DIY: Inexpensive Mirror Mount for GPS, Radar Detector, etc

Awesome! Glad you got it sorted.

Basically, yeah. There are different ways depending on what the install calls for. Some I use the whole case with the face cut off (it won't allow the button to sit far enough out if you just try to put it behind something) while some I use one half of the housing and even sometimes I don't use the housing at all. It ALWAYS depends on what's going on behind what you see. In some of those pictures I posted you may notice that some are not exactly centered or perfect. Trust me, if it was possible they would be. If they're not exactly centered (I'm very picky about such things) it's because there's something behind that just wouldn't allow for it. There is LOTS of Dremel work involved with all of those pictures shown.

 

Pffsh... I wish. With all I've done on the forums over the years with peddling their products showing pictures like this you would think they would have me on the 'free radar detectors for life' plan but alas...no. I still pay my hard earned money just like all y'alls.

 

It's a good thing you asked today and not a month ago because I wouldn't have had an answer for you a month ago. I stopped at an auto parts store a few years back when I was traveling because I just needed a phone holder and they had this one in stock. I grabbed this one from a clearance rack and found out over time that it was actually perfect for my needs and I've used it for several phones now with great success. A while back I was trying to find another one for my other vehicles and couldn't find it to save my life. Then, about a week or so ago I came across a picture of the packaging which I recognized and I was able to find it after a brief search. Here it is and I don't know this seller but I can tell you that I ordered one and it showed up a few days ago and everything was as promised. Other than my personal experience I have no affiliation so buy at your own risk. In that picture of the A4 I'm using this mount in conjunction with a Panavise vehicle specific mount. Check out their website but they're pretty expensive for a little metal bracket. That auction I linked you to has everything you need to just mount it to an air vent and I've done this on several vehicles now with success.

 

Sweet idea.
Going to have to try it on my Ultragauge... I hope the cable is long enough.

 

I use to have my ultragauge mounted next to my mirror so it should be

 

The one thing I don't like about the UG is it looks like a small GPS and there's no way to disconnect it from the cable to toss it in the glove box.

 

True that. Subbed for UG ideas...

What size of rear bracket would work on the Tacoma? Is this too big or small?
REFLECTOR CLAMP ACTION REAR 12.7-19.0MM SEATSTAY

 

There are basically two about that size and either one should work. You will want to use some of that foam tape on the inside to make up any gaps that occur.

 

^ Thanks for the advice. Foam tape... sounds good.

 

This freaking genius! I'm gonna do this tonight! I think I have a bike reflector bracket laying around somewhere. I'm tired of my radar detector coming off the windshield and hot humid days.

 

Necessity is the mother of all invention.

 

Tried it on my '08 RC Base.
Dunno if the mirror stems are different or not but there was no way it was going to work.
WalMart only had one size... it was for a red flashing light, not the reflector.
It included a piece of rubber to wrap around the stem to take up the extra space, but it wasn't nearly enough.

I ended up using a U-Bolt and steel corner brace.

 

Well with the ones in the picture you have to remove the screw and spread it open quite a ways to get it to go around the stem. From your description I'm not sure if this is the issue you're having or not but the mirror stem should be pretty close and the foam tape should make up the difference. Did you remove the plastic keeper that is clipped on the stem to hold the electric cable? I mentioned that in the first post as there's no way any of these will go around with that still in place.

 

Ordered that from Amazon. Hope it fits. $6ish with shipping.

 

Keep us posted how that works out for you^

 

Just got my Ultragauge thanks to the GB. Did the mount with the reflector bracket and digging around my garage to find something else to help with the mount (my reflector bracket was a little different from the OP's BTW but it was free) and found a stereo removal tool from one of my old aftermarket units. Bent it as needed and painted it black. Stuck some of the velcro to mount the UG to it and done. Cord was just barely long enough btw. Here's some pics. This install didn't cost me a penny.


And this is the removal tool I used for a bracket.

 

Nice! Good job man.

 

Took a little longer cause I ordered the wrong size

 

And thanks OP, great idea!

 

Haha... love the username. That movie is one of my favorites of all time. I doubt Mike Judge planned on it coming true unfortunately.