Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
I got my first GPS unit in 1999. It was a Lowrance unit that didn't even have a map display (I know, primitive, right?) But I loved the utility of the GPS and have had one ever since.
.
In 2011 I finally got with the modern era and got a true automotive style touch-screen GPS to augment (but not replace) the old hand-held Magellan unit I'd been using previously (and which I still use on the motorcycle - just because it's easier to see and easier to use.) The unit I got was a Garmin 255w and I picked it up off of CL for $50.
.
Initially, I used the standard suction-cup mount to the windshield, but then I quickly discovered the reality about using the suction cup: It sucks. And when I say "it sucks", of course, what I mean is that it DOESN'T suck, or, more accurately, that it stops sucking and causes the whole unit to fall into my lap or onto the floor at the most inopportune times (like driving down the highway at 60mph.) And if you've ever had that happen to you, you know how much it sucks.
.
At first I thought that maybe the problem was that sticking to windshield glass was not ideal because windshield glass rapidly changes temperature. So I got one of those round plastic discs you can stick to your dashboard and attach the suction cup to that. I think the idea is that the disc is smooth and made of plastic and the suction cup will hold onto it tighter. Here's a picture of that setup which I've been running on my 4runner for the past couple of years:
.
.
Here it is with the GPS mount on it (GPS removed so you can see it better.)
.
.
If any of you have tried this, you probably discovered (as I did) that this setup is only marginally better than the windshield and the GPS unit still has a nasty tendency to stop sucking and to fall into my lap while driving or onto the floor if the vehicle is parked. Which, again, sucks.
.
So, after putting up with this sucky situation long enough, I finally decided to suck it up and go back to the only solution I knew would work and that is to use the RAM ball mount. I had used this on my previous 4runner for the Magellan, and it worked well (although the heavy Magellan unit tended to make the top of the dash pucker up a bit.) I searched for a cradle on Amazon and found one for under $20 and ordered it.
.
I then took the RAM ball that I got with my first GPS unit in 1999...
.
.
Since I really don't like the idea of putting screws into foam and making permanent (damaging) changes to a vehicle I might one day want to sell, I got some 3M Double stick mounting tape (I love this stuff...)
.
.
...and cut it to fit the ball.
.
.
A quick "peel and stick" later and it was on...
.
.
Here's the finished result with the GPS on it:
.
.
Side view:
.
.
Now there are some who might say that there is now an ugly RAM ball on the dash, and that kind of sucks. While I agree, I have to counter that having a GPS unit that falls into my lap sucks even more, and that the RAM ball is a relatively minor intrusion into my sight line. Also because I have a separate DD, the 4runner is really primarily my long distance travel/towing vehicle (for our little T@B Livia) and so under most normal circumstances, the GPS will be mounted.
.
As a bonus, I noticed that the previous suction cup mount would often allow the GPS unit to wobble around and it was difficult to adjust while driving (yeah, I know you're not supposed to
) but this mount holds the GPS very tightly and it doesn't move around at all.
.
Two other good things about this mod: 1. it was cheap (I already had the ball mount and the arm, and the cradle, with the ball was $17) and that it is 100% reversible (best way to remove the double stick tape is to use a blow drier to heat it up and then carefully pry it up with a razor knife.) So if/when I sell or switch vehicles, the only cost to me is some time and a little bit of double stick tape.
.
Anyway, I just wanted to share my solution of how I got my GPS to stop sucking. :sombrero:
.
In 2011 I finally got with the modern era and got a true automotive style touch-screen GPS to augment (but not replace) the old hand-held Magellan unit I'd been using previously (and which I still use on the motorcycle - just because it's easier to see and easier to use.) The unit I got was a Garmin 255w and I picked it up off of CL for $50.
.
Initially, I used the standard suction-cup mount to the windshield, but then I quickly discovered the reality about using the suction cup: It sucks. And when I say "it sucks", of course, what I mean is that it DOESN'T suck, or, more accurately, that it stops sucking and causes the whole unit to fall into my lap or onto the floor at the most inopportune times (like driving down the highway at 60mph.) And if you've ever had that happen to you, you know how much it sucks.
.
At first I thought that maybe the problem was that sticking to windshield glass was not ideal because windshield glass rapidly changes temperature. So I got one of those round plastic discs you can stick to your dashboard and attach the suction cup to that. I think the idea is that the disc is smooth and made of plastic and the suction cup will hold onto it tighter. Here's a picture of that setup which I've been running on my 4runner for the past couple of years:
.
.
Here it is with the GPS mount on it (GPS removed so you can see it better.)
.
.
If any of you have tried this, you probably discovered (as I did) that this setup is only marginally better than the windshield and the GPS unit still has a nasty tendency to stop sucking and to fall into my lap while driving or onto the floor if the vehicle is parked. Which, again, sucks.
.
So, after putting up with this sucky situation long enough, I finally decided to suck it up and go back to the only solution I knew would work and that is to use the RAM ball mount. I had used this on my previous 4runner for the Magellan, and it worked well (although the heavy Magellan unit tended to make the top of the dash pucker up a bit.) I searched for a cradle on Amazon and found one for under $20 and ordered it.
.
I then took the RAM ball that I got with my first GPS unit in 1999...
.
.
Since I really don't like the idea of putting screws into foam and making permanent (damaging) changes to a vehicle I might one day want to sell, I got some 3M Double stick mounting tape (I love this stuff...)
.
.
...and cut it to fit the ball.
.
.
A quick "peel and stick" later and it was on...
.
.
Here's the finished result with the GPS on it:
.
.
Side view:
.
.
Now there are some who might say that there is now an ugly RAM ball on the dash, and that kind of sucks. While I agree, I have to counter that having a GPS unit that falls into my lap sucks even more, and that the RAM ball is a relatively minor intrusion into my sight line. Also because I have a separate DD, the 4runner is really primarily my long distance travel/towing vehicle (for our little T@B Livia) and so under most normal circumstances, the GPS will be mounted.
.
As a bonus, I noticed that the previous suction cup mount would often allow the GPS unit to wobble around and it was difficult to adjust while driving (yeah, I know you're not supposed to
) but this mount holds the GPS very tightly and it doesn't move around at all. .
Two other good things about this mod: 1. it was cheap (I already had the ball mount and the arm, and the cradle, with the ball was $17) and that it is 100% reversible (best way to remove the double stick tape is to use a blow drier to heat it up and then carefully pry it up with a razor knife.) So if/when I sell or switch vehicles, the only cost to me is some time and a little bit of double stick tape.
.
Anyway, I just wanted to share my solution of how I got my GPS to stop sucking. :sombrero:
