OK, I have the mount all made and installed. I used 3X1/8 aluminum flat bar to make the part of the bracket that mounts to the dash. It is attached with automotive exterior trim double sided tape to the top of the dash pad. I then made a 3 inch square piece from the same material to mount the kydex tablet part to with a 1/4 inch bolt and nylock nut so I can adjust swivel tension. I used a piece of soft leather glued to the main part of the mount for a friction device. The tablet has 3 tabs you can see in pics to hold it in with a snap tab on the top center to lock it in place. It swivels 360*, but only needs to move 90* in use. To take the tablet out, I just turn about 45* to the right and it slides right out. I had all the materials on hand, so it really didn't cost me anything. If I were to guess having to purchase all the parts, it would be close to $20.

View through front window. You can see the black piece where I have it adhered to the dash pad. My XJ has spent way too many years in the sun and the dash pad has a vew cracks! LOL

Tablet swiveled to horizontal posision. Ram mnt on the left is for my garmin Oregon hand held unit. I like to use it for elevation reading. This pic also shows the cell phone holders I made when I was doing the electronic update. Mount in front of phone holds my handheld HAM radio.

Here the tablet is swiveled into the vertical posision. To remove tablet from mount, I need to swivel to the right just a bit so it clears the windshield. The tab on top center of tablet needs to be pushed back a bit to release tablet. I know, I should have cleaned the tablet screen and had a map up on it! LOL

Here is a shot of the mount without the tablet. You can see the 3 tabs that hold the tablet in and the one on top that locks it into mount. The philips head bolt in the center is for adjusting the trnsion via the leather pad in between the aluminum parts. All in all, I think I am pleased with the way it turned out. We drove to town and it had zero vibration issues and was easy to use and see the screen!

My kids ask us what we wanted for Christmas, I told them we could really use the tablet that Tom recomended in the post above (phablet). Lo and behold, santa delivered! I have NEVER used any tablet in my life. I played with it a bit and got a subscription to GAIA GPS loaded and kinda figured how to use it. Loaded some routes etc. Now, if anyone has sugestions on more or different mapping/ gps type software to get and use, we are open to sugestions. Also, I need to get/ make a mount for the XJ. How do most use theirs on the trail, mounted vertical or horizontal? Would a swivel mount be bennificial? Ill post pics of mount when it's done. Will probably be aluminum and Kydex construction.

Ok all. Im gonna ask one last question and I'll be done here! LOL I'm kinda dense at times, so here goes.

What brands of Tablet would any of you recomend for off road navigation? I need something with live realtime GPS and mapping capabilities, one that wont fall apart would be nice! Never used one so any recomendations? Preferebly a 10 inch.

I use my ipad or old ipad mini in a seat-bolt-mounted Ram mount, Bad Elf gps, and Gaia on the ipad. Download my maps before I go. Has worked pretty well, so far.

Mines a DD too. Just the things are all compatable with it being driven daily. We have two XJ's, hers is a really nice 98 and all stock except a 3in lifr and different tires and wheels. green too. Might post a cpl pics of it too. Ill be in puyallup/ tacoma weekend of sixth for ham class.

Thanks lots Jim. As for dash clutter, Have you seen post I did on my dash redo in my XJ? It's in the wrenching post. All my wiring is behind pannel too. In the old glove box area.

Thanks lots. Is the LENOVA tab a decent unit to get?

Yep, links are not rendering on publish. If you do CTL+A you'll be able to see them because the text will get highlighted.

I'm an IT professional for a living. I have had a tablet in my truck for 5 years. I got it used from eBay and added an AT&T data plan. The GPS is not the strongest, but you can get higher power external GPS that connect to the tablet via bluetooth. An old mobile phone, is a good way to try it out and see if you like it. The apps and accessories can be transferred to a tablet.

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For driving navigation, Waze

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.waze

For offline maps get Backcountry Navigator app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.crittermap.backcountrynavigator.license&hl=en_US

And for building custom maps, I like Cal Top (save as PDF to your tablet for offline use)

https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=38.8,-98.4&z=5&b=mbt

I also have an OBDLink MX OBDII reader that connects via bluetooth. I use Torque and Dashcommand to watch my truck's diagnostics, read codes, and reset codes. Don't get the $20 knock offs. This has really good features including console access (telnet), faster bitrate and low power mode to leave it plugged in all the time.

https://www.scantool.net/obdlink-mxbt/

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.prowl.torque

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.palmerperformance.DashCommand

A tablet is the way to go in my opinion. You have a wide array of apps and map sources to choose from rather than being locked into one. I use 4 different apps on my tablet with lots of different maps.

???? LOL. Say that again please, not quite sure what your answer is. Is there another post by Scott I havent read yet?

I use a that Scott recommend I like it and it seems to track me fine. The camera sucks but o well. Just make sure whatever one you get has GPS built in.

https://www.amazon.com/T11-Unlocked-Phablet-1280x800-Bluetooth/dp/B07566SCQ3