Garmin Portable Friction Mount
by Garmin
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List Price: Our Price: $17.69 You Save: $22.30 (56%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: GPS or Navigation System See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin Portable Friction Mount
Customer Review: Solved my problems
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought my Nuvi 350 based on a recommendation of a trusted friend and must say that I am quite happy with it. The only complaint I have is the adherence of the suction cup mount. It came off on the first two attempts to use the unit. I am sure that the manufacturer would advise that I clean my windshield and the unit would have held. My response would be that this was on a brand new car with virtually zero miles on the odometer prepped for delivery by a professional car dealership. In a word(s) "clean window".
The unit held for 40 min. of an hour trip landing on my passenger's lap.
It was remounted for the remaining ride and return trip only to come off 10 minutes from home.
I have been told that I should not leave my unit in my automobile at night because it is a favorite target of thieves (who, I've been told look for telltale suction cup marks).
I've solved both problems with a second purchase, a portable friction mount made by Garmin. It's a beanbag chair/mount with a skid proof bottom that can be placed on just about any regular or irregular horizontal
surface. If it sounds clunky it isn't. There a four lobes to the beanbag each lobe splayed out every 90 degrees keeping it at a resonably low profile. The Nuvi can be mounted, placed on the dash, dismounted and stowed away without hassle. Some of the other mounts require permanent gluing of the mount to your dashboard.
I believe this should be the standard base provided with the unit. In a few states the suction cup mounts aren't even allowed (probably a visibility issue).
Customer Review: Definitely the BEST way to mount a Garmin nuvi!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been the proud owner of a nuvi 660 for several years now. It succeeded my earlier more primitive Garmin GPS. I love everything about my nuvi except its former habit of falling off my windshield. The suction mount it came with would let go at will -- because it didn't like the way I had secured it, because it was hot outside, because it was cold outside, maybe because it got tired. And my nice nuvi would crash to the floor of my car. And it got very old cleaning the windshield for suction cup, looking at the little circle the suction cup left when the GPS wasn't mounted, and worrying some thief would spot the telltale ring and break into the car.
Well, all that is over now, because this friction mount is the best thing since sliced bread. It works ANYWHERE -- in my Town Car, in my Subaru, in my husband's truck, and any other place with a flat dashboard, which is virtually every car made. It does not move at all. It perfectly positions the GPS for viewing and easy reaching of its touch screen. The design is simple and straightforward. The ball mount that comes with the flat part of the dashboard mount simply slides into place, and a small lever to the right of the slide locks it. (Removal of the ball mount for the GPS is equally easy: unlock and release) Then add your GPS and you are good to go.
I rarely write reviews but this product is simply wonderful and anyone with a nuvi should get it. In fact this should be Garmin's standard mount, not its irksome windshield suction cup.
Customer Review: Convenient!
Summary: 5 Stars
So I live in off-campus housing for school, and my car is usually parked in a parking garage for a better part of the month. The problem with having the little suction cup is that if its still there even with out the GPS, there is a risk of it being stolen (theft is a very common occurrence on a college campus). Then taking it off becomes a hassle, since well A) there is a residue on the windshield and B) the hope that successive reapplications of the suction cup will actually hold after the suction cup has either collected dust or become brittle.
The solution? Well this friction mount works really well. At first I though perhaps it would slip off, but the rubber mount and the weight (little bean bag weights) hold it down firm. I don't have to worry about the windshield residue or even taking something off my windshield anymore. All I do is park my car, take off my GPS and take it with me (I never leave it in my car) and then take the mount and stuff it just in front of the passenger's seat. Works perfectly!
The only complaints I have is that its a little bulky but often times it is still possible to hide. Also, the constant removal from the dash to the floor does get some dust underneath so you have to brush it off every now and then.
All in all, very useful product. As long as you're not making sudden turns (and I mean like practically drifting) then this thing will just stay in place. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to replace that annoying suction cup on the windshield.
Customer Review: It stays put
Summary: 5 Stars
The Garmin dashboard mount does a very good job of keeping the the navigation device in place on the dashboard. I live in one (MN) of 2 states (MN,CA) that prohibit use of the windshield mounted devices for the navigation devices. Our legislators, in their infinite wisdom, would rather have someone hand-holding, lap-holding, or passenger-seat holding their devices than having it attached on the windshield. These laws seem to make very little sense as the dashboard seems to be one of the safer places to mount the devices as you can continue to see the road as you refer to the device. By the way, these laws are very routinely ignored by the public and by law-enforcement in MN.
I was never really satisfied with the windshield mount that came with my device. I didn't feel I could find a really good location that would allow good viewing (and minimized sun interference). The windshield mount stuck fairly well on the windshield but occasionally would come off. I didn't find it the easiest to separate the navigator from the device either. Additionally, unless you wanted to advertise that you had a device available for theft you had to remove the windshield holder when parking anyway (probably not as big a deal as the devices become cheaper). The dashboard mount addresses all of my complaints with windshield mounted unit. Additionally, it hasn't moved on me since I have begun using it. I am happy with it, I am now legal in my nanny-state (MN) and I think it is the way to go.
Customer Review: Reduces chance of break-in, and does it with ease.
Summary: 5 Stars
Pros:
* Easily moves between vehicles.
* Can be stowed out sight and leaves no tell-tail suction cup mark.
Cons:
* At 600g (1 lb 5oz) you'll want to put it in your checked luggage.
I bought this because I read that a GPS mount is like a glowing neon sign: "break in here". When I arrived at my hotel this was confirmed by a sign in the elevator warning that car prowlers were breaking into cars with GPS mounts left in view.
This mount did all that I expected and more. I was pleased to find the mounting post detaches from the base, which makes it easier to pack in a suitcase. The mount fit in the console of my rental car without being disassembled.
The mount stays where I put on the dash, except for one time when I had it perched too far down the edge of the dash and hit a good sized pot-hole, which dislodged it. With proper placement in normal driving conditions, (including the occasional pot-hole), the mount should not move.
One thing I really like about this mount is that the passenger/navigator can pick up GPS, mount and all, and search for a destination with less distraction for the driver than if they are poking at it on the dash. Once the device has been programmed it can be set back on the dash without fumbling to snap it into the mounting clip.
In summary, it is well worth the $27 I paid. Even the $40 list price would be a bargain compared with the insurance deductible for a break-in.