Garmin Friction Mount in new Tundra

[shadyskins]

Anyone using a Garmin GPS with the Friction mount? If so.... can you post a pick. I'm having trouble deciding if I want the nuvi 600 w/ friction mount or an in-dash navi.... I think my wife will kill me if I go in-dash... because of the price and the fact that I just got a brand new truck and she didn't get a thing (although she already spends all of my money).

[Pavilion]

The nuvi is a great unit. It generally does more functions and does them better than most any manufacturer installed GPS, and is less than half the price. Updates can also be downloaded directly from Garmin to your unit using their Webupdater. It works through a power port in your vehicle, and it also has its own rechargeable battery power, which will usually runs 4 to 6 hours on one charge. Being portable you can take it with you from vehicle to vehicle, including motorcycles, or bicycles. Garmin also gives great Tech Support. Being portable also allows you to take it in the house or office and input a trip route and review it before hand. It is equipped for bluetooth operation as well. Shop around online. The prices really vary. You can always beat the traditional store prices by a siginificant amount.

[REALM]

I got a Garmin nuvi and the suction mount is perfect! I mounted it on the black face just to the right of the main A/C blower control, and the unit is in the perfect spot, for viewing, and when my shifter is in "D" and I'm resting my hand on the shifter, I just stick my fingers out a little and touch the screen.

The space is small, like a mm or two in either direction and it won't suction, but there's one little place where it sticks perfect.

Just did a 20 hour trip from Memphis, TN to Providence, RI, and it never fell off, and worked wonderfully. I'm leaving the mount there pemanently. The only thing it gets in the way of is the driver's temp control, but I just reach around and adjust it. Very rarely do I have to adjust that so it's all good.

[Rustywrenches]

I borrowed a Garmin Nuvi 350 from a friend when I did some sight seeing in Washington DC. I never could get the mounts to work well on the rental car I had but I must say, the unit itself is terrific! I simply laid it on the console and then picked it up when I wanted to look at the map etc. It also was very handy to use handheld while walking around in DC. It made it very easy to get to the monuments etc and identified all the huge buildings etc. I'm leaning towards buying the Garmin Nuvi 360 @ Costco ....... only drawback that I can see is a decent way of mounting it to the dash etc.

[B Square]

I have Nuvi 350 with friction mount. I also have factory nav in Tundra. I much prefer the Nuvi for it's ease of use and the fact I can put in pocket and also use for walking. The friction mount is great. Stays put wherever it is and easily stores away when not in use.

[shadyskins]

Originally Posted by B Square

I have Nuvi 350 with friction mount. I also have factory nav in Tundra. I much prefer the Nuvi for it's ease of use and the fact I can put in pocket and also use for walking. The friction mount is great. Stays put wherever it is and easily stores away when not in use.

B Square - thanks!! You may have just made my decision easier..... would you mind explaining why the nuvi is better than the factory installed nav??

[shadyskins]

update: Just ordered the Nuvi 660 / Friction mount from amazon

[dirccooley]

I have a gramin 2720 with bean bag friction mount system. Love it, but only problem is the mount leaves strange marks on the dashboard. No problem in my Avalon, or Accord...but that Tundra dash is something else.

[B Square]

I don't beleive the Nuvi is better than factory, just easier to use. I can just put in destination while sitting in family room or hotel and hit go when I get into car and be on my way. When I stop for lunch or overnight, I just put in glove compartment or shirt pocket. If in NY or Boston, or any city for that matter, it's great for walking. When updated software is available, you can download direct from Garmin site. But on other hand, having factory nav has it's pluses also.

[03hd]

Originally Posted by shadyskins

update: Just ordered the Nuvi 660 / Friction mount from amazon

Well it's a little late to tell you now, but the big difference between the factory and portable unit is that " smash and grab" has become very popular with portable units in many areas. Make sure that you don't leave it where it can be seen when you park. Also don't leave the mount out where it can be seen, they will break in thinking that you left the GPS in the glove box, etc.
I have both portable units and now the factory unit and I am very happy with the factory unit. I would buy the factory unit again if I had to do it over.
You can't go wrong with the Garmin..l have both Garmin and TomTom portables and I like the Garmin units best. But it all depends on what you want it to do.

[ToyCrazy]

Originally Posted by REALM

I got a Garmin nuvi and the suction mount is perfect! I mounted it on the black face just to the right of the main A/C blower control, and the unit is in the perfect spot, for viewing, and when my shifter is in "D" and I'm resting my hand on the shifter, I just stick my fingers out a little and touch the screen.

The space is small, like a mm or two in either direction and it won't suction, but there's one little place where it sticks perfect.

Just did a 20 hour trip from Memphis, TN to Providence, RI, and it never fell off, and worked wonderfully. I'm leaving the mount there pemanently. The only thing it gets in the way of is the driver's temp control, but I just reach around and adjust it. Very rarely do I have to adjust that so it's all good.

Realm, could you post a picture of your garmin mounted, I have the same one but cant seem to attach it where you said. Thanks! I've just been keeping it in the cup holder after a cop gave me a warning about suctioning it to the windshield.

[jkd]

I've used the bean bag friction mount for years in my Ford truck but I use a small piece of "glue on" Velcro on the dash and another piece is on the bottom of the bean bag for added security in a panic stop, etc. I'll be doing the same with the Tundra dash. If it leaves a mark on either dash I doubt if it will be much.

[Billy Bob]

I have a Lowrance iWay 500c unit. I think it blows away all other portables. It has a 5" color screen that is important to see when driving. Lowarance has FREE update available by downloading and they will send you a email when they come available. And here's something the iWay 500c has that you don't see in any other unit. It has 20 Gig hard drive but 10 gigs is for the built in MP3 player. It will hold up to 5000 songs. With Lime Wire we have all kinds of stuff in it for long trips. Nothing like listening to Robin Williams or Eddie Murphy when your on a long trip.

The unit will plug into the Tundra's AUX and everything plays through the trucks speakers.

Of course it turn to turn audio directions, mapping in 3D, North Up or Map Up for driving plus over 5.5 million POI. It zooms in or out depending on your vehicle speed. You can determine what routing options you want, like "perfer Interstates" or non-toll roads etc.......

Lowrance upgraded now to the iWay 600c unit but it basically the same but also good on the water plus a birds eye view of cities. We used ours last July on a month long 6,500 mile trip out west visiting 17 states and Canada without getting lost once.

Here's what it looks like.

Lowrance iWay 600C @ ShipDog

iWAY 600C Automotive GPS Navigation - Automotive Products -- Lowrance

[AKAM]

I went with the indash due to the fact that it comes with the backup camera and the cost is 1,650.00 which includes the stereo system upgrades, blue tooth etc. The way I saw it is if i bought the Garmin Nuvi I'd still be buying the back up camera which itself would cost another $740.00. That's just me though. Good luck with whichever option you decide.
AKAM

[TundraMan]

The Garmin Nuvi 680 is an awesome Navi. Paid $678 online. Now its $652 thru same online co.

http://www.comparemaster.com/product...w=010-00540-25