Hi - CF-28 Noob here - Kodiak Mounts

Hey there all -

I'm a brand-new CF-28 owner (finding out the hard way that my 600 mhz pet may not be as upgradeable as I hoped); I've been perusing many of the threads here, and one of the things I see mentioned fairly frequently is Kodiak Mounts; while poking around on eBay, I found this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Kodiak-Mobile...oryZ3709QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

listing for Qty (4) of them delivered for just under $100; knowing what the custom Magnacel (sp?) docking units I used to install in ambulances cost (around $600-800 each, depending on the options) this seemed like a heckuva deal - thought I'd pass it along!

Thanks, and oh yeah - Merry Christmas/Happy New Year!

mnem

 

Oh frell... I just realized these are for the CF-27s. I have no idea if they'd be compatible with any newer models. Prolly why they've been lingering on the 'bay for so long.

Feel free to ignore, boo, or flick used gum at this post...

*Toddles off to get a loan and buy a clue*

 

They will work with a CF-28.. they need to be modified tho.. the On/Off switch is in a different place.. the locking tab is underneath behind the handle so that has to modified.. I chopped off the "ears" that slid over the handle.. I trimmed one of the pieces down and used it for the "locking slot piece".. trimmed down the side ears..( I am eventually thinking of cutting them off altogether...the 28 dock doesn't have them..) I have mine mounted in my truck and it works like a charm.. That seller will sell one to you individually.. that's where I got mine from..

 

Yes it will work with the cf-28 but you will have to do some modding(read cutting) of the ears on the side to shorten their height and of the piece on the front to allow access to the power switch etc.. I have purchased and use two of those units from that very same seller. Just be sure to indicate to him that you would like each of the units wrapped with bubble wrap. I spent two hours straightening out bent connectors and the pins on the replicator plug because he stacked them one right against the other. Other than that minor issue they are nice units and he is an honest seller.

 

Kyote, That is kind of scary we were both posting at the same time about this. Correct me if I am wrong but weren't you the first guy to mod one of these for use with a 28? Do you have a picture of how you cut the ear for the locking place. I just cut mine down enough for it to work but would like to do something a little more nice looking.

 

lol.. yeah I saw you posted at the same time.. Not a problem.. I have a nifty little chop-saw I picked up when I was down at the Dayton Hamvention for 20$.. for projects like this it works great..
I don't think I was the 1st... but I do have mine working.. I went to the Kodiak site and downloaded the Spec sheet for the 28.. and saw how the 27 mount differed from the 28..
PM me your email and I'll send what pics I have..
( for anyone that's interested.. the tools I used were an air grinder with cutoff disc, mini chop-saw, and a wire welder.. you could possibly use a rivet gun to attach the locking piece..was thinking of doing that at first...)

 

I might have been the first on this board to do the mod, but kyote was the first to use it (I still haven't finished making a mount pole in the hearse).

However if you are the kind of guy that snoops around eBay long enough, you can eventually find a real CF-28 mount for under $40.

I'm pondering on cutting off my ears all together though, and welding on a new tab in the right spot, just for a better look. I did my mods at home rather than at work, so it's a bit rough looking.

 

When you see my pics of what I did.. you will see mine almost looks like a "real" 28 mount.. lol I eventually will cut off the ears altogether....
I used a mount from a Motorola MW-520 computer mount for my "pole mount"....I'll take a pic of what mine looks like installed so you can see what I mean.....

 

Wow -

I sure didn't expect so much response so quickly. I'm pretty much brand new to this particular breed of laptop; all my previous hacking has been with the Dell L400s (Tiny little things, & pretty durable in a thin, magnesium alloy kinda way). As for the Kodiak mounts, it's not really my thing - I was just hoping to be able to bring something to the group with my hello post. I prolly should have guessed that guys like you would know about anything TB related on eBay minutes after it happened, but hey - I thought I got lucky.

Okay... I guess my direction here is not that clear yet, so I'm gonna have to read some more and get a bit more of a clue.

Thanks for talking at me,

mnem

 

That's what we're here for. If you've got any toughbook questions, suggestions, or half baked ideas... we're the guys to talk to.

 

modly.. pm me an email address to send them to..

 

Ok guys.. I emailed the pics I took of how I modded the Kodiak CF-27 mobile mount for the 28 to Modly who will be putting them on his server......
Just be forewarned.. I had more than a hacksaw.. you will need some halfway serious power tools to accomplish this...

 

I used a sawzall and a dremel to finish the edges (Don't wanna scratch the toughbook).

Worked out well.

Edit; Kyote's pictures are now up in my CF-28 goodies section.