Any suggestions for the best way/place to mount a portable (Nuvi) nav?

 

I'm a few days away from having personal experience with a gps mount, I'm going to try the Craven.
http://www.cravenspeed.com/mini-gps-mounting-kits/
Some threads:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...creen-gps.html
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...g-bracket.html

 

I like my Cravenspeed mount. Had it in for probably a couple years now.

If you do a search, you should be able to find some other options as well.

 

Use the suction cup over the gas gauge...

 

The Cravenspeed mount is pricey but nothing beats it.

 

Another vote for the Craven mount

 

I have one from Kuda that mounts next to the speedo. It's a little pricey but very nice.

http://www.kudausa.com/kuda-custom-l...mini-k479.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ght=kuda+mount

 

I just mount mine right to the speedo. Easy access for both front seat passengers.

 

Cravenspeed is excellent. Solid, handy, no vibration. Wish I had something like it for my Titan.

 

This is what I use!! Garmin Friction Dash Mount, base is very plyable, molds to the dash, stays in place too!!

 

Check out ProClip (www.proclipusa.com). I have one for my iPhone4 and it is great. The suction cup to speedo is also a low cost option as well that should be tried out first.

 

and there's always the tried and true suction cup on window option...

 

I mount mine to the speedometer also.



Dave

 

Thank you for your help, everyone. This give me several great options!

 

The Craven mount is excellent. If you go that route, get the W mount, that way you can easily change which side of the tach, its on if you want, or have a mounting point for another gauge if you want later. Also, if your Nuvi is a blue tooth model, Garmin sells a unit called an Ecoroute, about $96 from Amazon. The ecoroute plugs into your OBDII and bluetooths to your Nuvi. It has a number of functions, the one I use is gauges, the Nuvi displays 5 analog gauges monitoring your engine, you pick from a list what you want each gauge to display, engine temp., boost, manifold air temp., alternator volts, MPH, RPM, etc. Very cool and of course the GPS is still working in the background and touch the screen twice to get back to the GPS map.

 

I went to the website and it said that the guages would vary by vehicle. Does it show oil temp and oil pressure for the Mini?

 

The MINI does not have an oil pressure sending unit, so the ECU does not have that info, and therefore the Ecoroute which monitors the ECU does not have it. I don't know if the ECU reads the oil temp., I'm only concerned with coolant temp. If you add an oil pressure sending unit, it would still not go to the ECU, so you would need to have an oil pressure gauge. I don't know if there is a way to send oil pressure info to the ECU, I'm guessing there isn't.

 

Thanks, Pez. That's too bad because that's the guage I was really looking for especially after all the postings about some cars burning oil.

 

Does it matter what size screen you get for the Garmin (4.3 vs 5.0) for the Cravenspeed item? The Ecoroute sounds cool since it bothers me that there is no temperature guage. Do I have to have Mini Connected for this Ecoroute to work? I didn't get this on my car.

Does anyone have any suggestions about which Garmin to get? I need a new one since the speakers went out on my current one.

Kathy

 

The Craven mount works with either size of Nuvi screen. The Ecoroute plugs into the OBDII port just above the drivers left knee under the dashboard and bluetooths to the Nuvi, Mini Connected is not needed. You need to have a bluetooth Nuvi for the Ecoroute to send to. If you look at the Ecoroute on the Garmin website, it lists which Nuvis it works with. I got the Nuvi 2460LMT (5" screen) and the Ecoroute from Amazon for around $407 which included Washington state sales tax and shipping. If you get the craven mount, get the W bracket since all the brackets are the same price, that way if you want to change which side the Nuvis on you don't have to remove the tach to reverse the bracket, or you will have a place to later add a gauge or mount a cell phone. If you are only using one side of the W bracket, the empty side is tucked in so close behind the tach you can barely see it from the drivers seat so it doesn't stick out and look like something is missing.

 

Best Buy offers a portable mount that allows the basic suction cup GPS mount to be suctioned to a flat center section with a soft weighted round surround section to hold it on your dash. I know my description "sucks" so I suggest you go to BestBuy and check them out in the car audio dept. Very easy to move from car to car and you don't need to add/modify your dash, add screws, tape. etc to accommodate your GPS!

 

Compare models @ www.gpsstore.com. My previous unit was the 265T a small screen but one I could mount anywhere. Then I saw the HD EcoRoute and had to have one, so then I bought myself the 1390LMT (screen size is perfect) and the Friction Mount, the mount has a sticky bottom to keep it in place even when I'm "Ruling the Bends"!!

Because I liked mine so much I bought my Husband the 1490LMT and a Portalbe Friction Mount.

We both now have HD EcoRoute and our own GPS units plus mounts.

Neither one is used except when needed, I am directionally challenged though so I use mine alot more than my Husband uses his. But I have found the perfect storage solution that i've also bought each of us, the Built Neoprene Cargo Travel Organizer...keeps everything neat and tidy!!

 

.

 

I purchased this $400 Garmin 1790LMT refurbished for $260 on bestbuy.com - thought that was a pretty nice price.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Garmin+-...0lmt&cp=1&lp=1

It's scheduled for delivery today. My Countryman just finished production last Friday so I'll have a few weeks to play with the Garmin and research mounting options before it gets here.

Re: Ecoroute - That looks pretty cool, I might have to add it to my gadget wishlist! Does it interfere with a paired cell phone at all?

 

Thanks for your help. I am glad you mentioned the Ecoroute HD. Thanks Pez D Spencer. I didn't even know that existed. I ordered my Garmin and Ecoroute today. Next I am going to order a mount. On the Mini drive this weekend, I am going to look at what people have in person. I am leaning towards the Cravenspeed one. I just have to decide which one. The case is a good idea so thanks for the suggestion JBKimbell.