[Friggin Idiot]

Initially I was looking for a mount to hold my phone, then I decided I wanted it to hold my 8" tablet too. Ram Mount makes a mount for the 4Runner, but it's a laptop mount that uses both of the front seat brackets on the passenger side, takes up some room, and costs a pretty penny (~$150+).

After talking with the guys over at Ram Mount, they verified that was their only offering specifically for the 4Runner, that the universal post wouldn't work, and he suggested one of their cupholder mounts. I've heard bad things about them being too low and swinging around during turns, and it wouldn't have handled the tablet.

My phone rests here while I'm doing most driving, but on cross country trips I use my tablet in the same spot. I use both to play mp3's via bluetooth, but on the long trips I like to listen to movies that I've seen a million times as well.

In the end I decided I'd try the universal mount, even though they said it wouldn't work. It's not available in a package with the X-Grip II, but it turns out it was cheaper to order them separately via Amazon anyway. So I picked up the Universial Mount and the X-Grip II for about $55 total.

Well the guys at Ram Mount were right, it doesn't bolt in properly. The interior seat mount on the passenger seat rail is at an angle upwards and back from the floorboard. When something doesn't fit, beat it into submission right!? 10 minutes in a vise with a rubber mallet making small angle changes to the angle of the mounting base worked like a charm. The post is now vertical from the floorboard, and the bolt hole is at the correct angle to align with the seat mount. The hardest part was tightening the clamp around the bottom of the post as it was against the transmission/transfer case tunnel. Tighten this before fully securing the seat mount back in place.

I was worried about the seat not being able to travel fully forward, but once it was all installed I found this isn't an issue. Nor is the positioning of the post as it's thin and doesn't get close to passenger legs. It doesn't even bend the HuskyLiner far enough out of place to be a worry about deforming the mat!

[NoOneBetter]

What a coincidence, I just purchased the universal mount yesterday and should be receiving it in the mail tomorrow. I have husky mats too and was wondering how they would work together. Thanks for the pics!

[96r50]

Looks good! I have the same mounting post. I used a grinder to cut off the excess piece instead of bending it and I also cut a notch in the plastic seat bolt cover so I can reinstall it over the mount. I've used it with an iPad Air and it holds it quite well.

[NoOneBetter]

One question. Would it be an option to reverse the mount and have the base resting on the seat bracket instead of the floorboard?

[Friggin Idiot]

Originally Posted by 96r50

Looks good! I have the same mounting post. I used a grinder to cut off the excess piece instead of bending it and I also cut a notch in the plastic seat bolt cover so I can reinstall it over the mount. I've used it with an iPad Air and it holds it quite well.

I've been meaning to go back and make a cutout in that trim piece, but always get distracted by forums and things like that. OF course I haven't felt much like wading through what I call a backyard to get to the workshop either!

Originally Posted by NoOneBetter

One question. Would it be an option to reverse the mount and have the base resting on the seat bracket instead of the floorboard?

I'm sure that you could spin it around the other way, although then you'd still have to cut off, or bend the extra portion of the base piece. You'd also have to bend the rod they send you as well, which isn't easy to get right. Basically the pole/rod is just aluminum with a sheath over it, so it doesn't bend back exactly straight unless you put it in a vise and play with it a ton. I think I also considered this, but uninstalled it when I checked the seat travel was stopping on it when it hit the pole.

[NoOneBetter]

Thanks again for the writeup @Friggin Idiot . I just mounted mine yesterday. I did install it with the mount reversed and I had to bend it around a bit to retain some chair movement.

[Friggin Idiot]

Originally Posted by NoOneBetter

Thanks again for the writeup @Friggin Idiot . I just mounted mine yesterday. I did install it with the mount reversed and I had to bend it around a bit to retain some chair movement.

I like how your install doesn't interfere with the floor mat, although it looks kinda funny with that wacky bend for seat slide.

[Friggin Idiot]

It's been about a year and a half, and more than 20kmi since this install. The other week I'd recently noticed that there seemed to be a fair amount of wobble in the base so I started checking. The top mount to the vertical bar and mount of the base through the seat bolt were still tight, but the wobble had developed in the base around the vertical rod. The retention screw was already as tight as I could get it, so just tightening it a little more didn't help. I ended up removing the whole assembly, making a shim from an aluminum can to go between the vertical rod and base. It was pretty snug getting it in there, even with the tension screw removed. Once it was all back together and reinstalled the wobble went away. There's still a good amount of vibration in the mount going over bumps and such. I attribute this to the E load tires and stock suspension (now with 52kmi on it). This died down some when I put the Air Lift kit on the rear. I'm hoping this will die down more when I get new strut/shocks all around. Looking to get back to C load tires soon too.

[prairie]

Looking at that cheezy bottom bracket clamp, one can easily see why it became wobbly. You might try epoxy -- the good stuff, like West System.

[outlaws]

These days the CD mounts work great w magnets

[MossJenks]

Wow, which model is that? That interior is WAY different than mine.

[flimmyflammy]

I got the ram mount for my phone and I'm really liking it. If I were to do a tablet I'd look at the ram options

[jcage89]

probably not an option for tablets but seems like it would better for phone to have at eye level and can do with strong double stick too if not wanting to drill a hole in console trim piece (I think I'd drill though for stronger mechanical fit).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=730MzCb1qfA

My Proclip setup for my 06Sport won't fit the 2018 trim setup so looking for a new option and wanted to see if anyone here did it this way and if you like it.

JC

[bigguy02]

Originally Posted by jcage89

probably not an option for tablets but seems like it would better for phone to have at eye level and can do with strong double stick too if not wanting to drill a hole in console trim piece (I think I'd drill though for stronger mechanical fit).



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=730MzCb1qfA



My Proclip setup for my 06Sport won't fit the 2018 trim setup so looking for a new option and wanted to see if anyone here did it this way and if you like it.



JC

I really like how they did that install, I might be trying that with double sided tape to see if I like it enough to drill into the dash. I hate drilling into dashes, but I might do it with that, it’s out of the way enough to not be a big deal.

How is everyone liking the X mount? I’m not 100% on it yet, it’s looks a little ridiculous in my opinion when nothings in it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bigguy02]

Originally Posted by Friggin Idiot

Initially I was looking for a mount to hold my phone, then I decided I wanted it to hold my 8" tablet too.

So is the arm of the he mount easily removable? I don’t often use my iPad in the truck, only when I go off roading, but I really want it mounted for those occasions.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk