RAM mount breakage

[John90XJ]

So I was out today and snapped the ball off my RAM mount for my GPS. We were travelling down some snow covered washboard at about 30 mph and there didn't seem to be a lot of movement at the GPS end of the mount yet it snapped right under the gimbal mount. I'm running an Eagle Intellimap (think Lowrance) and it doesn't weigh much but it does stick out almost straight from the dash creating a bit of a lever.

I can easily go get another but I'm wondering if this is karma telling me to step up to a 1.5" model and ditch the 1" mount?

Feedback?

 

[John90XJ]

Well, nobody else had any ideas so I went and bought the 1.5" inch model anyway just for safety's sake.

As is turns out, I sent a photo and email to the customer service address for RAM and had an email the next day, New Year's eve, asking for an address to send out a free replacement. It arrived Friday and now I have a 1" and a 1.5" mount. I suppose I can use it for something but the main point is the customer service was outstanding. They are a class act.

 

[Andrew Walcker]

I have run various RAM mounts over the years and have always been very happy. In addition I have never had a component fail. Over time I have gone from the 1" balls to the 2" balls as the increased surface area of the larger ball provides for a much more stable mount. Sounds like you had a "fluke" mount and glad to hear that RAM stands behind their products!

 

[cshontz]

I had breakage too, John - just like yours. I had entirely too much leverage on a 1" plastic ball. Didn't loosen the clamp enough one night when I tried to make room for Arby's. Still haven't fixed it.

 

[John90XJ]

The thing that I apparently didn't pay enough attention to in the store was the diameter of the connection between the ball and the mounting surface. In the 1.5 inch it's dramatically larger than the 1". While I think it was a fluke that it broke, nothing can beat having more mass in this application.

I'm sure I'll find a use for the smaller one but my confidence has grown with the 1.5" piece.

Here's the email address.....shoot them a note.

staff@ram-mount.com