Front and Rear cab iPad mounts

Here are my solutions for mounting iPads in the front and rear of the cab. Road Trip!

iPad (3)


iPad 2



This is not a solution for folks on a budget. Overkill if all you want is a simple iPad mount for the occasional road trip. I went this route because all the hardware can be removed easily with no trace. It is extremely flexible and the RAM hardware compliments my manfrotto camera gear.

I can mount just about anything on the RAM 1" ball mount points including cameras, GPS, cell phone, iPod, cup holders, whatever. I have four of these 1" ball mounts in the cab. Besides the dash mount and rear headrest, there is one on the lower left A-pillar for my GPS unit and one on the upper right A-pillar for my POV camera. I also have three of them on the outside of the truck.

After I shot these photos I wrapped one layer of black Rescue Tape around the Panavise Indash Mount to cover up the unused holes. It looks much better now.



More pictures of the front:















More pictures of the rear:






1" ball mounted on the rear headrest (older shot)


This is how I power everything.


I know I have a black ipod sync cable somewhere but I can't find it. I hope I can track it down and it will power/charge the front iPad. The stock white cable works up front for now.


Power:
Multi-Use Vehicle Charger with Dual USB Ports and Dual 12 Volt Sockets - Magnadyne
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PB8CQI/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00
The charger can be hardwired and it has a replaceable 20 amp fuse in the back. The built-in USB ports will power/charge the iPads. Plug a 10 watt USB charger into both of the 12 volt sockets for SIX 2.1A USB ports for all your iPad/iPod/iPhone charging needs

2 x SCOSCHE reVOLT pro Dual 10 watt (2.1A) USB Car Charger compatible with iPad
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0077PM3KG/
My 2nd Scosche USB charger hasn't arrived yet so I'm using my old Kensington (1A/2.1A) charger. It is out of focus because it is that much longer than the low profile Scosche.

Dash mount:
Panavise Indash Mount #75137-905 for Tacoma 05-12
https://www.panavise.com/pdf_indash/75137-905.pdf

RAM Mount RAM-B-347U Aluminum Rectangular AMPS Connection Plate with 1 inch Ball
https://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-rectangular-amps-plate-b-ball-ram-b-347u.html

RAM Mount RAM-B-201-201U-C Aluminum Standard and Long Socket Arm with 1 inch Double Ball Adapter
http://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-standard-and-long-socket-arm-with-double-ball-adapter.html

RAM-B-202U RAM Mount Round Plate with 1 inch Ball
https://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-round-plate-with-1-inch-ball-ram-b-202u.html

RAM-HOL-UN9U RAM Mount Universal X-Grip III iPad Tablet Cradle
https://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-universal-x-grip-iii-ipad-tablet-cradle-ram-hol-un9u.html


iPod mount:
RAM Mount RAM-A-CAN II Vehicle Cup Flat Surface Base
https://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-ram-a-can-ii-vehicle-cup-flat-surface-base.html

RAM-B-238U RAM Mount Diamond Plate with 1 inch Ball
https://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-diamond-plate-with-1-inch-ball-ram-b-238u.html

RAP-B-200-12U RAM Mount Plastic Twist Arm B-Socket
https://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-plastic-twist-arm-b-socket-rap-b-200-12u.html

RAM-HOL-UN7BU RAM Mount Universal X-Grip Phone Cradle with B-Ball
https://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-universal-x-grip-phone-cradle-with-b-ball-ram-hol-un7bu.html


Headrest mount:
RAM-B-231LU Stainless Steel 0.75 to 1.25 inches U-Bolt Base with 1 inch Ball
I used the Plastic U-Bolt Adapter for Handlebars and the small u-bolt.
I shortened the threaded ends of the u-bolt with a dremel and I covered the chrome U (viewed from front seat) with black gaffer tape.
https://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-large-stainless-steel-rail-u-bolt-base-with-1-inch-ball.html

RAM-B-201U-C Aluminum 5.25 inch Long Length Dual 1.0 inch Socket Arm
https://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-long-arm-b-socket-ram-b-201u-c.html

RAM Mount RAM-B-202U Aluminum 1 inch Ball 2.5 inch dia Base Plate
https://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-round-plate-with-1-inch-ball-ram-b-202u.html

RAM Mount RAM-HOL-AP8D2U Plastic Apple iPad 2 Dock Mount Cradle with Uni-Conn (Docking cradle) -tight fit, no skins, covers or cases
https://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-apple-ipad-2-dock-cradle-ram-hol-ap8d2u.html

3M USB-to-Dock Cable 9.8' Heavy-duty 16-gauge conductors to handle 10W charging for iPad
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003T5JJVY/

 

I like it!

 

Wish I had the money for that kind of setup, that's off the wall man!

 

Thanks guys. RAM mounts are like legos for grown ups.

I eased into my RAM addiction over time starting with my GPS mount. It would cost quite a bit to buy it all at once. You can't beat the quality and flexibility IMO. Worth every penny.

 

Nice looking setup on the dash...I have a question...

A friend and I have been doodling-up some kind of dash mount for an IPad. But seeing your setup, I think that Panavise Indash Mount may be the ticket.

I off-road and 4wheel...so I want something that won't flop all over the place on bumpy terrain. I have all the RAM mounts I need (I'm like you with my RAM addiction). I plan to keep my IPad on a very short arm (the shortest that RAM makes). I'll have the Ipad in the new IPad X-grip craddle (I dislike the tab-tight mount quite a bit).

My question: Is the Panvise Indash Mount pretty rigid? Any flexing that would cause the Ipad to wobble a lot?

Thanks!

 

If you keep the iPad centered over the panavise mount with a short or even standard arm, it will be rock solid.

The panavise mount is pretty slick. The way it mounts into the climate control area supports vertical weight very well. The section that protrudes from the dash is short so there is very little horizontal movement. They had to make it thin enough to fit in the gap next to the climate control so you don't want too much weight suspended too far out horizontally left or right while off road.

If you tried to center it in front of the stereo for example it will flex a bit over bumps but doesn't wobble around like video I have seen of the RAM-316-1AU floor mount + iPad.

The last couple pictures I added of the dual iPad + iPod mount config is what I plan to use on a summer Route 66 trip. It is solid on pavement because I kept the weight centered over the lower ball. I will have to try it off road once just to see, I might be surprised at how solid it is because even that dual-mount setup doesn't have as much movement as the floor mount. I think the little bit of give comes from so many arms + 1" rubber balls in that setup.

I wish they had more choices available when I purchased the tab-tight cradle. The paracord loop makes it far easier to use, it was much too difficult to work with before that. I saw the new X-grip when I purchased the docking cradle for the rear seat but couldn't justify replacing the tab-tight -yet.

 

Thanks for the rapid response. I think I'll grab one and test it. I can always decide to CNC my idea later if the Panavise isn't to my liking.

I have both the tab-tight and the X-grip ipad cradles. The X-grip kicks the tab-tight's ass in so many ways. BTW...I have my ipad in a gumdrop cover and it fits great in the X-grip. Of course the X-grip is 3X the price of the TT...but worth it in my mind.

 

I already had the panavise mount for an xm radio unit, but after seeing the double mount you have for the iPad and the phone, am interested in converting. How did you get both units mounted to the same panavise? I must be missing something in the RAM catalog.

Thanks
Kevin

 

I was playing around with the RAM Mount Triple 1 inch Ball Arm
https://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-triple-1-inch-ball-arm.html

I never really used that double mount setup beyond taking the photo I have removed. It was far too unstable.

I logged a lot of miles with the iPads and ipod mount and I really like the setup as photographed above. The iPad dash mount has been terrific. I used it on several cross country road trips and off road desert camping.

That cup holder I am using is worthless for holding a drink unless I never want to use 6th gear. The ipod mount is out of the way though so I never bump the mount or the ipod when I shift. I touch the iPod while my arm is on the armrest so it is very stable. It can hold just about any phone.

 

Sub'd

 

For anyone else who used a Panavise mount and was unhappy with the amount of movement it allowed the iPad to have (I use an iPad mini on a medium length arm and it still moved too much for me) I made up this simple bracket and it completely stoped all movement and is super solid now. It bolts to the back of the panavise mount and i used a little bit of 5 minute epoxy to stick it to the dash. When the time comes to remove it, the epoxy should chip off with a little effort.

 

@bridaw thanks for the write up. Just ordered everything for this.