MountGuys Blog

January 27, 2012

Mounts for Vertical Vents

Filed under: GPS Mounts and Accessories, Other Mounts & Accessories — Tags: , , , , , — mountguys @ 4:34 pm

We must get a few questions weekly asking about mounts that will fit on vertical vents.  Most cars have vent slots that go across versus up and down and 99% of all vent mounts are made primarily for horizontal vents.

Finally, a solution is available for vertical vents from a company called Tetrax.  Based in Italy, they have developed a mount that combines a very small vice with a magnetic attachment for your smartphone, GPS or anything that weighs less than 300 grams (10.5 ounces).  For information on these unique magnetic mounts, see our blog post written in late 2011.

So Tetrax has two kinds of mounts.  Some attach to your dash, others attach to the vent.  Since this post is titled “Mounts for Vertical Vents”, we’re going to take a bit more about the vent mounts.  These mounts are attached to your vent using a small vice with rubber grips.  They tighten and loosen using a small dial built into the mount.  Extremely easy to attach and detach.  We have found that the profile is so small that they aren’t even noticed when you remove your device, so we leave ours in the car after we remove our device.  But the neat part is that if you travel, it’s very easy to take with you.  Just don’t leave it in the rental!

The Tetrax XWAY and GEO lines are the vent mounts.  The XWAY is a heavier duty mount and recommended for GPS units and SmartPhones.  The GEO is best for SmartPhones and devices weighing 150 grams (5.25 ounces) or less.  The GEO works great with our iPhone 4 in a Tetrax XCASE.  We offer some picture below.

Tetrax Geo - See the Vice?

Tetrax Geo - See the Vice?

Tetrax XWAY with a TomTom

Tetrax XWAY with a TomTom

Tetrax XWAY

Tetrax XWAY

Tetrax Geo with an iPhone in an XCASE

Tetrax Geo with an iPhone in a case

Tetrax Geo

Tetrax Geo

December 1, 2010

Mounting your Garmin GPSMAP 62 62s or 62st GPS

Filed under: GPS Mounts and Accessories — Tags: , , , , — mountguys @ 9:41 pm

Garmin’s latest handheld GPS is called the GPSMAP 62 series.  The dimensions are somewhat close to Garmin’s very successful GPSMAP 60 GPS line.  That’s about where it ends.  Extended 20 hour battery life and a color screen are just the tip of the improvements.  Depending upon the model chosen, the GPS will include features like preloaded maps, compass, altimeter, tide tables and a hunting / fishing calendar.

Well, this is the MountGuys Blog, so you probably decided to visit to learn about how to mount a Garmin GPSMAP 62 62s or 62st in your car, on your motorcycle or on your boat.  Well, we got you covered on the land, on the water or on the trail.

Garmin GPSMAP 62 Marine Mount

Garmin GPSMAP 62 Marine Mount

Motorcycle Mount for Garmin GPSMAP 62

Motorcycle Mount for Garmin GPSMAP 62

Garmin GPSMAP 62 Suction Mount

Garmin GPSMAP 62 Suction Mount

May 31, 2010

Garmin TomTom & Magellan GPS Charger and Power Cable Options

Filed under: Other Mounts & Accessories — Tags: , , , , — mountguys @ 10:39 am

We get a lot of questions regarding this topic so figured it was time for a MountGuys Blog posting on the topic.

First, the easy ones.  TomTom and Magellan.  All of their GPS units made in the past few years use a USB charger.

TomTom Car Charger

TomTom Charger

TomTom Hardwire Cable

TomTom Hardwire Cable

Now, the difficult one.  Garmin.  It all depends upon which on you guys.  The Garmin Nuvi 600, 700 and 800 series all use a proprietary ending that plugs into their cradle.  Can you use the USB type directly into the GPS?  Garmin does not recommend it but we have found no material effects with doing that.  It’s always good to pay attention to the manufacturer though.  So we suggest that if you can do it, use the flat charger with the cradle.  A few pictures are presented for the Garmin Nuvi 600 700 and 800 series.  By the way, the same charging end is used for the Zumo using the car cradle.

 

Note the flat ending on this Nuvi car charger

Hardwire option for your Nuvi

Hardwire option for your Nuvi

 

What about the rest of the Garmin Nuvi family?  They use cables that are USB as well but with proprietary pin settings.  Be sure that the cable you purchase is made for a GPS otherwise you risk going into the dreaded PC mode.  Another important tip:  many of the cables made for GPS units with traffic can integrate the traffic receiver with the cable itself, so be sure that the cable you buy is rated for traffic if you choose to retain that feature.

 

Nuvi USB Car Charger

Nuvi USB Car Charger

Nuvi USB Hardwire

Nuvi USB Hardwire

 

Last one.  Magellan.  They use USB cables with proprietary pin settings too.  Ask us any questions you might have about powering up your GPS at customerservice@mountguys.com.

February 14, 2010

Waterproof Garmin TomTom iPhone Motorcycle Mounts Part II

Filed under: GPS Mounts and Accessories, Other Mounts & Accessories — Tags: , , , , , , — mountguys @ 8:03 pm

Since we wrote our last blog post about waterproof GPS and iPhone mounts, we have discovered other vaiations that have proven very popular with our customers.  As you know, we carry the RAM line of motorcycle mounts and they make an excellent array of weatherproof mounts called the Aquabox (RAM-B-149Z-AQ6U).  These are excellent mounts but the price in some cases begins to approach what a lower priced GPS costs.

We recently began to carry a lower priced model.  It’s a completely different type of mount.  The case is made of a weatherproof neoprene type of material and deploys a weatherproof zipper for a tight water resistant seal.  The mount fits bars to 1.5 inches and is a heavy duty plastic. These fit the majority of TomTom, Garmin, Mio, Magellan and Nextar GPS models.  Generally speaking anything that is 4.3 or 3.5 inch diagonal will fit well (that’s 98% of the GPS market).

The excellent feature (besides the price) is that the human touch can be felt through the transparent window.  This means you can interface with your iPhone.  We find this difficult with the RAM Aquabox line.  Our new waterproof mount line overcomes this restriction at a very competitive price.

RAM makes a great mount, but if you would like a lower priced option, take a look at our WaterBike line of mounts.

Our WaterBike Mount from the side

Our WaterBike Mount from the side

Our Waterproof motorcycle mount with a Garmin Nuvi 855

Our Waterproof motorcycle mount with a Garmin Nuvi 855

Protecting your GPS with Cases and Screen Protectors

Filed under: GPS Mounts and Accessories — Tags: , , , , , , — mountguys @ 3:00 pm

You spent a lot of money on your GPS.  These devices are easily scratched so don’t just throw it in your gym bag, purse or glove compartment when not in use.  Consider adding a carry case or pouch.  We always wondered why the manufacturers do not include one, going back to when GPS units first came into fashion, the manufacturers would include a pouch in the box.  Well, suppose times are tough now, so the consumer is faced with purchasing a carry case for their GPS.  There are plenty to choose from for your Garmin, Magellan, TomTom, Mio, Nextar or whatever brand you have.  They are even available for Golf GPS units like SkyCaddie (those cost more than fully blown GPS units these days).

First we start with cases.  There are many types, and depending upon the size of your GPS and if you would like to also store the mount, many sizes to choose from.

 

Carry case for your GPS, mount and power

Somewhat smaller, these mid-sized cases can fit the GPS and charger

 

There are smaller cases too.  If your GPS is a standard 4.3 or 3.5 inch, there are many smaller cases on the market that will accommodate your GPS and charger, but if you would like to also include your mount, then the larger ones above are the only way to go.  There are cases made by the manufacturer too, often in the form of pouches to fit your GPS.  However, we think the ones that are aftermarket are a better value and you can generally fit more stuff in there.

 

Garmin manufactured case for their 4.3 inch family including the 660, 750, etc

Next item up for consideration are screen protectors.  Originally made for PDAs back in the 1990s, some like to add these to GPS units.  They come precut for the 3.5 and 4.3 inch units.  Easy to apply and remove, they generally do not leave any residue on your GPS.  They do need to be replaced roughly every 3-6 months.

 

Easy to apply and remove screen protectors

October 6, 2009

RAM Mounts for the Common Man (or Woman)

Filed under: GPS Mounts and Accessories, Other Mounts & Accessories — Tags: , , , , — mountguys @ 9:11 pm

RAM makes killer mounts.  Excellent quality with hundreds of customizable options (they have custom cradles for Garmin, TomTom, Magellan and many UMPCs).  But their selection can sometimes be confusing.  We wrote this post to help explain how their numbering (and lettering) system works.  Some of  of this information can be found on their web site if you know where to find it.  But as a large reseller of their mounts, we thought it would be helpful to provide a brief explanation.

RAM’s system is a simple ball and socket design.  You need to make sure the ball size matches the socket.  The majority of RAM mounts sold for GPS, satellite radio, HAM radio are one-inch balls (RAM-B or RAP-B).  Most use the the metal (the M in RAM-B) but to save a few dollars, some will opt for the plastic (the P in RAP-B).

Arms typically come in several sizes too.  Again most common is the one inch ball, and there are three arm sizes (1.75, 3 and 6 inch sizes).  Most of our mount listings have an option to choose an arm size.

Here is RAM’s high level numbering system and arm sizes in detail:

A size ball = .56″ diameter (seldom used)

B size ball = 1″ diameter (by far the most common)

C size ball = 1.5″ diameter (used for heavier items like marine electronics)

D size ball = 2.25″ diameter (very seldom used)

E size ball = 3.38″ diameter (very rarely used)

RAM-B-202u using a one-inch ball

RAM-B-202u using a 1-inch ball

RAM-202 using a 1.5 inch ball

RAM-202 using a 1.5 inch ball

September 15, 2009

Motorcycle Mounts for your Garmin Nuvi GPS

Filed under: GPS Mounts and Accessories — Tags: , , , — mountguys @ 11:24 pm

When we first started selling GPS mounts five years ago, we never dreamed of the market that existed for motorcycle mounts.  Today, we probably sell as many motorcycle mounts as we do the car.  There are many options available for putting a Nuvi on your bike.  Today we discuss the many options available for putting a Garmin Nuvi on your motorcycle.

Before diving into the subject, note there are roughly 50 models of Garmin Nuvi.  These model lines range from the lower priced Nuvi 200 line to the premium Nuvi 880.  Throw into the mess, the Nuvi 550 and 500 for your motorcycle (these are waterproof), the Nuvi 465T (for trucks) and the new ultra-thin 1200 and 1300 lines of Nuvi.  Many of the latest models have traffic like the 1350T, 1370T and 765T.  The first Nuvi mount we ever sold was the Nuvi 350 which is still very prominent in the market today, and in fact if you want a bargain, hit eBay for a deal on a used Nuvi 350 for around $50.  It’s still a very solid GPS!

We covered waterproof mounts for your GPS in a prior article, but today we discuss other types of mounts for your motorcycle.

The type of mount needed is a matter of motorcycle model and preference.  Roughly 80% of all mounts sold are made to fit the handlebar.  The majority of motorcycle handlebars are one inch in diameter.  The majority of Harley models fit this category.

Garmin Nuvi 260W Motorcycle Mount and Cradle from RAM

Garmin Nuvi 260W Motorcycle Mount and Cradle from RAM

These mounts come complete with a cradle to hold your GPS.  These cradles have allowances for the cables and full access to all buttons on your GPS.  But what if you would like to use the cradle that came with your GPS (it’s probably still attached to your car mount).  Not only can you do that, but you can also save a few bucks by using a standard Garmin ball mount.  These also come bundled with hardwire cables.

What do you do if you do not have any handlebar space?  Honda Goldwings are an example of a bike that doesn’t have a handlebar to mount your GPS on.  Many customers choose the clutch mount.  Many BMW owners like to use the mirror stem mount that can fit between the mirror stem and handlebar.

Waterproof GPS Motorcycle Mount for Garmin Nuvi

Waterproof GPS Motorcycle Mount for Garmin Nuvi

Garmin Nuvi Ball Mount from Mountguys

Garmin Nuvi Ball Mount from Mountguys

Garmin Nuvi 750 with a Clutch / Brake Mount also from RAM

Garmin Nuvi 750 with a Clutch / Brake Mount also from RAM

Garmin Nuvi 350 Mirror Mount from RAM

Garmin Nuvi 350 Mirror Mount from RAM

September 10, 2009

Waterproof GPS and iPhone Mounts for Motorcycles

Filed under: GPS Mounts and Accessories — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — mountguys @ 11:09 pm

Looking for a sealed waterproof enclosure for your device on a motorcycle?  There’s not a lot of choices out there.  One excellent choice is to select the waterproof Garmin Zumo GPS series.  These are excellent GPS units, but let’s face it, $700 is a lot for a GPS.  The functionality of a Zumo is on par with many GPS models from Garmin, TomTom and Magellan in the $150 range.

Why worry about waterproof?  This is important for those that wish to leave the GPS attached to the bike overnight, or ride in the rain.  If you don’t do any of this, read a different post on our blog (we have lots of good information).

But what if you don’t feel like spending $700 on the waterproof models?  Consider a waterproof bike mount.  These combine a standard mount with a weatherproof case.  RAM Mount makes an excellent high quality line of waterproof cases called the Aqua Box.

RAM Mount Aqua Boxes provides excellent waterproof protection.  Featuring a clear, touch through screen so that you may view your electronics as well as use their function keys while in place.  There is even a place for a small lock to serve as a theft deterrent.  Ideally suited to Motorcycles and ATVs, these keep your portable devices safe, dry, and accessible.

There are multiple sizes available.  Most popular are the Medium Wide models (RAM-HOL-AQ6u) suitable for most GPS models made by Garmin, TomTom, Magellan and Navigon.  A very popular size is the Medium model (RAM-HOL-AQ2u) which suits the Apple iPod, iPhone, Microsoft Zune, Dell DJ and many other MP3 players.  Each case comes with padding within to ensure that slim units sit flush against the lens.  The rear of each box has a punch-out to provide access for cables and wires.

Both of these cases are available coupled with a motorcycle mount, windshield mount and marine mount.  These combinations provide the best value if you need a mount as well as the case.  The manufacturer provides a lifetime warranty on their products.

 

Cell Phone and MP3 Player Aquabox Medium Case

Cell Phone and MP3 Player Aquabox Medium Case

Aquabox Medium Wide Case for GPS Units up to 5" Diag Screen

Aquabox Medium Wide Case for GPS Units up to 5" Diag Screen

September 1, 2009

Where do I put my SkyCaddie?

Filed under: Other Mounts & Accessories — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — mountguys @ 11:12 pm

Playing that par-5 18th hole.  Second shot is 200 yards away over a slope.  Can’t see the flag on the large green.  What now?  Take out your trusty Golf GPS and scope out the distance to the green and exact location of the cup.

The major brands of Golf GPS units include SkyGolf with their SkyCaddie line, Garmin with the Golflogix, iGolf, Bushnell, and Golf Buddy.  The most popular are Skycaddie and Golflogix.  Each has multiple models.  If looking at Skycaddie, they have the SG1, SG2, SG2.5, SG3, SG4 and SG5.  The newest is the SG5 but the older models are great values and can be purchased on ebay for less than $200.

These units have come a long way since the initial black and white models.  The new SkyCaddie SG5 is color, maps out 40 targets per hole, shows the aerial view of each hole.  Heck it even keeps score for you.

A constant complaint of golfers is the belt mount.  It’s tough enough to hit a golf ball.  Having a GPS tethered to your waist makes it even more difficult.  So in we come with a complete mount selection for your Golf GPS.

Most units have a rear button on the back and we use that as the mounting point on most of our holders.  For GPS units without the button, we offer cradle mounts.

Our most popular is the cup holder mount.  Today’s electric carts all have at least two cup holders.  Why not use one for your GPS?

SkyCaddie SG4 in a cup holder mount

SkyCaddie SG4 in a cup holder mount

Playing nine-holes on the executive course with a walking cart?  No cup holder in your golf cart?  No problem.  We have walking cart mounts as well.

SkyCaddie Walking Cart Mount

SkyCaddie Walking Cart Mount

Lastly we don’t want to forget to tell about the new iPhone application from GolfLogix.  They have come out with an app that works just like one of these $400 GPS units.  The cost?  $40.  Although we haven’t tried it yet, reports are that it hit the top 10 in the iPhone store in less than a week!

August 30, 2009

The Sun and the GPS Live Happily Together with Anti Glare Shields

Filed under: GPS Mounts and Accessories — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — mountguys @ 9:36 pm

We receive a lot of questions about glare on GPS units.  Especially when used on the windshield or motorcycle.  While we aren’t aware of any GPS units that use an anti glare surface, we wonder why they don’t.  For some reason it seems like the glare on TomTom GPS units are the worst.  At least, that’s what our sales tell us as we sell more glare shields for that brand than any other.  Garmin also has a similar issue.  Magellan GPS units seems to be the best at preventing glare.  Not sure if that’s by design.

There are two different types of GPS anti glare shields.  One clips on the unit.  It surrounds the display (not the entire GPS, just the display).  The second uses velcro to attach to your GPS and a fabric hood surrounds the entire GPS.

Which one do we recommend?  Well that’s up to you.  The clip-on is a cleaner look, and when removed, there’s no velcro left on your GPS.  However, the fabric type gives better coverage as it surrounds the GPS including the sides and gives superior glare control.  We seem to sell more of the first type (if that helps).

These are available for most GPS units.  95% of all GPS units sold are either 3.5 or 4.3 inch screens and we have anti glare shields for both.  We also carry anti glare shields for Fishfinders as well.

The fabric type surrounds the sides and provides excellent protection.

The fabric GPS glare shield surrounds the sides and provides excellent protection.

The clip-on type of GPS glare shield. Note these surround the display only (not the entire GPS). These attach and remove easily.

The clip-on GPS glare shield. Note these surround the display only (not the entire GPS). These attach and remove easily.

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