Mobile Laptop Computer Desk

For less then $15 you can take a few ¾ inch pipe fittings and build a swivel desk for your computer that will mount to the hump in the floor board of your pickup.

As a pastor, ham operator (KD5PHQ), storm spotter, firefighter, and National Registry first responder I spend a lot of time in my pickup. In fact it is my office on wheels. After acquiring a laptop computer I began to look at ways of mounting it where it was not sliding around in the seat all the time. I look on the internet for mounting brackets and found they were quite expensive. With purchasing a mounting bracket out of the question, because of the price, I come up with the double “L” ideal from some plumbing jobs I had done in the past. When you double “L” the pipe fittings it give you the ability to twist the fittings in two different direction. The principle allows you to twist the desk in both horizontally and vertically direction. It can be turned to face the driver or the passenger seats.


Diagram

Parts list:

You will need a piece of 1x12 board cut to the size of your computer.

2 - ¾ inch pipe flanges

1 - ¾ inch x 2 inch pipe nipple

2 - ¾ inch “L”

1 - ¾ inch x 4 inch pipe nipple

1 - ¾ inch x 6 inch pipe nipple

4 - ¾ inch wood screws

4 - ¼ inch x 1 inch bolts

Tools needed

Screw driver to tighten the screws.

Pipe wrench to tighten the pipe fittings.

Drill and ¼ inch bit to drill the holes.

2 7/16 wrenches to tighten the bolts.

A saw to cut the board.

Instructions on building a laptop computer desk for your pickup.

On the passengers side of the hump in the middle of the floor board of the pickup take a ¾ inch pipe flange and 4 1 inch x ¼ bolts and mount the flange to the hump. It will take two people to do this. After placing the flange where you want it, drill the hole for the bolts using the flange as your template. Place the bolts in the holes and have some one hold them with a wrench while you place the nuts on the bottom under the pickup. Tighten the bolts to secure the flange to the hump. (NOTE) If because of gear shifts on the hump you could take and mount the flange on the side of the hump and use a short nipple and another “L” or 45 to start with depending on the angle of the hump in your pickup.

Next take a ¾ X 6 inch nipple and screw it into the flange. (NOTE) This does not have to be 6 inches , that is the size mine is. To make the table higher or lower use different lengths of nipple. I started with an 8 inch and it was to high.

On top of the nipple place one of the “L” Do not over tighten this fitting because it will be one of the swivel joints.

Next take the 4 inch nipple and screw into the “L” and tighten. (NOTE) This does not have to be a 4 inch nipple, chose the length that best fits your need.

Screw the other “L” to the nipple and again do not over tighten, because this to is another swivel point.

Take the short 2 inch nipple and place it into the top of the “L” and snug it tight. This too is a swivel joint to allow the table to turn.

Use 4 ¾ inch wood screws to secure the flange to the center of a piece of board the size of the bottom of the laptop. I use a piece of 1x12 cedar from and old canoe seat I had laying around.

Place the top flange and board on top of the short nipple.

Because the mount has the ability to swivel you can turn it out from the dash and screw the board and flange onto the nipple.

I took a piece of no skid material my wife uses to keep dishes from sliding off the cabinet and cut it to the size of the top of the board and 4 thumb tacks and put it on top of the board. The computer will not slide on it.

I also took 4 pieces of hard rubber ( packing from a ceiling fan) and attached them to the 4 corners as added protection against slipping.

(Note) If the mount turns to freely all you have to do is find the joint that is not tight enough and tighten it to make the table more ridged.

If you want the table removed all you have to do is unscrew the table top from the 2 inch “L” and then the 4 inch nipple from the other “L”, then unscrew the 6 inch nipple from the bottom flange. All that is left is the flange on the hump in the floor. It takes less the 2 minutes to remove it.

"Copyright 9-10-2003" Claude Williams - KD5PHQ - ##Williams@wilnet1.com