Hard wired a Garmin GPS in the Tahoe

[grynblk]

Hello!

I decided that I wanted a Garmin GPS instead of using my built in Rosen unit, although it's a great system (see my review of it here). So, I bought a Garmin Nuvi 50LM. A little over $100 and it has lifetime maps.

So, I mounted it to the left of the rear view mirror, ran the wires under the headliner and then down the left post and then behind the fuse cover. Behind the fuse cover it plugs into a 12V plug that is hard wired to the fuse box on a fuse that is ignition controlled.

This way has worked great. When I start up the Tahoe, the GPS comes to life. It goes thru its warning screen and then to the main screen that you can see in the photos. However, when you start driving, it switches to the map screen which is a feature that I love, I don't even press any buttons and it shows me driving as soon as I take off. When I turn the vehicle off, the GPS powers down and gives you the option to stay on or turn off. If you don't press any buttons, it powers completely down after 30 seconds.

Anyways here are the pictures:

 

[slipping]

Dude I like that. Looks like same Garmin I have. Do you have pic or words on wiring it? Looks good man!

 

[grynblk]

Dude I like that. Looks like same Garmin I have. Do you have pic or words on wiring it? Looks good man!

Sorry, no pics, but I'll explain how to did it. I jumped fuse #49 which controls the temperature reading/rear view mirror and auxiliary climate control. It is an ignition controlled fuse. I ran the wire from the fuse box under the hood to the one in the cab and hid it behind the cover. There's a just enough room to fit the cables/plugs behind it.

 

[steven johnson]

look's good , with a good write up. did you used a suction cup mount, or did you make a mount ?

 

[Regency]

Looks good!

 

[Gzes]

Looks good but I preffer tom tom. Also I would be careful because people can see it and they can break in and steal it and whatever else u have in the ride

 

[Denali0229]

Looks good but I preffer tom tom. Also I would be careful because people can see it and they can break in and steal it and whatever else u have in the ride

I was curious about that too. Is it detachable? I'm curious to know if I could wire the nav onto a Pioneer HU so it shows on the screen then I can just set my destination and put the nav in the center console away from view.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[grynblk]

Thanks guys! To answer a few questions, yes it is detachable. It's on the window with the basic suction cup mount. It's very easy to take off, just take the GPS off the cradle and you could lock it in the glove compartment or something. However, it is very hard to see it from the outside as it is hidden by the upper tint strip on the windshield.