Can anyone recommend a solid iPad mount that you've actually used in your 40? Looking for a mount that doesn't collapse, fall off, or vibrate excessively when off road. I've heard mixed reviews on the suction cup RAM mounts as well as the flexible tube floor mounts when using something as heavy as an iPad.
Yes, I've searched, and didn't find anything worthwhile in the 40 section that was recent. Pics of how you mounted it and product links would be awesome. Please don't just say "RAM Mount"...they make a thousand products, many of which won't fit the bill. Point me to what you've had good luck using.
I don't have my ipad mounted but I do have two RAM mounts for my phone. I'd get a RAM x-grip with a base that screws in place if you don't have a roll cage to mount to. I have a suction cup style in my 4runner and a roll bar mount style in my 40. The suction cup works great for my phone but I'm not sure I'd trust it to an ipad.
By the way, you'll get better response in the electronics section. That way you'll get some 80/100 series guys' opinions.
+1 on the Ram X-grip. Don't have it mounted in my 40 but I'm a pilot and I use the X-grip with my ipad mini in the cockpit and it works great. I fly a small twin engine plane that can get bumpy at times, and i have not had any problems with the suction mount. Hope this helps, good luck
I have the Ram mount in my 60, it's OK. It does vibrate a bit. I've only really used it one time seriously. I did 5 or 6 hours of dirt roads with it (using Motion X) and it was OK - at least it didn't fall off. I think if I set it up so that the bottom of the iPad rests on the top of the dash it might sit better.
I did the same search as you and as far as I can tell, there isn't a great mount short of going with a really serious laptop mount that mounts to the floor.
I made this mount for my iPad a couple of years ago. It allows me to view my maps, use the GPS ap, compass ap and gyroscope ap or to video any action as I'm driving. I've put it through its paces a number of times and have yet to dislodge it. Cost me about $10 and an hour or so to build. Didn't require any special tools to make.
It is an ap. When I purchased it, it had several colors of jeeps you could choose from. I photoshopped the FJ40s onto my screen so that I wouldn't offend any Mudders when I first posted the images of the iPad mount back in 2012. (What have you done to your Cruiser this Week? thread post #4012). Soon after I posted it, one of the other Mudders asked if I had contacted the ap developer to see if he would add FJ40s. When I said it had never occured to me, he said he'd do it and within a couple of weeks I received notice that an ap update (version 1.5) was available - and wallah! FJ40s appeared as an option in several colors! Not fond of the diamond plate on the rear fenders, but what the heck, it's still very cool.
Anyway, the ap is 4X4 Gyro Clinometer HD. It cost me a couple of bucks as I recall and works great.
Regarding the bracket, I'll try to post up some more photos tomorrow for anybody interested in making one of their own.
Here some detailed photos of my FJ40 dash mounted iPad holder. The photos are probably of more use the the description, but here it goes:
For the purposes of this description, I’m going to call the part of the holder that attaches to the dash of my Cruiser as the supporting frame. The part that holds the iPad in place on the supporting frame, I’m going to call the iPad holder. The material is ¾” wide aluminum strap which I picked up at my local Ace Hardware. I used two different thicknesses; 1/8” for the supporting frame and 1/16” for the iPad holder. The 1/8” is sufficiently rigid to support the iPad while the 1/16” has sufficient flex to slide the iPad in then spring back to hold it snuggly in place.
I should add that I have my iPad in an Otter Box frame which cushions my iPad and protects it from scratches and, because it is rubberized, gives it some grip when it’s in the holder. The entire holder only requires 24” of each of the two thicknesses of aluminum strap. The individual parts are held together with small stainless steel screws and nuts (a total of 8) which I also purchased at Ace. I also attached some neoprene padding (pipe insulation) to the underside of the supporting frame wherever it comes in contact with the dash or dash pads. If you don’t want your iPad in a case, you could also attach the neoprene to the straps that form the iPad holders to both protect and cushion it while mounted on the dash.
Construction is simple, just make the bends on the supporting frame based on the dimensions of your dash pad. My holder has a tight bend where it slips down behind my dash pad. It mounts at the center of my dash between the two defroster vents. There is a gap there between the dash and dash pad and the bent strap can be pushed into that gap where it grips the back of the dash pad. The bends on the iPad holder should be based on your iPad or iPad cover. Since my case is an Otter Box and quite tough, I actually bent the aluminum strap around the frame so it’s a nice custom fit. If you don’t plan to use a case, you’ll want to measure your iPad and make the bends with a vice and vice grip pliers.
At the base of the supporting frame, I attached a short (3.5”) strap which rests on top of the lower dash pad on my Cruiser dash board. This keeps the frame from “rocking” to the left or right when underway. Finally, I keep the entire frame in place with a 12” kwiktwist padded twist tie. The twist tie wraps around the base of the supporting frame and bends down and under the back of the lower dash pad. The twist tie is a heavy gage wire with a thick sheath padding that can be bent into any shape and holds its shape once it’s in place. Check out the photos of the holder mounted on the dash and you will see the twist tie holding the supporting frame in place on the lower dash pad.
So there you have it. Inexpensive and easy to make and works like a charm. Be sure to mount the iPad holder high enough on the supporting frame for the iPad camera to “see” over the dash and out the front window so you can video any off road action.
Good clear info. I am unclear on a couple of points tho.
1) You made those nice looking bends w/only a vise & vice grips ??
2 ) Am unfamilar with 'quick twist padded twist ties'. Any additional info on these ?
Looks great and I will try to make mine just like yours, unless you suggest any 'improvements'. You have an Otter Box, my iPad is in a Griffin Survivor .
Good clear info. I am unclear on a couple of points tho.
1) You made those nice looking bends w/only a vise & vice grips ??
2 ) Am unfamilar with 'quick twist padded twist ties'. Any additional info on these ?
Yep, the bends were made either in the vice or, in the case of the iPad holder, around my iPad in its Otter Box. I did take a wire brush to the bends to clean them up a bit and then painted the entire holder with Rustoleum Stainless Steel paint which interestingly enough is almost a dead ringer for the pewter paint on the dash and glove box lid.
Regarding the kwiktwist ties, you've probably seen them at the hardware store but paid them no mind. They don't appear to be very impressive in their packagaing, but actually perform pretty nicely where other devices fall short.
Here are a couple of photos that may help. I think I actually got mine at Tractor Supply or Northern Tool, though I've seen them elsewhere as well.
