Cheap Driver-Side Handlebar GPS Mount

[LoveTractor]

I rigged this today. I wanted a GPS mount on the handlebar next to my head so I wouldn't have to look very far for my GPS. CHEAP!

Ingredients:
Garmin Marine Mounting Bracket(for GPSMAP 76 series) or Auto Bracket
1 1/4-20 x1-3/4 x1 U-Bolt(Stainless Steel)
2 1/4-20 Wing Nuts

I took the base off the Bracket and flipped the holder.
Drilled 2 holes in "new" base(the one that used to swivel on the original) at an angle so the GPS would aim straight.
I bent the U-Bolt plate for a better fit around the handlebar.
Assembled:
U-Bolt around the back of handle bar-->curved plate-->U-Bolt Nuts-->Bracket-->Wing Nuts.

EDIT: Added the orginal U-Bolt nuts into the equation. Without them, I couldn't get the bracket tight enough and it would bounce around the oval-shaped handle-bar and come loose. With the U-Bolt/Curved Plate/Original U-Bolt Nuts set-up, you can get it really tight so it won't come loose.

NICE!
(This pic sort of sucks. I'll get a better one later tonight.)

 

[alvarorb]

Tractor,

I had the same setup with a Garmin e-trex Vista. I used a bike handle mount to attach the GPS to the handle bar.

It used to ger great reception and was quite confortable to work with. I got some pics at home of the setup. I think it's a great location.

Alvaro

 

[LoveTractor]

Yeah, Alvaro. I was looking at the handlebar mount, but the pics that I saw made it look like I couldn't mount it up-down. From the position of the handlebar(up-down), one could only mount it left-right. Can it be turned around 45 degrees?
Pics of the 76 series handlebar mount I found:
http://shop.garmin.com/accessory.jsp?sku=010-10305-01
http://www.thegpsstore.com/detail.asp?product_id=GAX103051

I felt the RAM handlebar mount protruded out too much. I was lookin' for something more flush with the bar.

 

[alvarorb]

Mine was not straight up, but at an angle. It was very easy to read.
I'll dig up some pics tonight and post them

Regards

Alvaro

 

[LoveTractor]

More pics as promised:

 

[alvarorb]

Here's my old GPS setup. It worked really well. The cable was a power and data cable. At the other end I would attach a laptop.

Nice 60!


Alvaro

 

[AZkick-n40]

Cool idea - I may just need to do that too.

Thanks!

Brian

 

[LoveTractor]

I've found that my original plans for the mount were not working properly. My mount would come loose from the odd shape of the handle bar(it's not a perfect circle to say the least) and fall. I added the original nuts that came with the U-Bolts into the equation. It works perfectly. You can get a much tighter fit around the handlebar. I editted the first post with update "schematics."