Alternative Mounts For Automobile GPS

 

My wife seems to have taken over my Garmin Nuvi 500. She does not want the usual windshield or beanbag mount. I am a little leery or vent mounts. I saw a universal visor mount that might be suitable. I am just wondering what experience people here have had with vent, visor, or other alternative mounts. There actually is a small storage space on her dash of the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan. I am almost tempted to fashion a right angle bracket attached to that so the GPS is held in front of the dash near her climate control buttons.

kuda usa--

http://www.kudausa.com

http://www.kudausa.com/mount_popup.php?artikel_id=1383

The Kuda mounts look and work great. Yes, they are more expensive than a bent coathanger and duct tape!

I use 2 in my Mini, one for the GPS, and one for the ham radio equipment.

The way the Kuda holds my Nuvi, I don't even have to take my right hand off the steering wheel to touch the display screen.

--
Nuvi 2460, 680, DATUM Tymserve 2100, Trimble Thunderbolt, Ham radio, Macintosh, Linux, Windows

vent mount

i love my vent mount

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nuvi 2757LM-65LM-65LM

kuda

that kuda mount looks real nice. think i'm going to order one

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nuvi 2757LM-65LM-65LM

Vent Mounts

They're only ok, in my opinion. Yes they do work.

I'm not sure if you frequent high crime areas or not. But I'm reluctant to use mine, because it's a hassle to put on and take off and I can't do it quickly. Thieves may see your vent mount for your GPS and break into your car, because it may have a portable GPS in there.

I use a bean bag mount. Sure, it's not the most fashionable accessory. But I can put my GPS mount in my glove box or center console in seconds, with no tell tale signs of a GPS. I NEVER leave my GPS in my car.

mount

I like the one that comes with the unit.

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nuvi 755t

bean bag is the only way to

bean bag is the only way to go

Here's the mount I use

It's a Garmin mount called the "Portable Friction Mount." I got it online somewhere (I googled the part number), and it came very quickly. Garmin's description is here: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=33328

I like it. It works well for me.

Pro-Clip

Look up Pro-Clip.
The BEST that I have found

Fuzzybr

Garmin Mount

Garmin Portable Friction At Amazon.com $23.99

Flexible mounts

Go to newegg.com and check out their bean bag flexible mounts. I got one for a total cost of $19.99 and free shipping. You can put it on your dash or console between seats, etc. Works great...

Proclip in my last vehicle

Proclip in my last vehicle and current vehicle.

Modified the installation to attached the power cord directly to the fuse box (switchable post).

Now I have auto on/off with my nuvi. I can removed the device in less reputable areas and the mount looks near OEM so as not to attract thieves.

--
“It’s their world. We’re just living in it.”

Proclip here too.

Proclip here too.

Friction Mount

I use a Friction Mount... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LRMS66 I used it on two 1000-mile trips, and it didn't move at all.

I also have a vent mount, but it's a hassle to handle. And it can damage the vent bars.

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Michael (Nuvi 2639LMT)

I still like my

I still like my Proclip

Proclipusa.com

Visor Mount for me

I got an Arkon Visor Mount for my Nuvi a year ago

http://www.gpsdeals4u.com/gps-Arkon-Sun-Visor-Mount-For-Garm...

$18

works great and cannot be seen outside my car unless you bend down to look up to see it while looking in.

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Drivesmart 66, Nuvi 2595LMT (Died), Nuvi 1490T (Died), Nuvi 260 (Died), GPSMAP 195

Friction Mount

I use a Garmin 4 tab style friction mount. It marred my dash, so now I use it with a microfibre towel under it.
Or leave it in my center console out of sight.

IMO

...it's dangerous to look up or down while driving.

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Michael (Nuvi 2639LMT)

.

Its just as dangerous to look away from the road at something within your vehicle, no matter the height, because of your eyes having to refocus between the distances (from far to near, back to far).

On topic though, I'm a Proclip user as well. Expensive, but well worth it. I too plan on making a custom wire for my vehicle so the installation will look OEM.

Proclip

I too use a Proclip, very happy with it, looks good on the dash. Cost a bit, but it's well built well last forever

--
2597 Sometimes I wonder..."Why is that Frisbee getting bigger?"...and then, it hits me.

Yep

Cyberian75 wrote:

...it's dangerous to look up or down while driving.

That's why you shouldn't look at your speedometer or any other engine gauges ever, unless you have come to a complete stop.

:^\

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Drivesmart 66, Nuvi 2595LMT (Died), Nuvi 1490T (Died), Nuvi 260 (Died), GPSMAP 195

IMO

Vents are positioned very low in my vehicle. No offense, guys.

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Michael (Nuvi 2639LMT)

Cup holder mounts

If you google you will find cup holder mounts for your GPS. There are sites showing you how to create your own cup holder mount using a 3" PVC pipe.

Vent Mount for Nuvi 760

I purchased a vent mount from The Mount Guys and have been happy with it. Just make sure that you add the additional support arm include in the package that helps prop up the mount.

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JG - Nuvi 2460

how did you Modify??

e_piph_a_ny wrote:

Proclip in my last vehicle and current vehicle.

Modified the installation to attached the power cord directly to the fuse box (switchable post).

Now I have auto on/off with my nuvi. I can removed the device in less reputable areas and the mount looks near OEM so as not to attract thieves.

Hi had a ? How did you Modify it? I would love to Modify mine too. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

I use a ProFit G3 in my

I use a ProFit G3 in my Toyota Rav4. Almost invisible but not cheap. You could check their site for availability for your vehicle.
http://www.pro-fit-intl.com/

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Nuvi 255W St. Louis, Missouri

Here's a link to what the

Here's a link to what the bracket looks loke installed in your vehicle.
http://www.pro-fit-intl.com/Adobe/DG-92-08-G3-p1.pdf

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Nuvi 255W St. Louis, Missouri

Vent Mounts

I used a vent mount with my 350 for 2 years and really enjoyed it. I have one for my 765T now and it's even better than the one for the 350. It's mounted on the driver side vent nearest the window, which puts the Nuvi about the top of the steering wheel in height. It is small, doesn't obstruct my view of the road, makes keypad entry easy, with my left hand, and is very sturdy, but can be easily adjusted. I got it from MountGuys.com for less than $10.

vent mount

rolleyes Ebay has them for short money. Cheap enough to try one out and then throw away if necessary.

I have used vent mounts for a couple of years and love them. Gets the Nuvi 30% closer for great viewing and easy touching. Stays cool in the summer. Easily turns right or left for passenger viewing. No glare on the inner windshield at night. Less visible to thieves. Ect. Ect

Mounts

The bean bag

Nuvi360

Combo

I have used a couple things. My wife uses a garmin beanbag mount ($14.99 at Bestbuy). In my work truck I have a base mount from garmin screwed to the dash. It works great for the c550. You can buy a panavise to put under your trim if you want. That is what I have on my suburban and used on my old grand marquis. But I don't use it anymore on trips since I got the beanbag.

Daniel

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Garmin StreetPilot c580 & Nuvi 760 - Member 32160 - Traveling in Kansas

How to modify

fv0974 wrote:
e_piph_a_ny wrote:

Proclip in my last vehicle and current vehicle.

Modified the installation to attached the power cord directly to the fuse box (switchable post).

Now I have auto on/off with my nuvi. I can removed the device in less reputable areas and the mount looks near OEM so as not to attract thieves.

Hi had a ? How did you Modify it? I would love to Modify mine too. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

Attach an "Add-A-Circuit" fuseholder to a switchable post in your fuse box. Solder the Cigarette Lighter Socket to the Add-A-Circuit fuseholder and ground the negative wire.

Now plug in your gps device AC power cord into the cig lighter socket and using tie straps secure under/behind dash.

Depending how your car's dashboard is configured, snake the ac cord under the dash and thru the dashboard vent opening and plug into (depending on the your gps model type) the gps cradle or the gps device itself.

For my nuvi, I used a ProClip mount next to the dash vent opening. Gps devices that use a cradle work better than the ones that you insert the power cord into the device itself.

Click on links below to see parts.
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=071-...

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=265-...

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“It’s their world. We’re just living in it.”

bean bag mounts all the way!

bean bag mounts all the way! they're very secure when driving around, can be removed quickly, and can be hidden away so thieves don't break into your car to try and steal ur GPS.

What's wrong...

What's wrong with the beanbag dash mount?

What's wrong with the beanbag dash mount?

Can be insecure depending on the angle of the dash top and how slippery it is. Then you got the loose dangling power cord in the way.

My method is no fuss, no muss and a clean unobstructed look. One snap and the device is de-mounted and ready to hide.

--
“It’s their world. We’re just living in it.”

GN097-USB : Powered Lighter Socket Mount for Garmin Nuvi

Just saw this. It mounts in the lighter socket.

Has anyone used it?

It is at http://www.arkon.com/garmin_nuvi_mount.php

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Mary, Nuvi 2450, Garmin Viago, Honda Navigation, Nuvi 750 (gave to son)

GN097-USB :

I saw this about a year ago.

Looks unwieldy and just plain goofy IMHO.

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“It’s their world. We’re just living in it.”

I'm real happy with mine, I

I'm real happy with mine, I bought it from Amazon and it hasn't slipped or moved from the dashboard.

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Sly

Sticky Pad Dash Mount

HandStands GPS Sticky Pad Dash Mount-10018LS

http://www.buy.com/prod/handstands-gps-sticky-pad-dash-mount...

$9.99 free shipping

Looks

like a super product, thanks for the tip

--
2597 Sometimes I wonder..."Why is that Frisbee getting bigger?"...and then, it hits me.

bean bag - there is no other realistic option

Gently, but firmly, convince your wife that you know best and get the bean bag.

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non-native nutmegger

Stickypad

schmidwr wrote:

Gently, but firmly, convince your wife that you know best and get the bean bag.

I have to admit it looks good (but don't they all when new). It's not the pad itself that has me worried, it's the use of the suction cup to mount to the pad. While some have lasted for years, we see reports of others failing in a fairly short time.

The fact they are being put on windshields and removed frequently may have a lot to do with the failures, but the suction cups do leak and pop off at he most inconvenient times.

The original Garmin Friction Mount, the "bean bag" has an arm that attaches into a permanently mounted base, The holder for the unit then snaps to the ball mount.

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ɐ‾nsǝɹ Just one click away from the end of the Internet

Right Angle Bracket

I would be careful about anything that seems permanent. Thieves have been targeting cars with GPS, IPODS, etc. and the usual tells are a visible mount and even the suction cup rings on the windshield.

Is the storage space the thing I see between the two vents? I looked at the Dodge website interior picture.

If so, the suction mount might connect to this. On hot days, be sure to remount the suction mount daily. I find they can dry out and fall off, if it gets really hot in the car.

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DriveSmart 65, NUVI2555LMT, (NUVI350 is Now Retired)