We do not write much about Magellan devices. No longer the large player they were ten years back, they have a much smaller distribution versus their competition. The Magellan eXplorist TRX7 was introduced a short time ago to fill an interesting void. The intended audience of the Magellan eXplorist TRX7 is the off-road crowd. We’re talking about a 4×4, UTV or ATV vehicle.
What makes the Magellan eXplorist TRX7 suited for off-road use? A few options. First the device is rated as IP67 which means it’s protected against the effect of water up to one meter deep. That means it’s weatherproof. Note the term weatherproof. Don’t turn your GPS into a submarine nor go swimming with it. You can, however, use it outdoors in moderate rain without having to worry about it.
The second thing that makes the Magellan eXplorist TRX7 designed for off-road use are the map features. The maps include pre-loaded trails, a hi-res 3D base map view, and a database of crowd-sourced tracks. Add into it a 7-inch screen which is easy to see and you can begin to see what makes this a uniquely designed device.
Well, this isn’t a GPS review site. However, it is a site all about mounts and we’re going to look at some good options for the Magellan eXplorist TRX7 GPS.
Magellan was wise beyond their many years in business when it came to mounts for the Magellan eXplorist TRX7. Wise as in they don’t make any mounts. Instead they partnered with RAM Mounts out of Washington in the United States. RAM makes mounts and Magellan makes GPS devices. Why not let the two companies provide what they make best. And I can tell you from experience, RAM does make a very good mount.
The Magellan eXplorist TRX7 GPS comes with a cradle with four holes on the back. Those four holes form what is called the AMPS mounting pattern. RAM makes a metal AMPS pattern that is coupled with many of their popular mounting configurations. Ironically, this type of mount is also used on Garmin and TomTom motorcycle mounts. While you could probably use this GPS on a motorcycle, it’s fairly large, perhaps too large.
Let’s look at a few mount options.
First up is the RAM Handlebar Mount with AMPS Adapter. This popular mount is made of metal and fits up to 1.25 inch diameter round bars. There is a three-inch arm in the middle with ball and socket adjustments at each end. Installation involves a u-bolt with a pair of tightening nuts. The AMPS adapter will connect to the back of the Magellan eXplorist TRX7 cradle. This is the mount that is in the photo that accompanies this article.
RAM also makes an excellent suction cup mount. The RAM Suction Cup Mount with AMPS Adapter includes a 3.3 inch twist lock vacuum suction assembly. Like the previous mount, this also has a three-inch arm with a ball and socket design on each end. The large seven-inch display on the Magellan eXplorist TRX7 makes a suction cup mount difficult to use on a severely sloped windshield so be sure your windshield angle can accommodate this type of mount.
The last mount that we will cover is a flat surface variety. The RAM Flat Surface Mount with AMPS Adapter has a set of pre-drilled holes at the base. The round base is 2.5 inches wide.
All the mounts mentioned in this article have a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer. There are a variety of other configurations made by RAM that we didn’t cover. Just ensure that the square AMPS adapter is part of it.