Truck Gun Mount Placement: 7 Smart Rules for a Solid Install

A truck gun mount gives your handgun a dedicated, consistent place in the cab instead of a door pocket, a glove box or the seat beside you. Pickups have more room than most cars, which makes a truck gun mount easier to fit, but that space also creates more choices. The console side, the lower dash, the center stack: each spot works differently depending on your truck, your seat position and the pistol you carry.

This guide lays out seven smart rules for placing and installing a truck gun mount so it is easy to reach, stays out of the way of your controls and holds up on rough roads. It uses At The Ready’s model-specific pistol mounts as the example, and every rule applies whether you drive a half-ton, a heavy-duty pickup or a midsize truck.

Rule 1: Start With a Truck Gun Mount Made for Your Pistol

Before you think about where the mount goes, make sure it fits the firearm. A mount that is shaped for your pistol holds it in the same position every time. That consistency is the whole point of a truck gun mount.

At The Ready designs each mount from the actual slide of the specific pistol it is made for, so the catalog is organized by manufacturer and model. Popular options include the Glock 19, SIG SAUER P365, Springfield Hellcat Pro, Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus and Ruger LCP MAX, along with many more across brands. If you are unsure which version you own, the maker’s site is the best reference, such as Ruger’s LCP MAX models page.

Two quick decisions come next:

• Optic: if your pistol has a red dot, choose the optic-compatible version (+$10.00).
• Accessories: if your pistol carries a light, ask At The Ready about clearance before ordering.

Browse every brand on the shop page, then come back to the placement rules below.

Rule 2: Check Airbags and Controls Before Anything Else

A truck gun mount has to share space with the rest of the cab. Pickup interiors are crowded with airbags, switches and ports, and every generation of every truck is a little different. The first placement check is what you must not cover.

Open your owner’s manual and find the airbag locations. Many trucks have knee airbags under the dash and side airbags in the seats or doors. A truck gun mount should never sit in or near a deployment zone. NHTSA’s air bag guidance from NHTSA explains how frontal and side air bags deploy.

Then sit in the driver seat and look at the controls around your candidate spot:

• Shifter or column shifter travel
• Four-wheel-drive, trailer brake and tow/haul controls
• Climate controls and vents
• USB ports, power outlets and wireless chargers
• Storage bins and cup holders

If a truck gun mount blocks any of these, choose a different spot. The mount should fit around the truck, not the other way around.

Rule 3: Test Reach and Knee Clearance From Your Seat

A spot that looks perfect from the open passenger door can be awkward from the driver seat. Always test from your normal driving position, with your seat and steering wheel set the way you drive every day.

Hold the mount in place with the unloaded pistol seated and check:

• Reach: can you reach the grip with your normal hand without leaning far out of your seat?
• Knee clearance: does your knee touch the grip when you move your foot between the gas and brake?
• Seat belt: does the belt cross the pistol or catch on it when you buckle in?
• Entry and exit: can you get in and out of the cab without bumping the mount?

If your knee is the problem, the angled mount adapter is designed for exactly that. It angles the mount away from your knee, reduces interference with the pistol grip and makes the draw feel more natural. It costs $14.99, comes in right-handed and left-handed versions, and works with At The Ready mounts and other standard quick-draw mount systems.

Rule 4: Pick the Right Truck Gun Mount Location

With the no-go zones ruled out and your reach tested, you can choose between the locations that remain. At The Ready’s own photos show two main areas in pickups: the side of the center console, and the lower dash and side panels.

Side of the center console

This is one of the most common truck gun mount locations. The side of the console is usually flat, it keeps the pistol near your strong hand, and it keeps the firearm below the window line. The main drawback is knee clearance on some trucks, which the angled adapter can address.

Lower dash and console panels

A lower panel on the center stack or dash can keep the grip away from your knee and leave the console side free. Reach may be longer, and these panels often have more vents, switches and curves to work around. Test the surface for flatness before you commit.

Comparing the two

Consideration	Console side	Lower dash or console panel
Reach from the driver seat	Usually short	Can be longer
Knee clearance	Check carefully; angled adapter can help	Often better
Flat mounting surface	Often	Varies by truck
Nearby controls	Fewer	Often more

There is no universal best spot. The right truck gun mount location is the one that passes every check in your truck.

Rule 5: Match the Install Method to the Surface

A pickup takes a beating, from washboard roads to job sites. Installation is what keeps your truck gun mount in place through all of it.

At The Ready includes mounting screws, VHB adhesive tape and primer with every mount. Installation steps and warranty information are inside the packaging, and the company stresses that proper installation is essential for longevity and function. Watch the installation video before you begin.

Screws or VHB tape?

• Screws give a mechanical hold where the panel is thick and solid enough and you are comfortable drilling.
• VHB tape with the included primer avoids drilling and works best on a flat, clean, smooth surface.

Textured or curved plastic can be harder for adhesive to grip. If your only candidate spot is heavily textured, consider whether screws are an option.

A clean install, step by step

1. Dry-fit the mount with the unloaded pistol from the driver seat.
2. Mark the final position.
3. Clean and dry the surface thoroughly, then apply the included primer as directed.
4. Attach the mount with your chosen method and press it firmly into place.
5. Give the adhesive the time the instructions call for before you rely on it.

Temperature matters too. Cabs get very hot and very cold, so in a truck use the screws or the tape with the included primer, never the tape alone, and follow the instructions in your box.

Rule 6: Plan for When You Leave the Truck

A truck gun mount keeps the pistol in a known position while you are in the cab. It is not a safe, a lockbox or locked storage, and a firearm left in a mount in a parked truck is exposed.

Build a simple routine:

• When you leave the truck, take the pistol with you or secure it in locked storage.
• Keep the firearm out of sight and out of reach of children and unauthorized users.
• Follow the basic rules of firearm safety every time you place or remove the pistol.

The NSSF’s Project ChildSafe program offers free resources on safe storage for firearms at home and on the road.

Rule 7: Know the Law Everywhere You Drive

Vehicle carry laws differ from state to state and sometimes from city to city. Some places regulate where a handgun may be kept in a vehicle, whether it must be visible or concealed, and whether a license is required. Truck owners often cross county and state lines for work, hunting or travel, so check every place you regularly drive.

The NRA Institute for Legislative Action keeps a state-by-state gun law reference that is a helpful starting point. Your state’s official statutes, and those of any state you drive through, are the final authority. When in doubt, ask a qualified attorney in that state.

Full-Size, Heavy-Duty and Midsize Trucks

The rules are the same for every pickup, but the size of the cab changes which spots tend to work.

Full-size and heavy-duty pickups

Half-ton and heavy-duty trucks usually have wide center consoles with tall, flat sides. That makes the console side a natural truck gun mount location. The trade-off is distance: on a very wide console, the grip can end up closer to your knee than your hand, which is where the angled adapter helps. Bench-seat trucks without a full console often lean toward a lower dash panel instead.

Midsize pickups

Midsize trucks have narrower consoles and tighter footwells. Knee clearance becomes the deciding factor, and the lower console panel or the area below the center stack is often worth testing first. Smaller pistols and compact mounts can also make placement easier in a tighter cab.

Crew cab or regular cab

Cab style rarely changes the driver’s area, but it does change who else rides with you. If passengers or children often ride up front, factor that into both the location and your storage routine.

Work Trucks and Shared Vehicles

Many pickups are work vehicles. If the truck belongs to an employer, or is shared with other drivers, check company policy before you install anything. Some employers prohibit firearms in company vehicles or restrict modifications to the interior.

For a shared personal truck, agree on a routine with the other drivers. A truck gun mount that one driver uses and another does not know about can create confusion. Everyone who drives the truck should know whether a firearm may be in the cab and where it is stored when the truck is parked.

Seasonal Checks and Maintenance

A truck gun mount lives in a harsh environment. Cabs heat up in summer, freeze in winter and shake on gravel and job-site roads. A quick check a few times a year keeps the setup reliable.

• Hold: with the unloaded pistol, confirm the mount has not shifted and the pistol still seats the same way.
• Hardware: check that screws are snug and that adhesive edges have not started to lift.
• Cleanliness: wipe away dust and debris that can build up around the mount and the pistol.
• Fit changes: if you add an optic or a light, recheck clearance before you use the mount with the new setup.

If anything has moved, correct it before you rely on the mount again. Reinstalling on a freshly cleaned and primed surface is better than living with a loose mount.

One Mount in the Truck, One at Home

Many owners want the same consistency at home that they have in the cab. At The Ready mounts can also be installed on a nightstand, headboard, coffee table, desk, office or wall, using the same hardware as a truck install. If you want the same setup in the bedroom, a second mount gives the pistol a known place in both. The same rule applies at home: a mount is not locked storage, so plan for secure storage whenever children or unauthorized users could reach the firearm.

Truck Gun Mount Options and Pricing

Here is what a complete setup costs at At The Ready, using the prices shown on the product pages.

Item	Price
Model-specific pistol mount, standard	From $95.00
Model-specific pistol mount, optic-compatible	From $105.00
Angled mount adapter (optional)	$14.99
25 colors for base, tab and text, plus up to 18 characters of custom text	No extra cost
Mounting screws, VHB tape and primer	Included

Each mount is designed, printed and assembled in Wylie, Texas, from premium ABS plastic with rare-earth magnets. At The Ready is veteran-owned and operated.

Truck Gun Mount FAQ

Build Your Truck Gun Mount

You now have a complete plan: the right mount for your pistol, a spot clear of airbags and controls, a reach you can live with, a solid install and a routine for when you park. The last step is choosing your model and making it yours with 25 colors and your own text.

Looking for more? Read the Glock 19 car mount guide or the magnetic gun mount buying guide.

ATR

About At The Ready

At The Ready designs, prints and assembles model-specific pistol mounts in Wylie, Texas. Each mount is built from the actual slide of the firearm it is made for. We are veteran-owned and operated.

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