Using a Suction Cup Mount in a Cup Holder

Using a suction cup mount in a cup holderNo, that’s not a typo in the title.  Today we are talking about how to use your suction cup mount in a car’s cup holder.  This is a pretty nice idea.  I have always thought that vehicles have more cup holders than you could possibly have drinks, so go ahead and use one of them as a place to put your GPS, smartphone or even small tablet.  I have an SUV. There are two in the front middle, one in each of the four doors, two more embedded into the rear seat armrest and another two in the back where I have a third seat that we used once just to see what it felt like to sit in it. That’s ten cup holders. Who drinks that much water?  This is a particularly nice idea if you reside or plan to drive in one of those states that do not allow mounting to a vehicle’s windshield and if you live in Minnesota or California, take a moment to read our article on that topic here.

Simply sticking your suction cup to the bottom of the cup holder isn’t going to work well because the cup holder is likely deeper than the mount.  The Cup Holder Adapter for Suction Cup Mounts is the answer to using your spare cup holder for a suction mount.

There are a few different cup holder adapters on the market.  You need to ensure that the adapter has a smooth surface as most suction cups will adhere to anything that is smooth and flat.  Measure your suction cup’s diameter to ensure that the adapter will fit.  The one we profile in this article can fit suction cups up to 3.4 inches across.  That is larger than most suction cup bases.  Also, be sure to measure the width of your vehicle’s cup holder.  The adapter we are profiling can expand from 2.5 to 3.75 inches.  That should fit most cup holders.

Installation is a quick exercise.  First, make sure the cup holder is clean and there isn’t anything in the cup holder.  You will then adjust the base.  You will adjust the base by turning the top and this will expand the wings on the bottom.  Make sure that the sides of the cup holder mount have expanded extremely tightly to the cup holder.  Failure to do that means your mount may tip over with the first wide turn.  Next attach your suction cup mount to the smooth round top of the mount.  You will do it the same way as you would on a windshield.  Orient the cradle and adjust the mount so that you will not have to do this while driving.  Place it an angle that is easy for the user to see.  Try interfacing with it so that you can be sure that when you touch it, that it will not move.  That’s all there is to it.

The Cup Holder Adapter for Suction Cup Mounts is a real nice addition especially if you like the suction cup mount but cannot or would prefer not to place it on the windshield.