Which GPS bean bag holder?

Boy, I don't know where you all live but, if you drive around here and you have anything stuck to the windshield or setting up that high in the middle of you dash you will get a ticket that's going to cost you over 100 dollars. As you should, you don't want anything blocking your vision.

Now, that being said I do have a small 3x5 back up camera screen setting on my dash but, it is low and over in the corner on the drivers side where it doesn't block my vision.

So, if you mount it on the right place you are fine just be careful where you mount it is all I'm trying to say.

F1bNorm wrote:
I've mentioned this before. Our Garmin is suction cupped to a can of beans and it goes in an extra cup holder.

Norm

This sounds like a good idea.

AlmostBoatless wrote:
Thanks again for your advice! Which GPS bean bag holder does everyone recommend?

We just bought our first GPS; the Garmin 760LMT and cannot wait to use it! Any suggestions/advice appreciated!

That is a very, very "deep" question!..

Bound to elicit endless discussion -
making an informed selection extremely difficult..:h

Fortunately, the results will be preserved and accessible via "search" for future reference - as it's bound to be a hot topic for years to come...:C

Good luck with your new Garmin!

.

I've used the Garmin beanbag in the past with much success. It stuck like glue for several years but then started sliding a little on tight turns. So I used some spray on cleaner (windex ?, Simple Green ?) on it's underside and it was as good as new !

I now have the Rand Mcnally 7" GPS and have been using a windshield mount, but ALL WINDSHIELD MOUNTS WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL ! So just yesterday I ordered the Bracketron Nav-Mat beanbag on Amazon for $16 including shipping ! Such a deal !

And it will be on my dash. A GPS is kind of useless if it's down there in a cup holder where it can't be seen. The Rand unit has lots of good info on the screen and I want to see it. The front window on my truck is huge and I place the GPS beanbag so I can see both front corners. Would you rather that I look down between the seats periodically for several seconds ? People put all kinds of trash on their dash and hang lots of junk (beads !) from the rear view mirror - those are the ones to worry about.

* I should add that I didn't want to put anything permanent like glue or velcro on my dash. I would guess that the glue on the velcro might fail after a period of time anyway due to high heat temps and the effects of the sun.

Tim

F1bNorm wrote:
I've mentioned this before. Our Garmin is suction cupped to a can of beans and it goes in an extra cup holder.

Norm

Oh interesting solution. My Garmin suction cup is useless on my windshield. 7" screen. Trying your solution this weekend.

We recently got a GPS and went through this as well. Here is a thread I started, discussing the same subject.

Mounting to the windshield with a suction cup, I never liked; Like already said, they will not stay, and the other big problem is, that puts the GPS unit waaay too far forward in the Motorhome, completely out of reach. Some talk about mounting it on the side window, but that puts it too far out of eye sight going down the road; you need it in the center, up high where you can look at it without taking your eyes too far off the road. That rules out mounting it near a cup holder, too, as previously mentioned.

I also did not want any kind of mount that left anything permanent on the dashboard. Doing such makes you a much bigger target for a thief. They see the GPS mount on the dash, even if no GPS unit is on it, they know that the GPS unit is probably somewhere in the vehicle, and will break in just to get it. Seen that happen more than once.

Sooo, the above reasons pretty well meant that for us, the bean bag mount was the answer. I ended up going with THIS one, and it works great. Very happy with it, works exactly as it should and as I'd hoped. Really like that I can pick up entire thing, mount and all, and use it in all our vehicles, or can hide it in the trunk or wherever, so there's no way to know there is a GPS unit in the car.

The Garmin bean bag mount mentioned earlier is OK, but has one problem: They have bean bags all around them, so you have to set it a little further forward on the dashboard than I'd prefer. The one I have, the bean bags are in a 'horseshoe' shape, with none in the front, so it can go right up against front edge of dashboard. You need it close enough you can reach it easily.

I have tried the bean bag type that the others have said they liked but I found them bulky and and hard to store.

I like This One better,it is lighter smaller, more flexible and more compact, it can be folded for easy storage. It can be molded to fit anywhere on the dash and it doesn't slide around.
This is it in action

I put it in One of These with the Garmin and it is easy to store or take along.

I don't have a GPS. I'm wondering why do you need it mounted right in front of you?

I do look up directions on my computer before I leave on a long trip. But then I just write them down and carry them in the center console. I then memorize a couple of turns ahead and when I have to I read a couple of more ahead at a stop light or stop sign. I usually have someone else with me to read them to me too.

Besides doesn't the GPS talk to you in a sexy voice? The ones on the movies always do.

You don't need it mounted in front of you, but if you miss the announcement about which turn, it's nice to just glance at it and not have to totally turn away from the road.

I used to have a tank bag for my motorcycle that had a map case so you could mount your map right there under your nose. Now I have a GPS mounted on the triple tree, and the map case just gathers dust and cobwebs. A GPS is a wonderful thing, much better than my memory. :)

CavemanCharlie wrote:
I don't have a GPS. I'm wondering why do you need it mounted right in front of you?

I do look up directions on my computer before I leave on a long trip. But then I just write them down and carry them in the center console. I then memorize a couple of turns ahead and when I have to I read a couple of more ahead at a stop light or stop sign. I usually have someone else with me to read them to me too.

Besides doesn't the GPS talk to you in a sexy voice? The ones on the movies always do.

The sexy voice basically only talks to you when it's time to make a turn. Or to tell you that she's 'recalculating' because you're an idiot and are going the wrong way.


It's all about visual information.

Mine will show me which lane to move to (left side or right side) when preparing to exit. This can be a lifesaver when you're on an Interstate and it merges with another and then you find that you will need to 'unmerge' and exit in a short distance (think going thru Atlanta).

Mine also provides an accurate digital readout of ground speed, the ETA to my destination as well as total miles to go. This helps for fuel, food, and rest stop planning.

It constantly updates and shows the changing distance to my next turn. I can also pull up a listing that shows all upcoming segments that are part of the route. The listing will also include miles to be traveled for each segment.

It shows the speed limit of the road you're on, provides visual warnings for upcoming curves, low clearances, and when you are about to cross a state border.

It shows the nearest mile marker on the interstate as well as closest town and which county I'm currently driving through.

It provides a nice visual reference to my next exit.

I can zoom in or out. Zooming in helps immensely when I'm in a strange town and trying to find a campground I've never been to before. I zoom in the scale and then I can see how many cross streets I need to drive past to get to the one I need to turn down. This is especially nice at night.

I know there's more but these are the highlights for me.

Tim