Radio head mounting suggestions please

[Disco4Dave]

I have a transceiver with a remote head which has to go in the D4.
Mounting the main body is easy, but I am having trouble mounting the head.
Some other threads have shown radios mounted in various positions:
- on panel under steering wheel - impeeds leg room
- off ashtray - blocks access to controls
- windscreen mount - too obvious a target from outside

In the picture below, I am holding the radio head roughly where I think it is best placed.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/01/400.jpg

However, I can't see anyway to mount it there without being bodgy.
I have a Brodit clip attached just below where I am holding the radio head, but the load of the radio on an arm applies more torque than that clip can support.

Any suggestions please?

[mr_squiggle]

Not a lot of options for a remote that size. What about above the dash on the right side of the steering wheel?

[ATH]

This is a job I've got to tackle as well. I don't want to go drilling holes in all that nice plastic, but of course the head has to be accessible and seeable.
I may do the same as a fellow club member who has mounted the main box inside the front map reading/lip stick light with the head outside and a special ariel where the signal goes through the windscreen. Don't ask me for technicalities as I don't know any..... :(
Can't remember where the speaker and mike is though. :mad: I presume up near the light as well.
AlanH.

[LRD414]

Have you considered a Kuda mount Dave? Would suit that larger size unit well I think.

Scott

[Disco4Dave]

mr_squiggle, thanks for that idea, but I had a look, but at about 160mm wide, the damn thing is too big to fit on the right side of the instrument binnacle.

Scott, do you mean this one (Kuda part number 290615 or 290610) that mounts on top of the dash?

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/01/383.jpg

That could work! It could be discreet enough to not be too obvious from outside. Routing the cables to the main radio unit and the microphone may be interesting.
Do you have a suggested source of such Kuda mounts?

[mr_squiggle]

The Kuda mount looks interesting. Please post up some photos & a description of what you did, regardless of how you eventually mount the remote unit Disco4Dave.

[Disco4Dave]

Doh! Memory problems.
I looked at these Kuda mounts a while ago, but gave them a miss because the Brodit mounts looked better for holding phones, plus I couldn't find a source for the 290610, which would match the interior of our car unlike the 290615. First world problems :-)
Thanks for the reminder Scott.
I have a bit of RAM mount gear around, so as an experiment using a suction cup on the windscreen I have mounted the radio head in approximately the position it would take on the Kuda mount, and will see how it works out in that position.
A pic of course!
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/01/381.jpg

[LRD414]

Yep that's the one. There's a lengthy thread on here and a few guys have installed one. Not sure about colour options or American sourcing etc.

Scott

[LandyAndy]

The Cuda mount is very narrow.I think I would be mounting that on the roof console,or,the back of the centre console.Its too big to mount where the coin tray is,others have done that with smaller units.
Andrew

[BMKal]

I agree with Andrew, and think I'd be looking to mount that from the roof console if I could. However, the Kuda mount will easily handle something that size. I have a Hema HN7 Navigator and my TPMS head unit both mounted to the Kuda mount, and have never had any problems at all with this system. ;)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/01/378.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/pscsvnsjr/)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/01/367.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/ysebgkqlb/)

Note: The thing sitting in front of the Kuda mount on top of the front speaker grille is something that you are not allowed to have over there in the nanny states. https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/01/379.jpg (http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/skype-emoticons.html)

[LandyAndy]

With all your bling and only a 2.7 the only time you would need that radar detector would be on a steep downhill with a speed reduction:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p
Andrew

[gavinwibrow]

Is there room to turn the head unit 90 degrees to the right and hang it side on near to your original pic?

[Disco4Dave]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/01/367.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/ysebgkqlb/)

I see in this pic you have something mounted below the starter button. Is that stuck on?

[Disco4Dave]

Is there room to turn the head unit 90 degrees to the right and hang it side on near to your original pic?
Probably too hard to read the display with that orientation

[BMKal]

I see in this pic you have something mounted below the starter button. Is that stuck on?

It was until about three days ago. ;)

It is the microphone for the UHF radio. Bracket has been stuck to the dash using double sided tape virtually ever since I bought the vehicle ........................ and finally fell off when I took SWMBO up the street a couple of days ago (it was about 42 degrees in the shade at the time, but I didn't think it was all that hot inside the car).

When I can find some more decent quality double sided tape, I'll stick it back on. Until then, it is sitting on top of the console next to the gear lever. :D

[Disco4Dave]

It was until about three days ago. ;)
Oops! :o

[Disco4Dave]

I have contacted Kuda USA, as they appear to be only the only source that will ship to Australia, although, they don't list Australia as a delivery option on their web site.

For the 290615 mount the price is US$66.10.
Delivery for between 1 and 4 units is the same at:
First Class Mail? International (N/A) US$24.95 (not insured ? not traceable at all
Priority Mail? International (10-14 Days) US$49.40 (not insured ? not fully traceable
Express Mail? International (3- 5 Days) US$69.90 (insured ? fully traceable

The delivery price is relatively high compared to the price of the mount, so I would like to find a few other D4 owners who would also like to get a mount, and share the delivery cost.

Any takers?

Another option might be for me to buy 4, and then advertise the remaining 3 for sale here on the forum, at a price that recovers my costs. Thoughts?

[BMKal]

I bought three of them and shared the total cost with two other members on here. ;)

[Disco4Dave]

Well I have taken the punt and ordered 3 of the Kuda mounts. With the fast, traceable and insured delivery it works out to about the same price each as ordering one with standard postal delivery.
So there will be 2 D4 Kuda mounts for sale here in Oz, hopefully next week :-)

[Disco4Dave]

Well I have received the 3 mounts, and now have 2 for sale
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/internal-accessories-sale/245684-kuda-mount-d4-2-available-cherrybrook-nsw.html#post2637922

[Disco4Dave]

Kuda mount installed, and radio head attached.
When it cools down a bit outside, probably in a few days!, I will take the time to route the flat cable to the head under the Kuda mount, along edge of the dash and windscreen and down to the radio head under the seat.
The radio head could mount a bit higher, but I decided to start it a bit lower and see how that works, as the mounting hole(s) won't show if I then move it higher, unlike starting higher and moving down.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/02/530.jpg