Toughbook CF-33 laptop and mount
The CF-33 programs both modules over USB. A passenger-seat mount with a locking keyboard dock and hardwired power is planned; I'm looking for a used RAM Mounts setup.
Make the Toughbook part of the truck: the programming laptop for the CanTrol and the EFM, and the in-cab computer once mounted. Done means it rides on a passenger-seat mount clear of the airbag, on a locking dock, with power that turns off with the key.
Constraints
Section titled “Constraints”- Airbags: the screen and arm stay out of the passenger airbag deployment zone, and clear of the shifter and the control head.
- Seat sensor: the base must not interfere with the passenger seat’s occupant sensor or seat wiring.
- Fitment: the base must fit the 2017 bucket seats and flow-through console, and bolt to the seat or floor bolts with no drilling.
- Dock: it must list the first-generation CF-33.
- Power: fused at the accessory block, ignition-switched, with a low-voltage cutoff to protect the battery.
Panasonic Toughbook CF-33
- Form
- Detachable backlit keyboard and touchscreen tablet combo
- CPU
- Intel Core i5-7300U @ 2.60 GHz (7th gen, the first-generation CF-33)
- Memory
- 16 GB RAM
- Graphics
- Intel HD Graphics 620
- Storage
- 477 GB
- OS
- Windows 11 Pro 25H2, build 26200.9457, 64-bit
- Input
- Pen and touch, 10 touch points
- Software
- Whelen Command (CanTrol), STE Configuration Utility (EFM 3.0)
Source: Windows "About" screen on my laptop, 6 Oct 2026
Mount parts needed
Section titled “Mount parts needed”- Vehicle-specific passenger-side base for the 2015 to 2020 F-150 that bolts to the seat or floor bolts (no drilling).
- Pole and motion attachment (swivel/tilt arm) so the screen sits within the driver’s reach.
- CF-33 keyboard dock with locking, holding the tablet with its backlit keyboard attached. It must list the first-generation CF-33.
- Hardwired vehicle power supply for the dock, with an ignition-sense wire so it turns off with the key.
Havis, Gamber-Johnson, Jotto Desk and RAM Mounts all sell F-150 bases and CF-33 docks. As of 8 October there’s no vehicle power supply yet, only the household charger. I’m looking on Facebook Marketplace for a complete used vehicle-specific RAM Mounts setup; none found yet.
Power wiring (planned)
Section titled “Power wiring (planned)”| Wire | Color | Function | Source output | Draw | Fuse | Gauge | Relay pin | Termination | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L1 | Red | +12V to the vehicle power supply | Accessory ATC fuse block | Per the supply maker | Per the dock maker | 14 AWG or per maker | — | Under the passenger seat | TBD |
| L2 | Black | Ground | — | Return | — | Same as L1 | — | Ring terminal | Ford ground point or frame. Never battery negative |
| L3 | Ignition sense | Turns the supply off with the key | Ignition-switched source (fuse tap) | Signal | Fuse tap | 18 AWG | — | TBD | TBD |
| L4 | Supplied cable | Supply output to the keyboard dock | Power supply | — | — | Supplied | — | Dock plug | TBD |
Programming connection
Section titled “Programming connection”H3 in the wire schedule: the CanTrol module’s USB port to the CF-33, USB 2.0, programming only. Save the existing program before changing anything, and keep a backup of every saved program.
Open items
Section titled “Open items”- Pick the base, pole and arm maker.
- Pick the keyboard dock and vehicle power supply models. The fuse size and wire gauge come from their manuals.
- Plan the power cable route under the passenger seat.
Sources
Section titled “Sources”- F-150 project document, revision 10, sections 9.3 (L1 to L4, H3), 9.5 group I and 12.4
Changelog
Section titled “Changelog”Page published from the 23 October project files.
Rollback: Revert the commit that rebuilt the F-150 section.