Give me ideas for mounting Garmin GPS in 2007/8 AV

[chAVey]

Okay, one of the things I really hate about the new 2007/8 is the lack of cubbys in the dash.  Use to have a place for my wallet, for the car wash/coffee coupons, change, etc without having to use the cup holders.

I'm finding now that this has lead to another problem - where to mount the GPS.  Just got a Garmin Nuvi 680 for XMas.  Don't want to mount on the windshield.  Don't really like wires/etc all over the place.  Read the threads here and like all the ideas of mounting around the cubbies - except I don't hav the cubbies!

Tried the suction cup mount on the metal plate surrounding the stereo.  It will hold for a while but just slips off.

I really want to make a clean install.  I was thinking of doing something that would be semi-permanent and then just clip the GPS in/out as necessary.  I've looked at Ram Mount, ProMount, the vent mounts on ebay, etc.

I got the floor console cover and thought of mounting some sort of pop-up in the change area there, but there is not enough room under the console if I cut out the bottom to get the GPS to fit.  That also puts it really low for eyesight.

I know, I'm really beating myself  trying to come up with something.  Anyone got any good pics of their install?

[heine12oz]

do you have a pic of your interior dash so we know where you are thinking.  I haven't seen all of the 08 dash.

[rch07av]

I gave my wife one for Christmas.  She has an 07 LTZ Tahoe which has the same dash as the AV.  I used the round metal plate with the adhesive back and mounted it on the wood just to the right of the center AC vents.  You still use the suction cup mount with that and it holds great.  The wires you can tuck behind the edge of the radio panel for a clean install.  Good Luck !!!

[chAVey]

Here's the pics of my thoughts.

I like locations 1 & 2.  But the suction cup doesn't hold to the SS insert long.  Anyone know what's behind #2?  Is there room to pull it off, modify it, and make the Garmin fit in there somehow?

#3 - Thought of a fold-down above the mirror, but it would block the mirror.  And where do I run the wire.  BTW, the 680 has a special charger - the MSN Direct receiver is built into it, not the GPS itself.  (See it in the lower right cig lighter.)

#4 - I know allot of people mount it here.  But would like the passenger to have access to it.

#5 - Cupholder.  Sounds like an idea, but that leaves me only 1 cupholder for the front.  BTW, I also got the "covered floor console" (see my pretty precious here) so I would have to leave it open.

[cadboy1]

In my 03 I mounted the Garmin low and used an external antenna to keep it working great 

[AVid]

I use the Garmin friction mount for mine. Around here, GPS's are a high theft item. Even if you remove the suction cup mount from the windshield, you still leave a mark. Thieves know just what to look for. If you mount the plastic circle somewhere that also will let them know there is a GPS on board. With the friction mount, I can just pick up the whole thing and put it under the seat, etc. No marks or extra hardware left behind. Also real easy to transfer to the car.

AVid

[heine12oz]

tough call on placement.  I see what you are saying, I don't really like any of them either.  I think upper left is best, but I do agree on passenger usage.  Is it removable, so you can hand it off for programming and than placed back into the cradle?

[cadboy1]

Mine pops out of the cradle in a second and I just have to pull the plug for the antenna. I am due for a map upgrade but don't know if its worth the $$. 

[gdoebs]

My Magellan is mounted to the windshield at your #4. I like it over there, but I don't want it on the windshield anymore. I want to build some sort of mount for it - perhaps hang it off the A pillar...? I also thought about putting it up in the overhead console but would need an external antenna.

You can run any wires up the A pillar, through the headliner (remove the visor), and into the over head console area very easily. This is where I also have my backup monitor installed.

Good luck!

[chAVey]

Thanks everyone for the input!  I ended up just sticking it to the side of the stereo, pending another spot.  I thought of doing something to the right, in the dash itself, but it didn't work out the way I hoped for.  Check my dash panel thread here.

[Jed]

I'll tell you what I did with my hand held GPS in an '04 Avy.  I used a screw that holds the bottom of the dash to the frame.  Mine is mounted right under the AC. I can see from your pick that you don't really have any room there, but you might look just to the right of the steering wheel or just to the left of the dash for one of these mounting screws.

I drilled a hole in the mounting bracket for the GPS and used a good sized washer between it and the dash.  My mounting bracket has a flexible neck, and I am able to move it around to any position I need.

Hope this helps

[Tango Chaser]

Thanks everyone for the input!  I ended up just sticking it to the side of the stereo, pending another spot.  I thought of doing something to the right, in the dash itself, but it didn't work out the way I hoped for.  Check my dash panel thread here.

Did you hardwire this in, or still using the acc. plug?  I just got a nuvi 1490 and cant find a location I'm happy with.

[chAVey]

Just used the acc plug.  Unfortunately, my model (Nuvi 680) has the MSN Direct hardware actually in the plug itself so I can't go around it without losing functions.  I even checked with Garmin, but they had nothing to do any hardwire installation.  And the stupid thing keeps falling off the dash - suction cups keep un-suction-ing.  Wish I could find a better way without making permanent holes in the dash somewhere.

[Z66 BUTCH]

Mine is a 2002, the older body style. I have found over the years that I like the Garmin up where I can see it without looking down. I didn't want the wires dangling down either so I mounted the Garmin up high on the windshield, just to the left of the rearview mirror. The wires are tucked in under the lip of the headliner and run down the A pillar. Didit used a 12V cigarette lighter extension and cut the plug end off and wired it into a switched point in the fuse box. The factory Garmin plug is plugged into that behind the A pillar. It works well an comes on and off with the key as it should. It is still easy to take out and it easy to see and program. Up high under the window tint it in not near as noticeable and seems to stay in place fairly well.......

[Tango Chaser]

Mine is a 2002, the older body style. I have found over the years that I like the Garmin up where I can see it without looking down. I didn't want the wires dangling down either so I mounted the Garmin up high on the windshield, just to the left of the rearview mirror. The wires are tucked in under the lip of the headliner and run down the A pillar. Didit used a 12V cigarette lighter extension and cut the plug end off and wired it into a switched point in the fuse box. The factory Garmin plug is plugged into that behind the A pillar. It works well an comes on and off with the key as it should. It is still easy to take out and it easy to see and program. Up high under the window tint it in not near as noticeable and seems to stay in place fairly well.......

   Here, I was gonna order a second plug to cut the end off.