Gilsson UBM Portable Car Non-Skid Friction Beanbag Dashboard Mount for Garmin, TomTom, Magellan and more
Gilsson UBM Portable Car Non-Skid Friction Beanbag Dashboard Mount for Garmin, TomTom, Magellan and more
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 List Price: $26.95 Sale Price: Too low to display Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Eligible For Free Shipping 
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Product Description
Gilsson Portable Beanbag Mount is a great base to mount your Garmin, Magellan, Mio, TomTom, Mio, Lowrance, Motorola, Apple iPod, iPhone, Blackberry, Cell Phone, MP3 or other portable electronics devices.
Details
- Portable beanbag mount with non-skid neoprene design
- Great portable base for your GPS devices, MP3 Players, smart phones and more
- Perfect for states in which use of windshield mounts is prohibited
- Weighs two pounds for stability even with quick maneuvering
- Quickly hide your device without tell-tale residue when exiting vehicle
2010
23
Jul
- Posted by gps at 04:30 pm
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- Filed under: GPS Reviews
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Rating
This product works perfectly. The mounting plate unsnaps from the base unit, so it is very easy to mount the GPS to it. It also works great for running the charger cord underneath the plate to help keep the wire secured. The base itself is not filled with “beans” as the term beanbag suggests. It actually feels more like a fine sand that will conform to the contours of any dash. The construction is pretty solid with a nylon material and stitching around the edges. The top is a stretchy polyester blend type of material that you would find on some kinds of stress balls. The bottom is a rubbery material that will grip pretty much any surface.
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Gilsson UBM Portable Car Non-Skid Friction Beanbag Dashboard Mount
True it doesn’t seem to slip around but it is cumbersome and in a smaller car can end up covering your air vents. I also don’t get how the GPS is supposed to sit on it? Are you supposed to mount the GPS to the suction cup mount and then suction it to the plate? I think this may be the new “pet rock”, something you really don’t need. A better description of how to use and showing a picture with a GPS unit on it would be helpful in deciding whether or not to purchase. Right now it’s hanging out in my back seat!
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I purchased a Garmin 260W and found that the unit with it’s mounting arm is so small and compact, the first dash mount I purchased (looked like a donut) wouldn’t work because the rounded lip blocked the view of the bottom of the Garmin.
Took that one back and ordered this one on Amazon. Absolutely perfect. My car actually has an indentation in the dash where the Gilsson fits perfectly. I’ve placed it in all positions on my dash (which slopes some) and it never budges. I suppose if you drive over boulders all day it might but in virtually all other driving conditions – it won’t. (NOTE: I keep my dash cleaned with vinyl conditioner which can make it slippery and it still doesn’t move).
The only unknown will be durability in the heat. I tend to use sunshades (Florida) and place it out of sight when not in use so it should last a good long while. I liked it so well I’ve purchased a second one for my son’s car. Unless you absolutely love your GPS stuck to your windshield, you need to get a dash mount and this one would be my first choice.
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The Gilsson UBM does a super job holding my Magellean GPS… wherever I place it … it stays! Highly recommend it.
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I have this dash mount for a year. It has been doing great! I just got myself a new GPS so that my wife could keep hers. Anyway, I bought a different friction dash mount and it does not work as good as this one since my new Tomtom is lower than my wife’s Garmin. I wished I have bought this one instead.
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The price is very competitive, the product is well-made and holds my Garmin GPS exactly as advertised. I would buy from the seller again without any qualms.
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There’s no question that this product works exactly as advertised. The price is reasonable (though, I was quite surprised at the amount of S&H charges). I have a Magellan Maestro 5310 that I use in my SUV and was looking for something that I wouldn’t have to continually attach and remove from my windshield. The non-skid material works great. It’s simple to place on the dashboard and just as easy to store away when not needed. When not in use, I simply sit the mount on the floor behind the front passenger seat. And no suction cup marks left on the windshield!
The only problem I had – and this is more personal preference than a problem with the product – is that when the Magellan GPS (w/swivel mount/suction cup) is attached to the bean-bag dashboard mount, the GPS sits up very, very, high. It more than clears the upper edge of the bean-bag portion of the dashboard mount (and, since the power cord plugs into the side of the GPS, too little clearance was never a concern). However, with the way the Magellan swivel mount adjusts, it’s not possible to angle the arm down and then angle the GPS back up so that it’s both viewable and flush with the beanbag at the same time. Again, that’s no complaint with this product – just the combination of this product with the Magellan swivel mount is not practical. (You get the feeling that every car you pass – or that passes you – can see your GPS just as well as you can.) Not wanting to spend more money on a suitable swivel mount, I decided to try an alternative.
With an SUV that has so many ledges and angles on the dashboard, I decided to use velcro strips instead – color-matched to the dark gray dashboard, of course. I simply (cut them to form and) attach one velcro strip to the underside of the GPS and another to the backside of the unit. Then attach the opposite velcro strips to the corresponding desired portions of the dashboard. Ouila!! A semi-permanent attachment, at the same level as all the other dashboard gauges, and not within eyeshot of any other vehicles. Easy to remove, easy to replace, and surprisingly simple. It works.
Rating
I bought this based on recommendations here which are mostly accurate. Good quality, heavy enough, grips dashboard well enough, my gps/phone is very stable on it.
My problem with this is that the base sits high (there is just dead space underneath the flat part), so by the time I attached my device, it was already half way to my rear view mirror (and cars behind me can read it!).
It made me realize why the other brands look different (the flat part is lower than the cushioned part). So while it’s a good product, I’d say it not well designed.
I’ll be buying something else to replace it.
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Have only used it twice so far with my TomTom 330 but it has served flawlessly. GPS attached easily, no windshield blockage, never moved on the dashboard (against the side windshield frame) during the several hours of use so far. Completely happy with product.
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The bean bag does a nice job staying put on the dashboard; however, the suction cup holding the GPS system to the bean bag does not stick. It won’t work at all in cold weather, and comes unstuck in hot weather.
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Smaller and better looking that it appears in photos. Sticks great to my dash, really stays put. Its design allows a unit like my TomTomXXL540tm to adjust properly, where it wouldn’t on a pad with higher sides since the TT is almost touching the floor of the mat when adjusted properly.
I’ll bet a lot of TomTom users end up with this product after finding that others won’t work for them.
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This in my opinion an excellent product. I used it in my suv and also in a rental car. The gps stayed where I placed it and what more can you ask. Much better that trying to make it stay stuck on the windshield.Recommend the mount to anyone who owns a gps.
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This beanbag mount for a GPS is excellent works like a charm,stays as steady as can be.
Is easy to use and does the job it was meant to do.
Gilsson UBM Portable Car Non-Skid Friction Beanbag Dashboard Mount for Garmin, TomTom, Magellan and more
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The product works as advertised. It is well constructed, and stays put on the dash well enough. The price is very good as well. If you need something that enables you to remove your GPS when you leave your car, this product is for you.
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If you own a TomTom or other similar GPS unit that uses a suction time mount then this dashboard mount is excellent. I tested in my Honda Element (notorious for its dashboard) and it worked perfectly.
The only gripe I have, and it’s absolutely not the fault of Gilsson the manufacturer, is that this entire setup is inherently unequal to the Garmin system of interlocking parts. The dashboard mount for Garmin GPS units locks completely, projects the unit higher, and just looks better. Because I don’t own nor do I want to own a Garmin, I have to use the system created by TomTom. If they ever decide to copy the Garmin design I would dump the Gilsson in a heartbeat.
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I have a TomTom 720 and was concerned with the suction cup mount on my windshield and would not use the GPS as often as I would like.
I ended up taking a roadtrip from New York to South Carolina and needed the GPS.
I found this item after some searching on Amazon and it works great! You just mount the GPS to the bag and it stays put regardless of cornering or abrupt stops.
And I do like that the charger has room to stay ‘in’ at all times so you never have to worry about it running out of battery.
Great product and I’d highly recommend it!
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I ordered this bean bag mount and the Arkon GN047 Removable Vent Mount for Nuvi & StreetPilot at the same time, for use with my new Garmin Nuvi 255W. First, regarding the bean bag mount. It works well. It sits solidly on the dash, and did not move at all during the week or so that I used it. Couldn’t be more simple to use. However, I did not like my GPS situated up on the dash. It looked tacky, and I did not like the bright windshield as the background, and the cord was unsightly hanging down and seemed in the way. This might not bother some people, and if this was my only alternative to sticking the GPS directly on my windshield, then I would be satisfied. However, the Arkon Vent Mount solves the problems that I had with the bean bag mount. It sits lower; no bright background; GPS sits at a more comfortable level and seems closer to me and easier to access; and the cord seems more out of the way with the GPS mounted on the A/C vent. If my rating was simply a comparison between these two products, then I would have given this bean bag mount one or two stars. However, I gave it four stars because it does what it says it does, doesn’t slip easily, and for many people, that is what they are concerned about when ordering this product. I mention the vent mount to let people know that there is another alternative which I think is a better alternative.
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I had originally purchased a Bracketron UFM-100BL Nav-Mat GPS Friction Dash Pad to use with a TomTom XL 340-S 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator. The TomTom comes with a very low profile suction mount, works ok for attaching the GPS to your windshield. However, the low profile design mean the edges of the TomTom hit the outer ring of the Bracketron Dash pad non skid mount. I can attach the TomTom to the Bracketron mount, but I need to tilt the GPS up a little to make it fit, usable, but not optimal. The suction mounting surface of the Gilsson non skid mount is higher, only slightly below the outer edge of the mount. This allows my GPS to clear the edges of the Gilsson non skid mount when I attach the TomTom suction mount to it. Both the Gilsson mount and Bracketron non skid surfaces work well, my GPS stays in place unless I’m forced to take a really tight fast turn, or slam on the brakes.
Rating
This is a great little gadget. I bought it to use with a Garmin 255W. The bean bag works perfectly with the Garmin suction mount. The bean bag does not have a huge footprint, and I find that it fits perfectly in the side pocket of the driver-side door of my car. It appears to be well made. The fabric feels sturdy, and the plate on the top attached securely.
This bean bag has not so much as moved a millimeter, even on sharp corners. I also like the design of this model better than the Garmin brand, which has a permanently attached bracket sticking out of it. (I would think the bracket would get in the way of stashing it in the glove box or under the seat, or where ever you want to put it away.)
Great product – it does exactly what it is supposed to do, at a reasonable price. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a stable mounting device for their GPS unit.
PS: for anyone wondering about the color – mine is black, not brown.
Rating
the square shape is exactly the size of a standard car stereo width. so it looks nice directly above it. plus, if you have a shelf in your console, it will fit there for storage.
we have a TomTom 720 and it’s the only bag that will work with the stock mount. just barely though, it sits right on the fabric. as said, very stable and easy to store due to the shape.
yes, the bottom is a freaky polymer, touch it.
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I’ve got to say that I was pretty leery about buying this. However, I read some of the reviews and decided to give it a try. I’ve got to say that I’m really glad that I did, because it’s everything that it claims to be and more! I received my GPS unit for Christmas and immediately put the stock mounting unit on my dash. A month later, I decided to sell my vehicle and discovered that the mounting unit was not going to work for a second application. I therefore needed to buy this “bean-bag”. Not only does it stay in place, but now it’s really simple to move the GPS unit from vehicle to vehicle and I don’t have to worry about gumming up my dash with double stick tape that never works in extreme cold or extreme heat. I have found similar units in Best Buy, but they cost more and aren’t as aestetically pleasing. This is the REAL DEAL!!!!
Rating
This is my second attempt at getting a non-skid beanbag friction dashboard mount (or NoSkiBeFriDashMo as we call them in the GPS scene) that plays nice with my TomTom 920’s stubby little suction-cup mount. The Bracketron UFM-100BL Nav-Mat GPS Friction Dash Pad does NOT work with the TomTom 920 (or any of the 700s or 900s, I assume) because the little arm on the TomTom’s suction cup is so short, the GPS can’t get over the big fat beanbag ring around the Bracketron mat. This means the GPS winds up angled almost straight-up, and you can’t see the screen. Bogus!
But the Gilsson NoSkiBeFriDashMo, which I’m reviewing here, is excellent. The mounting surface (where you attach the suction cup) lies more or less flat with the rest of the pad, so I was actually able to see my TomTom’s screen.
In order to test the Gilsson’s NoSkiBeFriDashMo, I did some donuts in old man Cruthers’s front yard, and I wasn’t able to get it to budge. Glisson really puts the “Non-Skid Friction Beanbag” in Non-Skid Friction Beanbag Dashboard Mount!
It is a little big – about 7″ by 7″, so if you’re driving an embarrassing car like a Miata you’re going to be even more embarrassed when you can’t put the pad in your microscopic glovebox. I suggest hiding it under the seat.
Finally, the bottom of the Gilsson, where the friction lives, feels really weird. I highly recommend touching it.
Rating
I have been using the Gilsson friction beanbag dashboard mount for one week, and am very pleased with the result.
The non-skid material on the bottom side of the beanbag provides excellent friction on dashboard surface. The beanbag, as well as my Garmin 660, does not slide even in hard acceleration and quick cornering situations. Although the instruction recommends placing the beanbag with one of the corners pointing front (thus making it diamond shape) for maximum stability, I found a regular square placement orientation (with one edge facing front) still provides sufficient stability.
Measured at 7″ x 7″, it is about 55% in size compared with Garmin model, which is 11″ x 8″. In addition, its square shape makes it look clean and nice on the dashboard. Originally, I was considering another model by Gilsson, the UBM-2 which measures 8″ x 8, for the wide-screen Garmin 660 GPS. After one week’s of testing, I concluded that it is not necessary.
Another thing I should mention is that the color in the pictures on Amazon looks burgundy, but the units I received are in black, which matches perfectly with the black interior of my car. A nice bonus to me.
For the price and performance, I think this is the best beanbag mount currently available on the market.
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This beanbag dash mount is so affordable and it works quite well. I would tell anyone I know to buy one. It is just as good as any of the other name brands and it is even sturdier. I highly recommend it.
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Bought this item to place GPS on dash instead of window. It works great, stays in place and is easy to hide when the car is parked.
It makes reading the GPS easy.
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I bought a Garmin GPS and pretty much went with this mount because is was compatible with Garmin and was the least expensive. It does what it claims and I’ve had no problems with it at all. When one puts it on the dashboard, it DOES NOT move. It’s probably a tad large for my little Garmin, but when one considers purchasing a multi-brand compatible item, one must realize size isn’t everything.
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I use this with TomTom XL335S. The beanbag stays put on the dash and I have never had it slip during hard breaking or sharp turns. It is very well constructed and I have been using it for 6 months without a problem.
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Works great — Very stable even when accelerating and braking! A little big for my TomTom One… But it works… Now to fit it along with everything else into my carryon…
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This is a great addition to a GPS. It stays put. You can easily move it fom vehicle to vehicle. It gets the GPS off of the windshield without having to stick a mounting pad to the dash. I had previously used the windshield suction cup. It seemed to always be in the way. With the GPS mounted on the beanbag on the dash, it is in a perfect location. I bought one for myself and each of my sons. The 3 dash configurations have different slopes, etc. The beanbag stays put and the viewing angle is adjusted. I had a concern about the space needed to connect the charging cord. No problem. Tilt the GPS, plug it in, tilt it back.
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This is the only product of this type I’ve ever owned and I have no reason to look anywhere else for a different style should I ever need another. Love the large footprint… and the fact that it stays where you put it. I own an Xterra which has a relatively narrow dash, as a result I have two corners hanging off the edge of the dash. Still not an issue, the thing stays put. Have been very happy with the product… youll be happy too~!
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It’s OK, doesn’t slide around but would be better if it had placement areas/holders that hold specific sized things.
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I have a Garmin Nuvi 360 and bought this dash mount because the suction cup that mounts it to the windshield sometimes popped off. I am very happy with this dash mount. It is a good size and does a great job of anchoring my GPS. I recently came back from a camping trip which featured some very windy roads with lots of switchbacks. This dash mount did not move at all during this trip. I would definitely recommend it to anyone with a similar GPS to mine. And you really can’t beat the price.
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I was somewhat skeptical that a pad that isn’t actually attached to the dash could be satisfactory for my new GPS, but the Gilsson Beanbag really is quite good, at least on my auto’s dashboard. I’ve yet to see it slide or move at all and yet the bottom surface is not sticky or gummy, merely a bit rough feeling as you’d expect from a device that depends on a high friction co-efficient to keep it in place. My only criticism is that it’s a bit bulkier than I’d like, but the additional mass is, no doubt, necessary to help insure stability.
In addition, I’ve found I prefer to use the windshield mount for my Magellan Maestro GPS (it’s a suction cup type mount that may also be removed quickly and easily) because the dashboard in my current car is assymetrical (higher on the driver’s side than the passenger’s). So when the GPS is used with the Beanbag mount on the dash it is a little more distracting in that position than when mounted with the suction cup high on the windshield.
Still, I imagine I’ll find the beanbag mount handy to use now and then in friends’ cars, rental cars, or in our next car we plan to buy in the near future.
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I was looking for a Bean Bag for my Tom Tom. The GPS has a small bracket and it is difficult to read while on the windshield.
A neighbor showed me their Amaxon purchased Gilsson Bean Bag and I ordered it.
Used it on my recent trip to Orlando, FL with out any problem or slippage.
Nick Horvath
Bluffton, SC 29909
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Seems to work really well on the Dash, but I actually sitting in the tray under the radio (Behind the shifter) in my 2008 Civic and it fits perfect with the front angled up and allows me to use my Nexus One in the car dock right behind the automatic shifter.
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It doesn’t matter which car I drive, my wife’s Crysler van or my PT or my Classic Harley, the bag stays in place on the dash somewhere and I can see my GPS. I coupled this with the Low Profile mount and it works awesome!
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Didn’t want to put my GPS permanently in the car or use the suction cup on the window. This is the PERFECT solution AND it actually works exactly as it says it will work. Great when you want to use the GPS NOT in your own car. Worth every cent.
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This is truly the best GPS anchor you can buy.
There is not a square inch of my vehicle dash and interior that is not curved and has the smooth flat surface that most GPS mounting cups require for stability.
This pad really does the job of making a great platform which allows infinite adjustments of the instrument position that maximize the lighting conditions and GPS screen contrasts as you drive.
I’m so pleased with its capabilities I’ve ordered one for each of my family.
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The Gilsson dashboard mount is the best dashboard mount I have ever seen. I own the Bracketron Nav-Mat Portable Universal GPS Dash Mount, and this one beats it by a mile.
Why is it so wonderful?
1) IT DOESN’T MOVE. The bottom sticks and the beanbag is large and heavy. It really grips the dashboard.
2) THE MOUNTING PLATFORM IS FLUSH WITH THE BEANBAG. No more problem with the GPS hitting the beanbag. Large GPS’s that sit low to the suction cup will fit.
3) THE MOUNTING PLATFORM IS PERFECTLY FLAT AND SMOOTH. No more GPS losing suction and falling off. My GPS can really hold tight.
I really can’t think of any cons for this mount. I thought my first mount was good. This one is so much better. I bought it for a new GPS unit. The unit went back and I kept the mount.
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I purchased this item because I didn’t want to permanently mount the Garmin plastic disc on my dashboard. This item was about a third of the price of the similar “Garmin” product. When I need it, I take the beanbag out and put it on the dash. My unit easily secures to the beanbag without any problem. My dash slopes down towards the seats. I’ve had no slipping of the beanbag under any driving condition. I’m thinking about getting another one for my wife’s Garmin. I highly recommend this product.
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I purchased the Gilsson GPS mount directly from Amazon.com (best total price) and absolutely love it! It remains firmly planted on our dashboard and doesn’t budge a fraction of an inch when we hit the brakes, rough bumps in the road, or make sharp turns. Before this purchase, we were placing our Garmin Nuvi 350 in our flimsy cup holder; a far cry from an ideal GPS holder. (We live in California where it’s illegal to attach a GPS unit to the windshield and prefer a dash mount anyway.)
Before making this purchase about a month ago, I wrote to Gilsson Technologies customer service to inquire about using this product on top of a dashboard cover. Gilsson’s customer support is wonderful and replied promptly to my email. They advised me that since our dashboard cover isn’t attached to our dashboard, it’s best to sit the mount directly on the dashboard (w/o the dash cover). Since we mostly use our Garmin Nuvi 350 for long distance trips, or short trips in unfamiliar territory, we throw the dashboard cover in the trunk and follow Gilsson’s advice.
I always carry our Garmin Nuvi in my purse or pocket, when making stops, and tuck the Gilsson mount under the car seat to avoid theft in parking lots. I can’t speak for other GPS units but I know the Gilsson mount is compatible with our Garmin Nuvi 350, in our Oldsmobile Aurora, and I highly recommend it.
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This product is well made and sits nicely on our minivan dash. Does not move around at all. Problems occur when we add the GPS to the beanbag. As instructed, we use our windshield suction mount to attach the Garmin to the beanbag. At random times (not necessarily around turns, over bumps, etc) the Garmin, and the suction mount, topple off the beanbag and crash to the floor of the van. I think we will still use it as it is easy to take the unit off the dash and hide it when we are not in the van – easier than removing everything from the windshield. Just have to be careful for the random (it happened 6 times in 6 days) crashes. Have to assume that it is our suction cup mount and not the beanbag unit that is at fault.
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I ordered this mount as I have a Ford Edge and the windshield is so sloped and far away that the included windshield mount for the Garmin 260 just would not work as it is so short. I put the dash mount in my car two days ago and absolutely love it. It stays exactly where I want it. I had to swerve across two lanes of the parkway yesterday to avoid an accident and the thing didn’t budge. I couldn’t be happier with it. The price was cheap and with free shipping it’s a bargain.
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This is an outstanding product. I recommend for anyone who uses a portable GPS. Once in place it stays in place. I do not leave home without it.
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It should have been made clearer that there needs to be a mechanism that hooks the GPS to the sandbag…..
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I just ordered another of these Glisson mounts to replace one that lost its tackyness after about 3 years. I do consider 3 years to be a reasonable life span for this product. This mount has a good solid weight and keeps your GPS anchored to where you put it. The suction of my Garmin GPS came undone a couple of times when I first got the mount. When I took some time and wet the suction cup and pressed it down firmly it stayed put for three years until I finaly pealed it off.
I originally got the Garmin Portable GPS Mount to replace my old Glisson mount but I’m now returning it. The Garming mount has the advantage of not using the suction cup. However the height of the Garmin mount is not adjustable and it is too high. Also the mount doesn’t stay put as well as the Glisson mount.
I’ve bought Glisson antennas and cases in the past and have always been satisfied. A GPS antenna once stopped working and the company quickly replaced it no questions asked.
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The bean bag is handy and stays put on the dashboard. It is convenient to use and exactly want we needed.
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I use it with my TomTom and it works great. Makes moving from car to car a breeze and don’t have to worry about changing things. The main base or having a base in each car.
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I had the greatest hopes for this product and I wasn’t disappointed! It really defies the laws of physics and I’m still amazed that it works. I use it mainly for my Magellan GPS and now I can’t imagine being without it. No more struggling to mount the GPS on my windshield and having it drop off 5 minutes into the trip. And I don’t have to fight getting it off the windshield when I leave my car. I just toss the whole thing into my trunk after a trip and I’m done. Great little device. I recommend it highly to anyone with a GPS.
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I couldn’t get this to stay on the dashboard. It’s not heavy enough to stay put. I’m thinking of putting velcro on the bottom of it. Maybe this will help.
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the tomtom suction cup keep coming off and the unit falls off the dash… the only difference is that the tomtom used to fall off the windshield and now it falls off the dash-mount. Skip this product and just build your own dash-mount!
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I selected this over the round Nav-Mat unit due to some concerns that the TomTom GPS might sit rather deep inside the Nav-Mat, impeding access to the USB/power connector on the bottom of the TomTom. This device positions the mounting plate high enough so that I did not have a problem using the mount that came with my TomTom One 3rd edition. It appears to be a high quality product, and the non-skid material does a nice job holding the unit in place. Be aware of the shipping cost, which is higher than the cost of the unit itself. The total, though, is competitive with other choices, and you might pay nearly twice as much for the Nav-Mat in a local store.
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This is one versatile GPS beanbag. I own a dinosaur Garmin C330 which looks like a mini CRT TV. Although it only has a 3.5″ screen, it is huge and heavy. This bean bag can hold almost any GPS provided it has a suction cup. It is pretty stable and has not slid from my dashboard ever since I started using it. Now I feel less distracted if I have to look at the GPS screen. I can focus my eyes in front of me by placing the GPS closer to me. The bottom surface has some kind of rubbery coating that grips firmly on any surface. We have been using the Garmin 3-rubber footed tripod before, on another C330 before it got stolen. This bean bag is less clunkier making it easier to carry from car to car. We have already given up on using the windshield where the GPS fell a number of times.
Looks:
Looks pretty nice, the color seems perfect for my gray/black, mahogany accented MDX dashboard. It is black underneath and dark burgundy on top. The sleek rectangular hard surface where you put the suction cup is black.
Size:
I don’t think it is too big.
Very satisfied with this purchase. It works great.
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I have a 5″ Magellan and the beanbag is the best way to mount. I got one for each car. Great price.
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After a brief trial period with a sunken-hole-in-the-doughnut style navmat(Bracketon, I think) I got the far superior and only slightly more expensive Gilsson UBM model. Have owned it for about six months, in both hot and cold weather,and I am still very pleased with it. Great stability, quality materials, easy placement on almost any dashboard, and easy GPS mounting for nearly any unit under 7-inches. Overall, a very well designed and manufactured product.
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Just got this for my Garmin GPS. Works great. The Beanbag is a good weight and doesn’t move around while I’m driving. I takesome aggressive turns sometimes and it has not budged. Size works well with widescreen GPS units. With the smaller gps units, the beanbag looks a bit big. Very happy with it so far.
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I recently moved to a new part of the country and this inexpensive little item has made my life so much easier. No more sticking the mount to the windshield only to have it fall off. Also, I now can just take the whole thing down instead of having to dismantle the GPS! Great idea!
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It is fantastic, I had kept having to install my Magellan GPS on my
car dashboard and it would only last a few months and than fall off the dashboard.
With this bean bag GPS holder it stays on my dashboard all the time and I never have to come back and find my GPS on my car floor after it has fallen off of the inside window shield.
It is really a good product.
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Works great. Puts my GPS on the dash where I can work the touch screen instead of mounted on the windshield of my Dodge minivan. No slip, no slide. Easily removable off the dash when I park. I recommend it.
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This is a well designed mount that is quite stable on the dashboard when used as directed. It allows for easy transfer between vehicles and avoids leaving the tell tale circular mark on the windscreen which encourages thieves looking for GPS units.
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The portable beanbag dashboard mount works great! No sliding, and manages to stay in place. The only negative I have is that when the surface gets cold, the GPS stand doesn’t adhere as well, and tends to slide off. Someone else had mentioned this in their review, but I experienced it as well. Easy fix, however, I just make sure I bring the beanbag mount inside during the winter months, so I’ve only had the issue happen to me once. I liked this mount for it’s portability since I have to take my GPS with me when I fly out of town. The mount doesn’t fit in the GPS case, but I merely store it in my suitcase, or briefcase. Great product, and very pleased with the purchase!
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This thing is completely stationary, even with my sometimes erratic driving! The plastic mount is a great size for even larger suction cups. I got a new Bracketron SWM-400-BL and stuck it to the mount and the thing’s as solid as can be.
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My husband and I absolutely love this Gilsson portable mount !!! We own a Garmin Nuvi 350, Magellan Maestro and a TomTom One and this mount works well with all of them, even with our aggressive driving style in a Lotus Elise sports car ! We have tried both the Garmin Friction Mount as well as the Bracketron Nav-Mat beanbag mounts and found this Gilsson mount to be most stable for several reasons: (1) This Gilsson Mount is heavier than Nav-Mat and Garmin Mounts, (2) Gilsson Mount is square-shape, allowing one to point the corners of the mount toward the windshield and the driver, thereby creating a longer “moment arm”, effectively making the mount to be more stable and less likely to tilt or fall off the dashboard (3) The non-skid material surface area on the Gilsson mount is larger than Garmin and Nav-Mat mounts, thereby making it even more resistant to skidding and sliding. One of our friends has a Toyota Prius with slanted dashboard and have had no problems with this Gilsson mount staying at the same spot. This mount is made of high quality and durable neoprene / wet-suit material, I am sure you will be very happy with it !
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I have to give this Gilsson GPS Dash Mount a five star. It’s by far the best mount I have ever prchased and used. It stays in place all the time in my two passenger cars and my motor home.
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I bought this mount based on the Amazon reviews and am very happy with the mount. I paired this bean bag mount with the Bracketron Low Pro Windshield mount, which is a suction cup mount. The suction cup on the Bracketron Low Pro is about 3 inches in diameter; much bigger than the mounts that come with most GPS units and thus much more powerful. I paired these 2 items based on a review I read and wish to confirm that it works great for me (so far). I am using the Magellan Maestro 4700; I cannot comment on how this would work with a Garmin. However, Garmin makes their own dedicated dashboard mounts that would probably be better than this set up.
For me, the square shape fits on the dashboard snugly against the dashboard cowl (think diamond orientation with one corner pointed at the windshield) much better than the round Bracketron bean bag nav-mat. I keep a rectangular plastic container (no lid) that I just put the entire assembly (Magellan Maestro 4700, Bracketron Low Pro, Glisson Beanbag, and power cable) in and put in my trunk to keep it out of sight and protected when not in use.
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My wife and I hemmed and hawed on this purchase thinking it might be too cheap and not work well. We were very wrong. We are using it in a GMC Envoy and a GMC full size truck and it has yet to move on the dash on either one. It reuses the windshield mount that comes with your GPS; you just suction it to the metal plate. Our windshield mount would fall off the windshield repeatedly and was very frustrating. We have yet to have it fall off even once on this beanbag dashboard mount. Plus, the cord doesn’t have to be hanging from the windshield, it’s now easy to route it along the dash and it’s out of the way. I wouldn’t bother spending more on the more expensive Garmin branded options. This one works extremely well and I cannot think of anything that would improve it.
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nothing really to add. Excellent product. Works like a charm. Our Nuvi now sits like a rock, doesn’t move at all. We are extremely satisfied with this product, especially at that price.
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I don’t do many reviews but it appears portable GPS’s are one of the hottest electronic items this holiday season (at least for me!) and the friction mount is one of the first accessories I felt I needed. First, I don’t like a vent mount because it’s Winter time and blowing very hot air on the back of a GPS doesn’t seem to be a great idea. And as many have mentioned, windshield mounts are either illegal in California or not recommended because thieves can easily spot the suction cup marks which obviously shows you have a GPS in your car.
Most importantly, this square friction mount conforms and nestles perfectly in the “valley” between the front dash hump and the middle dash hump of our Toyota Siena. So, it is perfectly placed close to the driver to the right of the steering wheel within easy reach and doesn’t block the outward view at all. It doesn’t look like it would ever move during any kind of driving. And on Amazon the price is great. I just ordered another one. Also, I have a Tomtom 340-S and the suction cup adheres to it very well so far.
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It works just as advertised. Put it on the dash, the console, the passenger seat and it just stays there – period. Hard braking or cornering makes no difference, it stays put.
My only complaint, if you want to call it that, is I wish it were a bit smaller – but if were it might not work as well. That said it fits in the glove compartment with my TomTom attached, so I guess it’s small enough.
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I haven’t had any trouble with this product. It stays where I put it.Gilsson UBM Portable Car Non-Skid Friction Beanbag Dashboard Mount
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This beanbag offers a stable platform to hold the standard TomTom support’s suction cup. However, the standard TomTom mounting arm is pretty short and doesn’t leave much room to access the USB connector while on the bag. So, if you want to keep your TomTom plugged in to the car’s power outlet while it is attached to the bag, you may want to consider TomTom’s alternative mounting kit (approx $30), which has a longer arm, making it easier to attach and detach the USB connector.
The beanbag looks well made – the metal plate is held in place by four set screws, which presumably means you could remove/replace it (though I’m not sure why you’d want to!)
The manufacturer recommends mounting the beanbag diagonally (with a corner facing travel direction) for optimal stability. Presumably that maximizes how much of the bag’s friction is available to counteract forward motion. That’s worth bearing in mind depending on the depth of your dash.
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works as promised. a little bulkyGilsson Portable Bean Bag Dashboard Mount Garmin Nuvi StreetPilot c/I Magellan Roadmate Maestro TomTom Navigon Mio GPS
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I have a Navigon 7200 and this gets it off the dash to accomidate the straight mini USB plug that come directly straight down on the bottom of the unit. It stays in place and keeps it down below the sightline of the windshield. I can take it down and get it out of sight when leaving my car and not have any clues it is in the car. Remember, the suction cup circles on the windshield are a giveaway to potential thieves. I got mine from antoline at a very good price and so far have no complaints. I recommend it!
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product works well as base for satellite radio in car. Does no move around when driving and can put out of sight and out of the sun when parked
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I bought this pad for Christmas for my dad and brother-in-law. I gotta say, I kinda doubted what I read about these things staying put. Christmas night after I gave to my Dad I grabbed it and gave a road test. Fit my Mio 4.3 unit fine. It stuck and stayed suctioned to the center. I got into my GTI and hit some turns way over the speed limit. The thing grips like glue. I bought myself one the next day. Between the 3 of use (2 Mio’s, 1 TomTom) we have nothing but rave reviews for it. Buy It!!!
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It does what I wanted: firm non-skid base, solid smooth plate for suction cup, no interfering edges, good value, and well made. My Garmin 265WT fits perfectly, remains steady, and is stable at all times when changing modes and other touch-screen settings. Delivered as promised. I recommend it.
Thanks.
Victor
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This mount is quite large and measures about 7.5″ square. It can accomodate suction cups up to 3.25″ in diameter. I chose this over the round Bracketron Nav-Mat mount because this has a diamond shape that fits (wedges in) perfectly between the 2 humps on my Toyota Highlander’s dash. It also fits very well in my Toyota Prius which has a flat dashboard.
The mount is absolutely stable under all driving conditions. The non-skid material is so good that I think nothing short of a collision will make it slide. I am using it with a Mio C520 which has a 4.3″ screen.
Before buying this, you should make sure your dashboard is big enough to take this 7.5″ square (or diamond shape) mount. If not, you should consider the smaller Bracketron Nav-Mat.
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Good product, god price, fast delivery. I just wish it was not so bulky. It would be easier to pack in the glove compartment.
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Not much to review but it has worked great for me. Especially for the price! Best Buy will sell you something similar for 30-40 dollars.
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I really like this beanbag mount for my GPS. It really does stay put and is small enough to put in various places. Easy to move from car to house etc.
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This thing works the way it was advertised. It stays in place during quick turns, sudden stops and fast starts, without sliding off the dashboard. The price was less than the product from the manufacturer of the GPS.
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I purchased this mount 3 months ago and have been very pleased with it. Having a suction cup on my dashboard had me worried someone would break into my car to steal a GPS unit, and this mount allowed me to easily stick everything under the front seat or in the console when parking the car. The base stays put on the dashboard, but is easy to move around. If you have trouble getting the suction cup to stick to it (I did at first) just use a clean paper towel and some Windex to clean off both the suction cup and the mounting plate on the mount. Let it dry and you should be good to go!
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A seemingly simple device, however it does the job as advertised.
It holds the Tom-Tom GPS in place on the dash, even during the sharpest turns.
No complaints.
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I chose this model because it’s smaller than the X-shaped one that seemed more popular. Also we already have a mount, so we didn’t really need that part. I like that it’s compact and can be moved from car to car (unlike the stick-on discs) and can be shoved under the seat. It’s never moved from its position when in motion and the GPS doesn’t seem to vibrate either. Very satisfied.
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Excellent product. Just drove across country and this bag never slipped an inch. Very handy to pull of dash and stow under seat for stops out of car. Very good purchase. Used with TomTom XXL540
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Best thing I have bought in a long time. Works great and does what it supposed to at a very reasonable price.
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Better than the 20 to 30+ dollar one. Less bulky, non skid bottom, slick top still has my Garmin stuck down good and it fits very nicely on the dash. I like it much better than that donut looking one and its a lot less money!
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Portable Car Non-Skid Friction Beanbag Auto Dash Dashboard Mount for Apple iPod Nano iPhone MP3, Garmin Nuvi 350 200 200W 250 260 650 660 GPS, TomTom One, Zune Player, Navigon 7100, Blackberry, Motorola Razr, MP3 Player or Garmin color eTrex Nuvi 750 76…
This mount holds my Tom Tom securely to the dash of any vehicle I put it in. Sometimes the mounting cup on my Tom Tom turned loose from the windshield, letting the unit fall. It has not turned loose from this mount. The beanbag is a bit large, but I guess that is one of the reasons that it works as well as it does. This is not really a major concern. GPS units are not that cheap!
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The dashboard mount lives up to its good reputation. I bought this so I could put it away more easily than remove a suction windscreen mount when leaving the car. That way, there is no hint that there may be a sat-nav device in the car to steal. The mount lifts easily out of the glove box and sits firmly on the dashboard when in use. Then it’s just a matter of putting it away. Takes no time at all, and holds the unit closer to me, so I can see it better. Also delivery to Australia was stunningly fast.
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So far seems to be OK. It holds my Garmin fine and it has not lost its traction or its load. It is a little bulkier that I thought it was going to be and that is the only reason for 4 out of 5 stars.
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My Tom Tom barely fits in this “universal” stand and barely holds onto my dash (Subaru Imprezza). If I don’t place it perfectly it starts to slip off…so I spend a lot of time reaching over and edging it until its in the right position. Not exactly safe. It does fit on the dash of our Outback 3.0, but I still need something for the Imprezza..
So I’m looking for something better. In the meantime, this will have to work.
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I was very skeptical about bean bags because of bad reviews on others but went with this. Glad I did. Looks nice, is very secure. Doesn’t move a bit even on sharp turns.
You can fold the cables under the plate or the bag itself. I guess they don’t recommend the latter though.
I use this for my iPod Touch and have an adhesive mounted disk as well for my GPS and was surprised by the holding power. I still like the disk because it is less obtrusive and you don’t have to remove it whenever you leave the car, but I guess it also may invite thieves who don’t think you take your gear with you which I do.
Don’t know if I’d want to take it with me on a business trip to CA or MA where they’re required since it’s heavy but to keep in my car it does the trick.
I rate this 5 stars for being a bean bag mount.
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Perfect for people like me that hate mounts that leave marks. Stays in place even in quick movement ie: quick lane change when cut off. Amazon delivered in 2 days which seems to be typical based on past purchases, keep up the good work.
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I have a TomTom. I first tried the dashboard mount on a pretty cold day. Despite a hard and sustained push the TomTom suction cup wouldn’t grab down. I had to warm up the suction cup and the plate on the beanbag. Once I got adherence, it was fine. The beanbag seems very well constructed.
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I have two cars, in one the dash area is not too roomy, therefore a smaller design would have been nicer. My GPS fell off of the base, it was probably the manner in which I attached the suction device, but if not, then I would question the sticking power of the surface of the beanbag. Otherwise I am satisfied overall.
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I got this beanbag for my newly purchased tomtom XL330S; This was the cheapest option (the tomtom beanbag is completely overpriced, and reviews are really poor as it apparently does not stay put when the dash is not completely flat). In comparison, this item does a much better job as it is flexible, yet heavy enough not to move around (even with a pretty aggressive driving style). It has a good quality plastic, that will keep your suction cup in place – and best of all, it is just much cheaper than the tomtom one… highly recommended.
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Finally, a solution to the GPS in your lap. Installation doesn’t require phone call to your brother-in-law the engineer-No batteries, moveable parts or tools! It works, it really works!
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I built a custom mount that snaps on the standard snaps for the radar detector. Hasn’t moved a bit even with my very aggressive driving style and it didn’t look as bad as i thought it would look sitting on the dash.
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ZSUQ9M/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_title
A great bean bag GPS mount. So far it has stayed in place on my dash. The only problem I have had is the GPS suction cup came lose one time, but I may not have put the GPS on good enough. I like how easy it is the place on the floor,out of sight, when I get out of the car. I would recommend this product.
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The Gilsson UBM bean bag dashboard mount performs flawlessly every time I use it. I use it with a Garmin nuvi 265WT in my ‘97 Avalon. Once it has been placed on the dashboard it does not move. I can speed up, stop abruptly or make sharp turns, without any problem. I can attach the GPS suction cup easily and because it sits above the bean bag the entire GPS screen is always visible. Since I always remove the UBM from my dashboard whenever I leave the car, temperature extremes have not been an issue. The construction of it is solid. I believe the UBM will last for years and can be used for any GPS that uses a suction cup.
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I took a chance ordering this non-skid beanbag dashboard mount. It is one of the least expensive I found in Amazon.com and I chose it based on the reviews of other mounts. The users reported that the other mounts would hide the display of some GPS units and nobody complained about it with this unit.
When I got it out of the box I was astonished at how heavy it is. The quality of construction appears to be quite high and the non-skid surface will keep the mount from sliding from a smooth surface even a few degrees from vertical!?!! It works great in my car. I drive a Corvette and the mount fits very well on the dashboard and does a great job for mounting a Navigon 2000s GPS. I have not tried it yet in my wife’s car or a small truck I have but I suspect it should work equally well in those vehicles too.
Based on my experience I would definitely recommend the “Gilsson Universal Beanbag Mount” for it’s intended use at with a GPS like the NAVIGON 2000s
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Works well with my Garmin Nuvi 755T. Holds it in place, we can put it on the dash or the front passenger seat, if available. My wife can move it towards her to look at it, and I can move it back. It also saves us the bother of attaching and detaching the suction cup from the windshield everytime. Instead I suction-cupped the mount that came with my Garmin to the beanbag and leave it attached, easily removing the GPS when I’m done with it so we can take it with us, and hiding the beanbag with the attached mount beneath the car seat.
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I made this purchase based upon the good reviews I read here and I am not disappointed at all. The bean bag works as advertised and keeps my Garmin 285W in place even on rural gravel roads. Simple and effective. Doesn’t get much better than that.
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This is a nice beanbag mount – it’s sturdy and stays in place in my car. However, I have a TomTom GPS and the GPS didn’t suction properly onto the mount, and fell off a few times while I was driving.
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This was less than half the price of similiar items I saw in stores and in catalogs. It sits just fine without moving on the dash of my Honda Accord. The Tom Tom 330S that I attached to it was easy to view, and stayed put. It’s still small enough to hide in the console between seats so as not to advertise to would-be thiefs that there is a GPS in the car.
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Purchased two of these based on Amazon reviews. Works great in both cars. Heavy enough and tacky (on the bottom) enough that it stays put on the dash–no more devices falling off the windows and hiding on the far side of the car out of reach!
Construction is durable and feels like high quality materials. I expect this product will last through several future GPS devices that I may upgrade to in the future.
The flat surface you stick your device to works great (it’s a metallic material and smooth like glass on the top). The fabric is plenty out of the way not to interfere with any cords or device casings, even on the TomTom XL340S–which has very little clearance for such things.
The size/bulk is a little more than I imagined, but the broad stance gives it plenty of surface area to hold on to the dashboard, so I think it’s about right. The recommendation to position it with a corner facing the front of the car is dead-on. The side edge then fits against the instrument panel extrusion in my dash and it doesn’t budge.
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Doesn’t slide off the dash. TomTom suction mount sticks fine. No more unattractive and “hey I have a GPS in here!” marks on your window.
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What a nice item with this price !! It’s easy to use. We love it.
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Bought this for a Garmin 255W. The Garmin suction mount attaches securely, the cord can be tucked under the corner, and it stays put on the dash of our zippy VW Jetta. I recommend this mount.
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The Gilsson beanbag GPS mount performs exactly as I anticpated. The GPS suction cup securely attaches to the beanbag mount. The mount is of adequate weight, width, and along with the friction surface, keeps the GPS exactly where it is placed. In one of my cars, the dash even slopes away from the windshield. The mount stays in place.
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I bought the Gilsson for my new TT730 and it does fit on the mat, but just barely. I need to ensure the TT730 mount is as close to the front of the center mounting surface as possible so the 730 is sitting on the beanbag. When the TT730 is on the beanbag, the powerjack is able to sink into the beanbag and the TT730 will be at its correct orientation.
This would also be true for the TT530 and 930 as well as they are the same dimensions.
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We used this with our Magellan RoadMate 1412 on a 2600-mile round trip from NJ to NC and Florida and it worked great. It fit perfectly on the dash of our Hyundai Sonata. It is very sturdy and it doesn’t slide around at all. For brief stops we just took the whole thing off and hid it under some stuff on the floor. When we stopped for the night we either put it in the trunk or took it into our hotel room. Highly recommended for this price!