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Smart phone mounts

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by larryakoch, Dec 29, 2013.

  1. iluvmacs

    iluvmacs Member

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    Here are pics of my ProClip Center Mount installation:
    IMG_1448.jpg

    IMG_1449.jpg

    IMG_1450.jpg

    IMG_1451.jpg

    I used the standard Apple 1m Lightning cable — it's juuuuuust barely long enough to reach while routed through the dash (along the right side of the center stack). The panels pop straight off using your fingers, and the cupholder piece in front of the armrest pops straight up and out if you give it a good strong pull. The mount is very sturdy; you can dock and undock the phone one-handed without any trouble, and it doesn't vibrate or move while driving either. No part of this blocks view of any of the dash displays/indicators (though just barely!), and the vents are also free and open, which I find very important.

    And this is why I didn't do the left-side dash mount... well, also so a passenger can access the music-playing iPhone too. :)
    IMG_1453.jpg
    (USB power cable for this runs behind dash as well!)
     
    Richie_sb, davekro and markabele like this.
  2. xpro

    xpro New Member

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    That is a nice setup! Frank Perkins' setup is also really clean and unobtrusive. I will be getting one of these this week. Thank you both for the photos, I had always wondered what these mounts looked like installed. If it's not too much to ask, could you post a photo with a phone docked. Also, great tip about routing the wires.
     
  3. davekro

    davekro Member

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    Ooooooh, a dual display PiP! I AM jealous now...:D
    Thank you for the pics. Yours is the first that shows the Proclip Center mount tilts toward driver. I assumed it was flat so along with the ProClip Center mount from the PC Store :cool:, I just ordered a Panavise Offset Tipper (AMPS compatible) # 685-OP $17.89 Amazon. And since ProClip 'holders' are not spring loaded (adjust to one size phone) and we have two diff. sized phones, I ordered the Panavise phone holder #15575. The Panavise 'tippers' are very hard to tip or turn. They are designed to be adjusted to where you want and left there. They are reported to be rock solid, even for an iPad size! (y) It does move the phone 1.5" closer to driver, so that is a good thing I think. Bummer, no turning towards passenger to changing to landscape. :( :(

    If anyone knows of an AMPS/ AMPS 'tilter/rotater' that moves easily but is still solid, let me know.

    PS. Is that an XM antenna behind your suction mount? If so, do you have a separate XM tuner that you use in the Prius. I imagine your 2012 has XM built in like my '13, but I do have two XM receiver's that I currently swap between house, car and boat. Don't know that I'd want to dedicate one subscription to the Prius, when the free 3 months runs out. Maybe I'll drop the two subscriptions and just use one XM Internet radio subscription. Just looked, my current 50% off for one year ($104/ $8.69/mo.) subscription ends 1/31/14. XM Internet Radio is $14.99/ mo! :eek:
     
  4. iluvmacs

    iluvmacs Member

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    No, if you're referring to the other black "blob" there, that's just the release lever for the suction mount :)
     
  5. grayprius

    grayprius Junior Member

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    Please post pictures once you make the installation -- curious to see how the Panavise integrates with the ProClip mount...
     
  6. davekro

    davekro Member

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    I will post pics. The Proclip mount just has a flat rectangular surface that you hold your AMPS (or other) holder up to, mark hole locations, then drill to mount your holder to the ProClip base. I had assumed it came pre-drilled, because it says it is AMPS standard mount compatible. But on the ProClip website, they say you cannot return a mount if it has been drilled, so I am assuming I need to drill my own holes.

    After I had ordered my Panavise holder (and swivel), someone mentioned Ram Mount brand. They look interesting.
    Amazon.com: ram phone mount
     
  7. iluvmacs

    iluvmacs Member

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    My ProClip mount came with holes pre-drilled for AMPS as well as the 2-screw ProClip style (though admittedly my phone mount could use either type...). They are drilled fairly small so that the screws self-tap into the holes. I think their warning is meant to imply that if they've noticed you've tapped a screw in, you can't return it, or if you drill holes for another purpose, you can't return it either of course.
     
  8. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Correct.
     
  9. davekro

    davekro Member

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    Ah, That makes sense. From the ProClip web pics, I could not see predrilled holes. Glad to know they are there. I have not heard from our PC store on when they can ship?? I had assumed they were in stock, but that may not be the case. I did not order direct from ProClip because they said they would not ship for 7-1o days. Last order from PC shop I got in 2-3 days.
     
  10. grayprius

    grayprius Junior Member

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    Did you install your mount and holder?
     
  11. davekro

    davekro Member

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    Yes, I installed the ProClip center dash mount, the Panavise 'Offset Tipper'* (≈$18) and the Panavise Phone Holder #15575 ($21). When I had ordered the swivel ('tipper') I had not realized that the Proclip mount actually faced a t a bit of an angle towards the driver already. But I'm still glad I added the 'swivel' so:
    - phone could be turned towards the passenger
    - phone could be rotated 90 degrees to landscape
    - it moved phone 1.5" closed to driver
    Proclip I got from PC store. Both Panavise products I got from Amazon. I would have been OK with centered 'Tipper' instead of the 3/4" offset one. *Offset lets you have your phone be 3/4" higher or lower than the centered mount would, so I liked the idea of that flexibility. I have not taken tape off of double sticky tape on Proclip holder (yet), but it is still VERY solid.

    I'll take some pics when I can (wife has car until late evening today and tomorrow). She loves the set up.

    I went through a bit more trouble to run the two cables (iPhone and Micro USB) under the dash plastic. My MonoPrice mini USB cable was a few inches short to get to the front 12v plug between seat heaters switches. Besides lifting out several plastic covers around shifter and display, I also popped out the small 'start button' panel to be able to remove the left two 10mm bolts holding the display assy in (2 on right as well removed ;o). Display just 'pops' out with a slight tug and rests on shifter (rag covered) w/o needing to disconnect its many connectors. Also, just left of the center holding tab, I drilled small holes into (removed) plastic cover to allow for a bit more space for wires so plastic would not be raised up at all. But it WAS still raised just a bit, so not sure my drilling did any good. (you won't notice in pics prob.) Cables ran from center of left air vent, down along side of display assy, to center of lower tray. There is a gap in verticle plastic just above tray for wires to fit thru, you just need to easily pry gap open a bit more to get the USB end thru. As iluvmacs did, I colored the white cables black with a sharpee. At first I used a normal sharpee, but stopped to wait to get a 1/4" tip sharpee... WAY faster and better job!!!

    *All reviews, except mine ;o), say "tipper is not meant to be rotated or swiveled as it is VERY hard to move and is solidly in place where you set it". Poppy cock. I found the back of the tipper has four screws. You loosed them slightly, and you can adjust the stiffness of the swivel or rotation. PERFECT! I wanted the swivel to be smoother, so I disassembled and put a light coat of silicon spray lube on ball. It did not really change the feel. Bottom line, to me, swivel was a great addition and can be adjusted to what ever ease or stiffness you desire.

    Note: DO NOT turn the car On or to ACC while any plastic components are unplugged. I had shifter (2) connectors disconnected when I turned on to ACC to verify my line of site that phone was just to the right of the "clock/time" on dash. when I was all done the orange ! triangle on left was on and there was a message to check the hybrid system (or something). I wish I had accessed the Torque App to check for codes then clear, but I used a plug in OBDII reader. It registered no codes (wah), but I hit the clear button anyway. Dash orange triangle and warning message were gone. It probably just did not like being 'On' when stuff was unplugged. :confused:

    No harm, no foul unless you do not have a way to clear the codes (that did not show up ;) ). The car did drive fine with error code and msg, because I drove it to see if 'that' would clear the errors, but it didn't.
     
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  12. elementnomore

    elementnomore Member

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    Here is a quick video I shot with my iPhone 5s with a slim rubber case. The clip attaches to the vent and it holds the phone great. It won't bounce or vibrate at all but you can easily adjust the angle. There is a ball and socket they you can loosen or tighten.




     
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  13. grayprius

    grayprius Junior Member

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    Thanks for the write-up -- were you able to get some pictures?
     
  14. davekro

    davekro Member

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    I am having trouble with my Photobucket account access. When I get that fixed, I'll post pictures of my Proclip center mount #213470 $29.99 (like iluvmacs') from Prius Chat store with my Panavise offset swivel #685-OP $17.89, and Panavise adjustable holder #15575 $21. Panavise from Amazon Prime.

    note: When the Proclip says 'adjustable', it means you set it to your phone size and tighten the screws so it stays that size. you would not use this holder to accomodate two different sized phones on a day to day basis.
     
  15. davekro

    davekro Member

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    Here are some photos of my Proclip center mount, Panavise (offset) swivel and Panavise adjustable phone holder. I used eyelet screws that I opened a bit to get cord inside loop for cord management, but ended up not needing them. I colored eyelets and chords with (large tip) Sharpee. (Sorry pics are so huge. :( I am not familiar with resizing.)

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

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    [​IMG]
     
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  16. Electric Charge

    Electric Charge Active Member

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    I have an MT5000, has worked in all my cars, except for the ones with the CD slot behind the nav screen.

    In my LEAF, I actually put a piece of that SETA 'adhesive' on my dashboard, and my phone sticks right on that, so it's very solid, and feels like it's part of the dashboard. The side facing the phone isn't an adhesive, but some type of nano suction. Works well if you have the right phone/case (I have an LG G2).
     
  17. grayprius

    grayprius Junior Member

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    Thanks for posting pictures. Looks great!
     
  18. Ronnyguru55

    Ronnyguru55 New Member

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    Has anyone tried the MagBak iPad mount ?
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    58 posts basically describing how poorly thought out the prius cockpit is.;)
     
  20. pmike

    pmike Member

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