I am interesed in hearing about any who have installed a GPS system in their trucks, i.e. "innovative" mounting concepts.


Thanks in advance

 

on another thread I detaile my fun with a Garmin Streetpilot 2610 I just got... Do a search or look under my id...

finding more features every time I have a moment to 'play' with it...

 

I shall......I shall

BTW, you like your particular unit? Do you recommend it?

 

I got it the 2610 after a failed attempt at the 'budget' solution...
The handheld I got for $199 just didn't cut it - returned it and was about to eat crow with my wife because her lincoln ls has a NICE Nav system built in...

When I returned it to best buy, the dept mgr happened to be at the return desk and when I told him this just didn't do what I wanted... he said they had just got a new one in that I might look at...

This one is NEAT !

 

Kraut
I suggest you look into a nav stereo unit with a popout
screen, It will look much cleaner.

 

If you are reeeealy serious about a GPS setup, try this.

Get a laptop computer and load it with a program called OziExplorer (~$75). www.oziexplorer.com. It is a basic GIS (Geographic Information System) and simple to use.

Buy/download digital topographic/urban/highway maps maps into an inventory of areas you travel. There are lots of www sources.

Buy any common 12 channel GPS with the interface cable and external antenna. I like Garmin.

Mount the computer on a rigid platform using epoxy poured into the two cupholders on the console. Lots of velcro on the platform keep the computer in place.

The GPS acts simply as a receiver. Cabled to the serial port of the computer, OziExplorer will track your location on any digital map you load on the big screen. The GPS unit can be hidden from site with only the external antenna visible.

Give your old computer to the kids as the laptop can be removed and used at home to find out things from ford-trucks.com

Now here's the really neat part

If you have a VHF radio and Ham licence identifier, you can set the system to broadcast your location at any interval to a website so that everyone in the world knows where you are! Hmmm In Canada the site is http://www.canaprs.net/

Or you can do like me. Velcro mount a 12 Channel Garmen on the dash.

 

I've struggled with the GPS for both my F250 and my wife's Explorer. I'm not sold on the 2610 yet. I've flown with GPS for many years now and it's easier as you're normally always going to a location that's identified by 4 letters. Trying to type in a street address on something like a 2610 or III deluxe will be a big problem since you have to do it with a menu.

I've settled on the cheaper route of a Delorme Earthmate GPS and Street Atlas 2004 ($129) with a laptop. The GPS is USB (and even WAAS enabled) and powered by the cable so you only have one cable to deal with. Plug it into whatever laptop you want to use (or handheld for that matter) and you're off. Plus you have the benefit of a large screen and the new Street Atlas software incorporates both vocal directions as well as vocal commands (you can speak to control the software). I've used earlier versions before that worked well so I'm looking forward to trying this. BTW, I'm NOT a Delorme rep

Good luck!

 

I agrree, if you already have a laptop, the Delorme GPS receiver
and map software is the way to go!!!

I have a Ranger, with a fiberglass cap. The fiberglass cap is transparent to the satellite signals, so I use velcro to attach the
receiver to the top of the cap. I then wired a connector for the
GPS receiver with CAT-5 wire into the cab, that I can plug into the
laptop. It works great!!!!

If you already have a laptop, the Delorme package is cheaper, and has many more features than the hand-held GPS receivers.

Oh, I'm not a Delorme rep either!!!!

 

GREAT info.....

I've got a little re-think to do ref. laptop ideas posted above.

Thanks to all who responded

 

I bought a Garmin GPSMAP 76S, mounted it to the dash to the left of the stock radio with a couple of 1/4" u-bolts, and some bent up sheet metal, so that it is at the perfect angle, and the u-bolts make it look like it is difficult to steel.

I use the laptop arrangement described above when long distance traveling, but in my local area, the whole thing would be stolen in a minute, so the 76 is enough for me. Plus it has the added benefit that when I go fishing (which is often but never often enough!) I can pull the unit out of the truck, and it's a great handheld!

Oldchap