Garmin mounting - vent - beanbag - windshield or other?

[ctcamper]

I resisted buying one until just before the last trip. I love it, if only for the ability to find supermarkets, or even know how far the next rest area is. The mapping ability is great too but only when used in conjunction with a paper map.

I bought the garmin nuvi 350 from amazon for 199.00 I like the unit so far and have used the picture viewer to be able to carry around a few dig pics to show people.

My question is:

What is your favorite method for mounting the unit on the dash etc...

Since I got it the day before I left I rigged up a beanbag using a 32 oz bag of beans stuffed in a ditty bag. I closed the neck of the ditty bag around the suction base of the winshield mount and duct taped it in place. I put it on top of some rubber shelf liner on top of the dash. It worked well for a last minute quick fix although I found I had to move it back in position after an area of bumpy roads -- it would slide down the armour all covered dash toward the window. I then only used the garmin on battery power when in the tow.

I looked in walmart and was shocked to find the friction mount is 39 bucks, a bit too much for me. Ebay has some for sale and also a vent mount? What is the best? Has anyone made their own?

[ctcamper]

I resisted buying one until just before the last trip. I love it, if only for the ability to find supermarkets, or even know how far the next rest area is. The mapping ability is great too but only when used in conjunction with a paper map.

I bought the garmin nuvi 350 from amazon for 199.00 I like the unit so far and have used the picture viewer to be able to carry around a few dig pics to show people.

My question is:

What is your favorite method for mounting the unit on the dash etc...

Since I got it the day before I left I rigged up a beanbag using a 32 oz bag of beans stuffed in a ditty bag. I closed the neck of the ditty bag around the suction base of the winshield mount and duct taped it in place. I put it on top of some rubber shelf liner on top of the dash. It worked well for a last minute quick fix although I found I had to move it back in position after an area of bumpy roads -- it would slide down the armour all covered dash toward the window. I then only used the garmin on battery power when in the tow.

I looked in walmart and was shocked to find the friction mount is 39 bucks, a bit too much for me. Ebay has some for sale and also a vent mount? What is the best? Has anyone made their own?

[Bill Adams]

I just use the Garmin bean bag mount and it works very well in the RV as I have a flat dash. When I use it in the tow car (van) the top of the dash is flat but then slopes toward the windshield pretty sharply. In almost all cases it will just sit there just fine but a quick stop will send it down the dash. I suspect that in an accident it would become a missile but the only thing hurt would be the Garmin. They also included a sticky backed mount that I could but in the van and move it to the bean bag in the RV, I just never did!
I believe all the same options are available for the Nuvi either from a Garmin dealer or directly from Garmin but as you have noted they would likely not be cheap.

[BigSkyBob]

I use the bean bag mount for my 7200 and love it.

[historyljc]

For the 7200 I use the stick down mount in the middle of the RV beverage tray. If I move it to the Saturn I use a bean bag mount. For the C340 I use a bean bag mount.

[JWatkins]

I use the Garmin bean bag mount for my 7200.
Joe