Any good windshield suction mounts that dont fall off?

tlucca · 02-01-07, 09:24 PM

Hi all,

I purchased an i.trek powered suction mount for my x51v. It worked great the first time I put in on the windshield, but after moving it between cars 2-3 times, the lever wont create suction anymore and it falls off the windshield. Ive tried cleaning everything, and I can see that the lever no longer creates suction. Ive had them send me 2 replacement arms and the same thing happens. I usually move this between cars every week or two.

Does anyone use a windshield mount that doesnt loosen over time? I dont want to have to resort to the vent mount since my vent is flimsy and the axim jumps all over the place.

Also, it came with a plastic disc that mounts to the dashboard. Im assuming the suction mount is supposed to stick to this? Doesnt create any suction. At this point Im ready to just buy another. Any better quality ones?

thanks in advance,
Tom

Thanks in advance for the advice.

RobMan · 02-01-07, 10:20 PM

well, I can say that I have been using an Arkon mount for close to two years, and it has only fallen once(while parked outside in 90 + heat for a week). I keep the mount bracket suctioned to the windshield continuously with no problems. :approve:

dvmed · 02-02-07, 12:24 AM

Arkon works for me too. I just make it a habit to check once in a while when temperature drops way below zero.

tlucca · 02-02-07, 12:33 AM

Thanks, Ill give the arkon a shot. Does anyone use it with different vehicles? I suspect that the I.trek would stay on if I didnt switch cars every 2 weeks.

thanks,
Tom

IAM_CDN · 02-02-07, 01:31 AM

I have the Arkon as well ... for one vehicle I use the suction (and it sucks... in a good way ;-)

In my other vehicle I use the vent mount... now I just need a mount for my motorcycle.

Top marks on the Arkon from me.

dvmed · 02-02-07, 05:15 AM

One tip (found on the instructions) is to rest any part of the gooseneck on the dashboard to make it stable. Just be careful enough that the suction cap is parallel to the windshield because trying to mount it so that the neck is touching the dashboard is difficult and can create an angle between cup and windshield which causes it to not stick. Once installed, tug on it to make sure that it's firmly mounted.

JakeRich · 02-02-07, 09:07 AM

Another tip. The suction cup on all of them has a tendency to flatten out and lose grip. To restore it, loosen the lock, then push gently in the middle of the suction cup to create a greater curve. Clean the suction cup with soapy water and then reapply to the glass. I find that I need to do the "push in the middle" trick every 4-5 moves.

AximTT · 02-02-07, 03:15 PM

Semsons also offers HR pedestals. The Mio C310x comes with one of these HR mounts and they are super strong compared to regualr gooseneck type.

stevenator65 · 02-02-07, 04:13 PM

Personally I don't like anything in my windshield, so I did my own custom mount. I used $2.00 in parts and some creativity. I'll post some pix when I get a chance. But I also have an Arkon CM 720, and it's good quality.

zpeedster_m · 02-03-07, 03:51 PM

hav da Arkon mount 4 my x51v. 1 of the 2 rubeer sliding feet fell off & I cant find it. Does any1 know where i can get another. I should actually glue them so dis doesnt happen again.

andrew1883 · 02-15-07, 02:25 AM

I'm sure this has been discussed many times, but I've found the arm that came with my Dell BT GPS to be particularly useless. It always falls off the window within 10 minutes of applying it.

I've cleaned the window thoroughly, always have the arm resting on the dash, and have tried a variety of techniques for getting the suction to stick. I've tried pressing really hard before throwing the switch (I figure that's squeezed too much air out), I've tried just barely holding it (I figure that's not enough), and I've tried in-between. I keep cleaning adhesive marks of my window! (And what's the idea of adhesive anyway, I thought suction cups didn't need adhesive!?). I only have one vehicle and never move the unit once it's there. Until it falls off of course.

I had thought this might just be poor design, and I'm willing to buy a replacement (the OnCourse sounds good because it has an external speaker so I can actually hear the thing!) but if they're all going to do this, maybe I'd better not.

I have a Subaru Forester so limited space available, I can feed the arm past the pop-up lid on the storage compartment, but I don't think I can mount anything directly above that lid. I do like the position of the PDA when the stock arm is used, but only if it stays there!

Any advice much appreciated.
Thanks!
=aw

JakeRich · 02-15-07, 12:36 PM

Sounds like you have a pinhole leak in the suction cup. Mine's been on for months. One more thing to try--press down in the middle of the cup to increase the depth of the cup before you press it against the glass. The deeper cup will mean a greater vacuum will be created when you lock it. If it comes loose again, I'd contact the vendor for a replacement--as I said, it could be a pinhole leak.

The "adhesive" is not adhesive, it's just a mark from the silicon of the cup material. Typically there are also deposits on the glass from the outgassing from the plastic material in the car, so the cup disturbs that deposit making the mark even more pronounced.

andrew1883 · 02-16-07, 04:11 PM

Thanks JakeRich, I guess it's possible there's a pinhole. I've had this for quite a while and I'm not sure it's possible to return. It's the original bracket that came with the GPS from Dell.

When you say "press down on the middle of the cup", do you mean as I'm pushing against the window (pressing the whole thing against the window), or before I press it against the window (pressing on the middle of the cup, where there's a "button")?

Finally, on the "adhesive", while I know you're the expert, I'm certain it's adhesive because the thing came with a circular piece of release paper or wax paper, which I had to remove first. The paper itself was sticky, and there still seems to be residue on the suction cup. Of course I accept that these aren't supposed to ship with adhesive but it just seems so wrong! Guess I could/should try washing the residue off.

I'm tempted to get one of the aftermarket brackets for the speaker as much as anything, the PDA/GPS is nice and loud when hand-held but rather muffled in this holder.

Thanks again!
=aw

zpeedster_m · 02-17-07, 12:44 AM

Any1 know wher i can get cheap replacement for arkon windshield mount feet that holds axim in place, its the little plastiic feet that slides around on the bottom of mount, unfort, 1 slid rt off & i lost it. buygpsnow askin $5 for it even though its just tiny plastic padded piece.????

JakeRich · 02-17-07, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by zpeedster_m

Any1 know wher i can get cheap replacement for arkon windshield mount feet that holds axim in place, its the little plastiic feet that slides around on the bottom of mount, unfort, 1 slid rt off & i lost it. buygpsnow askin $5 for it even though its just tiny plastic padded piece.????

Can you repost this in English? I don't know what you are asking.