If you've ever wished for a better way to mount your in-car portable GPS, consider mounts that can be placed in a cup holder, on a dash, in a vent, and more. Nobody makes more alternative mounts for GPS than Arkon Resources, and I recently road tested a selection of the company's latest designs.
Most of these mounts may be ordered with adapters for the popular car GPS brands, including Garmin, TomTom, and Magellan. Check the specs on compatibility and adapters, and make sure you have the right adapter before you order.
Cup Holder GPS Mount ($19.95)
Photo © Arkon
If you'd like to get your GPS down and out of the windshield line of sight, consider a cup holder mount. This mount features a rubberized plastic base that fits into a cup holder, and the base is expanded via a thumbwheel to secure the mount firmly in place. The base may be made as small as 2.5 inches, or expanded to 3.1 inches, fitting most cup holders. This mount worked fine for me, although I didn't have the ideal cup holder location for it in my Honda Accord.
Air Vent GPS Mount ($19.95)
Photo © Arkon
One of the more clever ways to get your car GPS off the windshield, and my favorite, is the Arkon removable air vent pedestal. This mount places your GPS in a prime location for visibility, and within easy reach of the touchscreen. The removable vent clips are widely adjustable, as is the base support of the unit, so it's adaptable to a wide range of vent types and sizes. I was easily able to adapt it to my car's vent, and it is easily removable. This model (CM047-ST2-RVC) has a swiveling base that lets you change the orientation of the GPS, also.
Weighted Dash GPS Mount ($29.95)
Photo © Arkon
If you want to keep your GPS above the dash, but don't like the standard suction cup windshield mounts, consider a weighted dash mount. It's a good alternative in states that restrict the use of standard windshield suction cup mounts (illegal in California and Minnesota). This mount is made of a sturdy nylon fabric and filled with sand (it is completely sealed and doesn't leak), and has a friction base and a hook/safety anchor to keep it in place. A smooth surface in the middle provides the place for the suction cup mount. This mount worked fine and didn't move at all in my road tests.
Steel Gooseneck GPS Mount ($29.95)
Photo © Arkon
If you're really serious about alternative GPS mounts, consider the flexible steel gooseneck mount. This unit comes with adapters that affix it to a front passenger seat bolt, and a plate that can be custom-mounted with a set of three screws anywhere you can find a place to safely and securely drill for the screws. You choose which way you want to mount it. Securing it to the front-left passenger seat bolt puts the GPS at your fingertips above the center console. The gooseneck is 18 inches long from floor to mount and it can be bent and flexed (it holds its position very firmly once adjusted) to your ideal position. You can also order the gooseneck mount with a windshield suction cup base.
TomTom EasyPort GPS Mount (price varies depending on style)
Photo © Arkon
Arkon's TomTom EasyPort mount can take your XL or ONE model TomTom off of the windshield and onto a friction dashboard mount, removable air vent mount, cup holder mount, lighter socket mount and more.
Powered Lighter Socket GPS Mount ($19.95)
Photo © Arkon
I'll wrap up this alternative mount roundup with a unit that you plug into a car's power port. This is an okay option if you have a power port in the right spot. My Honda Accord didn't have a good location for it, and it's a bit wobbly, due to the limitations of the press-fit into the power port. This mount includes a secondary power port attached by wire that lets you keep the functionality of the power port when the mount is in place.
