Ram Mount thoughts - Center console piece availability

[Spokanesteve]

Hello all:

I am wanting to install a Ram mount to my console for phone/tablet use. I am considering between the cup holder and a mounted option.

For the mounted option I was thinking about a mount with a backing plate in the yellow area below.



As part of my consideration I would like to see if it's possible and or how expensive it would be to replace this plastic piece for later re-sale or if I change my mind. The plastic piece I am wanting to source is outlined in red.

Thanks much! Steve.

NB I stole the picture from another 4runner.org user

 

[L-Force]

Dont look to be too expensive. Just have to make sure its for your configuration.

Auto Trans Shift Cover Plate. Upper panel for 2015 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Trail. #5880435540

 

[Big Daddy K]

Yeah, I have been trying to figure out something to do with that stupid coin tray... I'm thinking switches, but a phone mount would be awesome.

 

[Toffees]

It's not as cool as building out a mount in your console, but I when I use a mount, I've been using Ram Mount's "wedge" between the seats with two extensions for better length/articulation. I can remove it when I want and I can use it to play a movie on the iPad for back seat viewing by the little humans. (I don't have a picture of my setup, but the wedge looks like this below.)

 

[rkwfxd]

Do a search on here for User Mike5. He installed a Ram mount in that coin holder. Really clean way to go. He uses his for a Ham Radio but it would also work for the phone.

I just picked up a Lido cup holder mount. It expands in the cup holder and holds my Ham nicely. It could also be used for a phone with the right adaptor. I give up my cup holder but I can move it from car to car with no damage.

When it comes to my phone, I just toss it in the door pocket since it is linked to the radio. Even Siri works for me through the factory radio.

 

[wweinaug]

Im using the proclip, which just clips/sticks to the side of the console and is made to mount a ram mount ball on. I have my iPad mini on it. In that little hole I have my arb fridge monitor, fits perfectly.

 

[randomguy]

I have a Proclip console mount with a Ram X Grip for my iPhone. Works pretty good.

I found this a few days ago and have been intrigued. https://expeditionessentials.com/products/toyota-4-runner-5th-gen-powered-accessory-mount-pre-order

 

[empty403]

Hello all:

I am wanting to install a Ram mount to my console for phone/tablet use. I am considering between the cup holder and a mounted option.

For the mounted option I was thinking about a mount with a backing plate in the yellow area below.


As part of my consideration I would like to see if it's possible and or how expensive it would be to replace this plastic piece for later re-sale or if I change my mind. The plastic piece I am wanting to source is outlined in red.

Thanks much! Steve.

NB I stole the picture from another 4runner.org user

That setup will work for a phone but a tablet will vibrate and move a lot as the plastic assembly will likely flex with the heavier weight

 

[RatRunner16]

I got a diamond base for that random coin holder spot...it fits almost perfectly, only needs to be filed down a bit to fit. For the most part I don’t have any issues with the phone being there, only on the worst of roads will the cup holder dislodge. 99% of the time it works great.

I also got the proclip console mount for my iPad. https://www.proclipusa.com/product/834492-proclip-console-mount

Both setups work great and are out of the way.

 

[Liquidmantis]

I got a diamond base for that random coin holder spot...it fits almost perfectly, only needs to be filed down a bit to fit. For the most part I don’t have any issues with the phone being there, only on the worst of roads will the cup holder dislodge. 99% of the time it works great.

RamMount also has stud and nut only balls (man, is that ever a lob pitch for the peanut gallery...). Back those with a fender washer or fabbed up plate on the backside and you can get a cleaner look.

 

[4Running303]

I had the ProClip mount for my tablet...the one that clips on next to the cup holders. It snapped recently and is now unusable...granted it snapped while running Baja and doing Baja things!

I picked up the Expedition Essentials mount and good golly it is well made. Very solid mount and the added USB plugs is just what I needed.
I doubt this mount will break!

 

[LawnDart]

I wanted to like the EE mount, but I just don't think the execution is there.

I've been running this setup for about a year, and it's survived some pretty nutty thrashing off road:

I know some won't care, but blocking the clock to me is just not a good design choice, it's also really tall, and I'd rather not have to put that many holes in a trim piece. Mine just uses RAM 1" balls and some hardware to make it all lock together.

If I could redesign the EE one, I'd make it a LOT lower profile, have it dip down to reveal the clock, and use aluminum like they already do, but opt to use steel helicoils (as much as I tend to hate them on our camera gear) that way you don't need to put a nut under the plate. Make them 1/4x20 like almost all camera gear is. That way you can make the rear enclosed. Having the back end open, visible from the front of the car, just looks less than great.

 

[e60ral]

my issue with the EE mount or anything else in that location is you have to make the decision of blocking off your center vents or majorly impacting your visibility

i use a proclip on the center console for my phone and a ram mount with x-grip from the center console for my tablet

 

[TX4runr]

I wanted to like the EE mount, but I just don't think the execution is there.

I've been running this setup for about a year, and it's survived some pretty nutty thrashing off road:

I know some won't care, but blocking the clock to me is just not a good design choice, it's also really tall, and I'd rather not have to put that many holes in a trim piece. Mine just uses RAM 1" balls and some hardware to make it all lock together.

If I could redesign the EE one, I'd make it a LOT lower profile, have it dip down to reveal the clock, and use aluminum like they already do, but opt to use steel helicoils (as much as I tend to hate them on our camera gear) that way you don't need to put a nut under the plate. Make them 1/4x20 like almost all camera gear is. That way you can make the rear enclosed. Having the back end open, visible from the front of the car, just looks less than great.

Do you not have issues with the console plastic flexing from the weight of the device at the end of the arm? I guess my real question is: Did you reinforce the ramball mount underneath?

 

[LawnDart]

Do you not have issues with the console plastic flexing from the weight of the device at the end of the arm? I guess my real question is: Did you reinforce the ramball mount underneath?

There's vertical plastic ribs under that plastic by default, they make that plastic a lot more rigid than you'd think. The trick is drilling the hole so that the nylock nut sits between the ridges/fins.

I guess my real question is: What are people expecting to mount? I mount my InReach and my phone. Those way ounces, not pounds. Even my ipad which I mount down lower on the trim pieces below the heat controls, I have to be very sensitive to how much weight I put on them.

Does stuff have SOME wobble? yes, but nothing distracting. I don't like a lot of stuff in my sightline while I'm driving, which is why I have my InReach screen default to off when not being interacted with, etc.

 

[Louisiana Overland]

I picked up a "mob mount switch magnetic" made by mob armor. I bought it locally at 4 wheel parts. Theres a VERY adhesive metal disk to adhere to a smooth surface. I put the disk on the smooth plastic below the ac fan knob. The mount attaches to the disk magnetically and has a ball to articulate a bit for usability. It secures my iphone 6 in an otterbox defender case just fine on the trail.

I recommend this product. The only down side is that the 5th gen has very little smooth surfaces available for mounting. The windshield is an option but I went another route. All in all its a very rugged piece of gear.

 

[MeefZah]

Just to add that if you remove a RAM mount or similar, it looks decent / professional to simply cap the holes with black nylon hole plugs. They blend in pretty well to black components, and with the amount of "filler panels" over switch blanks and such from the factory in the dashboard, they don't even look out of place.

 

[extremejj]

what about this? https://www.mounts.net.au/products/ram-vc-13-3-tough-box-console

It has different accessories too like a cup holder or a pocket