Making a powered RAM mount from a Seidio

PCG · 01-12-06, 10:19 AM

Turning your Seidio G4500S mount in to a RAM mount

I love my Seidio G4500S powered mount for my Axim X50V. What I really wanted when I got it though was a powered RAM mount for my PDA. The RAM mounting system is a thing of beauty, durability and flexibility. For those that have never seen the RAM system, you can check them out at http://www.rammount.com/. For those that have been longing for a powered RAM mount, this is your solution.

Anyway, with the RAM system and their various components, you can put just about any type of portable electronic device anywhere you have put one of their mounting “balls.” In my case, I have one (or more) of these balls in my truck, my boat, my wife’s van and our RV. I then have holders for our music players, handheld GPS and fish finder. If I want to use my handheld Magellan GPS in the boat, it is a simple matter to swap it from the RV. If I want to move my Dell DJ music player from my truck to the RV, it takes two seconds.

Further, the RAM system is extremely durable and strong. If you ever have seen or used one of the components you know what I am talking about. They are pretty much indestructible. One example would be the RAM suction cup mount - unlike those with gooseneck "arms" that bounce when going over bumps, the RAM mount is rock solid. There are any number of types of ball mounts for your vehicle. It is the single most flexible mounting system you can find.

As I say, RAM doesn’t make a powered mount for the Axim. They do make a universal PDA mount that is non-powered and actually does a great job of holding the Axim (I use the same on for my Dell DJ). When I went to set up my PDA with GPS, I wanted a powered mount with a speaker. After looking at the alternatives, I chose the SeidIo G4500S. I love the unit – you can read more about my GPS setup here: http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=111818

I did however wish there was a way to use the base unit of the Seidio with the various RAM mount balls I have in my vehicles. After a little bit of experimenting, I came up with a way to make it work. This is no chincy butcher job either - it looks like it was designed this way.

So, how do you do it? Very simple. All you need is one of the pieces of the Seidio suction cup mount and a RAM diamond shaped ball (RAM part number RAM-B-238) plus two screws and nuts. You can choose the rest of the RAM components – the arm and ball for your vehicle – according to your needs and mounting choice.

All you do is bolt the RAM ball to the piece from the Seidio mount (see the pictures) and you are all set. I won’t provide a lot of narrative as the pictures are pretty much self explanatory. There are already holes in the Seidio piece that fit perfectly so no drilling is required.

The only note I would add is that in choosing what screws to use, pick a pan head screw so the head acts as a bit of a washer. Also be careful to not pick ones with too big of heads that stick out beyond the recessed holes on the Seidio piece or it will scratch the base unit when you slide it on there.

Attached are pics of the Seidio unit mounted in my truck using the RAM suction cup mount on my windshield and a standard round RAM ball mounted to the side of my center console.

Hope someone finds this useful!

Tony

PCG · 01-12-06, 10:20 AM

The rest of the pics...

01-12-06, 12:14 PM

Great solution! Thanks for the posting. I'm sure there are other users that have similar desires for mounting solutions other than the ones we offer.

USMC - Retired · 01-12-06, 12:25 PM

"I have one (or more) of these balls in my truck, my boat, my wife’s van and our RV. I then have holders for our music players, handheld GPS and fish finder."

How often do you use the fish finder in your truck?

Sorry, just couldn't help myself, great idea though, I like it!

PCG · 01-12-06, 12:30 PM

One more thing to add... Probably the two most common RAM mounting options you would want to look at are the standard ball and the suction cup one. Pictures are attached - these are the same two I used for the pictures in my original posting.

RAM-B-138U - Standard mount with arm

RAM-B-166U - Suction cup base with arm

Probably the best place to get either of them (or any other RAM product) is GPS City.

PCG · 01-12-06, 12:32 PM

Quote:

How often do you use the fish finder in your truck?

Good catch, Gunny!

When I re-read the message after posting that I told myself I should go change the wording and then forgot! Guess I was busted on that one!

GO NAVY!

T

Mudy_ovl · 02-20-06, 05:10 PM

Tony,
Great job mixing the Ram mount and the Seidio power cradle.:approve: How well does the Seidio cradle hold the Axim if the cradle is in a horizontal position? (i.e., Axim is in landscape mode).
Thanks,
Chris D.

PCG · 02-20-06, 05:15 PM

Chris,

Hmmm. I have never used it in lanscape mode but I suspect it would work fine. It takes a pretty good push to seat the Axim in the mount and a good pull to remove it so it seems quite secure in there. I tend to think it would probably stay put just fine.

Tony

runnr548 · 02-20-06, 05:26 PM

cool ideas!

sha7kti · 02-05-07, 08:15 PM

Thanks so much for your solution. The Seidio with the Ram mount is a great combination. I set it up in my Subaru Outback and it works great. The Ram mount
does not vibrate like the Seidio mounting neck does.
Thanks again!!

PCG · 02-06-07, 09:17 AM

Glad you found it useful! I know that I love the "system" I devised - much better than any of the stock solutions I found.

Tony

Pocketbrain · 02-06-07, 03:07 PM

Absolutely nifty!

I put this in Tips from the Trenches, link in my signature.

.

PCG · 02-06-07, 03:25 PM

Wow! Thank you! I am most pleased to get the recognition. I think I should also receive a field promotion to "Aximsite Elite" as well!!!

Tony

BiGGieStuFF · 05-08-07, 04:31 PM

Where is the hardwire cable going in the 1st set of pictures? I don't see it which is good because that's how hidden i want mine as well.

PCG · 05-08-07, 04:38 PM

If you are talking about the one that mounts on the side of the console, I did not hard wire the power in that location - only at the windshield where it mounts with the suction cup. In the case of the windshield, it runs down the side between the door and the side of the dash.

But to do it on the console would be easy as well. There are extra holes in the RAM mount ball base. You could drill into the console through one of those and run your wire inside the console there. The only exposed wire would be the four or five inches running from the PDA mount down the arm to the hole in the base.

I just didn't run power to there there because I like my GPS up high and on the windshield. I use the console mount for my music player.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Tony