Cargo Computer mount

[Ken Frederick]

Hello, I work in the IT for our Police Department and am currently looking for mounting solutions for a Panasonic Toughbook FZ-55 that would work in the rear cargo area.
We have several 2024 Explorers with the ICS, and we have successfully tested the interface to the ICS and it looks like it might be a viable solution to a front mounted dock like our existing units have. The area that is in question is the mounting and cooling of the laptop. We previously ran a trial setup with a separate screen and keyboard/touchpad and the laptop mounted in the cargo area along with the radio, and it would work alright at night and early mooring, but during the hotter months, the computer would overheat and shut down, taking the entire car out of service due to a non-functional computer.

The obvious reason due to lack of air in the cargo area. The prisoner area blocks the air conditioning from reaching it, so I'm not sure if even adding fans to the mounting box they build would really assist. Has anyone found a solution, or is it going to be best to try and keep the laptop up in the front section of the PIU?
TIA

 

[FordFlintrock]

I would look into a fully self contained electric roof top A/C unit like this who are well known innovators. Give them a call they might have some ideas or free prototype.

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[t9087]

Hello, I work in the IT for our Police Department and am currently looking for mounting solutions for a Panasonic Toughbook FZ-55 that would work in the rear cargo area.
We have several 2024 Explorers with the ICS, and we have successfully tested the interface to the ICS and it looks like it might be a viable solution to a front mounted dock like our existing units have. The area that is in question is the mounting and cooling of the laptop. We previously ran a trial setup with a separate screen and keyboard/touchpad and the laptop mounted in the cargo area along with the radio, and it would work alright at night and early mooring, but during the hotter months, the computer would overheat and shut down, taking the entire car out of service due to a non-functional computer.

The obvious reason due to lack of air in the cargo area. The prisoner area blocks the air conditioning from reaching it, so I'm not sure if even adding fans to the mounting box they build would really assist. Has anyone found a solution, or is it going to be best to try and keep the laptop up in the front section of the PIU?
TIA

Back when we had a similar setup, we would just mount the laptop/dock on top of our Setina cargo box toward the back left of the box lid. We never had any external fans and never had overheating issues in our Texas summers.

 

[peterk9]

Hello, I work in the IT for our Police Department and am currently looking for mounting solutions for a Panasonic Toughbook FZ-55 that would work in the rear cargo area.

Welcome to the Forum Ken.
Hopefully, you will find a solution here. Good luck and please keep us updated. Thanks.

Peter