Added mount for Garmin

Had been looking to upgrade the factory nav which became increasingly unreliable, even with updated SD card. Purchased this mount with the intention of mounting to a position on the dash. Once I received the mount in hand, I began looking for a convenient spot to mount the base…. Well, I found that the assembled mount fit in snugly in the empty space in the dash….no drilling, and the excess cable for the power fits in with mount. Find it works for me..

 

I would prefer to have external gps closer to windshield to access more satellites for accuracy.
I wouldn't mount it down there.

 

I haven’t had any issues… and its a clean install

 

It looks good. How does it mount without drilling? Does it use one of those sticky pads?

 

I had trouble with a rental car in Europe once. There was some transparent metallic coating on the glass that totally blocked the signal to my standalone GPS. Fortunately it had an input for an external GPS antenna, and even more lucky, I was able to find the antenna.

But most of the time I don’t have a problem mounting the GPS below the dash by the shifters. Mostly I’m just listening for the voice instructions anyway and don’t have to look at the thing. It’s not like I’m a pilot flying on instruments after all. I have a mount that I use in rental cars that fits in a cup holder. It’s pretty much universal and works in any car the rental company gives me.

 

No drilling..no sticky pad. Mount, as assembled in package. And articulated slid snugly into opening. Plugs into accessory plugs for audio if you want, no issues at all with locking on satellites if you look at illustration on package, the “sticky mount” piece would be down, and to the rear when installed. Wrapped excess power cord around base and couldn’t be happier!

 

Why not use WAZES on your phone. It is free, updates often for free and is very accurate

 

With the previous 4Runner I preferred to use Garmin GPS as well. High confidence when there's no cellular service. Free updates as well and free traffic updates when needed (to avoid traffic on long weekends). I also used to copy and paste gpx file for trail to go to the trail head.

I haven't used waze. This is based on Google maps vs external gps like Garmin. So not sure if waze is better outside of city.

 

+1 on the ability to download GPX files, especially from Gaia, etc. Also, Garmin has a variety of off-road maps available.

 

WAZES works great...in populated areas. In the outback of Utah or Nevada it is worthless. A good topo map or app is essential.

 

Got it. I only go off road on the beaches of Bodie, Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands on the NC Outer Banks and WAZE works there. But then you are never more than a mile or two from a state numbered road.