Adding stand alone GPS to 2014+

[beard_up]

http://autospatech.com/2014-gmc-sierra-factory-navigation-system.html

 

This isn't anything linked to me but I have done one so far.

Quick hijack...what if I have the 4.3 mylink? What would I have to purchase to get that to work? The website makes me check a box that says I already have an 8"

 

 

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[OldHobo]

Here's a mount that I just recently discovered. A little pricey, but looks pretty versatile. I'll be ordering one to try mounting my Garmin GPS to the dash. For you folks south of the border, check the LeeValley.com site.

 

http://www.leevalley.com/en/Hardware/page.aspx?p=72086&cat=3,43597,72101&ap=1

[Chuck203]

Proclips USA has good mounts that don't require drilling. They are vehicle specific.

 

 

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[SteveBBB]

I ended up placing mine on the left corner of the dash. I tried a few spots, but I like this the best.

 

[euromade]

I added an aftermarket GPS to my truck. The factory GPS cost more and the aftermarket options have some features that I like. I ended up getting a Garmin Nuvi 3597 to replace my trusty old Tom Tom. The Tom Tom was over 4 years old and starting to have a few problems. I travel a great deal for work and a good GPS is a wonderful thing to have. So far this Garmin unit has worked great, better than I had expected. The voice input works very well, you can speak addresses while driving instead of having to type stuff. Auto-dimming for night and day lighting. It also has traffic information that it gets from radio stations – and this also works very well, something that I had not used before and I thought it was going to be a gimmick. This Garmin unit has a magnetic mount that makes removal easy – no clips or cords to unplug, easy to remove at hotels, etc.

 

I don’t like cables and things floating around, so I hard wired it into the factory accessory outlet. The radio surround trim is aluminum and surprisingly strong. I made a bracket and mounted it to the trim. It is positioned so that it does not block my view out of the front window and is within reach.

 

 

 

 

 

James

Looks great, I few shots of black plasti-dip would "cover" the screws and blend it in nice with the rest of the dash/trim...

[PMattras]

I was out jogging and found a piece of 1 ½ to 2 inch rubber (auto rubber bumper - spacer etc) deep and about 2 inches wide and wondered what I could do with it. So I decided to make a GPS dash bracket/holder using the hole for the trailer brake option in the dashboard.

 

Rubber is soft to cut and file down and a nicer material than using a block or wood. This will not scratch anything and gives a little bit (softer) if you bump it while it is in place. It wasn’t a square piece of rubber but more like a triangle design (smaller end went inside and it worked okay). I found two rubber stoppers (small and big size) which I cut down for a spacer and to bury the screws so it wouldn’t scratch the dash when you move it in an out. I used a scrap metal piece (framing metal tie from Home Depot – Simpson Strong Tie – LSTA9 D1433) which I cut down to attach the GPS 17 MM ball to hold the GPS unit and adjust/bend the angle. I used the small cut down rubber stopper to bury the screws attaching the 17 MM GPS ball holder to the metal bracket. I sprayed painted it flat black. Right now I have it plugged into the cigarette lighter in the dash. I used a stump 17 MM ball because you want it tight (close to the dash) so the GPS unit doesn’t affect the use of the turn signal handle on the steering wheel.

 

For my first attempt figuring what to use and designing it, I feel it came out great. It is sturdy and not too heavy. It is out of the way and very easy to see the GPS. Screws buried in the rubber stoppers to prevent scratches. Everything is black so I hide it with a black cloth napkin or hang my black hat on it. With tinted side windows it is harder to see when the unit is shut off. The GPS is out of the direct sun somewhat.

 

Right now it is very good but if I did it again, I would try to use lighter materials (plastic bracket) and 17 MM GPS shorter ball stem (if they make one) and get it tighter/closer to the dashboard. The stem I have now works well and moves to different positions with no issues with the signal switch on the steering wheel. At first I sometimes hit the GPS unit when I use the above handle when I got out of the truck. I tap it less now because I am getting use to it and I use the upper end of the handle. I like the location of the GPS.

 

Overall it is very livable and works great! The cost was less than four to five dollars and about three hours to figure out using scrap materials and getting to a finish product that worked. I guess you can call this a plug and play (pops in and out) with no modifications to the dashboard etc.

 

If anyone can improve on this design please let me know. Right now I don't see any reasons to make another one soon.

[14' W Diamond High Country]

I am getting ready to add my pro-clip dash mount for my Garmin 2757Lm. Will post finished pictures.