Non-Windshield Mount
 

Some of my road trips take me in California where it's not legal to have anything mounted on the windshield (like my radar detector or portable GPS nav). Has anyone devised alternate mounts for these? I was thinking of some kind of spring clip that would slide on over the instrument panel cowling, but maybe someone's already come up with a better solution?

A great source for GPS mounts can be found at:


www.mountguys.com.

IMHO I wouldn't worry toooo much about this.
I have my GPS mounted to my windshield via suction cups since 1 1/2 years w/o any trouble and I see many other cars on the road with the same.
I doubt that CHP will pull you over because of that, but if they already pulled you over and see it, it they might "spice" up the ticket... well in my case they probably would also spice it up even more because if have no front license plate ;)

You’ve got to be kidding me ! Is there really a law in CA that you cannot have anything mounted to the windshield ( I have my radar and GPS on there now ) ?

Nick

Nick, Minnesota too...I think!

Radar Detector on Sticky Pad
 

Go to an office supply store or somewhere and get one of those sticky gel dash pads for $5. It's about 4"x5" and just sits on the dash. It's meant to hold a cell phone or whatever in place. Just plop the detector on the pad and it stays! No dash marks, comes off easily and they come in black so it does not stand out. Get the GEL one - it works best. I use it full time and works great. I have it on the LEFT side of the steering wheel for easily mute access (detector cord is hard wired and terminates right there - I just plug the loose end into the detector)

Tomk17, does the pad hold the GPS even on spirited drives? I had mine hard wired and mounded on the left, using the suction cup, but I recently went to move it to my wife's car, temporarily, and a chunk of the rubber cup broke off.

I'd like to hear more about this gel pad. I did some googling and didn't see anything that looked like it would hold something as large as a GPS during multi-G turns. ;)

http://www.babblers.org/gallery/files/1/1/11nav4.JPG

+1 on the not worrying about it thing. Every time I drive in CA, I have my Garmin and Escort hanging from the windshield and never had a problem - I agree that it is something they would likely not pull you over for, but might give you an extra ticket for if you do get pulled over.

I look at it as a positive thing. I got pulled over here in NJ a couple of years ago - the cop let me go for the speeding violation (15 over - no small ticket), and just gave me the ticket for my radar detector obstructing my view. $40 and no points. It was a great compromise - happy to pay it.

Excellent suggestion tomk17. I'll see if I can find one. I had originally been thinking about using the space to the left of the wheel to mount it, so it's reassuring to know that works.

Pad Hold Radar Detector Only - Not GPS
 

To BoxsterBob - the Gel pad I'm referring to only holds a flat radar detector not the GPS unit. I got mine at OfficeMAX.

Thanks, bmus ! I did not know that...

Nick

Garmin SUCKtion cups
 

Bob,

that is a known defect in some of the Garmin suction cups. I think they had a batch of cups which literally glued themselves to the windshield.
The same happened to me and after exchanging a few e-mails with their (slow to respond) support they sent me a new one

Here is a radar mount for the passport 8500

http://www.countryjoycrafts.com/ConnectorForRadarDetector.htm

I installed it on my FX35
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/9...rmod006gm9.jpg

Thanks, Chris, I'll give that a try. I was chosen to beta test a new GPS unit that showed up yesterday. The cup looked much more pliable and resistant to failure. I'll give my review after the test is over in a few weeks.

That's what I thought, thanks for the response. I guess I'll stick with the cup mount.