Bracketron UFM-100BL Nav-Mat GPS Friction Dash Pad
by Bracketron
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List Price: Our Price: Calculated in a shopping cart 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 Bracketron UFM-100BL Nav-Mat GPS Friction Dash Pad
Customer Review: GOOD IDEA, POOR EXECUTION
Summary: 1 Stars
My purchase of this item has taught me that putting too much stock in reviews might be a bad idea. The Bracketron UFM-100BL is essentially a heavy donut with a non-skid bottom. It's a good idea but poorly executed.
I'm trying to use it with a Tom Tom 130S and can't speak for other GPS units, which may be different...however, if the GPS mount is by a suction cup, then caution should be exercised before purchasing.
The donut surrounds a plastic center that is approximately 4" in diameter. This is held in by 4 plastic rivets (more about these). Now, everyone knows that a suction device needs a smooth surface to work properly, so the presence of a 3/8" diameter button in the center of the plastic circle is both a mystery and a problem.
The button prevents any chance of successfull attachment anywhere except over the center of the donut, which is a problem since my Tom Tom then touches down on the edge of the donut and won't seat because there's no 'give' on the edges. If forced down hard, it will attach for about 15 minutes before letting go....if you're quick you can catch your GPS before it hits the floor.
So problem one is not being able to attach my GPS to this pad.
Problem two is that there's no give so the Bracketron can fit the curve of the dash...trying to do so broke one of the plastic rivets.
Problem three is that it is broke and out of its package, so there's no return. I'm too cheap to buy another and will attempt to make a suitable raised platform for the one I've got.
I found the reference to this product on the page where I purhased my Tom Tom. I now wish I had looked further as there appears to be several of these that are better designed. Especially the ones with the cutout on the donut edge so the GPS unit can easily sit flat.
Wish I had seen those choices. however it still looks like the 'button' is still in the middle of the otherwise flat surface.
Bottom line for this model; bad product, poor construction.
Customer Review: Slip Sliding Away
Summary: 3 Stars
We bought this product at a "brick and mortar" store (rhymes with "Shmarget") and loved it immediately. Really liked the ability to move it from my wife's car to my truck. No tape or glue marring the dashboard (it's illegal to mount on the windshield in CA). No weird mount blocking my AC vent and moving back and forth as I turn the vehicle, as happened in my truck with another product. The Nav-Mat was it....for a few weeks.
Then, troubles.
It seemed that the bottom of the thing, after about six or seven weeks, lost its tackiness and started sliding all over the dashboard. Falling to the floorboards. Hitting my wife in the legs. Not a lot of fun. So I emailed Bracketron's customer support.
Here's where it gets good. And not "Ugh, what a pain in the tushy the support people are." It's "why aren't more companies like this?" good. This is why they garnered three stars. Not for the product, but for the company's customer service.
The gentleman asked for my mailing address to send me a new Nav-Mat, which he did. And when that one went the same way as the first, he sent me their new design, which is a flat rubber mat that sticks (but not permanently) to the dash. No sending back the original. No waiting for a mailing label. No charges for shipping. Nothing, not one dime. The company seemed determined to make me happy with at least one of their products, and it is for this reason I recommend their products to my family and friends wholeheartedly. If more companies stood behind their products as Bracketron does, it would make life just a bit less stressful.
Customer Review: Works Well
Summary: 5 Stars
I originally got this for the wife but after seeing it and having my windshield mount fall a few times, I stole it.
It works well. Normal to slightly aggressive turns (on clover leafs to test it out) it holds it's place.
every now and then I noticed it moved forward and likely to fall (2-3 days), just a quick push back and all it good again. (this is probably do to me removing my phone)
The only real negative I see and this is unavoidable is that it is black and my phone is black so the phone gets very hot while driving in the sun. However, I won't want another color since I have a black interior.
TIP: speaking of black interiors. I hate the white ezpass in my new black car. I taped up the white tag (with the numbers) and spray painted the ezpass black. Then got some black velco tape and put it up the top right of the window. It blends in perfectly and works perfectly. hope this helps.
UPDATE EDIT (that was in the winter - in the summer it gets so hot the tape melts and it falls off - trying to find some good double side tape that can take the heat)
Summary: no regrets buying this item and I recommend it ... even if you live in a state were it is not required.
UPDATE: I have extended the phone caddy out over the a/c vents to help cool the 'black' phone from the sun and charging. this pops up the pad and makes it more unstable. I still recommend the pad because the 'arm' that I have created is long. I'll weight down with something ... just haven't figure out what to use.
Customer Review: Real Dimensions and other Thoughts.
Summary: 5 Stars
So the dimensions listed are wrong for this item. I could tell by the coke can photo next to the Mount that it was not "1.9 x 8.6 x 9.3". So for anyone wanting them here are the actual dimensions out of the box for the current version. Hopefully this will keep people from being surprised when they buy it.
7.5 x 7.25 x 1.5. That is left to right, front to back(where the tag is), and height. The usable size of the Center flat disk where you attach your suction cup mount is 3.5 in. I'm putting up photos of all of this so be sure to check the photo sections for my tape measure.
It is Very stiff. You can hold it up by the edge of the circel and the thing will not really bend at all. If you push down on the black nylon it doesn't give much and feels like it is packed really full of small rocks. The bottom is rubberized like a gym mat and is pretty smelly out of the box although I'm sure that will go away in time.
It does it's job well and I think it's great for the price. So far I'm pleased with it. The only caveat is that my gps's power port is on the bottom which means that I had to slide the suction cup back sightly or else the ring would bock the cord from going straight up into the gps. But, worst case you should be able to raise the height on your gps stand and that would fix the problem. For the price and ability to have my gps off the windshield this product seems like a no-brainer.
Customer Review: Works wonder
Summary: 4 Stars
This GPS dash pad is versatile and great. I was afraid to purchase this after reading the negative reviews by some customers, but I'm glad I decided to purchase it because it does work, and works great. The pad consists of three portions, a middle smooth plastic center, a bean bag outer portion, and a non slip lining on the bottom. The center is used to attached the suction cup mount on GPS units and it holds the mount thanks to its smooth plastic. The non slip bottom lining helps the pad from slipping and the bean bag outer portion weighs the unit down. It works just like the official Garmin pad if not better. I chose the circular design of this pad as oppose to the Garmin's legged design because I put my GPS unit underneath my center console as oppose to the top dashboard. Because of the large circular footprint, the unit places right over my two cup holders with ease. I was worried that the Garmin unit wouldn't be able to balance itself due to the 4 legged design. I also tested the pad both on the top and bottom of my car and the pad didn't have any problems at maintaining its position. It was also very simple to store away, I basically either leave it at my bottom center console or slip it under my seat. It's simple to use, works as stated, super versatile thanks to its wide footprint, and at half the cost of the Garmin mount I would definitely recommend this unit to anyone.