Smart Phone Holder

How well does this hold your phone? And can you put it in/take it out one handed?
I have the ram holder right now which holds the phone great, especially on bumpier roads. But I'm looking for someone I can use one handed

 

It holds as tight as I could imagine. I've always had a problem finding one I could get to hold while I plugged the phone in and this one doesn't budge. One handed, just loosen the screw and slide out the top. I added an extra joint this morning to get it lower on the dash. Sorry for the poor pictures, and they are huuuuge.

 

You will be hard pressed to find something as solid as the Taco Rail from 67 Designs. I use it for my phone and go pro style camera.

 

Hondo Garage with perfect squeeze. It locks your phone in like a vise. I live off 2 gravel roads in the mountains and didn't want it rattling off. I'm very pleased. Forgot about the chatter that it blocks the vent. Not an issue.

 

For the $80+ these fancier phone holders cost, why not just purchase one of the wireless Apple CarPlay adapters on the market?

I’ve had one on my truck for nearly a year and I never have to take my phone out of my pocket.

I guess the fancy mounts make sense if you are going to use the camera or mount a go-pro or something, but for normal phone app access, it is hard to beat wireless CarPlay.

 

I fooled with the magnetic 3d printed one off etsy that fits on the trim and it was ok, eventually went expedition essentials and a ram mount holder and have been happy since!

 

offroam is decent, built well, but has it's drawbacks
partially blocks vents and prevents vent from moving
the side clamps are too long and go past the screen of the phone, making it difficult to use the phone when parked, without removing it


I have been using it for several years, and after having to keep removing and reinserting when stopped, I dropped the phone face down on the shifter and there's a few tiny pixels knocked out of the screen on my nearly new phone. This is my fault, I dropped it, but am frustrated with the how you can't use the screen without removing it.

 

i would really advise you to get a real hardwired brake controller instead. the truck is pre-wired for it, just need a simple adapter harness under the dash.

much better than relying on 2 devices to talk over an interruptible wireless connection, 1 of which gets constant software updates that can easily break functionality at any given moment, at the same time relying on the others mfg for tracking and applying subsequent updates to maintain the connection--for free(i don't fix problems for free, do you?). all the while, attempting to work on a device that one can sometimes barely receive calls on!

edit: to be fair, i have a lot of things against devices like this. my dad uses a bluetooth-connected monitor specifically to keep himself alive via blood sugar monitoring, to control his diabetes. anyone can say a lot of things about greedy and overpriced pharmaceutical companies, and this monitoring solution he has isn't cheap, including the weekly kits he needs to buy and maintain. but they haven't updated the 'compatible phone' list for this not-so-cheap life-saving monitoring solution in over 5 years. his last phone update was an entire shot in the dark on compatibility because most phones on the list aren't even available on the used market anymore.

so my faith in any bluetooth 'solution' claiming reliability and consistency that is far cheaper and less life-saving is really somewhere between to 'nil', and 'lol'.

 

I finally added photos of my phone/ScanGauge mount to my reply (post 2).

 

I’m the only one here with a Bulletpoint Rubigrid? lol.
I really like it

 

Thanks for choosing us

 

I'm using the BulletPoint phone mount, I love it. Multiple mount options, great customer service!

 

Sosche magnet mount with the 3M adhesive bottom. I use the extra strength ones for both my phone and scan gauge 3, no issue off road in extreme heat from being parked in the sun. Doesn't block either vent and is pretty cost effective if parts need to be changed out. Mounts in literal seconds to the dash and your device.

https://www.scosche.com/magic-mount-cell-phone-holder-tablet-mount

 

I used the Tackform mount on my bike, I have no doubt there are plenty of phone holders that are just as good, but this one is solid and in 5 years i have never had a single issue with it falling or shaking loose. This mount is sold as a motorcycle mount but it just uses a small ball mount so you could use it in your truck no problem.

$60 Tackform Black Motorcycle ALL METAL Phone Mount - 20MAXX Spring Cradle | BC3 Universal Clamp Fits 7/8" to 1-1/4" Handlebars | Aluminum | Compatible with iPhones, Galaxy Devices, More | Short Reach Arm

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076279FZS?language=en_US

 

That's what I went with, works great, especially for the price. I should have went with the extra strength, I wasn't aware that it was an option, since I mounted the magnet on the back of my phone and not the back of my phone case so the magnet has to work through the case, but I've only had issues with my phone falling off in rough rock crawling scenarios in Moab or on really rough washboard roads. Both were solved with taking the phone out of the case so the magnet has direct contact. I've got a wireless dongle for my Android Auto now so my phone rarely leaves my pocket, unless it needs to be charged.

I'd go with a magnetic mount any day.

 

+1 on the 67designs Tacorail! I had used their products in my Wrangler, and when I swapped vehicles, it was a no-brainer.

 

Why add a phone holder that affects driving. Isn’t it better to just use the original car screen?

 

Personally for me it doesn't effect driving. I also map for OnX, so having a detailed map on the phone, along with a sidecar map, along with the carplay going is what helps, especially when trails criss-cross or get squirrelly out in the field. In my experience with the carplay/original car screen, the map doesn't behave the way I want it to when mapping...there's a whole rabbit hole to go down as far as in-cab navigation. It all just boils down to what works for you.

 

I have the Course Motorsports Direct Fit Phone Mount in my truck and have been very happy with it. Perfect location, low profile, easy to run a short USB cord to it for CarPlay, doesn't block or cover anything up. They offer various mounting heads depending on what you are looking for - I started with the standard magnetic head then upgraded to the MagSafe Compatible when I got a new phone and love it.

https://coursemotorsports.com/colle...t-magnetic-phone-mount?variant=44623396929842