MountGuys Blog

July 8, 2013

Car and Motorcycle Mounts for the New Garmin Nuvi 2557LMT, 2577LT, 2597LMT

Filed under: GPS Mounts and Accessories — Tags: , , , , , — mountguys @ 11:38 pm

Just when you didn’t think Garmin could come up with additional Nuvi models, they released a whole new line.  These have enhanced displays and a 3-D view.  Certain models add bluetooth, lifetime traffic and lifetime map updates.  Both RAM and naturally Garmin have released some nice mounting options for this line.  The RAM Mounts all feature the RAM-HOL-GA57U custom cradle which holds your GPS securely.

http://www.mountguys.com/

RAM-HOL-GA57U RAM Holder Cradle for Garmin Nuvi 2557LMT 2577LT 2597LMT GPS

RAM Motorcycle Clutch / Brake Reservoir Mount for Garmin Nuvi 2557LMT 2577LT 2597LMT GPS

RAM Motorcycle Clutch / Brake Reservoir Mount for Garmin Nuvi 2557LMT 2577LT 2597LMT GPS

RAM Metal Suction Cup Car Mount for Garmin Nuvi 2557LMT 2577LT 2597LMT GPS

RAM Metal Suction Cup Car Mount for Garmin Nuvi 2557LMT 2577LT 2597LMT GPS

RAM Lil' Buddy Car Dash Mount for Garmin Nuvi 2557LMT 2577LT 2597LMT GPS

RAM Lil’ Buddy Car Dash Mount for Garmin Nuvi 2557LMT 2577LT 2597LMT GPS

RAM Motorcycle Handlebar Mount for Garmin Nuvi 2557LMT 2577LT 2597LMT GPS

RAM Motorcycle Handlebar Mount for Garmin Nuvi 2557LMT 2577LT 2597LMT GPS

Garmin Suction Cup Mount Model 010-11983-00

Garmin Suction Cup Mount Model 010-11983-00

November 22, 2012

Car and Motorcycle Mounts for the New Garmin Nuvi 2500 Series GPS

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , — mountguys @ 10:34 am

The Garmin Nuvi 2500 series consists of the Garmin Nuvi 2555LT 2555LMT 2595LMT models.  A great package of units with an enhanced interface and display plus a slew of options that range from lifetime map updates to realtime traffic.

As new mainstream electronics models are released, we always try to post a blog article on what’s available, so here we go.  Garmin must be selling a lot of these based upon the interest we have received.

Handlebar Mount for Garmin Nuvi 2555LT 2555LMT 2595LMT

Handlebar Mount for Garmin Nuvi 2555LT 2555LMT 2595LMT

Garmin OEM Nuvi 2555LT 2555LMT 2595LMT Suction Car Mount

Garmin OEM Nuvi 2555LT 2555LMT 2595LMT Suction Car Mount

Car Cup Holder Mount for the Garmin Nuvi 2500 Series

Car Cup Holder Mount for the Garmin Nuvi 2500 Series

Vent Mount for the Garmin Nuvi 2500 Series

Vent Mount for the Garmin Nuvi 2500 Series

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).

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.

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.

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.

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

Weatherproof GPS and 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.

Arkon's GPS032 Weatherproof Mount

Arkon’s GPS032 Weatherproof Mount

SmartPhone / iPhone Weatherproof Handlebar Mount

SmartPhone / iPhone Weatherproof Handlebar Mount

Weatherproof GPS Handlebar Mount

Weatherproof GPS Handlebar Mount

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.

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.

 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.

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 many GPS and cell phonemodels).  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)

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 eight 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 100 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 Zumo, Nuvi 550 and 500 for your motorcycle (these are waterproof), the Nuvi 465T (for trucks) and the new ultra-thin 3000 lines of Nuvi.  Many of the latest models have traffic like the 1350T, 1370T and 3750T.  The first Nuvi mount we ever sold was the Nuvi 350 which is still very much in use 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.

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.

Garmin Nuvi 1400 Series Custom Handlebar Mount

Garmin Nuvi 1400 Series Custom Handlebar Mount

Weatherproof Handlebar Mount

Weatherproof Handlebar Mount

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?

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.

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!

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