Quote:
Originally Posted by manxman
I have been thinking exactly the same thing, for about a year, because of my unhappy left elbow! Have not experimented with solutions because I've been too busy with other things, but this has really been an irritation. Now, you are just going to make me work on my own solution. Thanks for bringing this up, and your idea is a good one.
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Okay, here's another solution for anyone who hates having just a hole for their elbow to rest in. Take a look at the window ledge arm rest at this link, and then read further to see how I adapted it to the lower position:
AutoSport Catalog - Arm-Restler 800-953-0814
I used this in its intended position on the window ledge, and it worked OK (moves up and down sometimes with the window glass), but I just did not like the height. Too uncomfortable for my left shoulder because it felt too high. I was about to give it away or trash it until this thread showed up today. I cut the thin plastic flap that goes down into the door next to the window glass so that it would fit the contour of the door-pull well. Then I used Industrial Strength Velcro, stiff hook side on the door inside the well, and soft loop side on the side flap of the arm rest. Now the elbow problem is completely gone and I can still use the door pull by flipping the rest up with my fingers. You can hide a pack of gum or your locking gas cap key under the rest. A few photos:
The white stripe that you see on the underside of the rest is adhesive residue from the rubber spacer that comes with the rest. The spacer keeps the rest level on the window sill with sloped sills like we have. Woops, I forgot. The rest NEEDS a rubber spacer for use on the window sill of the Fit, but doesn't come with one. So I made a spacer from a 1/2" thick rubber floor mat, and glued it to the bottom of the rest. Now I can't get the glue off.
This rest obviously costs more than the OP's solution, but it is really comfortable in this new application and it was not particularly comfortable when used on the top of the door. The pad on this arm rest is a soft gel material, covered in a slick nylon, jet black material. The "Arm Restler" logo is stark white. I colored it black with a Sharpie marker, but because it is a synthetic material, the marker does not get the logo really black- just tones it down a bit.
Thanks WDB for reminding me that this matter needed to be fixed!
P.s. I will use this for a while with the Velcro attachment just to be sure I really like it. If I decide to keep it this way, I will replace the Velcro with short sheet metal screws to make the installation semi-permanent.