Customer Reviews

Bracketron UFM-300-BX Nav-Pack Weighted GPS Dash Mount/Carrying Case

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I have a Garmin 255W and wanted a holder that would keep the GPS shaded on long trips while setting on the dash. The weighted Garmin dash mount I have was very stable but provided no shelter from the hot sun. This looked like the answer and I got it. I had concerns that this would muffle the voice coming out of the back of the GPS but it does not diminish the sound at all. On a local trip of five miles today, this Nav-Pac slipped off the dash twice when accelerating from a full stop. My dash is plastic and not very slippery but this holder just does not have enough surface area to keep from slipping off, unlike my Garmin dash mount. I do like this Nav-Pack and I will put a piece of Velcro on the bottom of the Nav-Pack and a piece attached to my dash. This should solve the problem of slipping off the dash but I'm not thrilled about a piece of Velcro stuck to my dash. I suggest this Nav-Pack ONLY if you want protection from the sun on your GPS and also using Velcro, unless you want a GPS falling into your lap...
UPDATE: Wife found a silicone potholder at Target. Its thin as a silver dollar, translucent and about 12" square and very flexible. Works great when on dash and Nav-Pak is placed on top of it. No more sliding now...

I do not think the listing projects the outstanding features of this dash mount/carrying case. It should cover things such as the following:
1. This mount is a great device for use in my truck to both mount the Garmin GPS during travel but also allows me to move the Garmin very easly between several trucks.
2. The carring case unit does an excellent job of protecting the Garmin from damage if dropped.
3. The design allows the unit to be on the dash but shields it from bright sun light and make the Garmin very easy to read in the bright sun of the Texas days.
4. The case has been sized correctly to allow the power cord to be stored insideth case during transport from place to place.
5. It works great on commercial airplane trips both during flight to check that we are going the right way and later in a rental car to get in and out of complex airports.
6. The weight of the case is perfect balance between convience and useful in holding the Garmin in place on the dash.

Hope this helps
Sam Sitler
[...]

I travel frequently for work and rent cars 2-3 times a month, usually after a long flight. I initially used one of the Garmin friction mounts which worked very well and was easy to pack and re-assemble; but when I switched GPS brands, this was no longer an option. I could have used one of the other generic friction bases, but they require the use of the native device's mount which are clumsy and aren't easy to pack and set up. When I saw this Bracketron case and mount, I thought it would be the perfect solution. I quickly learned that this wasn't the case.

Pros:

--On a basic level, the mount does what it says. It will hold your GPS, and it prevents dashboard movement as much as could reasonably be expected given the build of the device. It hold steady for basic driving.

--As long as you don't need your power cord, it is very easy to setup.

Cons:

--If you're driving for any length of time, the heat from the GPS starts to melt the adhesive that attaches the velcro strip to the GPS. Once this happens, the GPS falls out of the case, rendering it useless. I was driving from Boston to NYC, and by the time I got to New Haven, the GPS was resting in the seat next to me because I couldn't get it to stay in the case.

--It can be tricky to connect the AC adapter to your GPS device. If your adapter has an L-shaped connector, or has any kind of bulky piece at the end, it can be tricky to connect, and can prevent the velcro pieces from being completely flush together. This again can cause the GPS to pop out of the case while driving.

--This thing is impossible to get through airport security. The first time I tried, with the GPS inside, the case zippered and resting in my carry-on, I thought it was a fluke. I tried going through security with the case open, closed, in my carry-on, in the bin, every possible way, and security flagged it every time for extra inspection. There's something within the bean bag base that doesn't play nicely with TSA Xray machines. For anyone who is a frequent flyer, this is show stopper.

--The sound does get muffled by the case. If you're on the highway and playing music, the GPS can be difficult to hear, especially since most people won't max out the GPS volume because of distortion.

All told, if you're not doing much driving, this device should work just fine for you. But if you're like me, a frequent traveler looking for a means to easily port your GPS from vehicle to vehicle, find another solution.

I bought this dash mount to go along with our Garmin Nuvi 1450. I didn't want any kind of suction cup device to mount to my dashboard so I was intentionally looking for a weighted dash mount. I saw this and decided that, since it was the same price as the Garmin weighted dash mount and had the added benefit of being a carrying case, I'd give it a shot.
I have been pleasantly surprised. It comfortably holds my 1450 which has a 5-inch screen. There has been no muffling of my GPS's voice feature, even at 70% volume (this with the radio on at highway speeds). I have had zero problems with it shifting or sliding, even during sharp and hairpin turns on small, back roads. Granted, these turns weren't at 60 mph or anything, but the dash mount handled the forces admirably.
It does not seem to grip well on textured dashboard surfaces. I initially placed the mount in a different location on my dashboard that had a more textured surface, and it did slide a bit. I simply moved it over to a smoother location, and I haven't had a problem at all since then.
If the thought of placing some velcro on your GPS bothers you, then this is not the product for you.

WARNING: This product asks you to adhere a Velcro patch to the back of your GPS. Doing so may inhibit your ability to easily switch back and forth with a different kind of mount. The Velcro is what holds the GPS inside the Nav-Pack, so it's necessary. I nearly returned the kit immediately when I discovered this; instead, I was able fashion an acceptable solution by reworking an old bracket for a different, unused mount I already had and applying the Velcro to this. This allows me to use the Bracketron Nav-Pack while still able to convert back to the TomTom flexible goose-neck suction-cup windshield mount. This solution may not be feasible for most other people.

Some reviewers complain that the Nav-Pack slides off the dash. I think it is likely a function of the dash slope & dash materials. My car has a textured dash that actually slopes downhill to the windshield. I have so far not had a problem using the Nav-Pack either at the far side up against the driver's side windshield pillar, or in the center of the dash with nothing else around it.

The Nav-Pack is a bit bulky and the real downside is that it adds further visual interference around the GPS, about 1/2 inch on each side, plus the vertical rise from the dash. At the center of the dash I found this unpleasant, but it was acceptable when all the way to the driver-side pillar.

For the around-town, in-your-own-car person this product is of debatable use, but for a traveler who flies in and rents a car elsewhere frequently, it's a good combination package.

I purchased this case so I would have a compact but useful way to take my GPS with me on vacation a few times per year. My current, much-liked GPS mount is the standard Garmin clamp and suction cup attached to a donut-shaped, 3rd-party dashboard pad. It works great when sitting in my car. Not so great for travel because the mount doesn't flatten out in any way and the donut is bulky and heavy.

I bought this case with the understanding that the TSA is probably going to stop and inspect it. A dense package wrapped with a power cord should raise their concerns. Just another one of the joys of modern travel.

Please see my customer photos to clarify this description. My case came with two 2x2-inch velcro tape pads, and a similarly sized velcro spacer about 1/4-inch thick. I have a Garmin nuvi 255W, which has the power port on the back of the unit and an angled USB power cord. I trimmed the two pads to fit on the flat parts of the back of the unit, staying clear of the power port, the speaker opening just under the power port, and leaving the middle clear so I can continue to use the Garmin clamp with my existing mount. With the spacer on the same side as the power cord, the cord still sticks out a little bit further than the velcro. Even so, the back of the case is flexible enough to get a pretty good grip on both sides of the unit. It looks like it should hold well.

Using any kind of tape in a hot car is going to be a problem. There are a few things you can try to maximize the life of the adhesive. Clean the back of the GPS with a cotton pad moistened with rubbing alcohol to remove any oil residue and let dry thoroughly. Apply the tape pads firmly to get a good adhesion. Do not put the unit into the case or otherwise stress the tape until you've allowed 24 hours or so for the adhesive to set up. (Disclaimer here: this worked for me. Be smart and careful with your GPS. Not responsible for damage. This is free advice, worth every penny and nothing more.)

If you want to remove the sandbag, there's an opening on the rubberized side of the case. Just open the velcro and pull it out. It's a little tight, but the bag is very malleable. I didn't have any trouble removing or replacing it.

25-Oct-2010 - I left this case in my carry-on through the airport for the first time. The TSA agent stared at it through the X-ray machine and said "It's just too dense" and pulled me aside for a manual inspection. Just as the other reviewers mentioned. On my return trip, I put the case in my checked bag instead, and had no problems.

This GPS holder will sit firmly on your dashboard whiel you drive - or when you're not in your car it will close and hide your GPS from prying eyes. The cable from your lighter to the GPS goes right through the back and it's easy to set up the way you want. I am VERY happy with this item and definitely recommend it.

I very rarely do this, but I feel it is helpful. My 5" Garmin fits in perfectly. Very easy to take GPS in and out of house at night. Stays pretty secure on dashboard, but in a fast stop it may slide, just like others, but I use the handstrap and put it though one of my vents, now it can not go too far in a fast stop. This best suited my needs, easy transport, stays put and protects unit, what else can you ask for? Amazon superfast shipping, arrived before tracking number!

This case is wonderful. Much better than the Nav-Mat, also made by Bracktron. It holds the unit on the dash with no problems.
Has the benefit of always keeping the GPS in a protective case.
Much more convenient. Well worth the extra cost.

I've gone through four different GPS mounts now with the problem always being that the suction cup will fall off and the GPS will crash down to the floor while I'm driving. It was for this reason that I bought this product, since it doesn't have any suction cups involved, and so far I haven't had any trouble with it. The velcro holds the GPS in place just fine so that it doesn't fall down or wobble around. The speaker is in the back of the GPS which is pressed up against the velcro and the mount but it's not stifled and still is clearly audible.

I read reviews on here saying that there have been problems with it sliding off the dash; I'm not sure if this would have happened with me or not but just to make sure I bought a $2.00 "sticky pad" beforehand that you put on your dashboard and anything you put on the pad won't move from it...I put the GPS mount on there and it works like a charm.

The only con I can think of with this is that it's a bit hard to get the GPS charger plugged in to the bottom of the GPS without some difficulty and making it a bit of a tight squeeze. It's still doable though.

Lastly, I'm very glad I checked Amazon before buying this at a local store. The store (a chain department store) was selling it for $45.00 and thankfully I was able to get it from here instead for only $23. Highly recommended!