Thread: 2007 Jeep Wrangler - Galaxy Tablet 2 7.0 Install

This project is the third install in my 2007 Jeep Wrangler. My first install was a CarPC that was built in 2008 by blk02si as an “all in one” computer that replaced the factory stereo without any modification to the console. It was a great computer but quickly became bogged down when I started adding things like GPS, Sirius Satellite radio, HD radio, back-up camera with sensors, etc. The small motherboard just could not keep up with the demands I put on it. So, in 2010 I decided to build my own. I wanted it to look like it came from the factory so I hacked the center console and incorporated a double din bracket that housed the 7” Lilliput Transflective monitor. I had taken quite a bit of pictures of the install with my iPhone and had meant to make a worklog. I wish I wouldn’t have procrastinated because my iPhone restored without backing up and I lost all the pictures. Hopefully I can find at least one picture to show the final result. This “Jeeputer” was capable of keeping up with all the devices I had added.

A shot of original set-up prior to first Jeeputer




After first Jeeputer was installed (for those wondering, that is not a gun case above the Jeeputer...it is a lockable security panel. I'm undecided if I want to keep it or not.




A picture of the subwoofer I built (unrelated but wanted to share)



A picture of the 2nd Jeeputer
(photo to come soon...if I can find one)




In January of this year I got orders (active duty Air force) to Belgium and found that I really didn’t use a lot of the stuff I had before. I no longer could use Sirius and I didn’t use the HD Radio. The GPS was ok, but I ended up using my iPhone because I didn’t want to spend the big$$$ that Centrafuse wanted for European maps. So here I was with a Jeeputer that would take at least 40 seconds on boot-up every time I turned it on. I found myself doing research on how to speed up my start-up time, as well as, using HORM, etc. That research led to a couple threads where people were using tablets as CarPCs. I thought, hmmm, “I only listen to mp3s in the Jeep and I already have a Galaxy Tab 10.1, why not start another build.” So I put my GT 10.1 against the console to see just how much I needed to fab…it was way too big in my opinion. So I did some more research and found the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0.

That is a brief overview of how I got to this point. Now on with the GT 2 7.0 install in my 2007 Jeep Wrangler. I did a lot of research on mp3car.com to see what my best course of action would be. For my build, I am incorporating different ideas borrowed from other GT (and iPad) installers. My plan is to have the GT hinged on one side using a cradle and desktop docking station like papinist did in his install (see papinist install here) and also like Diablo2424's install. I want the opening/closing to be powered so when I push a button, it opens…push the same button again and it closes. I plan on using an old CD-ROM eject motor/tray as an actuator because I don't want to spend $100. If my plan doesn't work I'll have to go that route and get a linear actuator like Hexxamillion in his build. I also want to have access to the hard buttons for volume and power control. I know it isn’t necessary with using the tasker app, but because I’ll have to install the tablet upside down (because of how close the steering wheel is to the center console, I need the charger port on the left so it will open on the right), the hard buttons are located on the bottom right which is a perfect position to have access to them without them being seen (I’ll explain with pictures later). So here are the task phases:

Phase 1) take out the old computer and all the peripherals –Completed!

Phase 2) Cut the console to house the GT and the cradle –Completed!

Phase 3) Make the cradle with fiberglass—Still in progress

Phase 4) Bond the console and cradle together as one piece

Phase 5) Install the console/cradle with hinge

Phase 6) Install CD-ROM actuator


Phase 1)
- It was a lot easier taking out the old Jeeputer than it was installing it. I had to take extra precaution though because I plan on selling everything later down the line.

Center console after Jeeputer was taken out



Phase 2)
- I cut the console, then hacked it into three pieces



- This is the piece I'll use as the trim for the cradle



- I cut the top piece off and will still use it to mount the factory top of the console (if I get rid of the security panel)



- Back on trim panel. I'll have to smooth this out to fit the cradle in



- Another View of back on trim panel



- Here you can see that the GT is larger than the trim panel so I'll have to cut the panel to fit it in.



- Side view of GT and trim panel



- Trim Panel cut in half to accept GT



- Back of trim panel after it's cut and the back has been cut out (still need some fine tuning to smooth it out and felt it)



Phase 3)
- I went with the fiberglass idea but forgot to take some pictures before actually fiberglassing. I layered the tablet as follows:
- Layer 1 - Cling wrap (taped the ends down to the front of the tablet)
- Layer 2 - Felt (I plan to felt the back of the cradle and the back of the console to protect the tablet when slid in/out of console)
- Layer 3 - Cling wrap (I did this because it was the easiest method to get the felt to wrap around the top and bottom of the tablet)
- Layer 4 - Aluminum Foil (I did this to help release the fiberglass shell and also to prevent the resin from melting the cling wrap)

1st Layer



2nd Layer



Cradle with tablet popped out. You can see that one side had cracked. It didn't matter thought because I cut that portion out (right side) so I have something to grab when sliding out/in.


As you can see, I decided not to incorporate the desktop docking station in with the cradle. It would have been too hard to try to fiberglass like that so I went a different route. I noticed that after I popped the tablet out it had left a small indent on the fiberglass where the charging port is located. I cut out a small groove and inserted the charging port there. It worked like a charm! Now I have to epoxy the charging port to the fiberglass cradle and all is good.













Here you can see that I cut the right edge so that I can grab the tablet to slide in/out of the cradle.





This is where I left off last night. To complete this phase I need to add a couple layers of figerglass to the back for support (still kind of flexible right now) and so I can add a connection point for the actuator. I also need to cut the trim on the top and bottom of the cradle and epoxy the charger to the cradle. I will also need to felt the cradle as the tablet is still a little loose. More to come soon!


Griz