Dashboard phone mount

Imy · 20 May 2013 at 16:56

I'm using a vent-mounted phone holder purchased from:

http://www.ultimate-mobiles.co.uk/m...ounts/pro-vent-v2-mobileb-iphone4s___1679.htm

It says it's for iPhone 4s but it's universal. The sides are adjustable.

Dogbreath · 20 May 2013 at 17:08

.Griff. said:
One these as in a Kenu or a Chinese special from eBay?

Don't know, wife bought it. Irrespective of design, it's a lot of weight to be hanging from some pretty flimsy bits of plastic that simply weren't designed to carry any weight.

Raymond Lin · 21 May 2013 at 12:27

Trying to find the right mount now for my iPhone 4, but need one that I can use with the case one. Does anyone have any recommendation on a universial phone holder from Brodit? With the case on the phone is 61mm wide. I saw one that can do 62mm to 77mm wide.

rossk26 · 21 May 2013 at 14:35

Raymond Lin said:
Trying to find the right mount now for my iPhone 4, but need one that I can use with the case one. Does anyone have any recommendation on a universial phone holder from Brodit? With the case on the phone is 61mm wide. I saw one that can do 62mm to 77mm wide.

Herbert Richter Universal Holder

Comes in two different sizes, pick the best for your phones dimensions. You'll need to buy a Brodit Pro Clip first.

miniyazz · 21 May 2013 at 18:02

In my experience windscreen mounts suck, you can't rely on them to hold your phone and they get in the way of your view of the road anyway.
Dashboard mounts I haven't found to be stable enough, and if you have a dashboard coated out of super duper non-stick like my current one is (for some reason) you've got no chance.
Air vent ones are ok as long as you're brave enough that you're not worried about snapping the vents, which feels like a very real concern since they're only made out of thin plastic 95% of the time.

For me, the best solution was an improvisation on the air vent idea, using a universal holder, a phone-specific desk dock, some sticky velcro, a small chunk of wood, and a cable tie and a couple of wire ties to hold them together. Now I have a beautifully stable dock sticking out of my air vent (I can put the directional slots back in if I ever remove the dock) that automatically charges my phone as well as holds it securely, without me having to fanny around with cables.

Freakitchen · 21 May 2013 at 18:22

Can't argue with stability, but why would you want to ruin the inside of your car like that?!

theleg · 21 May 2013 at 19:07

miniyazz said:
In my experience windscreen mounts suck, you can't rely on them to hold your phone and they get in the way of your view of the road anyway.
Dashboard mounts I haven't found to be stable enough, and if you have a dashboard coated out of super duper non-stick like my current one is (for some reason) you've got no chance.
Air vent ones are ok as long as you're brave enough that you're not worried about snapping the vents, which feels like a very real concern since they're only made out of thin plastic 95% of the time.

For me, the best solution was an improvisation on the air vent idea, using a universal holder, a phone-specific desk dock, some sticky velcro, a small chunk of wood, and a cable tie and a couple of wire ties to hold them together. Now I have a beautifully stable dock sticking out of my air vent (I can put the directional slots back in if I ever remove the dock) that automatically charges my phone as well as holds it securely, without me having to fanny around with cables.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2166977/Car/Phone%20dock%20%28small%29.jpg[/IM][/QUOTE]

looks terrible tho..i have a windscreen mount and it gets bashed about something chronic when im offroad..hasnt failed yet.

miniyazz · 21 May 2013 at 19:25

Freakitchen said:
Can't argue with stability, but why would you want to ruin the inside of your car like that?!

bigjohnsonrichard said:
looks terrible tho..i have a windscreen mount and it gets bashed about something chronic when im offroad..hasnt failed yet.

Granted, it needs a wipe down.. but function over form for me, and I doubt your windcreen mount offers power?

PeterNem · 21 May 2013 at 19:53

Sorry miniyazz, but that's the most ***** looking thing I've ever seen!

I've used Brodit mounts in the past (the ones that slot between pieces of trim) and never had an issue with stability or strength of the mount.

MagicBoy · 21 May 2013 at 19:56

That's very ... ghetto. Needs some ducttape to finish the job off

[TW]Fox · 21 May 2013 at 19:58

miniyazz said:
In my experience windscreen mounts suck, you can't rely on them to hold your phone and they get in the way of your view of the road anyway.

This does not at all match my experience. I rarely use one now because I have integrated nav but before then for many years I used a windscreen mount both in my own car and countless hire cars. It never fell off, it held the navigation device perfectly and did not impede on my view of the road.

For me, the best solution was an improvisation on the air vent idea, using a universal holder, a phone-specific desk dock, some sticky velcro, a small chunk of wood, and a cable tie and a couple of wire ties to hold them together. Now I have a beautifully stable dock sticking out of my air vent (I can put the directional slots back in if I ever remove the dock) that automatically charges my phone as well as holds it securely, without me having to fanny around with cables.

I am amazed you feel that was the best solution. It looks absolutely horrendous not to mention the effect it will have on the operation of your climate control. I honestly think I'd rather do without navigation entirely before butchering my dashboard like that. And to think you'd prefer that to a windscreen mount :eek:

and I doubt your windcreen mount offers power?

Of course they do - you plug them in? It's not as if yours is some sort of neat nicely wired in example is it. It has a cable draped across the dash too!

miniyazz · 21 May 2013 at 21:50

Meh, it works for me

Freakitchen · 21 May 2013 at 21:59

miniyazz said:
Granted, it needs a wipe down.. but function over form for me, and I doubt your windcreen mount offers power?

You can't wipe down a giant hole in your centre console! I don't like windscreen mounts either, which is why I went for one that sits on top of the dashboard. There's still a trailing cable, but it doesn't have to go as far as the windscreen.

miniyazz · 21 May 2013 at 22:11

Freakitchen said:
You can't wipe down a giant hole in your centre console! I don't like windscreen mounts either, which is why I went for one that sits on top of the dashboard. There's still a trailing cable, but it doesn't have to go as far as the windscreen.

It was more the mount which needs a clean. Like I say, I have the vent flaps which simply slots back into place when I get rid.
Nothing will stick to my dashboard.

There's sufficient space at the back of the mount for the air vent to open and close as it normally would - you don't get the directional flow from that vent, but so far it hasn't bothered me.

Unfortunately there's no way to route that cable more nicely but that's always going to be a problem with a mount.

Steve_bullockuk · 22 May 2013 at 08:54

The iBolt devices seem to get good reviews. They are by no means the cheapest out there but look like excellent quality.

thecremeegg · 22 May 2013 at 09:04

Steve_bullockuk said:
The iBolt devices seem to get good reviews. They are by no means the cheapest out there but look like excellent quality.

I have an iBolt, it sticks to the screen incredibly well, so much so that removing it is hard! You can get a dashboard clip for it as well that I haven't tried but the mount itself is great, plus it provides power. Not sure if there's an iphone one?

Steve_bullockuk · 22 May 2013 at 10:43

thecremeegg said:
I have an iBolt, it sticks to the screen incredibly well, so much so that removing it is hard! You can get a dashboard clip for it as well that I haven't tried but the mount itself is great, plus it provides power. Not sure if there's an iphone one?

Yeah they do an iPhone one, not sure if its iPhone 5 compatible however.