External GPS and Mounting Question

[BassManPatsFan]

Hey guys,
So my family just bought a Magellan GPS for our third car (the one I drive) and I've been thinking about the best location in the car to mount it. The windshield would probably be ideal, but I know that if someone sees the system while it's parked or even the suction cup mount for the system, they might be more likely to break into my car and try to steal it. If I mount it anywhere on the dash, I guess it will still be visible, although less so as you would probably have to be right next to the car to notice it's there.

So my question is this:
To those of you with an external GPS, where is yours mounted? Also, do you store it in the glove box when you park your car on the street or in a public lot? I go into Boston sometimes and park on the street, so would it be advantageous for me to remove the system and the mount when I do so, or is that not necessary?

All experiences and opinions are welcome
Thanks!

[casualmadness]

Here in the DC metro area, those things are causing cars to get broken into at an alarmingly high rate. I want one but I figure it just isn't worth it considering I'll have to take the suction thing off and the wire and the unit and everything, everytime I park. I figure even if crooks only see the mounting bracket, they'll figure the unit is in there somewhere.

[FL Knifemaker]

I made a bracket that mounts onto the rear view mirror. It just slides on and off. I should patent the damn thing

[tplyons]

Around here, we leave the mounting brackets on the windshield. We have four cars and one GPS... three cars have the mounting bracket. Good luck finding which one has the GPS.

[csala]

I've got two cars with the brackets on the windshield. As long as the GPS is easy to pop off, I don't see much of a problem. 95% of the time I throw it in my bag or pocket and take it with me.

[disenchant]

I have the bracket mounted on my windshield. Normally I remove the GPS unit from the bracket and either lock it in the glove compartment or I stick it in my purse.

If I'm in a bad area, I put the suction bracket in the glove box as well, just so there isn't any temptation. I NEVER leave the GPS unit mounted in the car.

My mom got this for her car, so she can just stick the whole thing under the seat. It's weighted so it sits on your dash and doesn't move. My best friend has one too, and she just shoves the whole thing under the driver's seat.

[TrooperFarva]

Originally Posted by tplyons

Around here, we leave the mounting brackets on the windshield. We have four cars and one GPS... three cars have the mounting bracket. Good luck finding which one has the GPS.

So someone busts in your window, but doesn't get a GPS? Yeah, jokes on them, won't they look the fool.

[syciprider]

I used to mount the suction cup on the tinted area of the windshield so you can barely see it. Now I have the friction weighted pad and just take the unit and throw the pad under the seat.

BTW, in some locales it is illegal to have aftermarket gizmos attached to your windshield. Check laws.

[BassManPatsFan]

Originally Posted by syciprider

I used to mount the suction cup on the tinted area of the windshield so you can barely see it. Now I have the friction weighted pad and just take the unit and throw the pad under the seat.

BTW, in some locales it is illegal to have aftermarket gizmos attached to your windshield. Check laws.

Yeah. California and Minnesota forbid GPS, etc. on windshields.

Thanks for the advice everyone! I think I might buy one of those weighted pads.

[Geoff St. Germaine]

The one in my Pathfinder is mounted on the center console with a ram mount. The GPS sits next to the AC controls on the passenger side. The GPS and arm assembly easily comes off of the ball mount and can be put in the glove box or in the storage compartment under the second row seats. The XM and GPS antennas are mounted under the dash and sit on top of the radio chassis so neither are visible.

[peterbright]

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

So someone busts in your window, but doesn't get a GPS? Yeah, jokes on them, won't they look the fool.

Do you know what that busted window is going to cost you?

[theshadow2001]

If you drive alone you could mount it on the inside of the glove box door. Leave it open while you drive. Then just close it up when you park and no ones the wiser.

Although is it really that much hassle when parking the car just to pull the holder and gps off the windscreen and stick it in the gloove box? It takes like two seconds.

[BassManPatsFan]

Originally Posted by theshadow2001

If you drive alone you could mount it on the inside of the glove box door. Leave it open while you drive. Then just close it up when you park and no ones the wiser.

Although is it really that much hassle when parking the car just to pull the holder and gps off the windscreen and stick it in the gloove box? It takes like two seconds.

It's not a hassle, but I do often have other things in the glove box, such as registration and the car's manual, so that's a no go. Also, my glove box is probably not big enough for your suggestion.

That said, there is another compartment right above the A/C controls in CRV in which I was thinking of mounting the GPS so I could close it when I'm parked somewhere and open it when I want to use it. The only problem is that the mount that came with the GPS is too big to fit in there. The system itself fits in fine, but I don't want to drive around without it mounted to something.

Does anyone know of a small(er) mount system that will work with the Magellan 4250?

[need4mospd]

Unless you're going to a different place everyday, I don't see what the hassle is because most of the time you don't even need to use it. Mine comes out when I don't know where I'm going, which is maybe 2-3 times a month.
Do you really need GPS to get to work? To get home? To go to the store down the street? To go to your friend's house?

[need4mospd]

Originally Posted by BassManPatsFan

Does anyone know of a small(er) mount system that will work with the Magellan 4250?

Velcro works pretty good for sticking stuff places where it needs to be removed often. And if it's inside of a compartment, you won't mind leaving the velcro there when it's not in use.

[Spoiled Grape]

In our band van, we don't mount it. I take it with me everywhere I go, that includes on stage, into the hotel room, at the after party....etc.

[Geoff St. Germaine]

Originally Posted by peterbright

Do you know what that busted window is going to cost you?

I think you missed the sarcasm.