Vehicular laptop mount <--need advice

[/\/\y 2 cents]

Guys Im looking to get one of those laptop mounts for the vehicle. What are the brands to look for, what is the gold standard, which models are inexpensive <----important. Thanks!
Steve

[fire-medic8104]

I would look at Gamber-Johnson or LE Mounts. I have had the best experience (stability wise) with mounts that bolt to the front seat bolts of the passenger seat. It gives you a wide base and stable footing.

Stay away from the mounts that bolt to the side of the consoles.
I have had nothing but trouble out of these because they tend to pull to one side of the console.

And the less parts you have between the base and the actual laptop base is better. I have alot of the ones that have separate arms like the jotto desk seems to shake too much.

Hope that helps

[Cowthief]

Hello.

I have been playing with some of the prefab crap, and it is just that.
I ended up building one myself.
This is the docking unit for a toughbook M34 with a sheetmetal support.
There is this place that does air conditioning ductwork ( Tezel & Cotter ) in San Antonio that did most of the work.
The sheetmetal work cost all of $20 and that was for 2 of the things complete with screws.
The legs are angle iron stock and allthread.
Total cost was under $30, for 2 of them!

[jackhackett]

We put in a bunch of mounts that go under the seat bolt, I don't recall who made them, but I know we ended up having to add a brace between the mount and the dash to stabilize them.
Also the bolts that allow the user to swivel the computer around loosen up, so it ends up swinging around wildly while they're driving, if you get one that swivels, look for one that has a locking mechanism.

The ones I've seen that were good and stable were ones that mounted to the front of a center console, where the console has a bottom plate you can bolt the mount down to. That also keeps it out of the way of the passenger side airbag.

[ASTROMODAT]

Motorola uses SDI mounts for their MW800 MDT and ML900 laptop. Recently, SDI has been allowed to sell direct to the customer, which saves a lot. SDI has many mounts, but I like their unit that has a swing arm so you can set it in place for the driver, and swing it to the right when not needed. It uses the bolts that hold down the front right bucket seat, plus it has a stabilizing arm that bolts to the transmission hump. Very sturdy.

Larry

http://www.sdi.cc/

[grinthock]

i'm now concerned about the Jottoa I just ordered......

[Pj]

I use a Gamber Johnson mount on the top plate for the console. The thing is pretty solid. However, the higher up you go, the more tendecny for it to move in various ways. I keep mine down low for various reasons. We use havis at work, and they work well low, and move all over up high.