Jeep Wrangler Theft-Proof Carputer LCD Mount

**DjDrewDigital** · 07-22-2005, 12:34 AM

Hi All,

I thought I would share with you my idea of a way to protect those expensive LCD screens from attackers. I'm making a custom steel box with motorized hinge and locking mechanism to house the Xenarc 7" LCD that I just bought. The LCD screen will fold into the box and lock itself shut. It will be fully autonomous, meaning it will open, close, lock, and unlock without user intervention. A 68HC11 microcontroller will drive the 4 servos.

The box will be mounted above the rear view mirror. When in the viewable position, it only extends down 6 inches, so won't interfere with the mirror or HVAC controls, HVAC vents, and the stock HU.

Below is a sketch of my idea and a picture of the prototype. The 1" square tubing will be mounted between the top of the windshield, and the roll bar. The box will be hanging from that. It will be held in by rivets and carriage bolts, so would be thieves won't be able to unscrew anything. Even if they try to pry the door open with a screwdriver, they won't get very far.

More fabrication pictures are available on my website:

Sketch

prototype with door open

prototype with door closed. Hinge in forground.

**blackflux** · 07-29-2005, 10:33 AM

very interesting. Trying to picture how its going to look once installed.

**Rafster** · 07-30-2005, 01:34 AM

Hey good start!

What part of Deigo are you in?

Peace,

Rafster

**DjDrewDigital** · 08-01-2005, 09:54 PM

I'm living in ****ty Heights. Whoops, that's supposed to say City Heights. Just joking. Since I'm in a condo, I have to go to my parents place or my Granddad's place to use their tools and workshop.

After several trips to Radioshack, Home Depot, and Kragen, and countless hours in the garage bonding with my Jeep, I finally have stage 1 of my system nearly complete: The 7" Xenarc is mounted and inverter hooked up.

They pictures don't do justice:

LCD mounted with laptop connected

Custom mount without LCD