Toughbook CF-30 RAM mount into 2011 Jetta?

Hello all. I've searched but couldn't find anything about this topic, so I apologize if it's already been covered, as I couldn't find it.

I have a customer that I'm trying to help mount a CF-30 Toughbook into his 2011 Jetta. I have contacted RAM Mounts ( RAM Mounting Systems, Inc.) and got a quote that looks pretty do-able from Jerry over there.

He gave me 4 part numbers that I've highlighted below to make this all happen:

RAM-234-PAN1PB
RAM-VBD-125
RAM-VP-TTM8U
RAM-VB-110-4U

He highlighted the fact that Jettas are NOT a standard type of vehicle that you would normally mount a computer in (Like a crown vic or a truck for example) and he told me that you would HAVE to use the "universal mouting plate" that requires DRILLING: Universal Drill-Down Horizontal Laptop Base

I talked to my customer and he is okay with the idea that you have to drill holes, HOWEVER I am a little unsure about what I may need to remove from the underneath side of the car to drill the 4 holes to put the bolts through.

My main questions are this:
1) Has anyone done this?
2) Can someone give me a little light as to if there is room underneath the passengers floor to do this?
3) Does anyone maybe have a pic or 2 showing what it even looks like underneath the passengers floor? - This guy is NOT local to me and is 1+ hour drive to see the car + he works 90 hours a week so he's too busy to even let me take a quick look at it!

Thanks for any help or insight that you guys could provide!

 

I'd use blind fasteners....in this case commonly called nutserts. You drill a hole from the friendly side with the right drill bit, shove in a 1/4 X20 or thereabouts nutsert. Tighten with a hardened 1/4 x 20 whilst keeping the insert from spinning. Remove the hardened bolt and repeat three more times.
They work on the same principal as a sheetrock fastener.
There are fancy tools, but if you get the nutsert with flats on them you can hold with a small wrench. aka cheap.
They are as strong as the sheet metal they are expanded into.
Next time the car is on the rack the customers mechanic could put a flat washer and nut on if he can see them. (not necessary in most cases.)
I use them for grab handles in my cabover International Fire Truck. In the dash and anywhere else you can't reach behind with a wrench.

Jeff.......Local Auto Parts by the piece.

 

Jeff, got a picture of these mysterious bolts? I can't for the life of me understand/picture what I'm looking for... lol

~Rob, not an expert on bolts :-/~

 

As quite usual here, posting the Toughbook's complete Model Number (such as CF-30xxxxxxx) helps in getting a correct answer; especially when it comes to vehicle docking mounts.

 

Nutserts from Aircraft Spruce & Speciality Co.

 

Topcop1988...your help is needed http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/626319-cf-29e3kgzkm-battery-recald-wont-boot-windows.html Post 8

 

I'd fab up a mount that fits under the front passenger seat frame bolt. Easy to do. Then when he goes to sell he doesn't have holes in the floorboard.

 

Rob,
Look at the "Havis/Shield" base plate for the Crown-Vic. If the Jetta is of similar design, you may modify it (they might have another model that might work better).
As Toughbook said, loosen the rear bolts, take out the front bolts, slide in the plate, re-insert bolts & tighten, install post, swing-arm & dock. Also check out the the Havis docks (the new alum. ones) for the CF-30.
I used Havis/Shield products in my Crown-Vic & 2011 Freightliner Van (a modded Crown-Vic baseplate.

 

I REALLY HATE YOU! LMAO! CF-30MK1/Touch/4G/500G/Emmisive! Exact Model: TBD! lol

 

Then see Post #10.

 

ROTFLMAO!!! :laugh:

The main things to consider here (and the main reason for the complete Model Number) are:

1) Is the CF-30 equipped with Hi-Gain Antenna Pass-Through Connector(s);

2) If so equipped, how many connectors (1 or 2); and,

3) If so equipped, does the owner intend to actually utilize this/these connector(s)?

This applies to the choice of Vehicle Dock, regardless of the dock's manufacturer ( Panasonic, RAM, Gamber-Johnson, Havis (LEDCO), et al.).

 

The dock is provide via RAM mounts. NO, he will NOT have the antennas redirected.

I am NOT concerned about any of this guys. Just need to know about the mounting on the car. That's all.

I got the rest under control.

 

Rob: the bottom line is that the VW Jetta is not conducive to a front-mount installation of a CF-30 Toughbook.

Check this photo of the front seat area of the VW Jetta:

VW Jetta cockpit

Think: "Trunk mount; w/ PDRC or CF-VDW07CRFM remote display in the cockpit."

In any case, you are going to have to "fab up" the mounting base for the mounting pole and related hardware.

 

Homemade Riv-nut Tool
Here's a sloppy looking perfectly functional example. Other ideas are available. Some use a rubber washer for friction on top of the nutsert/rivnut. (temporarily during compression)

Jeff....DIY....

 

Rob.

I have to agree with TopCop. A compact like the Jetta won't have enough space under the seat for a mount and the center console isn't going to be wide enough either. You will probably need to mount it on the passenger floor with a long cantilever mount bringing it across the center console. I would also suggest a trunk mount with a wireless display or PDRC, that's the way I would do it. A Jetta is far narrower than a big cop car or a truck and it just doesn't have the room. A possible alternate (although I think elbow room would be limited) would be to mount on the rear floor just behind the console and use a cantilever mount swinging it across the top of the console inbetween the front seats. One of the issues I would add with this is because of the lack of space I would see it as a major safety issue in a crash, could quite lickely swing around and maim the occupants - tou may end up liable as the installer. With a trunk mount and a wireless screen, less likely to cause injury.

Cheers
Andy

 

Rob, you might be able to mount a pipe socket with a flange in the bottom of the bin in front of the shift lever and then use the motion attachment shown here
RAM No-Drill Vehicle Mount for Ford Fusion (2006-Newer), Lincoln MKZ (2007-2010), and Mercury Milan (2006-2010) - GroupMobile.com
to mount the computer. There is definitely not a lot of room in "das auto".
CAP

 

He doesn't care if a passenger can't fit in it in the front. He's the ONLY one EVER in the car.

Just thought I'd mention that...

 

Rob.

OK then in that case, RAM mount mounted to the passenger floor near the transmission tunnel, use the nutserts (great things they are but I would go for stainless ones if he ever wants to be able to undo them. I would say that would be the strongest way to do this. Alternatively - and I would consider this, get a piece of quarter inch plate and mount the mount to that and then mount that to the floor - it will help spread the load on the floor as the floor skin will be a lot less strong than the base of the mount and the leverage on it may bend the floor - you don't want to do that on a Monocoque body shell.

Cheers
Andy

 

The English language is in serious need of some synonyms...

 

case in point:

I will present this present to you in the present...

 

Then you've got it whipped.

Fab up a 3/16" or 1/4" mounting plate that sandwiches between the floorboard and the passenger seat mounting brackets, with an extension of the plate out past the front edge of the seat, bent in a "z" form to rest on the floorboard (for vibration reduction) and the RAM-VBD-125 RAM Universal Drill-Down Horizontal Laptop Base bolted to it.

Better yet; to allow for a passenger (when/if he ever has one ), use the RAM Remove-A-Pole™ Quick-release Base, along with the two-piece Tele-Pole™:

RAM 12" Long Lower Female Tele-Pole™
RAM 8" Long Top Male Tele-Pole™

 

Yeah, well, nobody in their right mind would be a passenger in a Jetta anyway.

I mean, I've been in two of them. Once as a passenger and once as a driver and i was nearly killed both times. First time, the car caught fire and burned out within minutes, and the second time the brakes failed on the highway. (1990 Jetta and 2007 Jetta, respectively.) I'm never, ever, getting in a Jetta again.

 

Well, if nobody's ever going to sit next to him in the car anyways, I suggest a little Great Stuff abuse. Spray a big blob of that old expanding spray foam insulation in the passenger seat, plop your prewired baseplate in the middle of it right where you want it & hold it there for 10 minutes. VOILA! That Toughbook ain't goin' NOWHERE.

mnem
Tip # 324 from the Duct Tape Abuser's Handbook

 

Rob,
Your client may want to check this out: Auto Desks :: Products - AutoExec, Inc. || Makers of the AutoExec Desk
I have one of these, that was used in my van, while looking for a traditional mount that I liked (I chose a Havis/Ledco). To mount my CF-29 I used a CF-2732 dock with the Gamber-Johnson adapter, on top of a 1/8" X 6" X 12" alum. plate, drilled 2 5/16 holes 3 1/2" from each end of the plate, counter sunk for flat head screws, a couple fender washers, nylock nuts & mounted the hole setup the desktop, hooked the seatbelt in - DONE!

 

I had completely forgotten about those.

OR: mount the CF-30 safely out of harm's way in the trunk (preferrably in a self-powered lockable dock; utilizing the AutoExec iPad Desk and a Wi-Fi equipped iPad 2 as a wireless remote display for the Toughbook.

When leaving the vehicle unattended for any significant amount of time, merely place the iPad in the trunk, or in a briefcase for remote access to the Toughbook's files, etc.

Voila; all problems cured and no holes visible to the next Jetta owner!

OR; heaven forbid; skip the whole CF-30 thing and just go with the AutoExec Desk and iPad 2 w/Wi-Fi + 3G.

Over & Out!

 

Most "no drill" mounts use the forward seat attachment bolts. A steel plate between the seat and the floor holds the mount's vertical arm.

 

The whole problem with the Jetta is:
1-have to "fabricate" a baseplate.
2-fabricate a vertical stand, with 2 45 deg. turns, to get up and over the seat & console. There is nothing below the swing arm that "I" would use from Ram Mounts.
I could do it here in Ca. As I have mills, lathes, tubing benders & welders at the house. It'll take a couple days to do, with the car here.
One could order some parts that are currently manufactured, marry them together and make it happen. "Way to expensive".
If it were me, 1-remote mount the CF-30 in trunk with the wireless display, like "TopCop" said, or "AutoExec" desk it "like I said".

 

Rob does amazing things with threaded pipe...

 

And there goes my appetite.

Now this might just be me considering I haven't seen me girlfriend in a month. And me mind is on pretty much 24/7. But God that sentence can be easily misinterpreted.



On topic: I don't get the issue here. Grab a pipe, bend it to 90 degrees, weld a small flat piece of metal to one end, drill a hole, and use the bolt from the passenger seat to bolt it to the floor of the car. In between the seat and the floor. Then weld another flat metal piece on the other end the size of the dock. Bolt the dock to the metal plate. Mount your computer of choice. The wiring should be fairly simple after that. Took me about two hours. But i didnt use a dock though, i just bolted the cf-27 straight to the metal plate.

Hell if this works for an off road modified Suzuki Vitara, it should work for a bloody Jetta. I'm pretty sure you're not in the habit driving it in the woods or rolling you car over, yeah?

I'd take a pic, but the car is out of the country with me mate right now.

Which reminds me, Rob, didn't you do something similar in that bloody tank you call a car? I seem to remember a pic on your TBT ftp.

 

Ahhh, yes, it is in my Polish work truck that isn't so Polish any more... (IE, I've upgraded EVERYTHING... ):

Index of ./2010 RAM 1500 VDL01 Mount/

 

Yup, that's what I remembered. A bit different from what i built, but the concept is the same.

I drove one of those Rams once. That one was a bit bigger due to an off road modification, but not by much. Now, my Mercedes 190 isn't exactly a small car, neither is my girlfriends Nissan Sentra that i drive nowadays. But bloody hell, that thing is huge. I could never drive something that big on an everyday basis. Its like the damn thing doesn't end! Just goes on forever!

 

Nissan Sentra???? Not small????? LMA O! I think us Americans and you "Swedish" guys have a VERY vast definition of "big"...

My truck is TINY compared to others...

A sentra is considered a tin can by my standards... a VERY tiny car... My wife drives a 2010 Chevy Cobalt and that car is TINY... and the Sentra is smaller.....

No offense intended towards you, just understand that a RAM 1500 is NOT a big truck by ANY MEANS in my book... A 3500 DUELLY with a MEGA cab and an 8.5' bed is BIG...

Hmmmm

 

Guess you never saw one of THESE...

International XT - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

mnem
*Commence Testosterone-Poisoning-Induced Hosing Contest NOW*

 

^ One word for that. Tank.

I never said the sentra was big, i only said it wasn't small... Considering the fact that she drove a Ford Ka before the Sentra. Now that's a small car. I nearly had to remove the driver seat and use the back seats when i drove it.

No offense taken, mate. Its purely cultural differences. Americans have always had bigger cars than we here in Europe. That and the fact that the petrol prices are about twice here than in the States. Personally, i think its a waste to have such big cars when you don't actually need it. I'm not aiming this at you, but more generally. But I suppose that's where the cultural differences come in.

Just for a quick reference, I drive a Mercedes 190DC (4.4 meters), my father a Saab 9-3 (4.6 meters), my mother a Opel Astra Combi (4.5 meters), my best mate a WV Passat Combi (4.7 meters).

I'm pretty sure these are tiny by your standards, but these sizes are actually the mainstream over here. The Saab is one of Sweden's most sold cars.

 

In the UK my 99 Toyota Land Cruiser VX is considered a Big car and the 4Runner I had before is also considered big. In the land of the free they are almost sub-compact!

 

Don't actually need it? Yes, I agree... and for 99% of americans that IS the case. Not for me however.

I sold my SRT8 for my truck because I needed something more practical. This truck has been V-E-R-Y practical!

I use it for all my work and have LOTS of tools, plus, I haul a LOT of wood on a regular basis as my lakehouse, pull my boat around and use it to take docks and lifts in and out of the water with the built in tow hooks and to pull my wife out of the snow when she gets stuck in her Cobalt. This winter is supposed to be REALLY bad - worse than last year (which, up until now was the worst winter I've EVER seen).

I also like to off road it, but that isn't a necessity of course.

Thanks

 

I thought my sprinter work van was the most practical, reliable vehicle ever until I bought the wife piece a Scion XB. Small outside, big inside. Love that thing. The car too.

 

Now that's a new one. The Sprinter at work had total engine failure after three months. They more or less bribed us with a brand new sprinter so we wouldn't spill our guts to the papers.

As for the Scion, I'm sorry if this seems insensitive, but that car looks like a shoe box on steroids and probably has the aerodynamics of a brick wall.

btw, my memory might be playing tricks on me but wasn't the scion sold as the daihatsu materia here in europe?

 

I owned an '05 scion xb back in high school... Great little car! I loved it!

I even had a carputer in it: Robs Old Carputer & scion

 

^ Now, that's pretty neat mate. Oh and that plastic roll cage was just epic. It probably had a purpose (hiding wires?), though.

 

Dodge Sprinter; or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter? (yes: I know they are both the same )

 

Mnem, I'll see your GMC and raise you a "Strut". Yes that is actually the brand. Spotted by Cap and Mrs. Dogfish whilst on a break from slot canyons at the Lake Powell marina in Page, Arizona. Some penile deficient nit wit actually thought this rig was kewl!



Cap

 

I dont care what you people say, thats not a car, thats a bloody lorry.

Stuid question, whats the weight limit on an american drivers license? With a normal "B" labeled swedish license, i'm allowed to drive a vehicle thats weighs max. 3,5 tons.

Edit: Here you go, a swedish humvee. Damn i hope i get to drive one of these.

 

ares93, I didn't mean to suggest that there was anything reasonable about that thing. It was posted for comic relief. They're not at all common, I've never seen one in New England where I live.
CAP

 

Can't speak to other states, but here in Texas, if it registers as a "Passenger Car" you need only a Class C Operator's License.

Hint: Motor Homes are "Passenger Cars."

 

Mine's an 04 so technically a Dodge. The new MBZ badged trucks, like all new MBZ vehicles, are overcomplicated junk.

 

well, yeah, Cap'n. But that's not a Pickup Truck. It's a short deck 6-wheeler similar to the International I linked to; they're a custom conversion made for towing the big 40ft+++ 5th wheel trailers. They don't have a bed; that pair of scooters is just tacked onto the hitch subchassis. The CXT was actually a production consumer vehicle aimed at one thing: taking business away from Hummer. THAT's what makes it funny!

mnem
Like you've never accidentally spanked a midget before!

 

My question is now, what qualifies as a motor home?
I mean, there are two types of motor homes.

 

Both of them believe it or not.
@mnem, Well I can see the distinction now that you mention it. I'm guessing you see more of this kind of stuff down your way. As I mentioned, I've never seen either type around home, but we actually saw 2 of the GMC type on a dealer lot on our way through Las Vegas/Henderson in September. Just not a Yankee thing I guess although we have our share of Hummers.
CAP
EDIT: Insert IHC in place of GMC in all of my posts, I wasn't looking close enough. Old Timer's setting in I guess.

 

Three, actually, A, B and C.

This is a Class C ("Mini-Motor Home"):

And this is a Class A: ("Recreational Vehicle")

And as I wrote earlier, here in "The Lone Star State," you need only a Class C Operator's License to drive either.

BTW: the Class B is a Van Camper (a/k/a "Conversion Van") or Travel Trailer: both Bumper-Pull (a/k/a "pull-along") and 5th Wheel.