Dash-mount GPS - adhesive disc question

I don't have anything to offer up as far as advice for the adhesive disc, but my preference (albeit slightly costly approach) is to use the custom-made mounts from ProClips. I have the one that attaches to the center air vent, and it is fantastic. Within reach, but not in the way and no permanent changes.

 

I also use the ProClip mount. Very sturdy, beats having to fight the suction cup.

Best of all, if you install the ProClip without the adhesive, you can remove it afterwards if you change your mind. Ours stays put even without the adhesive.

 

Using the adhesive disc tells a possible thief that you have a GPS......and it could be inside of the car......I have heard stories where even the smudge that the windshield mounts leave will tell the thief that you have a GPS. Go with the dashboard sandbag, when you remove your GPS.......throw the sandbag on the floor our under a seat....

Even if you remove your GPS......the thief sees that you have a GPS mount...he will think that it's in your console....or glovebox.....don't give them a reason to break into your car. !!!

 

If you use the adhesive disk, just figure it will still be in the car when you trade/sell it. They are pretty hard to remove, for good reason. I use it on my Highlander Hybrid and it works great. Just make sure you determine exactly where you want to place it before sticking it to the dash. There are no do-overs.

 

I know the OP didn't want a bean bag, but I have found that for portable GPS, that is the real bomb. Reposition as needed for driver or navigator, reangle the GPS to get the glare of the sun off it, and best of all, no tell-tale evidence for a would-be thief to know that you have a GPS in the car. As a bonus, a bean-bag/portable GPS makes a great combination to move to another car if you need to.

Vic

 

If clipping the GPS (or iPhone) to the vent, isn't there a problem with the hot (or cold) air, from the vent, hitting the electronic instrument?

 

I have a couple extra bean bag style GPS mounts, unopened, if anyone is interested.

 

Bean bag mount is the ultimate...solves all the problems.

 

I have a TomTom putting their self-adhesive holder on top of the flip up drink holder lid. When I'm out of the car and not using the GPS, I flip up the drink holder lid, so no one can tell that I have a GPS mount. I connect my GPS inside the sliding console, so very little wire shows while I'm using it. When not using the GPS, I store it inside the sliding console on top of the small flip up tray.

 

That's what I do. Sandbag works in various cars with any expanse of flat dash, and has never moved on me even without the adhesive anchor.

 

This is the one that I use from Overstock - I paid under $10 for mine though. I have a 2009 and it fits well on the hump over the MFD and I also got one for my Dad who has a 2010 and it works well on that dash as well.

 

Yes, it does partially block one of the vents. But, it doesn't seem to affect the device at all and I haven't noticed any appreciable change in comfort.

 

The GPS receiver is fairly sturdy thermodynamically speaking. They have to be, as car interiors can get pretty dang hot when the consumer leaves the unit plugged in after leaving the car. The cold air from the vent won't bother the unit at all.
IIRC, Garmins have a protective thermal shut down. Garmin wanna-be's probably do as well.
You don't want to live on that feature. It's best to shut down the unit for reasons of security as well as longevity when you leave the car, but you don't really have to worry about that either. Priuses don't have retained power to their 12-V accessory plugs after you leave the car, presuming that you usually shut your car off before you leave it, and most units do the auto shut down thing by default once primary power is removed (to prevent the user from leaving it energized in a car after they walk away from it would be my guess…)
I don't recall what the operating temp range is for my GPS---and it's usually a SWAG anyway, but 0-120 degrees (F) is fairly typical.
I don't think you'll see temperatures exceeding this range from your HVAC system for extended periods at all.

Short answer: Don't worry about it.

 

Adhesive backing on the 3M velcro cannot not hold onto the textured surface of the 2010 Prius III dashboard so I took a big metal clip paper binder and clipped it onto the HSI sun visor part of the dashboard. I removed the two metal tongs to the paper binder and then attached some velcro to the smooth top side of the paper binder. I attach the other velcro to my scangauge II and I mount the scangauge II over my hsi display. My Garmin Nuvi GPS is mounted via a windshield suction cup over the scangauge II.

 

Hi all. I have a found a solution to this that I really love. Motor Trend makes a "Dash Pad" and I got mine at an Advance Auto store. It basically is a flat rubber pad that lays atop of your dash with the shiny disc in the center to mount your GPS suction mount to. The part number is MT-GPDP. Be sure and take the part number with you b/c the guy I asked told me they didn't have it until he entered the part number. I believe this is the perfect solution as it does not slide, and you can easily pick it up and stash it when not in use. I can place precisely where I want it so that the cord hangs down just to the left of my glove box. It's a tad cashy at 29.99 but I must say it was money well spent.