Remote install ideas

[TwinSpar]

I'm thinking about embedding the V1 in the yellow area an relocating the mileage/compass display. It would be a tight squeeze and I still need to figure out if it can fit and still ride low enough.




Now comes the real question. I've identified 2 places to install the remote display. For the option in pale green... the idea would be to make a popup panel where I could hide the display when not in use. There is enough room to fit it but it's beyond my engineering abilities to come up with some way to accomplish it. There is a "V" shaped space that would have enough room for the remote and possibly a spring under it to make it pop up. I just cant figure out a good way to hinge and secure said pop up.

The area in yellow is my second choice but it's a ***** because of the curved dash. Most likely I would have to have the remote modified so that the connector doesn't come out the side to swing that location.

Any ideas on option 1 would be greatly appreciated!

[SAfricanCracker]

I vote for pale green. I want my concealed display to be more closer to my line of sight to the road. It's in front of my instrument cluster, at the bottom. Whenever I get an alert, I have to look down, below my speedometer to read the alert and I know it adds risk to my driving as that takes a few seconds away from me watching the road. I wanted it above my dash, just above the steering wheel's line of sight. But that involved sticking the velcro to the dash and was afraid to damage it. Anywayz, that's my take. If you can, get the CD as close to your line of sight of the road.

[TwinSpar]

Green is my preferred location. I just want to rig up something that I can hide by pushing it back into it's cubby when I lock up. Even better would be something that retracts when the power is shut down! That's my pipe dream.

[SAfricanCracker]

Oh.. Ok, now I understand why you want to use a spring. Interesting. It's definitely worth a try. Using a pretty stiff spring to restrict side-to-side motion of the CD, but then allow it to be pressed down into dash. Great idea. Whenever I get my next car, I plan a more permanent installment of my CD.

[bushpilot]

personally i think it will be a HUGE challenge...the areas that youve
selected are NOT flat, yet the display is.

the areas that youve selected are also gonna be tough to make
completely hidden (your likely gonna be left w/ "slits" that looks
outta place).

theres not alot of room behind that superduty/excursion dash...
i know <see sig>

what youll find when you pull that dash cover off is that the
a/c-heat vent is screwed to the dash cover and has a fair
amount of supporting plastic around the vent.

youll need to get a piano hinge on the back side of the plastic
that you cut, then youll need a catch and supporting spring loaded
mechanism.

when i mounted the display in my dash there was barely enough
room for the display AFTER i removed it from the RD housing/box.

i had to cut the mute button of it, to reduce the size of the
RD...there just wasnt enough room behind the dash otherwise.

[TwinSpar]

Thanks for the thoughts BP. I had pretty much ruled out the yellow location with concave surface but the pop up remote keeps nagging at me. There is space enough for the display to hide down there. I'm just not sure if there's enough space for it and some sort of mechanism to force it up when unlocked. I don't like having the display where it's at right now. I run the detector in Little L with mute turned way down so it doesn't bug others in the cab but I would like the thing to be more visible so I can see when it's displaying the muted signals. Another thought I had was to get an A-Pillar gauge cluster and mount the remote in one of the gauge spots. I really do need to exhaust temp gauge. I have a feeling that it may run a bit hot when I've got the chip in Hi-Perf mode. Even though I've been running in Towing Perf mode since diesel got so retarded in pricing....

[bushpilot]

man when im driving...i dont care what others like or dont like
when it comes to the detector or audio choices...the driver is in
charge i always say

i dont necessarily need to look at the display, i listen to the
audio tone & "brap" rate...then i briefly look at the display
to confirm the direction of the radar signal.

if you have the audio turned down and you cant find a good
locations for the display (thats ALWAYS in your field of view)
then you might consider adding a SMALL <bright> LED
that will catch your attn.

the problem w/ VISUAL ONLY alerts is that if you look away
from the display even for a second you could miss an alert.

[TwinSpar]

Not a bad idea. I really only rely on visual for those K/X alerts that I have muted out until strength hits 4 bars. I catch them visibly unless I'm driving with one hand at 12 oclock which I don't do very often cause the Excursion with 37 inch tires likes to wander. Toss in a little wind and it's a hand full.

[TwinSpar]

This guy's work has me thinking I can fabricate a small hooded remote display pod that would meet my needs. I've got a little experience laying glass so this could be an inexpensive solution for my idea. The most difficult thing will be getting a good surface finish and matching paint color. Mounting an enclosure would be easy!

http://www.wcc.net/~jkmccoy/fordtrck/gauges/gauges.htm

[kafklatsch]

This guy's work has me thinking I can fabricate a small hooded remote display pod that would meet my needs. I've got a little experience laying glass so this could be an inexpensive solution for my idea. The most difficult thing will be getting a good surface finish and matching paint color. Mounting an enclosure would be easy!

http://www.wcc.net/~jkmccoy/fordtrck/gauges/gauges.htm

I may attempt something like that but within my recessed instrument cluster.