When I decided to ditch my GPS unit to use my iPhone, I needed a way to secure my iPhone in my car or a rental car so I started to look for options. On the MacBreak Weekly podcast, Andy Ihnatko raved about the mounting systems from Ram Mount. Since Andy reviews a lot of products and seems pretty critical of some poorly made ones, I figured he might know what he’s talking about. I decided to give the iPhone 4 bracket a try.
The first problem I ran into is that Ram Mount website is a bit confusing, so I surfed over to GPSCitywhere they had some very helpful videos to explain the system. Basically you purchase a bracket and a mount. When you get a new device, you just get a new bracket and use the mount you already have. Since the brackets are relatively cheap (about $10 with shipping), this seems like a huge win as it will be cheaper in the long run and reduces waste.
After I got over that hurdle and received my bracket and mount, I put it all together and tried it out by placing the suction cup on the window. I’ve never been a fan of suction cups as they tend to fall and don’t seem all that reliable. However, I chose the suction cup mount for its flexibility. It stuck quite well and it looked promising for actually using in a car.
On a recent trip, I rented a car and the 3 hour drive to our destination would definitely put the mount to the test. When I tried to get the mount onto the windshield in the lower left corner (California law requires it to be in the very lower left corner within 5 inches of the bottom or something like that, so the gooseneck was going to be a big help), it didn’t stick. I realized that I had it on a sticker, so I moved it slightly and got it directly on the windshield, locked it in place, and put my iPhone in it. The first part of the trip was quite bumpy (I’m not sure where CalTrans spends our tax dollars repairing roads, but it wasn’t on the freeway we traveled) and I was expecting my iPhone to fall. However, it held up not only for that part of the trip, but for the entire 3 hour drive and then all the way back without coming loose once.
The gooseneck allowed the iPhone to be positioned at the right position so I didn’t have to take my eyes off the road. All the pieces feel stiff and I hope that they stand up to the test of time.
This definitely seems to be a system that I’ll be using in the future when I get my next phone as it held up on my first test and seems well made. I like the interchangeable pieces and the locking suction cup mount appears to work well and is quite secure.
Pros
- Ingenious system that allows you to pick and choose mounts and brackets.
- Appears to be well built.
- Suction cup mount sticks well despite bumpy roads.
- Gooseneck allows for easy positioning of mount.
- Relatively inexpensive components.
Cons
- Website for ordering directly from the manufacturer is confusing.
Summary
If you’re looking for a way to mount an iPhone (or other smart phone) in a car, I don’t think you can go wrong with the Ram Mount system. Ordering from GPSCity is the way to go as the prices and shipping are quite reasonable; they’re also quite fast at shipping.