Cup holder GPS Mount

[ck_az]

Well here is my latest installation for my TomTom 920 GPS. I am using a gooseneck mount from Akron. Great thing it doesn't really matter what device you have. Could be your phone, mp3 player, gps. Akron makes all kinds of mounting clips which work with this.



Basic instructions:

Parts Required:

Original cup holder assembly
Original additional cup holder (The one that makes the cup holder taller)
Akron GPS Mount
3/8th drill bit

GPScheap.com Part Codes:
ARK0382 - $12.11 on sale at time of purchase
ARK0680 - $4.95 Arkon Dual T to Tomtom GO 520 / 720 / 920 Slide In Pattern
GPSCheap has these product codes bundled together as well but the price is $28.11

Time to build 30-60 minutes

1. Remove the entire cup holder assembly. You will need a star key socket or screw driver. Find at your local hardware store

2. Remove the rubber assembly from the add height cup holder piece. When you look into the piece you will see the center tube. This is where we will drill a 3/8" hole. Drill from the bottom. There is already a nice indent to make it easy

3. Put the cup holder into the main assembly and drill a hole through the main assembly

4. Screw the Akron goose neck assembly into the cup holder and cup holder assembly. Attach with provided nut

5. Re-attach the main cup holder assembly to the car.

The cup holder will now sit slightly higher since the nut is higher than the velcro used to help attach the main cup holder assembly to the car. If you want to improve on the design just create a method of making the velcro thicker and then attach to car

Additional pictures can be found on my blog or Flickr web site.

[Smart09]

berry nice but not my cup o' tea

[smartNY]

I have a Garmin Streetpilot 7500 that I want to mount in the same position!

[smartNY]

I was thinking of buying the Ram cup holder mount but it says it's a six inch flex arm. Is that long enough to mount it the same way as in the pic above?

[aktlsz]

I just ordered the RAM Mount Plastic RAM-A-CAN Vehicle Cup Holder Mount Base with 6'' Flex Arm, P/N: RAP-299U-6DD - GPS City. So I will be able to answer your question more accurately soon. This is wrapped around a soda can and has a 6 inch flexible arm. My expectation is that the regular soda can height will be sufficient. If not, one of the taller can types should be raise it enough (e.g. Arizona tea cans). This added space may make it come up to the dashboard area. I have a Garmin nüvi® 760 and hope the cradle will not hinder any operations.

I would like to keep the GPS low - out of the sun glare, and this looks like that will work. I used a Tom Tom while traveling in the LA/San Diego area. When mounted on the windshield, the sun glare made the Tom Tom effectively unusable from a visual perspective (sounds obviously worked fine).

Rich

[jwight]

Just my .02, YMMV, etc. but I really don't like mounting anything below the driver's sightline, especially something like a GPS that takes time to read and interpret. Those are seconds the driver is "head down" in the car, not watching the road. The windshield suction cup mount may not be perfect, but at least the driver is "head up" when checking the GPS.

[aktlsz]

Originally Posted by jwight

Just my .02, YMMV, etc. but I really don't like mounting anything below the driver's sightline, especially something like a GPS that takes time to read and interpret. Those are seconds the driver is "head down" in the car, not watching the road. The windshield suction cup mount may not be perfect, but at least the driver is "head up" when checking the GPS.

I understand your point and I need to think it through more. But there are a states that are outlawing windshield mounts. And the suction cups do not adequately attach to many surfaces which means the drivers may risk needing to "grab a falling device." I plan to look at this 6 inch arm and see how hard it would be to extend it. The originator of this thread mentioned an 18 inch goose neck. That brings the unit up closer to the radio level. That would be the "ideal" location for viewing, IMHO.

[smartNY]

I have an 18" flex arm from ram and it brings the GPS up too high so I just ordered the 12" RAM flex arm. I am using the Garmin Streetpilot 7500 which is huge so I don't have too many options.