GPS Mount in D90 Soft Top

[ronward]

I'll be mounting my Magellan 330 gps unit to the left of the instruments on the top of the dash, up against the windshield with a swivel mount I have ordered from Magellan. Anyone suggest a SAFE way to hard wire (power) the unit rather than using the cigarette lighter? I feel like the electrical systems in these trucks is fairly fragile and want to avoid overloading something.

Ron Ward

[Mike Hippert]

I would avoid the 90s wiring alltogether. I would run a set of wires behind the heater vents across the dash, down the drivers side to the lower dash part that is held in place by 3 screws. Behind that there is a knockout with a rubber gromet in it next to the wiper fluid hose. Pass the +12 volt wire threw the hole and ground the other to the wiper moter. Then run the +12 wire under the 90 along the frame to the Battery box and connect it to an inline fuse the to the battery. This is what I do forall my add ons. If you have allot of other things to hook up I would suggest a fuse box from Painless wiring. If you want to turn the power going to the GPS on and off with the ignition then I would use a relay and the power to the radio as the turn on for the relay.

[ronward]

Good idea taken a step further. I think I'll run the wires as you suggest, but use my exisiting cig lighter plug adapter for the GPS and connect it to a remote aux cig lighter wired directly to the battery pos and neg. That way I can remove the GPS for mobile use in another vehicle but not look ghetto with the plug hanging out of the cig lighter all the time....

[Mike Hippert]

My connecter on the GPS is real small and tucks in behind the defroster vent when I am not useing it so you don't know it is there unless you stick your hand up there to grab it. Does your swivel mount bolt to the dash? I have been using velcor to hold mine in place.

[javelinadave]

I have grabbed power fron the rear wiper switch located in the rectangular panel between the vent handles (If you have a soft top the wiring is still there). It is switched, at least 10 amp and think of the last time you used the rear wiper. It is a fused source and it is right where you want to mount your GPS. I would still use an in-line fuse after you tap into it.

[ronward]

My mount will attach directly to the dash along the drivers side windscreen and directly above the defrost levers. Probably will go on with screws as I don't know how well Velcro will hold.