Adapted Sat Nav Fitment On Rav4.2

[Hoovie]

Following the purchase of a Fleximount TomTom OneXL Cradle and the very generous donation of a Gooseneck TomTom Mounting from Local Hero ( ), I did a bit of adaption to combine the two.

Original problem was I could not find a suitable place for the Fleximount Cradle mounting on the RAV4.2 dash so needed an alternative mounting.

First Job - select the required position.

After offering up the unit in various places, chose this as the best position for viewing and control while not blocking any switches.

Using the Gooseneck part of the kit, I mounted the holder on top of the dash, using some double-sided pads normally used for sticking Number Plates to cars, and ran some power tapped from the radio feed and passed under the silver side trim, making a little indentation

Combing the two kits - The Gooseneck kit uses protrubing clips on its front plate to mate on a TomTom Bracket; The FlexiMount Cradle screws onto its mounting plate so after slicing off the clips with a Dremel and drilling some holes into the Gooseneck plate, and removing the orginal plate from the Cradle and discarding that, it was a simple matter of just !Removed! the two together as shown below.

Previously I had moved the Power PCB in the cradle from the bottom to the rear so I could have the power socket hidden from view for a cleaner looking installation

Power Socket Before:

New Power Socket Location:

End Result of the Full Installation is as shown below:

[local hero]

Following the purchase of a Fleximount TomTom OneXL Cradle and the very generous donation of a Gooseneck TomTom Mounting from Local Hero ( ), I did a bit of adaption to combine the two.

Original problem was I could not find a suitable place for the Fleximount Cradle mounting on the RAV4.2 dash so needed an alternative mounting.

First Job - select the required position.

After offering up the unit in various places, chose this as the best position for viewing and control while not blocking any switches.

Using the Gooseneck part of the kit, I mounted the holder on top of the dash, using some double-sided pads normally used for sticking Number Plates to cars, and ran some power tapped from the radio feed and passed under the silver side trim, making a little indentation

Combing the two kits - The Gooseneck kit uses protrubing clips on its front plate to mate on a TomTom Bracket; The FlexiMount Cradle screws onto its mounting plate so after slicing off the clips with a Dremel and drilling some holes into the Gooseneck plate, and removing the orginal plate from the Cradle and discarding that, it was a simple matter of just screwing the two together as shown below.

Previously I had moved the Power PCB in the cradle from the bottom to the rear so I could have the power socket hidden from view for a cleaner looking installation

Power Socket Before:

New Power Socket Location:

End Result of the Full Installation is as shown below:

Well done Hoovie, its ended up in virtually the same place as mine, like your rear entry(think i'd better re-phrase that) The way you have re routed the power supply is very neat I won't try to copy it, as i have just re-wired mine, and 1/2 an hour ago i had no radio, dash lights, and a host of other things, sorted now so all is well, anyway hope your happy, think i would try + get hold of some of that 3ms tape, might be better than those number plate pads, but see how it goes

[Robert6920]

I've been following this with great interest and take my hat off to the inventiveness and workmanship. The end result looks good!

I've been a fan of dashmounts as they don't damage the trim/facia. In my better half's Rav4.2, I think they are a really neat solution.

It got me thinking about my 4.3, so I ordered the correct dashmount for the phone and one for a LHD Rav for the satnav. I haven't integrated the wiring, as I take it out of the car when I'm not using it, so I still use the wander lead to the ciggie lighter. I have (as you will see) a Tomtom One NE and by using a cranked plug into its base, the wiring isn't in the way. The bracket that joins the Tomtom to the LHD dashmount is made by Brodit. I need to find some smaller (and black) screws and nuts as they show up in chrome finish - especially with the camera flash!

Buying and fitting the LHD dashmount is now on the cards for the better half's 4.2........

[Hoovie]

I see you have the traditional Irish weather there, Robert :)

Re bolts - Get some Japanned cross head ones and they will blend in very well

I see how the dashmount on the 4.2 works now! I couldn't suss it out at all on the one I was given (but decided I wanted sat-nav on right hand side anyway ;) ).

You say you will be getting a RHS Dashmount now for the 4.2 - how do the LHS and RHS vary? is it just the angle of the front plate or is there more to it then that?

Out of interest, how do the brodit brackets compare to Dashmount? I bought a Brodit cradle for a Phone/PDA which was very good and solid, but quite bulky as well

Good to see how different people solve a common need in different ways - Looks a very neat job

[dave.m]

Very neat job guys allways good to see sollutions that dont chop up the dash.

[Robert6920]

I see you have the traditional Irish weather there, Robert :)

Indeed, the weather this weekend has been "soft".......... which is a euphemism for "you know what" ing it down. I can hear the grass growing....

I see how the dashmount on the 4.2 works now! I couldn't suss it out at all on the one I was given (but decided I wanted sat-nav on right hand side anyway ;) ).

You say you will be getting a RHS Dashmount now for the 4.2 - how do the LHS and RHS vary? is it just the angle of the front plate or is there more to it then that?

Out of interest, how do the brodit brackets compare to Dashmount? I bought a Brodit cradle for a Phone/PDA which was very good and solid, but quite bulky as well

Actually, I've just looked on the dashmount site and it says "not satnav" on the 4.2 bracket - I don't know why, and will have a look at the better half's phone bracket when I get home tonight. If it looks ok when I offer up the Tomtom, I'll call dashmount and ask them to supply the LHD bracket (I did this with my 4.3 and it took a few days to come from Norway) The LHD is a mirror image of the RHD, so on the 4.3 version there's no way you could install it "on the other side" of the consule. The bracket is a bent piece of metal, so if the RHD bent (eg) left, then right, then left, the LHD would bend right, then left, then right - if you see what I mean!!

The brodit mount is only a small thing, it's called a tilt/swivel and is shown here. I'm toying with taking it apart and dispensing with the tilt/swivel bit. You could angle the dashmount by bending it to the right position anyway.

[Hoovie]

Can't imagine how a very sturdy bracket like that could not work equally as well for a SatNav Unit

Will the SatNav unit used in on the 4.2 be the same as you have in your 4.3? In the process of fitting mine, I have ended up with a couple of spare holders that the unit slides into that would mount onto the dashmount very nicely and you can have - but I think they may only be for the TomTom XL version?

[Robert6920]

Can't imagine how a very sturdy bracket like that could not work equally as well for a SatNav Unit

Will the SatNav unit used in on the 4.2 be the same as you have in your 4.3? In the process of fitting mine, I have ended up with a couple of spare holders that the unit slides into that would mount onto the dashmount very nicely and you can have - but I think they may only be for the TomTom XL version?

Yes, Hoovie, phone on the left, satnav on the right. The satnav brackets are different - I ordered the Tomtom One at first, then when I got it realised that I needed the Tomtrom One NE! Typical! Dashmount were very helpful and sorted everything out pdq.

Thanks for your very kind offer - do you have a serial number or anything that I might be able to check for suitability??

Robert

PS I think we'll meet up on 29th??

[Mr_Meeks]

Are these dashboard satnav mount better than the widscreen mounts, i have a garmin in my 4.2 and the mount has lost its suction so either need to replace it with the same or try the dashboard mounts, any advise?? :)

[Hoovie]

Hi Mr Meeks - the basic suction ones do not seem to last very long. My Sat-Nav is not really very old (Dec 07) and spends most of its life in the house (like me!) but the suction mount seems poor already (like me!).

There are some suction type with an extra lever where you put the suction cup onto the screen, then pull the lever and that REALLY tightens it on - That is actuaslly now the type I am using.

The Dashmounts are very solid and if you are willing to maybe have a little play around with drills and things to make holes line up, I am sure you could make up a solution if there was not one off the shelf already for your unit - that is always worth checking first

Robert - This is the TomTom One XL bracket that the unit slides onto

got no part numbers or anything

Mr Meeks - this is what the front of the typical dashmount looks like

Loads of holes and slots to bolt on just about anything to it - and it is made from pretty heavy gauge steel, so will take the weight of a SatNav unit no problem (IMO ;) )

[chatman]

Hoovie,

Clean the office up before posting any more picture..... :P :P :P :P :P

[Hoovie]

That's the wife desk

It took about 10 minutes to find the tidiest part to point the webcam at :D B)

[chatman]

That's the wife desk

Now ;) ;) we could go off topic on that phrase above... :unsure: :unsure:

And the fact you have a web cam pointing that way as well :) :)

[chatman]

Well not one to be left out.....Took to designing my own Sat Nav mount.... ;) ;) ;) ;)

After removing my Blackberry phone from it's cradle... some time to think ;) ;) a bit of fiddling around...and....Hey presto my 02 XDA fitted snugly in it's new housing.... :o :lol: :D

It takes all of a couple of minutes to change them over....being a Man I don't always need my sat nav, as I generally know where I'm going :rolleyes: :P :P :P :P :P :P

[Hoovie]

How do you find the Sat Nav on the PDA? I tried an early version of TomTom with my Orange M2000 and when it worked it was great, but it used to stop working too often and lots of hassle to get it going again.

There is a nice piece of S/W for the PDA you have - CamerAware - from modaco.com - not sure if you have a gatso detector in your ubiknal of gadgets, but if not may be worth a look

[chatman]

How do you find the Sat Nav on the PDA? I tried an early version of TomTom with my Orange M2000 and when it worked it was great, but it used to stop working too often and lots of hassle to get it going again.

There is a nice piece of S/W for the PDA you have - CamerAware - from modaco.com - not sure if you have a gatso detector in your ubiknal of gadgets, but if not may be worth a look

Phone PDA's have moved on a lot since then... just take a look at the new HTC Diamond and HTC Diamond Pro

The Sat Nav on the XDA is brilliant.. never let me down and always finds the best route...Starts up reasonably fast and never drop's the link to the satellites, Have a gorgeous female voice telling where to go :D :D :D :D

I have the www.pocketgpsworld speed camera database installed along with a few tailored POI as well.... hey even helped work create a POI of all our offices around the country so our clients can find us easily... :D :D Remember all you lot with sat nav's... remove the Home Favourite location setting.... if any of you have them set...just in case some low life does nick it...he'll know where you live otherwise...

[Hoovie]

I just have a female voice telling me where to go :) and doesn't need the Sat Nav to be on even :(

Robert will like this .... My navigator on the TomTom is 'Kathy', who has a foine Orish lilt

I sort of gave up with the M2000. It was useless as a Phone anyway and no one could ever hear me. I also used a borrowed version of TomTOm that was a few years old. I did use it to navigate down from St Malo to Northern Spain and it worked at least 50% of the time

Good tip on the Home Setting - I have mine set to go to a B&B close to where I live, so the average brain-cell limited lowlife will think I was on hols ;)

[Hoovie]

It got me thinking about my 4.3, so I ordered the correct dashmount for the phone and one for a LHD Rav for the satnav. I haven't integrated the wiring, as I take it out of the car when I'm not using it, so I still use the wander lead to the ciggie lighter. I have (as you will see) a Tomtom One NE and by using a cranked plug into its base, the wiring isn't in the way. The bracket that joins the Tomtom to the LHD dashmount is made by Brodit. I need to find some smaller (and black) screws and nuts as they show up in chrome finish - especially with the camera flash!

Robert, I meant to post this note a couple of weeks ago ...

When I fitted the iPod cradle onto the dashmount, I didn't have any nuts and bolts to hand, so as a temporary solution, I used a pair of ty-wraps and they are actually perfect

They hold the cradle onto the dashmount totally solidly and are hardly noticeable - you could give that a try on the right hand cradle and see what you reckon?

Pictures are terribley out of focus, but hopefully you can just about make out what I mean?

Rear View

Front View

[Robert6920]

Thanks Hoovie, that's a great idea - I'm glad I thought of it!! Seriously, yes, I see exactly what you mean. I even have some of the blessed things so it should be a five minute job over the weekend. Thanks again

[Hoovie]

Well, after doing all that mod to the Tom Tom Cradle and adapting the gooseneck mounting to suit etc, I found two problems that would not go away and in the end could not live with

1) The Gooseneck mounting tended to resonate ever so slightly which made the Sat Nav display hard to read. I could position it to push against the dashboard, but did bug me still

2) I found the TomTom unit a bit of a pain to slot into the cradle due to the power plug - some days it was great, other times it took quite a few goes - and I'm not a patient person when it comes to technology not working as it is meant to :censor:

So sadly, this solution had to go and another one taken its place .....

Bought a Brodit mounting

This is the mounting after I made a couple of adjustments.

As supplied the mounting plate faces about 10Deg upwards from the vertical, which meant mounting the SatNav directly on it would cause it to have a lot of reflections - and the adjustable TomTom mounts would bring the unit too close to the wheel. So I used a hot air gun to bend the top half of the mounting plate forward to give a reflection-free position and also angled towards the driver (which is what the crinkily bits are from)

Then drilled a couple of holes in the top part of the mounting plate and screwed the basic TomTom mounting to it

So nice and steady and easy to mount :)

Power wise, I bought an cigar lighter fitting from Halfords and wired it up (taking connections from existing wiring to cigar lighter) behind the glovebox so the power connection to the car is hidden, but easily accessible for maintenance and removal if need be by simply dropping the glovebox lid down.

[chatman]

Looks good Hoovie... Still see your showing that ever so optimistic MPG readout..... ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

Your gona need a truck Battery soon to run all your gadgets...will look like the main flight deck of the space shuttle when you fit the scangauge :lol:

Or you could buy a Prius as this has more batteries :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Hoovie]

Well .... if I get the Scangauge (need that discount first!!) and I work out a way to use the steering wheel audio controls on a nice modern head unit with Sat Nav, iPod compatibility, etc on it, then the external iPod cradle, the TomTom and the bluetooth adapter (ok - I will admit to bluetooth now installed ) can all go :)

Hey - ref the MPG figure, just before I had to reset radio OBC, I was very low in petrol and the nearest place was Tesco, so did a Splash and Dash with their stuff - maybe it is really good stuff