Car/Truck Cell Phone Holders

[bwringer]

I'm putting this in "Tools" since a cell phone is a much-needed tool these days.

What kind of setups do y'all have for holding your cell phones in your vehicles? Like most of the civilized world, I regularly use my phone as a GPS and it would be handier and much safer to have a nice holder than to just let is slide around the passenger seat or try to prop it up in a cup holder or something.

I use RAM mounts on all my bikes, so perhaps I can find a way to mount a RAM ball in our vehicles. (Toyota Sienna, Corolla, & RAV4.) I'd rather not drill or cut anything visible.

There are lots of suction cup types, but it's technically illegal to attach these to the windshield, and I don't see how they would stick to a textured dash at all. And then there are the really ghetto vent clip types, and one dodgy-looking setup I've see that slides into the CD slot on the radio.

Any recommendations? Anything to avoid?

 

[mikeb27]

I love the ProClip mounts. Specific mount for each vehicle and separate piece for each phone manufacturer. A little costly, but well worth it. Both my wife and I have iPhones so it works for us to have the phone-specific mount in our cars.

 

[TCB]

Not cheap, but ProClip mounts are great.

They have separate pieces for the vehicle mount & the device holder. Most vehicles have several options for where to place the mount. I've used these in my last 3 cars & love them.

 

[jdm5]

Proclip

 

[jobo1004]

Ram mount makes several different types of mounts that might work. Depending on the position of your cup holders one of those might work. It's not illegal where I live to mount it to the windshield, so that't the route I took with my Ram mount. My wife has a proclip system in her car and she's quite happy with it.

http://www.rammount.com/activity/vehicle-mounts#dash-mount

 

[bwringer]

Hmmm... I had no idea about the Proclip stuff. Awesome!

The GJ Hive Mind comes through again!

I think I could put a RAM mount on a Proclip and end up with a very nice stable system.

 

[pedrodagr8]

I used to use a magnetic vent mount but it started getting hot in winter with the heater on.

While at Costco I picked up a Sosche dash mount which claimed to mount to textured dash boards. Boy does it ever, I can actually cause my dash to flex when it is settled in there properly (that being said I have an 04 Honda CRV, not exactly a rigidity king). It uses a grip thing that is similar to the old sticky hands. You clean the bottom off with water, place it on your dash and the material flows into the texture. Pull the suction cup lever and boom nice tight grip. I can take a picture of it if you want. It uses a magnet on the holder and a piece of metal I placed in my cellphone case to hold the phone. It works DAMN well, actually much better than my vent mount (the magnets are stronger).

 

[ChaseDE]

I use the magnet, its great, I can turn off my center vent no big deal.

$8 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WU3W43G/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[icthruu74]

I don't use it often mainly just on longer trips, but I have one of those 'dodgy' CD slot phone holders and it works well for me. It's stable and doesn't really bounce or move around at all. It's a Mountek brand, don't know what model. What I dislike is that in my car it blocks both the radio and the climate controls.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I picked up a mount at a Petro Truck Stop. It has multiple adjustments, the lighter end plugs in vertically, and I can use the flashlight feature to light my notes , clipped to the dashboard when driving at night

 

[Danglerb]

I bought a sheet of what looks like thin dense foam, its naturally sticky on both sides until it gets dirty, then wash in water and sticky again. Any surface less than a 45 degree slope and it seems to work fine for all of our phones.

Not what I bought, but does the same, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Car-SUV-Aut...at-Pad-Washable-iPhone7-Samsung-/401211099820

 

[sgtmac]

I made mine out of a gps holder and some PVC pipe and fittings. Will post a picture shortly. I was inspired by I pad holders I saw in aircraft.

 

[vtwinjunkie]

Life proof makes a pretty cool ultra tough and reasonably priced one that I use.

It attaches to the windshield. only downside is that you have to attach a very small, slim stickey attachment to your phone/case to attach to the mount

http://www.lifeproof.com/en-us/life...SA-cpc-01419&gclid=CN2TsoaX-dACFY9KDQodH6wKrg

 

[guy48065]

I have the adhesive-base version of the magnetic Scosche mount described in #7. Grabs the phone good and allows you to rotate horizontal or vertical without fussing.

I like the Proclip system for giving you a PLACE to mount a phone--but didn't care for the phone holder itself.

 

[jptbay]

I really love SlipGrip phone holders. Made in USA. http://www.slipgripcarmounts.com/ Easy one handed clipping into or out of holder. They make countless variations with exact fit for devices, even when used with cases. Camera and all buttons are free to use.

In my car I start with a vehicle specific Panavise dash mount bracket. http://panavise.com/

Then I have a RAM ball socket clamp bolted to it. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AH5U2QA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Finally a SlipGrip with a RAM ball, for a Nokia Lumia 1520 with an Amzer case. http://www.slipgripcarmounts.com/SlipGrip-RAM-Holder-For-Nokia-Lumia-1520-Using-Amzer-Double-Layer-Hybrid-Case_p_151488.html

Phone is in a great spot, right beside the radio. I can swivel it to the perfect angle, or spin phone sideways for panoramic view. The one handled clipping into the SlipGrip is very nice. I tried a RAM X-Grip for a while and it was a total pain trying to get the phone in or out.

 

[jchetty]

If you have an accessible cup holder- mediabridge smartphone cradles are hard to beat. Plastic, they have plastic arms that wind out to really grab inside the cup holder, and have an articulating arm.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

Personally I love the magnetic holder the best, I bought five of these here for all of my vehicles and I love them. The two-sided tape sticks anywhere you want on the dash/console and the magnetic hold is strong enough to where the phone does not fall off when you hit bumps, but it is extremely easy to just grab your phone and go. I barely place my phone near the mount and it grabs...i just kinda throw the phone near it and it grabs

Plus the good thing about it is you could literally put the magnetic circle on anything and it'll stick to it, like a standalone GPS, a smaller iPad etc.


The one pictured above is small enough so it doesn't look goofy in the car and you can angle it anyway you want. The silver ball is magnetic and the plate that is attached to it is adjustable and moves at any angle you want

The one pictured above I bought on amazon and I think they where $10 each

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CSRPenFab]

Pro Clip if you want a vehicle specific mount that works, and doesn't look like ****. Not cheap, but the modular design makes it easy to move your mount to a new base bracket when you change vehicles.

 

[CJM8515]

The giant console in my 12 GMC lol. Can stick it right in the cup holder and works well. I cant use a mount really as I have an otterbox on my phone and its a bit to bulky for them.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

The giant console in my 12 GMC lol. Can stick it right in the cup holder and works well. I cant use a mount really as I have an otterbox on my phone and its a bit to bulky for them.

You can still use a magnetic one with the otterbox....my wife has one


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ilikedirt]

I have a RAM mount x grip cell phone mount and a laptop mount in the work truck. Both are great.

 

[wkndwarrior29]

I use one of these. It fits well and never falls out, is easy to reposition, and I like the way it holds my phone versus ones that clamp on the sides - never hits the buttons. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016HL1MCK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[itguy08]

I use an iOttie mount - not cheap (IIRC about $30) but the suction thingy has held to the textured dash in my F150 for 2 years now without fail - heat or cold. It's spring loaded so you just pop your phone in there and the clamps grip it tightly.

 

[Jazz1]

I made mine in my GARAGE. I cut a piece of 3/8" steel plate to use as template and folded a piece of tin around it cutting notches for power cord, headset and other buttons of my Iphone5. Painted and screwed to dash.
Never occurred to me to buy one,,

 

[bwringer]

I made mine in my GARAGE. I cut a piece of 3/8" steel plate to use as template and folded a piece of tin around it cutting notches for power cord, headset and other buttons of my Iphone5. Painted and screwed to dash.
Never occurred to me to buy one,,

Nice! I'm planning something similar for one of our other vehicles.


On the advice given by several above, I ended up with an iOttie mount for the van. Holy ****, this is the neatest little plastic widget I've ever seen in my life. Really nicely engineered, and the sticky suction cup is serious stuff. I stuck it to my desk and damn near couldn't get it off again.

I'll mount it up tonight after the van is nice and warm for maximum stickage.

Thanks for all the great ideas! You guys rock.

 

[ChaseDE]

the magnets i use are on sale today at amazon, 2 pack for $8

use code AUK2PACK

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MG0VWK7/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[ijroorda]

I use an iOttie mount - not cheap (IIRC about $30) but the suction thingy has held to the textured dash in my F150 for 2 years now without fail - heat or cold. It's spring loaded so you just pop your phone in there and the clamps grip it tightly.

I use an iOttie mount as well, think it's this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JRGOKQ8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

It has "sticky stuff" on the bottom of the suction cup and works well on the textured dashboard in my van. Holds my S7 in an Otterbox Commuter case quite nicely.

 

[CSRPenFab]

Here's an example of a Pro-Clip vehicle specific mount. Fits great and looks OEM. This is on my 2016 VW Touareg.

 

[Advan]

I made this from scrap steel and a $5 Walmart holder after deciding the Proclip mount was a little more than I wanted to spend. I don't usually keep gum in it, but it was the easiest thing to represent my phone with...

 

[turbodave]

I use an iOttie mount as well, think it's this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JRGOKQ8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

It has "sticky stuff" on the bottom of the suction cup and works well on the textured dashboard in my van. Holds my S7 in an Otterbox Commuter case quite nicely.

I have the same one in my pickup and my daily driver. In both the sticky suction cup is attached to the textured dash plastic and never falls off.

Only issue is don't use it in something you've repainted the dash on. Learned that the hard way as it peeled the paint right off on one of my cars.

 

[HalfMoon]

I've been using the Kenu Airframe + for my larger phones for two years. Works great for me.