" convoluted tubing, 1/2" and 1/4" heat shrink tubing.

Remove and discard the right hand threaded eyelet from the turnbuckle.
Straighten the threaded hook to 90°. Then using a measurement of your installed laptop bend an additional 90° to create a hook to hold your laptop.
Slip a piece of shrink tubing to cover the shaft of the threaded hook to isolate it from the hole in the table top.

Slide a piece of the rubber tubing over the hook to insulate it from damaging the laptop. Hairspray works as a lubricant for installation and dries to hold it in place. I capped the end with an appropriately sized vacuum line cap.

Thread the left hand threaded eyelet all the way into the turnbuckle. Push a piece of shrink tubing over the body of the turn buckle and shrink it in place. Cut away excess from the end where the threaded rod from the hook will be attached. Insert the rod of the hook through the hole in the top and thread a nut on the rod. Now thread the turn buckle on the rod. Attach the spring to the eyelet and the hole on the other side of the top. Loosen the turn buckle as needed for spring tension.

Cover the spring and eyelet to insulate them.

It will be a while before I test them out, but I am happy with how it turned out. Time to complete less than 2 hours including the gathering of supplies. Cost was less than $10.

This is a 15" laptop and the one that usually travels with me.

Here is a 17" widescreen onboard.

You could add the same hooks to the back side of the top too if needed. Four of these would really secure a laptop. I am not sure if that will be needed. Right now my cupholders take priority.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 12:31 pm

A velcro strap to easy?

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 1:01 pm

f9k9 wrote:A velcro strap to easy?

Perhaps. It came with adhesive mount velcro. The instructions show two pieces strategically placed to hold it.
The "RV no slip" cover does a pretty good job. I needed a little more to hold it.
Are you saying my hooks are overkill?

Well maybe they are. I do get accused of building bullet proof when Tyvek would suffice.

Velcro straps might work too. They might get in the way when not in use and wear out. I think the hooks will outlast the rest of the mount.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 1:59 pm

Overkill? I dunno. Velcro has worked pretty well for me but, it has come lose in the summer heat when I didn't have them under tension and a laptop mounted. I can tell you that every wheeling pic that I have posted of the CC that the Sony VAIO was on board with out any problems.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 2:48 pm

OK. I took your recommendation and added velcro straps to the back side. They are attached with snaps. They swivel underneath or can be removed if not needed. It is 3/4" wide and should just clear the DVD tray.

Are you happy now? (j/k)

It is not a bad idea and I know for sure it will be secure now. Thanks

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 3:30 am

HenryJ wrote:added velcro straps to the back side. They are attached with snaps. They swivel underneath or can be removed if not needed. It is 3/4" wide and should just clear the DVD tray..........Are you happy now? (j/k) ......:

Only you could do over kill on velcro!

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 1:23 pm

HenryJ wrote:The Jeniko laptop mount arrived today... I did have one casualty:

I twisted the knob for the height adjustment apart I sent an email to see if I can get a replacement.

Finally received an email from Jeniko. They will be sending me a new knob free of charge.
There was a delay in response, but they were apologetic about it. Seems that Tim is the one in charge of internet customer service and he was out of town.
Sounds like a small company with a good product.
I think I will get another to mount in the wifes car, and maybe a few for fire department vehicles.

border man · Post by **border man** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 5:28 pm

You need a paper clip

+

A couple sticks of gum

+

Some pennies, make sure they are shinny

and a pair of these......

=

There you have it.....

Way to go HJ!!!!

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 1:13 pm

Hey! I have a jacket like that

I am getting ready to order three more of these mounts. Two for the Fire Department and one for the wife's car. I think my Dad is getting ready to buy one too.

It has held up pretty good so far. It wiggles a little offroad, but nothing nasty. I like it alot!

I will be getting two Delorme Earthmate LT-20 receivers bundled with Streets 2008 for use in the emergency vehicles. We don't have mapping available in them yet and this should get their feet wet, while I check out some other options.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:26 pm

Ram rear seat laptop desk

Installation.PDF

GPS Cheap $73 shipped

S-10CREWCAB.NET

Pick-up theater system ( laptop mount )

Pick-up theater system ( laptop mount )

I have to agree with Mark...

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Re: I have to agree with Mark...

Re: I have to agree with Mark...

home theater

Re: Pick-up theater system ( laptop mount )