Abu Dhabi Off-Road Club Forums

Sharing the modification that I have done to mount my GPS 276c on the dashboard of the FJ

I removed the Compa$$, Thermometer and the Altimeter from the dashboard, that left a hole on the dashboard! I cut a metal piece, about two inches wide and an inch longer than the two bolts that held the original unit, drilled a hole in the centre and one each at the corner. This was for the GPS mount, it did the job, as the mount was lower and not protruding, I was not satisfied.

After exercising many options, I looked at a signboard outside my office - wondered what plastic is it made of that it stands the Dubai heat and the direct sunlight. I went to the signboard guys and they told me that it is Acrylic - I decided to get one.

I got my hands on a black acrylic board and cut it with the blade; I was not satisfied with the finish so I made a few calls and found one guy in Sharjah who could allow me to work in his workshop for Aed 150. I cut the black acrylic piece to my satisfaction finally.

I found the original dashboard unit almost useless and was always trying to figure out where and how to mount the GPS, I finally have my answer. This is what the final product looks like.

Nice work, congrats!

nice, but you should not let the GPS under direct sunlight all day long when car is park outside, or it will kill it... first the battery, then the GPS itself...

you mean melt it not kill it
awesome

i have done it to the back of the rear mirror, it sits very nicely there, no drilling of any parts from the car required, no direct sun light, no cables hanging, connected to power and external antenna

will post the pics once i go back home

Here r the 9 pics of the mod

This is neat, even better! Good work. I had this in mind but could not get my hands on the external antenna, I plan to get the antenna this week, once this is done, I think I will do exactly the same thing.

I have a covered car park at home and at the office - on Fridays I am out in the desert, if not out in the desert on Saturdays, I remove it.

Thanks a million for the idea, I got the external antenna and I will be getting the bracket made to fit the GPS near the rear view mirror.

I am proud to be a part of ad4X4, I look forward to meeting you on the sand soon!

Muhammed wrote:Thanks a million for the idea, I got the external antenna and I will be getting the bracket made to fit the GPS near the rear view mirror.

I am proud to be a part of ad4X4, I look forward to meeting you on the sand soon!

If u need any help, let me know, online or face to face

Many thanks Desert Hawk, your offer is very tempting, I want to try making this on my own and should it not work for some rhyme or reason, I will seek your advise.

What is the thickness of this thing? By any chance would you have dimensions? I am looking for the length only.

I cannot stand things lying anywhere around me, definitely not in my car. The wires everywhere irritates me, I rarely use the phone charger in the car. I must say that this what you have done is a bloody neat job! I reckon I will not get over it till I do it

The length is very simple to measure, just take the length of the rear mirror base and the diameter of the GPS base, you have to add 1.5 cm to that between them as this part will be bent with an angle of 20-25 and the 2 parts will come together almost touching, as for the width, take exactly the width of each part to make the plate hidden.
For the thickness, anything will do but make sure it can hold double the weight of the GPS while offroading. Any welding shop will have left overs that can do.

Eureka!

Thank you Desert Hawk and ad4X4!