[pika1460]

I first installed my Nexus 7 1st gen last year and used the dock as a mount with some magnets attached to the back of the tablet so it wouldn't fly off when driving away. It was a rather elegant idea because all the cables were hidden and looked clean. The downside was the highly reduced visibility.




I started looking into various options for the mount but wanted to be able to revert to stock for when i sell the car (maybe the new owner won't be as DIY inclined). After considering the KUDA mount and just custom building something out of aluminum bar... it hit me ==> MAGNETS !!!

I used the same principle as before, i just upgraded the size and power. I bought about 10 one inch neodymium magnets off ebay (about $10) and proceeded to take everything apart.

Step 1: was to disassemble the tablet and insert one magnet behind the back cover.



Step 2: use a glue-gun to secure the magnet in place and try to close the cover back up. Turns out the glue gun isn't as good for closing it up as the dash gets pretty hot and it looses grip so here just improvise your own solution ... or be more careful and not brake the side tabs off your tablet like i did.




Step 3: take off the console trim and using a box cutter etch a little hole where your "mount" is going to be. Simply slot in the magnet (or magnets) in there. Initially i used a single 1mm x 25mm so that i wouldn't have such a big bump on there with the tablet taken off. that was too weak and i had alot of wiggle while driving. The sweet spot for me was 2.5mm x 25mm, but may differ depending on what magnets you use.






Step 4: do a test fit to figure out how long you need your cables to be. I ran a power cord to the armrest into the cigarette lighter and an aux via the same route. Initially i just plugged them in and lived with them, but later i got 90` adapters to clean it up a bit. After that i just used 2 more 1mm x 25mm magnets as a "connector" between the tablet and the actual dash. This is to improve contact and prevent wiggle.







I figured i'd share with you guys in case anyone is looking for an elegant mount idea. It takes 2 seconds to take the tablet off should you choose to do so and with using the right magnets it won't shake or wiggle even with the worst of roads (streets are getting repaved where I live - Ocean City MD, so everything is really rough)

The only issue i'm having is software related. I'm running Timur's ROM but just can't get it to wake when it gets power....

[ckegg]

Nice work

I see you use first gen nexus 7, so there are GPIO pins on one side, power in and audio out, so if you want a clean look, you should try with them. For your software challenges, get "Tasker" app, works great to wake up and shut off screen, it can also turn off wifi and bluetooth for you.

[Rocko123]

Not that use tablets often but dude thats an awesome idea!

[pika1460]

thanks guys, I really hope is saves someone some headaches.

as far as the small charging pins, that's what i used for my first mount and have discovered that it doesn't pull as many amps through that and sometimes audio would be "clicking". For my taste it's good enough as it is, maybe in the future i'll get a 2013 model and use the QI charging and a bluetooth aux for audio (i use the car bluetooth for my phone).

i've tried both tasker and automate-IT but they won't wake the device at all. the only way they actually do what i tell them to do is if i manually pus the wake button before starting the car. At least after it all starts up it'll put the device to sleep after cutting power.

[igzekyativ]

where did you route the cable for charging the tablet?

[xyaaeg234g234]

Originally Posted by igzekyativ

where did you route the cable for charging the tablet?

Most people go into the center of the dash through the trim piece and then run to either the cigarette lighter line or through the center console passed the gear selector to the glove box where (most) have USB/aux in/cigarette lighter connections.

A++ idea on the magnets, very smart & clean look.

[BeastMode335i]

Nice idea man, looks pretty stealth too!

I'd say probably one of the main benefits of the Kuda mount is that I can swivel/tilt the tablet however I like.. I find that whenever mine is slightly leaned back like that it offers a diff viewing aspect and the screen doesn't appear as sharp, so I tend to keep it aligned straight up and down and also when my girls with me I can swivel it more towards her so she can watch Netflix or whatever lol.. Also, I can fully remove my mount and you'll never know it was there..

Nonetheless, nice idea..

[xyaaeg234g234]

Originally Posted by BeastMode335i

Nice idea man, looks pretty stealth too!

I'd say probably one of the main benefits of the Kuda mount is that I can swivel/tilt the tablet however I like.. I find that whenever mine is slightly leaned back like that it offers a diff viewing aspect and the screen doesn't appear as sharp, so I tend to keep it aligned straight up and down and also when my girls with me I can swivel it more towards her so she can watch Netflix or whatever lol.. Also, I can fully remove my mount and you'll never know it was there..

Nonetheless, nice idea..

What mounting solution did you use between the kuda and the tablet? I've been trying to find a low profile swivel bracket without much luck - as far as I can find now, I'm going to have to hack apart a $30 or so one that is meant to attach to a window or vent. :\

Also my Kuda mount came and did not fit at all, the trim would not slide back on over their gap - I think the leather was laid on too thick right there... waiting to get that resolved with them.

[BeastMode335i]

Originally Posted by prodigymix

What mounting solution did you use between the kuda and the tablet? I've been trying to find a low profile swivel bracket without much luck - as far as I can find now, I'm going to have to hack apart a $30 or so one that is meant to attach to a window or vent. :\

Also my Kuda mount came and did not fit at all, the trim would not slide back on over their gap - I think the leather was laid on too thick right there... waiting to get that resolved with them.

I used the Kuda Dash Mount, Garmin Universal Ball Mount, and this adapter for my tablet..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231402035100...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Works great, doesn't shift while driving and is fully adjustable..

And yeah mine fit perfectly snug until BMW broke my speaker grill by pushing down on the dash mount, so I have to buy another speaker grill to replace it.. It's a tight fit and snaps down snug, have you tried giving it a bit of force?

[xyaaeg234g234]

Originally Posted by BeastMode335i

I used the Kuda Dash Mount, Garmin Universal Ball Mount, and this adapter for my tablet..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231402035100...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Works great, doesn't shift while driving and is fully adjustable..

And yeah mine fit perfectly snug until BMW broke my speaker grill by pushing down on the dash mount, so I have to buy another speaker grill to replace it.. It's a tight fit and snaps down snug, have you tried giving it a bit of force?

Wasn't the grille that wouldn't fit, it was the dash wood burl trim w/ac vents, I could not for the life of me get it to seat/"click" back and stay near the start button.

I looked at the mount where the plastic/fiberglass is conected to the metal hoop/hook and it does not look straight across, the metal may have shifted when being set so one side is higher.

I'm gonna take some pics to send Kuda in a moment I can post for reference.

Edit: Yeah that's the same dang adapter I bought on Amazon, package reeked of smoke like there was a fire in the warehouse and the damn thing broke before I even mounted it, as I was just playing with how it worked. :\

[BeastMode335i]

Originally Posted by prodigymix

Wasn't the grille that wouldn't fit, it was the dash wood burl trim w/ac vents, I could not for the life of me get it to seat/"click" back and stay near the start button.

I looked at the mount where the plastic/fiberglass is conected to the metal hoop/hook and it does not look straight across, the metal may have shifted when being set so one side is higher.

I'm gonna take some pics to send Kuda in a moment I can post for reference.

Edit: Yeah that's the same dang adapter I bought on Amazon, package reeked of smoke like there was a fire in the warehouse and the damn thing broke before I even mounted it, as I was just playing with how it worked. :\

Wow seriously..!?!

That sucks dude, I'd definitely bitch about that.. I had good luck with mine, fit perfect and has been holding up ever since.. I put it on a cheap black TPU case so I didn't have to adhere it to my tablet.. My tab is white so I got a black case and black skin so it matched my interior a little better lol..