Mounting a cell phone. Has anyone done it?

[RWerksman]

I've also been working on something for this, thinking that mounting a phone as shown in the above location would be ideal. Ideally, I don't want to use any adhesive, so I opted for basically wedging something in.

The left is held in place by the gauge cluster - the right and front to back by the infotainment screen. It sits in the trim channel for up and down. Overall, it seems to be pretty stable, but I haven't tested it significantly yet.

As pictured, it's basically a very early prototype to see if the approach will work. I still have some work ahead:

1. The dimensions need refined. It fits, but only after I trimmed it by hand. The bend around the infotainment screen also needs some help, as you can likely see.
2. I am likely going to need to bring out the mounting surface as it's pretty recessed in there, especially considering the overhand of the dash pad as seen in the last photo.
3. I'll need to build in some attachment mechanism. I can either capture a nut in there for ram ball mounting, or cut slotting in there for one of the mounts that are designed to attach to a vent fin like this - mount

All this said, I'm still not sure if this is the best place for a phone to be mounted. It's slightly obscured by the wheel, and besides that, I don't generally mount my phone on the dash.

Feedback is very, very welcome. If people are interested, I'll likely produce these too.

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[kneebuster]

Have a link?

Amazon.com: MINDSKY Magnetic Phone Mount Compatible with Mag-Safe for Tesla 3 / Y / S / X Accessories Cellphone Holder for Car Screen / Dashboard : Cell Phones & Accessories

 

[tiltedandsaltyaf]

I've also been working on something for this, thinking that mounting a phone as shown in the above location would be ideal. Ideally, I don't want to use any adhesive, so I opted for basically wedging something in.

The left is held in place by the gauge cluster - the right and front to back by the infotainment screen. It sits in the trim channel for up and down. Overall, it seems to be pretty stable, but I haven't tested it significantly yet.

As pictured, it's basically a very early prototype to see if the approach will work. I still have some work ahead:

1. The dimensions need refined. It fits, but only after I trimmed it by hand. The bend around the infotainment screen also needs some help, as you can likely see.
2. I am likely going to need to bring out the mounting surface as it's pretty recessed in there, especially considering the overhand of the dash pad as seen in the last photo.
3. I'll need to build in some attachment mechanism. I can either capture a nut in there for ram ball mounting, or cut slotting in there for one of the mounts that are designed to attach to a vent fin like this - mount

All this said, I'm still not sure if this is the best place for a phone to be mounted. It's slightly obscured by the wheel, and besides that, I don't generally mount my phone on the dash.

Feedback is very, very welcome. If people are interested, I'll likely produce these too.

looks great, i'd be interested in something that includes a ram 1" ball mount
that location is good because it also hides the bad wood bend corner when a phone is mounted

 

[rodhx]

Amazon.com: MINDSKY Magnetic Phone Mount Compatible with Mag-Safe for Tesla 3 / Y / S / X Accessories Cellphone Holder for Car Screen / Dashboard : Cell Phones & Accessories

The charger version of that is the one I posted above that I couldn't make fit without interfering with the control stalk. I need to consider what mods you had to do to make it fit.

 

[kneebuster]

The charger version of that is the one I posted above that I couldn't make fit without interfering with the control stalk. I need to consider what mods you had to do to make it fit.

If you remove the adhesive (or simply poke 4 holes in the right spots) you'll see 4 small Phillips head screws. I removed these and flipped the split silver bar over and that gave more adjustment range. Even with that, I've got such a big phone that positioning so it doesn't interfere with the stalk is a challenge.
If I were to do it again I would likely cut 1" or so off the end of that split silver bar as it keeps the thing from sliding in as far as I'd liked. Doing so would also allow for angling that part upwards to the left a bit more to help with stalk clearance.

 

[rodhx]

If you remove the adhesive (or simply poke 4 holes in the right spots) you'll see 4 small Phillips head screws. I removed these and flipped the split silver bar over and that gave more adjustment range. Even with that, I've got such a big phone that positioning so it doesn't interfere with the stalk is a challenge.
If I were to do it again I would likely cut 1" or so off the end of that split silver bar as it keeps the thing from sliding in as far as I'd liked. Doing so would also allow for angling that part upwards to the left a bit more to help with stalk clearance.

Thanks for the details! The entire mount is just MUCH larger than I anticipated. Especially the sliding bar. Definitely needs to be cut down to work better with the Rivian screen.

 

[RWerksman]

looks great, i'd be interested in something that includes a ram 1" ball mount
that location is good because it also hides the bad wood bend corner when a phone is mounted

That's what I was thinking as well. If you have a suggestion of one, please post it here or PM me. I'll order it and see if I can make an attachment point ... or perhaps build the ball itself into the mount. ?

I have two vent type mounts on the way in now, set to arrive tomorrow. I think that might be the easiest way to go, and frankly, they are pretty ubiquitous. One is Magsafe, the other is a gravity one where you place down on the bottom and the arms deploy.

More tomorrow.

 

[SeaGeo]

I've seen someone who created a 3D printed mount that fits in the little dish in front of the wireless charging mat that had has some mounting points on it. That's the most elegant solution I've seen so far. But it does put the phone a bit low relative to your FOV.

 

[RWerksman]

More photos:

 

[tiltedandsaltyaf]

That's what I was thinking as well. If you have a suggestion of one, please post it here or PM me. I'll order it and see if I can make an attachment point ... or perhaps build the ball itself into the mount. ?

I have two vent type mounts on the way in now, set to arrive tomorrow. I think that might be the easiest way to go, and frankly, they are pretty ubiquitous. One is Magsafe, the other is a gravity one where you place down on the bottom and the arms deploy.

More tomorrow.

there's a flat proclip to ram hole mounting plate that can be screwed into, its like $10 on amazon. I'd recommend starting there i think for mounting to your printed wedge piece

 

[RWerksman]

there's a flat proclip to ram hole mounting plate that can be screwed into, its like $10 on amazon. I'd recommend starting there i think for mounting to your printed wedge piece

Happen to have a link?

I order this fine piece of equipment. It seems to have a very, very similar mount to about a billion other listings. The thought is that if I make the mount compatible here, you could potentially use it and choose one of the virtually endless options.

That said, a standard 1" ball is very doable. 6, 1/2 dozen perhaps.

 

[tiltedandsaltyaf]

Happen to have a link?

I order this fine piece of equipment. It seems to have a very, very similar mount to about a billion other listings. The thought is that if I make the mount compatible here, you could potentially use it and choose one of the virtually endless options.

That said, a standard 1" ball is very doable. 6, 1/2 dozen perhaps.

Flat Plate with hole + 1in Ball Mount

 

[Aag12]

Happen to have a link?

I order this fine piece of equipment. It seems to have a very, very similar mount to about a billion other listings. The thought is that if I make the mount compatible here, you could potentially use it and choose one of the virtually endless options.

That said, a standard 1" ball is very doable. 6, 1/2 dozen perhaps.

I really hope you find a solution! I would buy from you if you're when I get my truck later this year. Seems like a slick solution that isn't based on magsafe (I have a Samsung galaxy

This whole thread is rediculous though. All of us reading and talking how to Jerry rig our own solution to get aa or car play haha! But that's a whole other topic

 

[RWerksman]

So, I ordered two different phone mounts and they both arrived today. Initially, I was planning on putting a hole in the mount that I made and using the included vent fin attachment on each to basically larch it together. Long story short - that ain't happening.

Upon disassembling both, it was evident that I didn't need to do that. BOTH use what looks like a standard 17mm ball mount. The ball mount connects to the vent fin and the mount connects to the ball. It's even like they planned it that way. ?

So, I am going to stand on the shoulders of phone mount giants by making a 17mm ball mount. Here is what it looks like:

Not sure if it will work or whatnot, but it's on the printer now. Not sure if this is going to work, and if so how well, but I should find out shortly.

 

[RWerksman]

Update:

It works and it's clean.
I'm a fucking wizard, Harry. ?

The print itself was pretty crap as I had the printer speed turn up to 11 to get it done tonight. I need to tweak the ball just a bit (maybe 1.5mm) to bring it back a little further toward the dash. Both mounts clear the screens, wood, AND the stalk. Both are seemingly as secure as I hoped.

The phone is somewhat obscured by the wheel though - not sure how much that will bother people.

More, including phone in the doc pics, soon as it's 2:00 AM and I need to get to bed.

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