This is my 2.0 FJ computer mount for tablet PC's. It can fit your laptop with some tweaking. With a cellular aircard for about $50-60 a month, and a USB GPS and topo software for about $200, you get a whole nav PC for just a few hundred more than a standalone GPS.
Pros:
- Passenger-safe. The unit is not in the deployment path of the airbags on the dash and A-pillar.
- Car-safe. Does not put a mark on the car.
- Knee-safe. The keyboard/mouse tray folds up to partially obscure the computer.
- Extremely solid and will not move.
- 18ga. steel construction. Aluminum is optional.
Cons:
- Will require adaptation to mount your specific laptop.
- Complicated. Have it built by your local metal fabrication shop if you don't have the following:
- Riveter or welder - gas, mig or tig
- Sheet metal bender; slip roll optional
- Angle grinder
- Cobalt drill bits
- Sheet metal shears
With the tools above, it should take a day to build and a day to fit and finish.
I'm putting this into two posts; the second following is a step-by-step of the build process:
