How to Attach a Garmin Cradle to a RAM Mount

How to attach a Garmin cradle to a RAM MountIf you take a look at the number of vehicle GPS units introduced by Garmin over the past  ten years, it’s well over 100.  Sure, some of these are merely map or feature variations of an existing model but it’s still a lot.  RAM used be able to keep up with Garmin in terms of coming out with custom cradles for each major Garmin GPS model, but for the past few years, they have not.  Deploying a RAM Mount for the latest Garmin GPS models means using a universal cradle designed for phones or tablets.  Or is there a way to attach a Garmin cradle to a RAM Mount?

Garmin Cradle to a RAM Mount Basics

So we’re going to look at a few ways to attach a Garmin cradle to a RAM Mount.  Before we do that, let’s review Garmin vehicle mount basics.  Every single Garmin vehicle GPS that has come out in the past ten years has two basic components:  a mount and a cradle.  Practically every Garmin suction cup mount has utilized the same basic design since the beginning.  The mount has a 17mm ball.  The ball fits into a 17mm socket on the back of a custom cradle.  This is a design that’s carried forward from the first Garmin Nuvi all the way up to today’s Garmin Drive GPS line.  Recently there were a small number of exceptions to the ball and socket rule as Garmin has started to experiment with magnetic mounts and even a few 22mm balls.

The issue that you run across when trying to attach the Garmin cradle to a RAM Mount is the ball sizes are different.  The most popular RAM Mounts use a 1-inch ball size.  That’s about 50% larger than the 17mm socket on the back of the Garmin cradle.  Push it as hard as you want.  Sorry, it isn’t going to fit on the RAM 1″ ball.  The two companies use different ball sizes.

How to Attach a Garmin Cradle to a RAM Mount

A mistake made by some buyers is the assumption that the RAM Snap Link Garmin balls will fit their existing one-inch ball mounts.  They won’t.  The ball on the non-Garmin end is less than an inch and will not fit the 1″ arm socket.

To the rescue comes the Arkon 25mm Ball to 17mm Ball Adapter.  This inexpensive component has a one-inch ball opn one end and 17mm on the other.  Simple to use and very inexpensive.  One end goes into a RAM one-inch ball arm, the other snaps into the back of the Garmin GPS cradle that came with your device.

For those new to RAM, this also means you can replace the Garmin suction cup mount with the top-notch Ram Mount Double Ball Twist-Lock Suction Cup Mount.  Just replace the diamond adapter with the part we just discussed.  The mount uses the standard RAM 3″ arm and extends substantially further than the stock Garmin suction cup mount you received in the box.  The base of the mount has a twist lock vacuum.  It has a lifetime warranty from RAM.

Summary

While I wouldn’t recommend using this adapter in high vibration environments like a motorcycle, it typically works well for car use.  The nice part about this solution is, assuming that Garmin retains this ball and socket design, the RAM Mount can be used in future upgrades too.