Laptop Mounts
 

For the folks that have laptop stands (such as this: Part Details) how effective are they at absorbing the bumps and shocks endured while driving?

I'm considering getting a laptop and would like to have a mount, but worry that the laptop could be damaged by the vibrations.

I have been running a cheap laptop for over a year in my truck. I built a wooden desk type mount and had it bungied to the passenger seat. I recently changed trucks and installed one of these:

L@@K >> BIG TRUCK LAPTOP MOUNT FOR GPS / INTERNET / DVD:eBay Motors (item 150343222587 end time May-13-09 13:17:33 PDT)

The laptop runs fine and has handled the bumps without a problem. I wouldn't pay $200+ for a mount. These are built from 1/2 inch threaded steel pipe, 45 and 90 degree screw on connectors,and flanges. They allow you to build almost any configuration. You can buy everything you need at a local hardware store except the plexiglass holder. The company link I posted will sell it alone for $32. The flange bolted to a seat bolt. I will post a picture when I get back into the truck next week

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, $200+ seems a little high for some metal and screws.

I did the same as wsyrob and the wooden desk on the seat. I built a box on the door side and ran 3 bungies across it to act as a shock absorber for my laptop. Then I ran a bungie across the keyboard to hold it in place.....total cost? The bungies were old and not usable for holding tarps (too dry rotted) and the wood was scrap I had laying around my shop....so nothing. Nice thing about it is that I'm able to mount my coffeemaker (12v) within arms reach and brew a cup going down the road.:thumbsup:

I was going to built a stand myself, haven't done it yet but I will, I cannot justify $300 for something I can build myself. But as far as vibrations go, laptops are pretty much designed to handle it, the trick is to make your stand have some flexibility to counter-act vibrations.

Wow that is a nice setup, I might go with that one.

The problem with that ebay mount is that it has to be bolted to something. Look at the pictures. I dont think there are going to be too many fleets that will let you drill holes in the dash, the floor or the seat.

the pics show its using an existing bolt to mount. All you have to do is find a place where you can unbolt and then rebolt without tearing up your knuckles.

Mine bolted to the seat bolt. I didn't even need to buy a longer bolt.

We bought a TV tray from walmart for 14.99 and took an extra long bungee and bungee the laptop and tray to the seat. Cheap laptop stand and works well. I haven't done anything for the shock factor but we're getting an 8.9" SSD computer here in a few weeks to put on the dash so it'll be obsolete anyways.

I bought a laptop stand from Wal-Mart for $20 or so. I bought two 10 lb weights and zip-tied them to the base to keep the stand from falling over. i have two bungies to strap the laptop to the top and it works just fine. gives me a little more counter space when i park for the night too. I wouldnt justify spending $300 for something i could get by with $30. you're paying for the name, and the bragging rights just to say 'i have a laptop mount in my truck'. Who cares......

Here are a couple of pics of my set up;


I left two of the threaded pipe connectors a little loose so I can swivel the laptop and move it closer or farther away

View from the sleeper for watching TV and videos

Where those peaches I saw?!?!?!

Apples

Phantom,wsyrob

would you mind sharing photos of your mechanical wizardry.

I posted a couple of pictures above. Its all made out of 1/2 inch threaded pipe, elbows, and flanges you can buy at any hardware store. You can buy the pipe in any length already threaded from 1 inch up to 10 feet. My set up is a flange bolted to the seat bolt. 2" pipe, quick disconnect fitting, 10 inch pipe, 90 degree elbow, 10 inch pipe, 90 degree elbow, 4 inch pipe, flange attached to the Plexiglas holder. You could use a piece of plywood and get it all from the hardware store.

below is a picture of a leftover pipe and a 45 degree elbows I didn't use.

And it doubles as a quick and handy weapon!

I have a laptop mount that I purchased off of Ebay for $75. and I like it a lot. I didn't have to drill any holes, and the installation is really easy and quick. The best part that I like about the mount is that it can be removed in 5 seconds via quick disconnects if needed. It's height adjustable and can be configured in numerous different angles to fit your needs.


This stud bolts to the floor using your existing seat bolt:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18...1242138355.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18...1242138329.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18...1242138255.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18...1242138390.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18...1242138453.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18...1242138469.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18...1242138526.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18...1242138501.jpg


Here's the seller that I purchased mine from. BTW.... the seller accepted my offer of $75. even though it's listed at $89.

Car Truck Laptop Computer NB GPS Mount Stand Table Desk - eBay (item 180348480305 end time Apr-26-09 20:49:48 PDT)

carlos, that has got to be the best post in this thread. think i will try to get one. will save a ton of space. how do the joints hold up to bumps and bounces? how rugged is it??

It's extremely rugged. The joints have teeth so when you tighten the knob they're locked together and won't/can't move once you have them set to your desired positions. I highly recommend this product to anyone that wants to install a laptop mount in their car or truck.

I have the same laptop stand wysrob has except I have mine situated much closer to me and further forward so I can reach and see it much easier. Like wysrob said, you can basically situate it in any position you want. All you have to do is experiment with different combinations and lengths of nipples and elbows.

I have been using mine now for about 5 and 1/2 years. I had another driver show me the one he had. So when I ordered mine, I just ordered the plexiglass top and the flange the top screws into. The plexiglass top came predrilled with 4 recessed holes and a small bag of screws. If I remember correctly it cost me around $12.00.

Once I received the top I went to Home Depot and bought one bottom base flange, one quick disconnect, and an assortment of ½ steel pipe nipples and elbows in various lengths. I think it cost me something like $13.00 altogether.

Then I went to my truck and experimented with the various lengths of nipples and elbows and in less than 10 minutes I had it set perfectly. The one thing you have to watch out far is that you don’t set it so high that when sitting in the driver’s seat it obscures your passenger side mirror or your passenger side window..

I noticed in the pictures that carlos64030 posted, that he has his set way too far away from him and also way too high so that it obscures his mirror and also his vision out of the passenger window of his truck and that to me is definitely a safety hazard. I’m surprised his safety department hasn’t called him on it yet.

I have mind situated right on my front right side and only about an inch away from the dash so that I don’t even have to stretch out my arm or bend my body or turn my head too far to see it or to reach it. It’s also completely out of the way of the shifter. I was also very careful so that when the laptop screen is flipped up, it wasn’t situated high enough to obscure my view of the passenger window or passenger mirror. In addition, my plexiglass top is set perfectly level instead of being set an angle like in Carlos’s pictures.

All you have to do to set it up is use a socket and ratchet to back out the front inside bolt of the passenger seat, lift up the seat base slightly, slip in the predrilled flange under the seat base, line up the holes, replace the bolt through the seat and the flange and then tightened everything back up, and wa la it’s all set up. Now I also have a quick connect set almost at the floor. Thus, when I need to get the laptop stand out the way for service, for instance, it takes me about 2 seconds using the quick disconnect.

Not to mention that this setup is surprisingly very stable and because the stand is attached to the floor, your laptop surprisingly will hardly ever shake.

Now before I did the laptop routine, I had a Garmin GPS that I first set up on my dash. But when I went down rough roads, which is most roads, my dash shook so damn much I couldn’t see my small ass display. I then bought a suction cup mount and mounted it to the windshield, which was only a slightly better solution.

Anyway, I didn’t like the Garmin because the screen was way too small. It was also hell to route with and enter addresses. So I started using Streets & Trips to do my routing and the Garmin to do my navigation. Until I finally got aggravated with the small ass screen, bought the laptop stand, and started using Streets & Trips for all my routing and navigation. My wife inherited the Garmin until it crashed on her about six months after I gave it to her. I guess all that rattling and shaking took its toll.

Finally, my wife bought me an add-on template for Streets & Trips I didn’t even know about called the Truck Stops Plus this past Christmas and man I love that thing. It’s got most of the truck stops, weigh stations, rest areas, etc. and it’s remarkably accurate. It also has all the Wal-Marts on it too, which is great because I do all my shopping when I’m on the road at Wal-Marts. Man that thing saves me a ton of time. I wish I would have known about it sooner.

Anyway, that’s my setup and I’m fat and happy. There is no way I would spend $200 or 300 dollars for a stupid laptop stand when you can do the same setup me and wysrob’s got for about $25 bucks.