Garmin Nuvi 2639LMT, 2689LMT, 2699LMTHD Motorcycle and Car Mounts

Mounts for Garmin Nuvi 2639LMT, 2689LMT, 2699LMTHDGarmin is going bigger.  This is a six inch line of moderately priced GPS models which carries a good amount of value.  All models have lifetime map and traffic subscriptions.  The Nuvi 2699LMTHD has HD traffic which uncovers more issues than the other two models.  All models feature a pinch to zoom option similar to what you have on a smartphone or tablet.  Some feature bluetooth:

Nuvi 2639LMT – This is the lowest priced model of the trio.  This includes lifetime maps and a traffic subscription.  Integrated with Foursquare.  There is no Bluetooth.

Nuvi 2689LMT – Same as the 2639LMT but with bluetooth.

Nuvi 2699LMTHD – The premium model which includes HD Traffic.

We’ll review mounting options in a bit.  First I wanted to be sure that if you have one of these models with the traffic subscription, don’t lose the cable.  Your traffic subscription is actually tied to the actual cable.  If you lose your cable, you will need to replace with a very expensive (about $60) traffic charger.  A plain car charger will not provide you with traffic, you need to buy the model with traffic incorporated into it.

Now for the mounts.  Since Day 1, Garmin has used a design with the Nuvi series which incorporates a custom cradle with a socket on the back.  This cradle fits over a 17mm ball which is part of the mount.  Starting in 2013, the cradle was modified from one that fits the top and bottom to one which snaps into a round groove on the back of the GPS.  It’s a good solid hold as long as you have it snapped in properly.  Garmin must have liked this design as they carried it over to the majority of the 2014 and 2015 line of GPS units.

You are probably here because you want a mount other than the one Garmin puts in the box so we will concentrate on those.

The default mount that is provided with the GPS is of the suction cup variety.  This is the same mounting base that Garmin has used for roughly the past ten years (they changed the cradle, not the base mount).  Garmin also includes an adhesive disk for those that wish to use it on the dashboard.  If you would rather not put adhesive on your dash, you could use this cradle with Garmin’s highly regarded bean bag mount which we discussed in a prior article.

How about some alternative locations and mounts?  Vent mounts have been available for many years but Garmin completely missed the parade on these until 2013.  Finally coming out with a vent mount of their own, Garmin’s 010-11952-00 mount is a very well made mount.  Unlike many of their competitors, Garmin saw the need for a vent mount with a clamp on the back if it.  This means these mounts will fit horizontal and vertical vents.

The CD Player has become a popular place to mount a device.   Consider the APPS2Car CD Slot Mount GPS Holder.  This mount has the 17mm ball common to the back of the Garmin cradle.  It’s not hard to install, but be sure to follow the instructions carefully to ensure it’s installed properly.  The CD Player is often a good location especially if it is located near eye level at the center of the dash.

On the motorcycle, the best manufacturer from our experience is RAM Mounts.  Custom cradles from RAM are not available for this series of GPS.  Fortunately RAM offers some very well made mounts for smartphones and tablets that utilize spring loaded tension grips and one of those models fits this line of GPS.  We discussed RAM’s X-Grip line in a previous article which can be read here.  RAM bundles this cradle with a solid motorcycle mount.  The cradle opens to large enough to accommodate the 3.7 inch width of the GPS.  The mount fits handlebar diameters to 1.25 inches.

Motorcycle owners can also consider using the cradle that is provided with the windshield mount.  That cradle can be removed by simply pulling it off and then snapped onto a motorcycle mount that has the 17mm ball.  I prefer the RAM mount with integrated custom cradle as it is a much more secure mount so be very sure to tether the GPS to your bike if you select this option.