2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Do your piler mounted gauges create a blind spot??

[Hemiless]

Do your pillar mounted gauges create a blind spot??

I'm wanting to add boost, egt and fuel pressure gauges to my truck but all the pillar gauge mounts I've seen seem like they would create a blind spot. Now granted I've never seen one installed just pictures.



I do like the concept of the gauges being mounted in the pillar, as I don't like the idea of a bunch of gauges pods screwed to the top or bottom of my dash.



(1) I was just wanting the opinion of those that have the pillar gauge mounts do they seem like they create a blind spot?

(2) If not who makes the pillar mount your using?

 

[kboettcher]

I thought the same thing but wanted the pillar mount anyway. Then when I first installed them they seemed to create a bit of a blind spot, but if you really look at how much window they take up, it is only about 1/2" at the most. Now that I have had mine for about a week it is like they aren't even there unless I look for them. Only takes a few days to get used to. Go for it... ..... you will be glad you did

 

[Hemiless]

kboettcher



Who makes the pillar mount you used? Is it the style that covers the factory pillar cover or does it replace the factory cover all together?

 

[Diesel Gunner]

No where near as much as the Bestop towing mirrors that I installed.



However, I still would not be without the triple pillar gauges or the towing mirrors. And, if my memory serves me, I believe that I got the triple pillar mount from Geno's.

 

[scotmartin]

Mine makes the blind spot a little worse. I think that the fact that I am tall and sit pretty far back, makes it worse. If you sit a little closer, then you are at an angle where the guages are straight toward you and don't make any difference. I noticed the blind spot when turning left with this truck before I installed my 3 guage pillar mount. I still think that it was worth it.



Scot

 

[illflem]

I've driven trucks with gauges mounted in several different locations.

Never felt the pillar mount created any more of a blind spot but they had a "in my face" feeling that bugged me. I prefer the gauges mounted elsewhere.

 

[Clinton]

I have to agree with illflem for a couple of reasons. The pillar mount trucks I've been in made me feel like I was really looking away from the road to check the gauges. Also, my truck's blind spot is big enough as it is with the Ventvisors over the windows. My boost and pyro are on the left-hand side of the dash, on top, and in little u-clips where you can change their angle up and down. The ATF temp is down close to the floor on the hump. I only look at the ATF once in a while. I'm tall like scotmartin and sit as far back as the seat will go and that might have something to do with it too.

 

[kboettcher]

I am tall also, sit with the seat all the way back. Never really thought about how it probably wouldn't be as bad if you were a little shorter.



Hemiless,

My pillar is actually made to go over the factory one but it also said it could be installed without the original with a few modifications. I installed mine without the original... . (saving it for if I take the gauges out) I only had to add one s/s screw in the upper corner to mine and it fits great. I was quite impressed with how well it fit. I got my pod and gauges from ebay, they are on there all the time, sold by the same guy. Read a bunch of his feedback before buying and all seemed very satisfied with his product. So I did the "buy it now" option for $285. That included EGT, Boost, and Fuel Pressure with isolator and the triple Pillar Pod. Had it in less than a week and it included all parts to install except a few feet of wire to do the back lites on the gauges. The gauges are very quality looking, I was surpirised at how heavy they were. The lighting on them was white but I just got some of those little green "bulb condoms" and I ended up putting 2 on each bulb and they match my dash gauges perfect during the day and night..... look like factory install.

 

[AggieJustin]

When I removed my stock pillar and replaced it with the 2 gauge pillar from Geno's it seemed to take up a little more windshield area. What I did was added a second screw at the top to help pull the windshield side edge of the mount up closer to the pillar. By doing this I was able to pull the cover in until the edge was behind the black edge around the windshield.



From where I sit right now, the gauges fit perfectly in the line of sight with the pillar so there's no extra blind spot.



JM

 

[jhurst]

No added blindspot for me... bought my triple pillar from Genos





Justin H

 

[y-knot]

I don't think they make for any more of a blind spot then there was. Look at this way, you need not remove your eyes from the road to look at the gages. I like the pilar mount, the gages are right there and it's cool. I have a steering colum mount also, and it works-out fine, thats were I monitor boost. I got my pillar mount at summit racing (20 bucks cheaper the geno's, sorry geno) but they are all made by autometer, so no difference.

 

[Cowboy Medic]

I have ventvisors and the pillar gauges and don't feel the blind spot is any worse. I went with the z-series from autometer and feel that the dark gauge face helps avoid that in your face feel as well. I purposely put my least used gauge at the top as my eyes had to adjust the most from the road to read that one. the other two I can glance at and back at the road and don't feel like there is much adjustment to be made. If you like the looks of the pillar mounts in general I don't think there is any reason you would be disappointed with them. There are pics in my gallery if you are curious.

Good Luck!



Jon

 

[Boondocker]

gauge mounts

Gauges - gotta have 'em.



Where you put them is a matter of preference.

Anything that's not a heads-up display takes your eyes off the road.

I originally wanted a dash pod but eventually decided on the pillar mount for several reasons.

1. It made for the cleanest install, must have my dashmat here in sunny, sunny Vegas.

2. For me, there is some kind of coolness factor about pillar mounted gauges.



As for blind spot, it went from 5" stock to 5. 25" with gauges.

I went with black-face, black-bezel units to get closer to matching the dash and tone down the "in your face" feeling.



As for analog vs. digital - personal preference again. Mine is for analog. I wear glasses, bifocals even, so I didn't want to look at just numbers. With my Isspro 'rainbow' EGT gauge, my wife knows intuitively that the red zone is bad, the yellow zone means back off and green is good.



If you go gauge crazy and get more than 3, then you can choose the 'all of the above' option



Neil

 

[Hemiless]

Thanks

Thanks for all the information this is exactly the type of information I was looking for. I think I will go with the 3 gauge pillar mount.

 

[dresslered]

Don't let me change your mind, but I've got both the dash pod (autometer) and the pillar mount (from Geno's). I much prefer the dash mount! As Illflem has stated, the pillar requires refocusing to read them whereas the dash pod can be read from the corner of your eye (just by pointer location). I commute on a winding mountain road, and the pillar mount blocks my view sustantially. It might not be an issue when driving the highway, but when trying to look out the side window and corner windshield to make the next turn, they are right in my face. There just isn't any other place to put them or I would.

 

[krs]

On this third truck I've decided to use a double pod pillar mount. I'm 6'3" also, and in the other two trucks the top gauge requires refocusing, makes me feel like it's in my space, and I sometimes bump my head on it getting in the trucks. Tthey don't significantly add to the already too wide pillar. This latest truck is a 12 valve manual so I'm going to use just a pyro and a boost gauges. I'm thinking about covering the tweeter hole with the double pod so the gauges will be as low as possible and putting a different surface mount tweeter someplace else, higher than the OEM location.

 

[RBlair]

I put my 3 gauge pod on the pillar about 2 weeks ago, and it does not seem to have increased the blind spot at all for me. I am av height, so maybe it is just personal thing, I don't know. I got mine from WildCat Diesel with all the parts needed except for the lighting wires. I put the pillar in place of my original and like others added one bolt above the top guage to pull the top in.



One thing I did different, I used a Nylon bolt tapped into the metal pillar instead of a metal bolt. Just thought if I had an accident it may not do as much damage to my head.

 

[Mad Bomber]

Piller mount

I had a accident from a large piller (not my dodge thank god). But there was no way I would ever have put my gauges on the piller. I put mine in the center air ducts it was alot of work,but it looks nice and also looks OEM. People on the road also don't see the gauges.

 

[klaybus]

A-Pillar & Gauges Combo Package

Call Dave like I did... . You won't be disappointed! $330-$345 will get you the complete setup with the A-Pillar color matched to your interior. Link inserted below. Best of luck



Clay



http://www.dieselpowerproducts.com/gauges

 

[Turbo Horseman]

Went with a dual dash pod cause the pillar creates a big enough blind spot as is.