Great New Altimeter

[TeryT]

Here's an altimeter my neighbor bought - so I had to get one too. Especially since the color is a perfect match for my 'Runner's interior (charcoal & silver).

He said it worked great on a several thousand mile trip, and I found it accurate on our weekend trip. Nice to have if I don't want to fire up the GPS.

Only problem I had was figering out where to mount it - then the hot AZ sun keeps baking the glue so it falls off! Otherwise, it's a great adition for someone like me who likes to keep track of how high I am. Only costs around $20 too!

 

[biglatka]

Here's an altimeter my neighbor bought - so I had to get one too. Especially since the color is a perfect match for my 'Runner's interior (charcoal & silver).

He said it worked great on a several thousand mile trip, and I found it accurate on our weekend trip. Nice to have if I don't want to fire up the GPS.

Only problem I had was figering out where to mount it - then the hot AZ sun keeps baking the glue so it falls off! Otherwise, it's a great adition for someone like me who likes to keep track of how high I am. Only costs around $20 too!

Tery,
Why don't you use a velcro setup so you can mount and remove it easily when you're parked in the sun?

 

[TeryT]

Re: Re: Great New Altimeter

Tery,
Why don't you use a velcro setup so you can mount and remove it easily when you're parked in the sun?

Thanks, but then the velcro glue would come off. Plus I'd rather not mess with it all the time!

 

[jwyshrek]

Yeah, know what you mean...we have the same problem here in the Bay Area as well...at least I have that problem.

While I haven't tried to put any accessories in my 4runner yet, I did with my previous vehicle.

While it does not get as hot here as it does in AZ, it stays pretty much sunny all summer...so the inside of a car/truck can get pretty warm at times.

I tried mount a compass in my previous car using various adhesive tapes, velcro, etc. I even tried some 'marine' grade velcro...and let me tell ya...that is some strong crap...it would pull the skin right off you.

I have to admit...the compass stay 'stuck' much longer with the marine grade velcro...but atlas...one summer morning I went to my car and what did I see lying on the floor...the compass.

I got fed up and just used a small self tapping screw to mount it...didn't really want to drill holes in the car, but was getting frustrated.

One thing I should have tried was some adhesive glue...like that stuff they use to mount the rear view mirror or the glue used to mount body trim/badges...

Maybe you can permantly mount it (with screws) to a trim piece that easily replaceable...access panel, A -pillar trim, etc...

 

[TeryT]

I'm using contact cement, which so far hasn't worked well. I wonder if Gorilla Glue would do the trick. I tried some of that stuff in my trailer last week & it was pretty amazing. Probably have to find a way to keep it in place for a few hours while it sets up.

 

[Colemanfu]

Cool - but I only live 19feet above sea level. The highest point if Flori-duh is a land fill.

 

[greasefingers]

$ 20 is dirt cheap. What size is the face? 2

 

[TeryT]

$ 20 is dirt cheap. What size is the face? 2

 

[GYoter]

That thing looks nice for as cheap as it is. Does the outer black part of it spin around so you could try to get some sort of suction cup to attach it to the windshield?

 

[TeryT]

That thing looks nice for as cheap as it is. Does the outer black part of it spin around so you could try to get some sort of suction cup to attach it to the windshield?

That's creative, but don't know if it would work. The base has pretty good movement, but . . .

 

[GYoter]

That's creative, but don't know if it would work. The base has pretty good movement, but . . .

Cool, well maybe you could try it and let us know. I think i am gonna order one and it would be ideal to suction it. I dont want to glue anything to my dash, it gets hot here in sacramento.

 

[olliebear]

Why?????

Otherwise, it's a great adition for someone like me who likes to keep track of how high I am. Only costs around $20 too!

I normally keep track of how high I am by how big of a pizza I ordered in anticipation of the munchies and whether I've fallen onto the floor and having really bad room spins...but then those 5 years of college are kind of blurry and hazy....

 

[kglueck]

Re: Why?????

I normally keep track of how high I am by how big of a pizza I ordered in anticipation of the munchies and whether I've fallen onto the floor and having really bad room spins...but then those 5 years of college are kind of blurry and hazy....

:lmao: man...you were on the accelerated plan, weren't ya? Some of us took 7...we look up to those that did it in only 5! must've been the extra times spent at "high elevations" eh?

 

[RickyCRX]

One thing to keep in mind; if you don't have a way to set the barometric pressure, that altimeter can be horribly inaccurate. If pilots weren't able to set their altimiters based on the barometric pressure, they'd drive airplanes right into the ground when flying IFR.

Ricky

 

[TeryT]

One thing to keep in mind; if you don't have a way to set the barometric pressure, that altimeter can be horribly inaccurate. If pilots weren't able to set their altimiters based on the barometric pressure, they'd drive airplanes right into the ground when flying IFR.

Ricky

I wondered the same thing, but my neighbor drove all over the west for close to a month & said it was reasonably accurate. If I want great detail I'll pull out the Garmin. But it's sometimes nice just to get a quick idea. Yadda yadda yadda

 

[biglatka]

I wondered the same thing, but my neighbor drove all over the west for close to a month & said it was reasonably accurate. If I want great detail I'll pull out the Garmin. But it's sometimes nice just to get a quick idea. Yadda yadda yadda

My altimeter is adjustable and I know the elevation at my house so I set (calibrate) it for that elevation when I leave. I know it works by changes in barometric pressure so I recalibrate it according to elevation signs along the highway when I get further from home. I wouldn

 

[TeryT]

My altimeter is adjustable and I know the elevation at my house so I set (calibrate) it for that elevation when I leave. I know it works by changes in barometric pressure so I recalibrate it according to elevation signs along the highway when I get further from home. I wouldn

 

[biglatka]

What make is yours & have a pix?

It's a Guide-Tech with a 2" diameter dial and it stands 3" high with the stand.

 

[TeryT]

Well a 4 day weekend trip, and the thing is still stuck to the dash. Maybe I won't have to try that Gorilla Glue after all.

In the trip up to the north rim of the Gran Canyon, I was pleasantly surprised how accurate the thing read. We went through many elevation changes from 1500 to 9000 feet, and it was very close if not dead on! Maybe they kept the cost down by making in non-adjustable.

So it remains to be seen how well it does with changes in weather (barometric), but all 4 days it was quite steady, so for general purposes - it passes my test!

 

[MrTom]

biglatka,
Where did you purchase the Guide-Tech altimeter?