Laptop mount Dash Brace

[snowmirage]

First I think there probably should be a "preschool fab work" section as that would probably be a more appropriate place for this, but o well ONWARD!

I have a laptop mount I bought on sale on newegg a few years ago.

Rosewill Vehicle Laptop Holder Model RMS-A520
Item #: N82E16882021069

If your curious.


Overall it works well but bouncing around on in the dirt it gets a bit shaky. I am working to tie in some support into the lower dash here's a few pics to give you an idea where I am going.

First some pics of the mount it self and about how I want it positioned.





These pics show where the bracket I'm trying to make will tie into the dash, its one of the screws that mounts the Heating / AC controls to the dash.





Here's what I've got so far





Kind of ran out of steam this evening and it was getting dark but now I just have to dream up a way to tie that bracket into the mounts up right. I cant drill through that black tube as it is sleeved it can stretch longer or shorter if that makes sense.

Bending it to the right angle and using some hose clamps might work I guess? But I don't know if that will be solid enough.

Even with this connected I'm not sure that one bracket will be enough but time will tell.

Any thoughts?

[DirtyBacon04]

since you cant drill into the tube, what if you fab'd up a bracket with nut welded on (or JB weld). Hold that bracket on the black tube with 2 hose clamps, then put a bolt straight through the piece you already have made. Or use multiple nuts/ bolts combo.
Did that make any sense?

[snowmirage]

If I had or had access to a welder it would be like cheating

using hose clamps to hold a piece of angle steel to the tube and then bend the bracket to bolt up to that was about all I have come up with so far but it just doesnt sound like it would add a lot of support. Most hose clamps I've seen dont like to tighten that much.

[djthumper]

U-bolts should work much better

[NC_IslandRunner]

U-bolts should work much better

Be careful with J-B Weld, it is amazingly strong but I think that is a static rating on the tube, it can't take too much bouncing before it gives.

[Trail X]

[snowmirage]

I was just about to take James's suggestion and order what I had discussed with him from mcmaster but decided to take one more look around the local hardware store for inspiration, and I got lucky!


http://www.lowes.com/pd_72271-15527-413 ... facetInfo=

fight nicely around it luckily. I'm going to get some rubber of some type to put under those teeth just to keep it from spinning in case i wants to. The specific ones I picked up are a slightly different size I think and also not made of copper (zinc actually if I recall), I was a little concerned about it being a softer metal.... but its not like its holding much weight so I think this should work well. Hopefully I'll get time to do some more work on it tomorrow.

[Mudwheelin]

Nice. That will look good. Good idea James.

[dvanbramer88]

U-bolts should work much better

Be careful with J-B Weld, it is amazingly strong but I think that is a static rating on the tube, it can't take too much bouncing before it gives.

I think a U bolt will be your best bet. All you will have to do is drill 2 holes in the bar stock, tighten the nuts and you're done.

[snowmirage]

I did think of that but finding a u bolt that was just the right diameter was going to prove difficult. I just came back from a big trip and I have to say it's working very well

I'll get some picks when I finish cleaning out all the gear from the car

[dvanbramer88]

Glad you got it worked out. I know this will be a day late and a buck short but "If duct tape isn't the answer, you're asking the wrong question."

[snowmirage]

I actually did end up using some heavy duty duct tape as a matter of fact.

I wrapped the upper tube with it a few times, I was concerned that the clamp I used

(this thing)


would rotate unless I really cranked it down and i didnt want to do that and crush / deform the tube.

So a few layers of black duct tape gave it something for the teeth to bite into.


After TECORE I was VERY impressed with out stable this was.

I'm not really sure what I expected on the trails but there was a LOT more bouncing around than i would have imagined I'd be putting this mount through.

And it stayed put through the worst of it.

I do want to try to work out a easier way of disconnecting it when not in use, I dont want to leave the metal bracket sticking out of the dash to skewer a passenger, but at the moment I have to pull the dash apart to get at it.