GPS devices, pocket PCs, GPS car Navigators, and cell phones. They all seemed to sit comfortable in their own suction cup mount. And yet many fell down, together with their specific non-RAM-Mount mounts. All these devices had a weight between 100 and 250 grams.
We wanted to do a test ourselves
For about two years we have a small Canon MV960 digital video camera. Its operational weight is 430 grams, so we really wondered if a RAM-Mount suction cup mount would be able to hold such a weight on very bad roads. The first photo shows the camcorder on the RAM-Mount in the car.
Seen from the outside through the glass of the windshield we see clearly that the camera is sitting above and left from the RAM-Mount suction cup.
Proof that it holds the video camera
Let's first see the video of our driving over really dirty roads. Most of them where not only a test for the RAM-Mount suction cup mount, but also for our car. For this video of 3.5 minutes we drove around several hours with the camera on the RAM-Mount suction cup mount and we assure you that it never came down from its solid position.
How are these wonderful mounts constructed?
The next photo shows the two main parts of this RAM-Mount mount. Left the 2.5 inch diameter base with 1/4 inch 20 STST stud and 1 inch rubber ball. Right the 3.3 inch diameter suction cup with the same type 1 inch rubber ball.
For the next photo we have added the third and final part of the system: a double socket arm for 1 inch rubber balls. With the arm one holds the suction cup and the base plate in a fixed position with respect to each other, while the rubber balls filter an important part of the inevitable vibrations.
A long and a short arm
The next photo shows a long and a short arm, 6 and 4 inches respectively. Normally the 4 inch will do the job, but in some circumstances you will need a longer arm, as we will explain with the help of the remaining two photos.
Vertical windshield
Please bear in mind that the camera must always be in a horizontal position, looking forward through the windshield. If the windshield has a somewhat vertical position (Hummer) then there is no problem. The camera lens can comfortably sit above the suction cup and away from the windshield.
Inclined windshield
We have simulated the windshield with a metal plate. If now we incline the windshield, it is clear that the part of it above the suction cup, comes towards the camera lens. So the camera, which has to remain in a horizontal position, must be moved backwards. This can only be done by lowering the arm at the camera side. However, once the arm is in a horizontal position too, it can no longer move the camera further away from the windshield.
Even more inclined windshield
If the windshield is inclined more than the "critical angle", you will need to use the longer arm, as we show in the next photo, where we used the 6 inch arm.
End conclusion
This RAM-Mount suction cup mount proved to be very reliable under tough conditions and with a relatively heavy weight as load. Moreover we had to use the 6 inch arm for the test, which considerably increases the momentum on the suction cup, caused by the shocks on the chosen roads.
