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: 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.
Customer Review: Thwarts thieves!
Summary: 5 Stars
Did you know that even if you remove your Garmin AND the windshield mount thieves may still break into your vehicle looking for your portable GPS? Do you know why?
That convenient little windshield mount leaves a telltale suction cup mark on the windshield and the crooks know what to look for. They figure there is a good chance you hid that GPS in the vehicle and in a matter of seconds it is theirs, after all there's only a few places to hide something in there.
Not only are you out that expensive little GPS but the thief now has your address and maybe the addresses of your friends and family. Like to add your own personal pictures to that GPS? Now he knows what your kids look like. And he also knows the chances are excellent you also own many other expensive electronic gadgets, all just waiting for him to pick up.
Even if you password protect that GPS so a thief can't access it do you really want to go through the hassle and expense of filing an insurance claim, buying a new GPS and programing it?
This dashboard mount is the simple and inexpensive solution. Stash it under the seat before you get out of the vehicle and take your Garmin with you, just in case 'cause you never know who's watching.
And one more suggestion...as you arrive at your destination drop this thing onto the seat beside you so the "glow" of it isn't visible to all around you. And keep your doors locked.
You can call me paranoid but safe... :)
Customer Review: Quality and Utility
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my second Garmin beanbag mount--one for me and a recently purchased one for my son. This product is the epitome of quality and utility. Although I initially used the suction mount that I received with my Garmin GPS--which was also a quality mount--the adhesive on the disk that I stuck to the dash for the suction mount didn't hold up to the Arizona sun, and after awhile, the disk peeled away from the dash. I therefore purchased this beanbag mount, and I am very glad that I did because, in and out of the car, it is more convenient to use than the suction mount was. I have had mine for several years, and it is apparent that this mount will outlive me and my GPS.
P.S. Regarding the adhesive disk for the suction mount, when the adhesive eventually failed on mine, to my great relief, the adhesive came off with the disk and left no adhesive or mark on my vinyl dash. I had been a little concerned when I attached the adhesive disk that it would mar the dash, but since it was small and not unsightly, I figured that it wouldn't bother me or a subsequent owner if it was left permanently stuck to my black dash. However, the adhesive was apparently designed to maintain its flexibility to prevent a permanent bond, and therefore prevent destructive removal. I suspect that with a cooler-than-desert climate--and/or a closer-to-horizontal dash surface than I used in my application--the adhesive disk and suction mount combo would provide many years of good service.