RAM mount X-Grip

---

I knew when I first got my Dell Streak that a 5-inch screen was what I needed, and at the time, despite the hardware limitations and lack of Dell support, I knew I'd be with the Streak for a while because going back to a small screen wasn't happening. So, I invested in enough car mounts and chargers to have one in each commonly used vehicle (4 total). Now that I'm on the Note with it in a Speck case 3 out of 4 mounts still work with minor modifications. As soon as a heavier-duty case comes along 0 out of 4 mounts will work. Now that the Note is so much more popular than the Streak ever was, I am not too worried that there won't be another 5-inch plus phone ever again. So that I don't have to spend however many 100s of dollars on mounts when the next big phone hits, I have been looking for a heavy-duty, relatively vibration resistant, but still universal mount. That way, whatever the next device is, I don't have to go and buy a ton of new mounts.

In my seemingly unending quest for a car mount that will work with the Note, regardless of what case I have on it, and handle vibration and spirited driving, I spent a bunch of time on the RAM site (since I already have some of their products, and like the marine grade powder coated aluminum). I found a couple of possible solutions, but because I want to have the phone in landscape orientation, I think the X-Grip would be best for me. I was about to put up a post asking if anyone had used one on here, when I found this thread over in the International Note forum:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1462786

The pictures there show a Note with no case in the regular X-Grip.The problem I forsee is the specified max width of 3.25 inches. The Note naked is wider than that, but only just. Mine, in a Speck case measures about 3.5 inches, and any future case I put on it will likely be bigger. I asked the OP over there for more information, so I could hopefully better determine if the original X-Grip will work with the phone in a case. We'll see how that goes. Here is a link to the regular RAM X-Grip. http://www.ram-mount.com/NewProducts...Default.aspx#/

After further research, it looks like the X-Grip II might be better for our phones in various cases:

http://www.ram-mount.com/NewProducts...0/Default.aspx

I've been stalking the accessories forum here with hopes of seeing something that would work for me and not succeeded. I have also noticed a lot of praise for the cheapy mounts. Let me preface this with "that isn't for me". I need to keep the phone in the case for protection from dirt and elements, and I need to make sure the phone won't fall. If it does, during extreme maneuvers, it is gone. And, if I am even capable of recovering off of the dirt, mud, rocks, or asphalt it might have landed on, it would likely be smashed, either from the impact itself, or from someone else running it over, despite any case. So, I'm perfectly happy with spending a bit more for something that meets my needs and keeps the phone where I want it to be.

That said, has anyone looked at either X-Grip as a possible solution for car mounting? If you have, and decided on something else, why? And, of course, what did you end up with (bearing in mind my heavy-duty and case acceptance needs). Thanks in advance.

No first hand experience with the X-Grip simply because I didn't know it existed when I was looking for a motorcycle mount.
I will "note" that the X-Grip II looks to big but I really don't know.

I'm not sure what you mean by vibration but my motorcycle puts these things through some serious high speed buzzing...and they handle it.

But, this is what I use...not the prettiest but it does work with my Note and the small arm attachments. Used this one for 2 Samsung phones and 1 iPhone.


RAM-HOL-UN4U
http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResu...5/Default.aspx

Here's another one I saw and the dimensions say it will fit the Note
Product Number: RAM-HOL-PD3U

http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResu...5/Default.aspx

Originally Posted by andrawer

No first hand experience with the X-Grip simply because I didn't know it existed when I was looking for a motorcycle mount.
I will "note" that the X-Grip II looks to big but I really don't know.

I'm not sure what you mean by vibration but my motorcycle puts these things through some serious high speed buzzing...and they handle it.

But, this is what I use...not the prettiest but it does work with my Note and the small arm attachments. Used this one for 2 Samsung phones and 1 iPhone.


RAM-HOL-UN4U
http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResu...5/Default.aspx

Here's another one I saw and the dimensions say it will fit the Note
Product Number: RAM-HOL-PD3U

http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResu...5/Default.aspx

Thanks for the input. I had noticed both of those, but my concern was that I want the phone in landscape mode, not portrait. Both of those look like they use fixed mounts at the 6 and 12 o'clock positions and spring-loaded fingers at the 3 and 9. If I rotate the mount 90 degrees, so the phone is in landscape mode, that means the spring-loaded arms are supporting most of the weight of the device. But, yeah, when I look for mounts, I try to find motorcycle guys who endorse them (especially dirt bike and off-road expedition bike), because that's closer to my usage than a normal automobile owner would be. I've not gone wrong with motorcyle-rider-endorsed ones yet. Do you run portrait or landscape orientation? What kind of motorcycle?

I too wonder if the X-Grip II might not be too big. But seeing as how they don't have any on-hand, I can't ask them to take a tape measure to one. I am hoping to call them tomorrow and see what I can see. Busy day for me though, not sure I'll get the time. When I do, I'll post back with whatever I learn.

I bought a standard GPS windshield/dash mount from best buy. I have the speck case and it easy fits it. Looks like there would be plenty of room for a bigger case. I use it in portrait but I could easily turn it in to landscape if I wanted to.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium

Very interesting mount, that would allow me to use my nook color tethered to GPS or use my note.

Well I think I found the ideal mounting location with Ram. Since their mounts are sold as a 2+ piece system (1 for phone, 1 for mounting option), this can be flexable in the future plus I can buy a second base peice for the wifes car since they are so easily released. They have a really cool rear view mirror mount. The way it works is you remove your rear view mirror, put their mount on the windshield bracket, then the mirror on the mounts bracket to sandwhich the mount between the windshield and the mirror. I just have to find the right mount to use on my Note, so I'm hoping this thread moves forward and provides some ideas. My previous statement about mounting my nook would be out the window, I believe this would just be too much weight as the nook can be hefty, but that's by no means a deal breaker. Photos attached.

After wrestling with an automated phone system, I got someone on the phone.

My Note in a Speck Case measures in at about 3.5 inches wide and about 6 inches tall. The guy on the phone measured the X-Grip at full extension and he said I "might" be able to "squeeze" the Note in there, but it would be tight if it even worked. And, once I go to a larger case, I'd be beat.

He also measured the X-Grip II and said that it should work, but it would likely hold the phone near the corners. He said the weight rating of the X-Grip II was 5lbs. And, while RAM themselves are out of stock, he gave me a company in Las Vegas (since I'm on the west coast) that had them in stock. GPSCity is the name of the company, and I went ahead and ordered the X-Grip II and some other parts. Once it comes in I'll see how it works and snap some pictures.

Originally Posted by Chief Geek

Well I think I found the ideal mounting location with Ram. Since their mounts are sold as a 2+ piece system (1 for phone, 1 for mounting option), this can be flexable in the future plus I can buy a second base peice for the wifes car since they are so easily released. They have a really cool rear view mirror mount. The way it works is you remove your rear view mirror, put their mount on the windshield bracket, then the mirror on the mounts bracket to sandwhich the mount between the windshield and the mirror. I just have to find the right mount to use on my Note, so I'm hoping this thread moves forward and provides some ideas. My previous statement about mounting my nook would be out the window, I believe this would just be too much weight as the nook can be hefty, but that's by no means a deal breaker. Photos attached.

I've rethought this plan, seems too high for easy use once I sat in my truck and imagined it up there. if was only being used as GPS it would be great up here, but I think I may have to go with something else. I was pretty excited about this possibility.

Originally Posted by Chief Geek

I've rethought this plan, seems too high for easy use once I sat in my truck and imagined it up there. if was only being used as GPS it would be great up here, but I think I may have to go with something else. I was pretty excited about this possibility.

Good point. I know in many Jeeps putting it there will likely block too much of the windshield. Here's my current plan:

Use the X-Grip II
http://www.ram-mount.com/NewProducts...0/Default.aspx

With the short, powdercoated aluminum arm
http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResu...5/Default.aspx

With the 1-inch ball with 2 5/16-inch-diameter base, which you'll notice features the AMPs bolt pattern
http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResu...5/Default.aspx

And bolt the whole assembly to this ProClip vehicle-specific mount.
http://www.proclipusa.com/?sectionpa...ageid=1&dtype=

That should get the phone off a suction cup, mount it securely enough, and close enough for ease of operation. No holes drilled in Jeep (not like that's a huge deal, but still) and theoretically no holes to drill at all. No suction cup to fall off the windshield after taking too much sun, no phablet blocking the windshield.

Will report back once all the pieces come in, but for now, that's my plan. And, it should still work going forward for the Note 2 lol.

Originally Posted by over2land

And bolt the whole assembly to this ProClip vehicle-specific mount.
http://www.proclipusa.com/?sectionpa...ageid=1&dtype=

That should get the phone off a suction cup, mount it securely enough, and close enough for ease of operation. No holes drilled in Jeep (not like that's a huge deal, but still) and theoretically no holes to drill at all. No suction cup to fall off the windshield after taking too much sun, no phablet blocking the windshield.

Will report back once all the pieces come in, but for now, that's my plan. And, it should still work going forward for the Note 2 lol.

I may end up just getting the complete proclip setup or the OEM dock. I love the mount position of the proclip, but need to figure out how to fuse the OEM dock to it to take advantage of the audio pass through since I use slacker every morning and evening on my commute.