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How to make GPS Suction Cup Mounts Stick
Tim
1479 Points
Suction Cup Tips
Over the years I've become really good at getting GPS suction cup mounts to stick, and I've learned quite a few tricks along the way. Often you can just take the mount out of the box, press it up against the windshield, and drive away. Other times you might not be so lucky. If your suction cup has lots its suck, and you are beginning to think the mount sucks, here are some tips.
Clean Dry Surfaces Work Best
Make sure both the inside of the suction cup and your windshield are clean and dry. To clean both surfaces, I like to use rubbing alcohol since it tends to dry quickly, although glass cleaners will work well too. Particularly if your mount has recently fallen you might see a "ring around the mount" on your windshield. So make sure both surfaces are clean and dry.
Temperature Can Have an Impact Too
If your mount has been inside your air conditioned home and you take it out to your car which is 130° baking in the sun, you might not have optimal results. You may want to wait until morning when your car is cooler and closer to the temperature of the mount. Likewise if is the middle of winter and you have been playing with your mount in front of your fireplace inside, you might want to wait until after your next drive to get the windshield relatively warm. The more similar the temperatures are between the mount and windshield, and the closer those temperatures are to "room" temperature, the better results you will have.
A Little Moisture Can Help Keep the Seal
I know, I know, I just said above that you should keep both surfaces clean and dry, but that was referring to whatever you might have used to clean the cup. A tiny bit of water (not drenched) on the suction cup can help it keep the seal. Spread the drops of water around with your finger. If no water is handy and nobody is looking, a little spit can work well too. A tiny bit of Petroleum Jelly (aka Vaseline) can work really well too. The key is to not get too much moisture... just barely enough to coat the surface. Again, whatever you use, use a tiny amount and try to spread it around with your finger to just barely coat the entire surface.
Apply Firm Pressure and Hold
Find your target on the windshield, press it on, and apply firm pressure to the center of the mount. What you are doing, and want to do, is to push all of the trapped air between the mount and the windshield out from behind the mount. Kinda like squishing the air from a whoopie-cushion but there will be no sound. Try not to let the mount slide (if it slides easily you might have used too much moisture) and keep firm pressure for about fifteen seconds.
Drive Happy, Keep a Cloth in Your Car
Using this process should ensure a good seal and make your mount stick. Don't forget that thieves know what GPS mounts look like and if they see one in your car, they might break in to look for the GPS. The same even goes for the "ring around the mount" left on your windshield. Even finding that ring might give them enough incentive to break-in looking for the GPS you are hiding in the center console or glove compartment, so keep a cloth handy to wipe away any signs of the GPS if you must leave your car unattended.
Over the years I've become really good at getting GPS suction cup mounts to stick, and I've learned quite a few tricks along the way. Often you can just take the mount out of the box, press it up against the windshield, and drive away. Other times you might not be so lucky. If your suction cup has lots its suck, and you are beginning to think the mount sucks, here are some tips.
Clean Dry Surfaces Work Best
Make sure both the inside of the suction cup and your windshield are clean and dry. To clean both surfaces, I like to use rubbing alcohol since it tends to dry quickly, although glass cleaners will work well too. Particularly if your mount has recently fallen you might see a "ring around the mount" on your windshield. So make sure both surfaces are clean and dry.
Temperature Can Have an Impact Too
If your mount has been inside your air conditioned home and you take it out to your car which is 130° baking in the sun, you might not have optimal results. You may want to wait until morning when your car is cooler and closer to the temperature of the mount. Likewise if is the middle of winter and you have been playing with your mount in front of your fireplace inside, you might want to wait until after your next drive to get the windshield relatively warm. The more similar the temperatures are between the mount and windshield, and the closer those temperatures are to "room" temperature, the better results you will have.
A Little Moisture Can Help Keep the Seal
I know, I know, I just said above that you should keep both surfaces clean and dry, but that was referring to whatever you might have used to clean the cup. A tiny bit of water (not drenched) on the suction cup can help it keep the seal. Spread the drops of water around with your finger. If no water is handy and nobody is looking, a little spit can work well too. A tiny bit of Petroleum Jelly (aka Vaseline) can work really well too. The key is to not get too much moisture... just barely enough to coat the surface. Again, whatever you use, use a tiny amount and try to spread it around with your finger to just barely coat the entire surface.
Apply Firm Pressure and Hold
Find your target on the windshield, press it on, and apply firm pressure to the center of the mount. What you are doing, and want to do, is to push all of the trapped air between the mount and the windshield out from behind the mount. Kinda like squishing the air from a whoopie-cushion but there will be no sound. Try not to let the mount slide (if it slides easily you might have used too much moisture) and keep firm pressure for about fifteen seconds.
Drive Happy, Keep a Cloth in Your Car
Using this process should ensure a good seal and make your mount stick. Don't forget that thieves know what GPS mounts look like and if they see one in your car, they might break in to look for the GPS. The same even goes for the "ring around the mount" left on your windshield. Even finding that ring might give them enough incentive to break-in looking for the GPS you are hiding in the center console or glove compartment, so keep a cloth handy to wipe away any signs of the GPS if you must leave your car unattended.
Comments
Lift the swivel ball to the highest postion, mount the GPS as close to the dashboard as you can. When the GPS droops it will lean on to the dash then stays there.
Hope this helps,
Larry
P.S. In California and Minnesota in the US you cannot mount legally to windshield, but you can to dash as long as it does not block vision to road view.
I'm not talking about the expensive 2 piece ones but the cheaper one piece that clips right to your vent. It sure seems like a no brainer to me because in both of my cars it would give me a clear unobsrtructed view out the windshield and also bring my small TT One LE a little closer to see it better.
Jsut don't try installing a vent mount on a 1999 XLT Ford Supercab truck, the clip you shove in the vent are so thick, they will break your vent louvers.... I had to return my Mount Guys vent mount.....
here's what i do to restore suction:
make sure that the windshield glass is clean as well as the suction cups - isopropyl alcohol works great.
to rejuvenate the suction cups get glycerin from any drug store and apply a minuscule amount of glycerin to the suction cups . . . they become very pliable, just like new!
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708.htm
Pay attention to item 12 that has been highlighted.
another very simple trick is to blow on the bottom of the suction mount.. like one would blow on a window to make it foggy..
i've seen my brother do that a couple of times and it seemed to always do the trick
Make sure the area to mount (IE windshield in accordance to pertinent laws) is clean.
Rub your finger on the side of your nose. It will pick up a tiny bit of facial grease. rub your finger on the suction cup to lube it. Apply the mount as normal. Being a natural grease, it will not degrade the silicone.
I have tried breathing on the cup, a small amount of spit, water, ect... and the GPS takes a nose dive every time. A little rub on the side of my nose, and it stays where I want it. A slight prying of the side of the cup breaks the seal easily.
I left mine mounted for a month and it came off without extraordinary measures and it wouldn't come off by pulling on it.
of GPS users. Takes the GPS out of the window and puts it
on the dash..
I bought one over three years ago and a second one for a different vehicle a year ago. I prepped the surface with denatured alcohol before application. Both are rock solid.
another very simple trick is to blow on the bottom of the suction mount.. like one would blow on a window to make it foggy..
thanks a lot!
sadly there is not bookmarks in this forum
Industrial strength Velcro (this is NOT regular velcro).
Industrial strength Velcro is available at all building supply and most every hardware store, or amazon.
Simply cut a disk of the rough velcro strip and apply to window.
Then cut a disk of the smooth velcro strip and apply to the GPS suction cup.
Push GPS onto window, it will not come off period, until you pull it off.
It will take quite a strong tug to pull it off.
I can bounce my SUV on roads that must be driven at 5 MPH because these roads are so rough,
and the GPS will never come off.
The same industrial strength velcro will mount the GPS on any flat surface with tremendous strength.
This super strong velcro has a thousand uses around any household, very useful. !