Ram Mount

[David Goines]

Ok, so I'm wanting to upgrade from my homemade laptop mount to a universal Ram mount. And I've narrowed it down to these two setups. I'm just wondering if anyone has any input on which one might be more "stable".

http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogRes...77045051049054045051083087049085/Default.aspx

http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogRes...77045051049054045051066065049085/Default.aspx

The Swing arm design looks more stable to me but more expensive. If the ball mount design will hold up during bumps just fine, I would rather go with it though. The price difference on the ones I found on Ebay is about $36. So it's not THAT big of a deal, just wondering if anyone has any input.

Thanks,
Dave

Sorry if this has been discussed already. I searched and couldn't find anyone talking about these two particular mounts.

 

[D. Hayes]

You can always buy the swing arm part separate and upgrade the cheaper model if it don't work like you expect. I have the swing arm and it's really stable. The part that shakes when I go down very bumpy roads is the base. Since your model is a tripod it shouldn't shake nearly as much.

 

[Jeremy Jones]

I have the Second Ram-Mount system. Works well, except if you have little heavier Laptop like I do. I usually will put a "Wedge" (Usually a balled up pair of of socks) between the back of the mount and the dashboard in the passenger side of the vehicle, to stabilize everything. Once I put the "Wedge" in there.....Its rock solid! I have also zip-tied one of my mono-pods to the side of the laptop tray to hold my dashcam....pretty handy, and it also keeps the camcorder off the windshield, so as to avoid any blind spots, and any cranky police officers who are looking for a reason to ticket me!

 

[Sean Waugh]

The ball mount setup works just fine, we have it in all of the NSSL Mobile Mesonets for VORTEX2. If you tighten it down it doesn't bounce at all going down the road. If you're worried about stability, you can always brace the platform using the seat bolts on the opposite seat. Essentially, if you can do this in your car, you can make a triangle with the leg bases to give extra support, attaching them under the passenger and drivers seats to provide better torque stability for those bumpy dirt roads in Kansas.

One thing I might suggest if you plan on using a laptop, is getting an attachment (or making one if you want ) that physically holds your screen in one position. If you place a laptop on a stand like that and don't support the screen you will wear out the hinge on your screen from the constant bouncing.

 

[David Goines]

Thanks for the input guys!!!
And yeah Sean, I rigged up a screen support on my last mount. It worked but not as well as I liked. I will probably just buy a Ram support. I saw one for around $20 on Ebay. I figured it would fit the Ram Mount I plan on buying.

 

[David Goines]

I ended up getting the swing arm model of Ebay. I installed the two seat bolts but I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with the third leg. I've seen some pictures that have it going up into the console. Is that the best bet so to avoid having the drill into the floor? I'm just not sure where exactly to drill into my console. I'm assuming farther back than the back of the glove box. Will I have to remove the glove box to access back there to put a bolt somewhere or is there an easier way?
Thanks for any help!
Dave

 

[Joe Dorn]

Thanks for the input guys!!!
And yeah Sean, I rigged up a screen support on my last mount. It worked but not as well as I liked. I will probably just buy a Ram support. I saw one for around $20 on Ebay. I figured it would fit the Ram Mount I plan on buying.

RAM makes a screen support that matches the holes in the laptop base. They also make a tray that fits on the base that is very handy to hold the laptop power supply.

Speaking of laptop power supplies, I have a 12V to 19.5V converter that eliminates the need for RF noisy inverters.

 

[David Goines]

Yeah I got that screen support Joe. It's really nice. I'm just stuck on what to do with the third leg on my mount... I figured out how to take the bottom panel off (under my glove box). I think I'll just put a bolt into that.

 

[Stephen Barabas]

Hey, Guys. Just wondering if any of you have every used the Ram mount for a laptop in an early 1990's model Ford Ranger.

Uhm. . . I've looked at the Ram mount several times and pondered whether or not I should purchase the mount they have designed for a 1991 Ford Ranger Sport. I've purchased other things for my truck which I was told would fit, but never did. Maybe I'm oblivious how to make things work, or maybe I just need a welder to force things to work.

If anyone has experience under these conditions, I'd like an opinion.

Thanks!

 

[Jeff Snyder]

I purchased my laptop mount system from an online GPS store back in 2000 (I think), and it's as solid as a rock -- very well made. I use a seat-rail-mounted laptop rig (with two attachment points, one for each seat rail), with an "add-on" for a camcorder mount. The neat thing with RAM Mount is that you can essentially "custom make" your laptop mount by buying individual parts and assembling everything yourself. I don't remember where I bought my components, but they may have come from http://www.gpscity.com/rammounts (which has a wide selection of parts, as well as some videos that show you how to use *this* or *that* part and may be able to give you some ideas for your setup).

 

[Joe Dorn]

Hey, Guys. Just wondering if any of you have every used the Ram mount for a laptop in an early 1990's model Ford Ranger.

Uhm. . . I've looked at the Ram mount several times and pondered whether or not I should purchase the mount they have designed for a 1991 Ford Ranger Sport. I've purchased other things for my truck which I was told would fit, but never did. Maybe I'm oblivious how to make things work, or maybe I just need a welder to force things to work.

If anyone has experience under these conditions, I'd like an opinion.

Thanks!

If RAM has a base for a vehicle, it will probably work as advertised. I have them installed in a 1998 Chevy pickup and another in a 2007 Tahoe; both fell into place.

One of our other locals had an offbeat car (for chasing) that did not have a 'catalog entry' base; he contacted RAM and they made a custom mount for him at about the same price as any other base.

If you are really concerned, just order the base and return it if it doesn't fit; order the other parts later. Except for shipping the price is the same.

 

[Scott Bennett]

My 1998 Bravada was listed as no fit, the one for a 1998 S10 fit perfectly (Although tight because of extra sound proofing for the Olds I would assume).

2001 Mazda tribute was a no fit, ordered one for the 2001 Ford Escape fit 100% perfect so I don't know what was up with that.

Needless to say I don't think they try EVERY combination, might see if there is one for the Bronco II, might work