A Mobile Office in a Van:
Several years ago I had a custom Chevy van that served as my office on wheels. It had everything I needed – all the comforts of home and all the technology of an office. At the time, I was running a small software consulting company designing and developing applications for the government, large and medium sized companies and school systems in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. My office on wheels was always near by. Then one day someone crossed the yellow line into my side of the road.
Life goes on: I don’t have that custom van anymore and my business has changed. However, my thirst for technology remains strong. I can now be connected to the Internet nearly 100% of the time. I carry my laptop with me most of the time. So, I need a desk for it where ever I go. Here are my recent creations…
My 1st Cup Holder Laptop Desk:
The following PVC Pipe Laptop Desk was for a rental car that had two big cup holders between the bucket seats. It worked well. I just pushed the desk base into one of the holders and found a perfect fit! The big test was when I drove from Arlington, MA to Goshen, Conn to a RE/MAX seminar. It was two hours one way. I had GPS connection all the way and I had Wireless Broadband connection most of the time.
NOTE:
- I only read and responded to emails at rest stops.
- I was using Microsoft Streets and Trips 2007 with GPS Locator stuck to my laptop’s cover using velcro. No need for a long USB cable. I just use a retractable cable.
Here’s a picture of the laptop desk before I took it apart. I didn’t cement any of the pieces together so I could re-configure it for another vehicle – my Beetle as you will see:
PVC Cup Holder Laptop Desk for Vehicles
My 2nd Cup Holder Laptop Desk – for My VW Beetle:
This was a bit more of a challenge to make with the tight space, but so far it seems to work well. If you are familiar with PVC pipe and fittings you’ll notice that this has two joints that allow the desk to swivel for comfort and can be easily removed. After I’ve used this laptop desk in my car for a few days and I’m convinced the design works well, I’ll paint it black to match the Beetle’s interior:
PVC Laptop Desk for VW BeetleFor now it looks more like a sink drain than a desk support:
PVC Laptop Desk for VW Beetle
Click on Images for larger view
UPDATE: 12/18/06, changed PBC to PVC
I used to work at IBM, where this time of year was PBC time.
- PBC = Personal Business Commitments
- PVC = Polyvinyl Chloride
Seasons greetings to my friends at IBM. I’m thinking of you. When I figure out what I can make out of PBC I’ll let you know. For now, I’ll stick with PVC.
Just Outside Boston 
December 18, 2006 at 5:15 am
Una oficina móvil en el coche.
Cambié de trabajo, y necesitaba estar conectado a Internet el 100% del tiempo, por lo que tenía que permanecer con mi portatil la mayor parte del tiempo estuviera donde estuviera, por lo que necesitaba una mesa para él, estuviera donde estuviera.
December 18, 2006 at 6:48 pm
[…] Source Link […]
December 18, 2006 at 7:07 pm
Thanks for sharing this innovation. I know someone who will be interested in it.
December 18, 2006 at 7:33 pm
Based on the increase in traffic to my site today, I’d say there are a lot of other folks who are interested in this. ‘timethief’ – tell your friend that I may post a more detailed How-To when I’ve completed the project. There are some modifications to the PBC fittings that I had to make to make it fit. For example, the screw on fitting at the base had to have the neck shortened and the first 90% angle modified in order to fit under the a/c and heater panel. The image with the red background shows the modified parts put together.
If any of you have questions, suggestions, or comments, feel free to post them here and I’ll respond. Or use Meebo IM if you see me on-line.
December 18, 2006 at 8:15 pm
I would love to know how this was made in more detail, like how do you keep it from popping off and how easy or hard it is to take off etc.
December 18, 2006 at 10:17 pm
Okay Jonny since you seem sincere, check back in a few days – I may have more details and pictures, with some How-to added.
But, for now, to answer your concern on how I “keep it from popping off”:
A) First to describe the environment: There are three *useless* cup holders near the shift stick in the Beetle: one directly in front of the shift stick and one on each side of the stick. Anything taller than a “tall” [a.k.a. small] cup of StarBucks coffee is too big. Even the tall is stretching it. European car manufactures haven’t come to realize that a cup of coffee is standard driving fuel in the US; and the standard size is supersize!
B) For the Laptop desk leg, I used the cup holder that’s in front of the stick shift as the main anchor securing the desk.
C) The assembly in the left picture with the red shop rag background shows what went into making the component that shoves into the cup holder. From left to right: 2″ flexible coupling, pushes over a 1 1/2″ PVC coupling; then, a short piece of 1 1/2″ PVC pipe; and a 1 1 1/2″ Union. I pushed this assembly into the cup holder. It was very hard to push in all the way. But, that’s good. It would be very difficult although possible to pull out.
D) The assembly on the right picture with the red shop rag background shows the screw top of the 1 1/2″ Union with a shortened neck (hack sawed it off). This assembly looks like it goes into the other cup holder. However, it is actually just sitting atop a piece of 2″ flexible rubber coupling. This keeps the desk from swaying around too much. And acts like a shock absorber.
So far after only one day of road testing everything’s holding together. The desk does move a little with normal road hazards, but not so much as to make it dangerous. This is much better than a rigid setup where a pot hole could cause damage to the laptop.
December 18, 2006 at 10:48 pm
Not to be a jerk or anything but isn’t it PVC?
December 18, 2006 at 11:06 pm
Hi Justin,
Yes, you are right. You’re not being a jerk. I corrected it this evening.
– Merle
December 18, 2006 at 11:53 pm
I recently got an AC adapter and blackberry-modem for my in-car laptop, was great for the 9 hour Thanksgiving drive. Unfortunately, I’m not allowed to use it when sitting in the drivers seat…
December 19, 2006 at 12:34 am
Hi Satwik,
Who’s in charge? If you’re driving shouldn’t you get to watch whatever you want on the computer? No, I guess not. The rule is that you can LISTEN to whatever radio station you want. LOL.
The only thing that I have on the screen when I’m driving is Microsoft Streets and Trips so I can glance at it when I need driving directions. The audio directions are often enough so I can close the screen part way.
I’ve used my Treo 600 as a modem using PdaReach but found it to be unreliable. It kept dropping connection and I can’t seriously run my business that way. It was just a toy and only satisfied my fascination with technology. I’ve switched to using Verizon’s V640 ExpressCard and find that to be very reliable and often times I use that connection rather than my home broadband connection or the RE/MAX office connection.
When I’m driving, although I remain connected to the Internet most of the time, my survival instinct prevents me from using it while driving. That’s the good thing about getting older – there’s a certain amount of wisdom that comes with it. (Fortunately I didn’t have wireless Internet connection or a motorcycle until I was in my 40’s.)
The reason I remain connected to the Internet all the time is because I want to have instant access to email, MLS, Instant Messaging, or blogs that I monitor as soon as I get to a destination without having to wait for a modem connection.
– Merle
December 19, 2006 at 3:21 am
[…] Merle made a PVC pipe laptop desk for his VW Beetle (and other vehicles) – Original link. […]
December 19, 2006 at 5:53 am
[…] Подробностей почти никаких. […]
December 19, 2006 at 10:07 am
You should’ve gone with ABS fittings instead of PVC. ABS is black, and would look much better with the interior of most cars. Nice job though!
December 19, 2006 at 11:05 am
Great tip Marcus! Maybe I’ll start over with ABS. That would be much better than painting the PVC black. Thanks!
December 19, 2006 at 1:34 pm
Merle,
I never read blogs. This was my first and it was so much fun. I love your inventivness. Will I see you at FP?
Lou
December 19, 2006 at 2:57 pm
Thanks M. Lou – Look forward to seeing you at FP. 🙂
December 20, 2006 at 9:38 am
Nice idea, well done.
I’d like to see an adaptation for making a laptop stand for a desk, so my PowerBook could “float” above the desk. Any suggestions for a solid clamp arrangement for attaching a rig like this to support 6 lbs or so?
December 20, 2006 at 11:46 am
Hi Tim,
If your reason for wanting your Powerbook to “float” above the desk is so you can stand while using it you may interested my Desk on Wheels:
or
http://merlebraley.blogspot.com/2006/08/standing-mobile-desk-by-merle-fezzle.html
Co-incidentally, the image that I posted has an IBM ThinkPad on the desk. Right now I’m using a 15″ Powerbook and two cats 🙂
Does that help?
– Merle
December 21, 2006 at 2:22 am
Im very interested in more “making of” details. I have MS Streets and trips and used to use it on the passenger seat. This took my eyes off the road too far to make it useful, and if I wanted a passenger, well say good bye to the laptop. What did you use for the laptop stand itself? Any other details would be great. Also what was the approximate cost to make?
December 21, 2006 at 3:33 am
Hi Brombomb,
I agree. Trying to drive while using MS Streets & Trips with the laptop sitting in the passenger seat is asking for an accident! Don’t do it, please.
The top of the laptop desk is made from left over wire closet shelving from a previous project**. I cut it to match the width of the laptop with a hack saw. The shelf is really upside down from the way it’s intended to be installed in a closet, so the short front bend secures the front edge of the laptop. For the back, I bent it by hand by pushing the shelving against the edge of my work bench.
The shelf is then attached to a 6″x6″ floor trap using plastic cable ties. I recommend that you wait until the end of the project before drilling the holes and attaching the shelf so you can make sure it won’t be in your arm’s way or hit the dashboard and that it swivels without hitting something.
Regarding the cost of the project: I don’t remember what the shelving cost – I bought it at Home Depot several months ago. The rest of the parts cost approximately $30.
– Merle
**The ‘previous project’ was a PVC shelf for an eliptical trainer. It holds a laptop, CD player, CD’s magizines, and speakers.
January 4, 2007 at 3:24 am
You didn’t mention if it bobbed around or not. It occurs to me that if you were to make a larger, flat base with a short back wall, you could strap it in place on the passenger’s seat with the seatbelt. That would make it rock-steady, and you could actually have a place for your coffee and pens! 🙂
January 4, 2007 at 10:11 am
Hi DeadlyDad,
There is some minimal bobbing around of the laptop desk if I drive over a pot hole, but I humor myself by repeating it’s “not a bug, it’s a feature.” It acts as a shock absorber for the laptop.
I am considering ways to stablize it a bit, but haven’t come up with a satisfactory solution yet.
Your idea of making a desk that straps to the passenger’s seat belt would certainly work. I saw something advertised on the web for about 300 US Dollars that may be similar to what you are thinking. However, it would be unsafe to use the Microsoft Streets and Trips with GPS navigation because you’d have to take your eyes completely off the road to glance at the screen.
By the way, those cup holders in the Beetle are pretty useless anyway. They are hard to reach, not enough clearance for easy access to coffee and aren’t deep enough to hold pens. They are only good for holding a harmonica. The arm rest between the seats are the only usable coffee cup holders. But, I humor myself by saying the Beetle is “not a bug, it’s a feature.”
As an update on the progress of my laptop desk:
1) I strengthened it with a clamp just behind the horizontal union.
2) It’s now painted it black so it looks a bit better [some would say it still looks ugly]
3) I took a picture of the update and will post it soon.
Thanks for your comments.
– Merle
March 12, 2007 at 1:38 am
I do think that you are a great inventor. my buddy was just trying to design something similar using welded steel…he was unsuccessful. Just one question…isn’t it potentially dangerous for a person to have their laptop on while driving. Could it not potentially distract them from driving safely. not to be smart, but you ought to design a program that puts the message “don’t forget to pay attention to the road” on the screen at all times while the person is driving with the computer on. Just a question I felt obliged to ask. Take care and good inventing, i will be sharing it with my friend who was less successful than you. -eric
March 12, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Hi Eric,
Yes, it *is* potentially dangerous to use the laptop while driving. Here’s what I do to mitigate some of the danger:
1) I NEVER use the computer while driving, EXCEPT for GPS navigation. I use MS Streets & Trips 2007 and think that Microsoft could have made it safer. Microsoft should have paid more attention to the user interface considering it will be used in a car. The UI is fine for a NON-DRIVING user. But, is too hard to use safely while driving. So, set is up ahead of time and if you have to make a change, STOP the car first!
2) Before I start driving, I make sure the trip is set up, the font for directions are LARGE and easy to read, the voice output is to car speakers so I can hear them, and that it’s zoomed in to easily see the map.
3) Most of the time I have the screen almost closed so I’m not distracted and depend on the voice directions. I only tip the screen up to look at the map for a quick look. And since the screen is high it’s easy to glance at the map without loosing view of the road.
I actually use the laptop desk a lot when I’m parked for all other uses, including email, instant messaging, MLS searches, and whatever else. In those cases I often sit in the passenger seat to make it easier.
Speaking of passenger seat, I always remove the laptop desk when I have someone riding in the car with me to make it safer incase the passenger air bag were to inflate. It just takes a few seconds to remove the desk and place it in the back seat or trunk.
– Merle
March 26, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Cool Site! kabababrubarta
May 7, 2007 at 9:02 pm
I work for the cable company here and there is people forking out almost $400 bucks for mounts, this is awesome. I have 5 cup holders in my van and I only need 2.
I plan on doing this but I may add a few things to it. I love PVC. Once I get it all done if you would like I will post a picture. Thanks so much, this is an awesome idea.
May 8, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Hi George,
Yes, I’d like to see what you come up with in your design. I suggest that you figure out a way to make it more rigid. Be sure to include a parts list incase someone else wants to forgo spending $400.
– Merle
May 24, 2007 at 9:57 pm
I finally got around to finishing my desk. I’ll have to take some pictures. I’m not really sure what everything is called but I tried it a couple different ways.
First I went with a flexable pvc pipe that fit really snug in my cup holder and then I cut a peice of PVC that connected that to an elbow (45 degrees) then to a floor trap. The floor trap that I picket had a circle ring on the top that goes around. Then I used zip ties and put on a shelf rack.
That really didn’t work well so I decided to get rid of the elbow and it was perfect except it was a little high.
The next thing I did was get rid of the flexable fitting that goes into the cup holder. I just put the pipe straight in the cup holder and then the floor mount with the shelf rack.
The only problem was that it wasn’t a tight fit so I used tape (fusion) and went around and around and around so that it made it tight.
I really did not like the tape idea because it just seemed trashy. So what I did was drilled a screw right threw the cup holder, through the PVC, then out the other side of the cup holder and put a bolt and nut so that it would not move.
Pictures to follow.
May 25, 2007 at 9:11 am
Hi George,
Looking forward to seeing the pictures. If you email me the pictures and I’ll post them for you as a main entry in the blog.
– Merle
May 25, 2007 at 6:00 pm
[…] always good to read comments about my Laptop Desk for My Car. It’s especially rewarding to hear from someone who used the idea to create something that […]
June 9, 2007 at 12:57 pm
I find this invention fascinating. I am currently working on an idea to use something similar to this for my TomTom One portable navigation system. The suction cup windshield mount is not that reliable.
I want to thank you for your treatment of people on your blog who give you advice or tips. You are a friendly person! Best wishes!
June 10, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Thanks Curtis 🙂
Check these two homemade GPS mounts I found on Make Magizine Blog:
http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2005/07/diy_laptop_gps.html
http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2007/04/how_to_make_a_custom_moun.html
When you’ve finished making your’s, let us know how you did it. Be sure to take some pictures!
– Merle
July 13, 2007 at 12:20 am
I want to build a laptop stand so I can use my notebook while riding my exercise bike. I haven’t quite engineered it yet, but I like this project! I’m planning on using PVC pipe as well. I was searching around for it tonight. Cheers!
July 13, 2007 at 9:51 am
Hi Greg – I’ll post some pictures of a laptop desk I made for my eliptical exercise machine a while back. Check back later for a new blog entry with images. Hope you find them helpful. – Merle
July 16, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Hope to see those new pics soon!
July 17, 2007 at 8:26 pm
[…] Merle made a PVC pipe laptop desk for his VW Beetle (and other vehicles) – Link. […]
July 21, 2007 at 6:46 pm
I built my exercise stand. Here it is!
http://www.ashbaughonline.com/2007/07/21/exercise-bike-notebook-stand/
August 21, 2007 at 4:18 pm
That looks nice!
September 2, 2007 at 8:22 am
WHat did you use for the base that holds the laptop basket underneath?
What do I ask for at the hardware store?
Second pic from top with 3 bolts.
September 2, 2007 at 8:23 am
Opps…3rd pic from top.
January 7, 2008 at 8:09 am
WHERE CAN ONE BUY AND HAVE A LABTOP DESK PUT IN MY CAR JAQUAR 2000 S TYPE
January 20, 2008 at 10:16 am
Nice job. Been trying to figure out how to make one for my ford f450 motor home. Plenty of cup holders in it. Checking on buying one of these comercial type and ther way out of site> $200.00 +. Here again great information will help me when I make mine I may have to modify it for my motorhome but the principle is the same . Thanks again.
February 20, 2008 at 10:44 am
Hey there, I am eric stokell’s friend who tried to design someting similar, but ran into problems. He posted somehing earlier. I didn’t even know he had posted here, but ran across it when googling his name.
Thats a great innovation you’ve got there!
I tried welding something that connected to one of the bolts that holds the seat to the floor. the problem was that it was very wobbly. I gave up thinking that I would need atleast three points of restraint for it to work. The shaking was unacceptable.
Does your design wobble??
March 6, 2008 at 9:52 pm
A very cool inexpensive solution. I’ve seen the professional ones that bolt to the seat glides but they cost $200-300. These kind are what the police use and they hold the laptop securely in place so it can’t come loose. So to all of you who are thinking about doing it this way, I’d suggest you ponder the $150-250 dollars you’ll save making it yourself, and think about what happens at 65mph if you are in an accident and the laptop becomes a projectile or you get impaled on the pvc. Is your life worth saving a few hundred bucks? Nice idea, but think about it.