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Mounting Vehicle Laptop Mount
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 Images and review courtesy of R. Scott Clark at About.com
RAM Mounts Shown:
RAM-VB-135MH1-SW1
Retail:
There are many reasons why people are installing computers in their car. GPS Navigation, MP3s, DVDs and database programs for fleet vehicles usually top the list. However, not everyone has the ingenuity to install a full-fledged carputer, while others simply prefer a large screen and keyboard they can take with them into the home and office. For this scenario a laptop is your best bet, but the problem lies in how to keep it easily visible and secure, as the passenger seat provides neither. Thankfully, RAM Mounting Systems provides the perfect laptop mounting solution for car multimedia enthusiasts and fleet vehicle operators, and the installation doesn't involve tearing up your vehicle. Simply go to rammount.com and enter your vehicle's year, make and model, and a compatible solution is provided. For testing purposes, I decided to use my 2007 Honda Element EX, a boxy utilitarian SUV that's breaking ground in the fleet vehicle market for its unprecedented cargo room and car-like handling. Installation
While not specifically labeled as compatible with the '07 model in particular, the Element has changed very little from previous years, so the RAM-VB-135MH1-SW1 that's designed for 2004 and later models seemed like the obvious choice for my vehicle. While written directions are scarce, the installation diagrams are well drawn and easy to understand.
The basic premise behind installation is to mount a large slab of metal in front of the passenger's seat by removing the front seat bolts (hidden behind plastic tabs), lining up the no-drill stand to the holes with spacers for additional stability, and replacing the bolts with longer ones. Then it's just a matter of assembling the telescoping pole, swing arm, and attaching the Tough Tray via a rubber ball and socket joint.
Unfortunately it appears that Honda changed their bolts in the new '07 Element, opting for wider M12 bolts with 1.25 thread pitches. I had to pick these bolts up at an industrial fastener store, as the usual hardware outlets like Home Depot don't carry automotive bolts. Once I had the proper bolts, I was able to install the entire kit from scratch in under 40 minutes. A set of pliers, a Phillips head screwdriver, and a socket wrench with an extension is required - things that should be in everyone's garage anyway. Another small problem I encountered with my ‘07 Element is the fact that the seat rails jut out further than previous models, causing the stand to lean slightly forward (adding some washers helps reduce this). As such, the pole can't be raised to its maximum height since it would hit the dash, although there's still enough height for the swing arm to clear the passenger seat by a couple inches. This won't interfere with the angle of the laptop, as the entire tray can be rotated 360° and tilted up and down on the ball mount.
Mobility
Once installed, the RAM Mount acts much like what'd you expect from those found in police cruisers. With only three knobs to twist, it can easily be swung in any direction, and thanks to the elbow it can also be placed closer to or further away from the dash. Extended towards the driver, directly in front of the passenger, or extended towards the passenger door, it's all possible thanks to the swing elbow and ball/socket design. The tray can even be placed against the center dash next to the shifter to stay out of the way of both the passenger and driver thanks to the swing arm's elbow, although it's easier if it's just left to the right of the shifter.
Passenger comfort is also better than I originally anticipated, as the base stand is rather short making for plenty of legroom. Because the mount can be positioned almost anywhere as well, it doesn't intrude on the passenger's leg or vision either, although this would probably be different for manual transmission drivers that need additional clearance near the shifter. Cargo haulers will find that the telescoping pole does inhibit how far the passenger seat can be pushed forward, although since the pole and base are held stationary, the seat still be moved forward about 3/4 the way before it is stopped by the pole.
Holding Steady
The RAM Mount's Tough Tray is incredibly simple yet effective. It's basically two pieces of sliding plastic that are held together by a heavy spring underneath that requires both hands to pry open. On both sides of the tray are two heavy plastic clips with rubber linings that can be positioned in several height and length configurations to best match your laptop. This is especially handy for laptops that have their I/O ports on the side, such as my Macbook that was able to have the power, USB, and audio ports all accessible at the expense of the Ethernet and DVI ports, which wouldn't be useful in a car anyway.
Due to the spring's immense strength, the laptop has no chance of slipping out whatsoever. Additionally, due to the rubber ball, very few shocks are transferred to the laptop when driving on rugged terrain or hitting a pothole. I tested this by driving over some harsh speed bumps at 25MPH without issues, and my laptop also held steady throughout the duration of my recent California to Ohio road trip - a three day journey on I-40 and I-44.
Also, the build quality of the entire kit is quite solid, the steel a heavy grade and seemingly immune to dings and bends, the plastic strong and rugged. The black powder coat that covers the steel however is vulnerable to scratching from keys or other hard pieces of cargo, but that's nothing major. If anything were to happen to the RAM Mount, which I doubt would happen, there's always the lifetime warranty to back you up.
If you are using a RAM Mounting System, send us some pictures and a brief paragraph of text so we can show other people how they can benefit from the RAM Mounting System!
Have a question on a RAM Mounting System ? Email us! |
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