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 Buy Used: from $17.68 (click here) 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: I love this thing
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this for a trip to California when I learned that they do not permit you to affix anything to your windshield. Now that I'm back in Ohio, the windshield mount has remained in the box. It took only a moment to attach part of the mount that came with my Nuvi to this friction mount. The mount is smaller than it looks, and it took up surprisingly little room in my carry-on when I carried it onto the plane.
Most importantly, the thing really does stay put. I drive in a fairly "spirited" manner, and before buying it I had visions of it flying off the dash. But it has yet to move an inch. So far I've used it in a Mazda RX-8, a Chrysler 300, a Nissan Maxima, and a Dodge Durango. In the interest of full disclosure, I will say that my Nuvi 350 is fairly small and light.
When I arrive somewhere I simply lift it off the dash to toss it in the trunk or on the floor behind the driver's seat. If you take the GPS unit off of it, it actually fits in the compartment under my center arm rest (except in the RX-8). It also makes it really easy to bring the GPS in the house or to move it from car to car.
All in all, a great little device. Perhaps a bit pricey for something so simple, but well worth it at the end of the day.
Customer Review: Wish we'd bought this sooner
Summary: 5 Stars
For the two years or so that we've owned our Garmin we've used the suction cup on the windshield or for short trips simply set it in a drink holder in the car. The suction cup works fine for a while, but on trips longer than an hour, eventually the entire assembly always falls down.
Before our latest road trip we bought friction dashboard mount. On a 2,400 mile trip it was perfect. The placement is even better than with the windshield mount. It allows me to place the unit a little closer to me, making it easier to see and to touch. If my passenger needed to see it it was easy to turn the whole unit in that direction, much more flexible than when using the suction cup mount. When we needed to look for something the entire assembly could easily be handed or slid to the passenger and then returned to the best place for the driver.
Regardless of traffic or weather, day or night, mountain terrain and flat, the unit was perfect.
We always store the unit where it can't be seen if we are going to be away from the car. The base does take more room to store. In our car there is plenty of handy storage space so it isn't a problem. If we didn't ave all that space I would simply put the friction base on the floor under a seat.
Customer Review: The best solution for your Garmin Nuvi
Summary: 5 Stars
I own the Garmin Nuvi 660 and over the last five months have tried alternatives to the suction cup on the windshield--industrial strength velcro on the dashboard(doesn't work in the summer because of the heat)and a vent mount(I got one from Mount Guys, but it kept coming out on sharp turns). Then I decided to give the friction mount a try, and must say that it is the best solution, esepcially for someone like me who has multiple vehicles.
The dashboard in my cars vary in shape(level, slanted), size (wide, narrow) and material (vinyl, leather). It makes no difference. This product securely holds my Nuvi in place at high speeds, sudden stops on the brake, and sharp turns. The trick for me is to place the product so that it is as close to the windshield as possible rather than on the edge of the dashboard.
It takes just a second to connect and disconnect the Nuvi from this unit, and using it in different cars is effortless. There is nothing to attach (execept the Nuvi to the product) because this product is essentially a weighted beanbag, but designed much better than a standard beanbag.
Keep in mind that no mounting system is foolproof, but compared to everything else that I have tried, this is the best way to go.
Customer Review: fixed object to portable companion
Summary: 5 Stars
After discovering this product, one wonders why we ever stuck those adhesive mounts to our windshields to announce to passing thieves, 'Stop here! Easy hit!'.
I was costing my organization $10 per day to rent a GPS from National Car Rental until it dawned on me that the same, fabulously functional friction mount that the rental companies used might be available commercially. Voilà, I now take my own Garmin Nüvi with me on trips, stick the compact Portable Dashboard Mount in my briefcase, and use my own GPS rather than rent one at expensive per-day rates.
A side benefit is that use of my own GPS allows me to accumulate destinations in my database rather than use them once and hand them back in a rented GPS unit.
The Friction Dashboard Mount is preternaturally stable. You have to be doing some serious slalom moves in your car to get it to slide from its intended place on the dash of your car.
I find myself using this mount in my own car at home now rather than going back to the adhesive windshield mount.
This is one of those rare no-fault, simple-design, highly effective products that brings a categorical improvement to one of life's recurrent experiences at a reasonable cost.
Customer Review: Shouldn't They Call It a Sandbag Mount?
Summary: 5 Stars
I just mean, they refer to it as a beanbag mount, but it sure feels to me like it's filled with sand. However, that is of no consequence vis a vis functionality.
I purchased this along with the Garmin nüvi 260W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator, which comes with a suction mount for the windshield. It was a wise decision to purchase this. I put the Garmin in it and plunk it wherever I want on the dash. It stays put while I'm driving, and if I want to move it to another spot, I can. So I'm not stuck with an OOPS permanent mount with the suction cup. Also, though we're a two-car household, we only need one GPS unit, and we can just pick this up off the dash and move it from vehicle to vehicle. Voila! Besides, buying this in lieu of two GPSs left me extra money for Baconnaise when it was Deal of the Day :)
I really didn't like the idea of the suction mount on the windshield. Those things make it hard to see pedestrians in the crosswalk. Besides, if I mounted my Garmin on the windshield, my rosary would clank into it. So I recommend this for anyone with a GPS unit - just make sure yours will fit this one!