Course Motorsports 3rd Gen. Tacoma Direct Fit Cell Phone Mount

First, I want to say thank you to @CourseMotorsports for contacting me for a review.

These mounts can be purchased on their website for $45+ shipping at https://coursemotorsports.com/collections/toyota/products/toyota-direct-fit-magnetic-phone-mount
The website has a simple and concise installed video.

The kit comes with:
1. CNC machined and black powdercoated bracket with 3M dash protecting foam
2. CNC machined and anodized ball mount
3. Magnetic rubber capped phone mount
4. 1 circular/1 rectangular metal adhesive backed receivers

I will try not to make this post same as below but I stole come pics ~ It has pretty much everything you need to know. Great post with components and installation pictures.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...en-tacoma-direct-fit-cell-phone-mount.691489/

Hard to follow that up so I wanted to take a kind of different approach.

I've had this installed for a few days and wanted some real life use before I reviewed. In town driving, light dirt road driving, bumpy road driving and higher speed toll road driving 80-90 mph. I tried this at different metal plate positions where I know I had both full plate coverage and partial plate magnet coverage using the larger iphone +

This thing holds firm in all of my driving conditions. I did not have a single issue with it getting close to falling off. Adding to that factor it is easy to pull off when getting out of the truck.

Some little things I noticed about the 4 bend mounting bracket. Good clean bends I assume fabricated from a press brake. The perfect amount of weight applied to not show tooling die impressions. This goes for the pem stud as well. Not over punched which can compromise the integrity of the stud and bracket itself. I know most might not notice those details and might not even be bothered by it since you wont see it when installed. As an employee for a manufacturing company I do notice these little details. Lastly the vibration type pad which seems to serve a few purposes. One as a filler for the space where the bracket mates to and another to prevent markings on the plastic and alleviates any rattling that normally might occur.






Installation was super simple and took a few minutes. I did cut a corner though. I did not remove all 4 mounting bracket 10mm bolts that hold in the head unit. I removed the two driver side bolts completely and just loosened the passenger side maybe half way and was able to install the bracket without any issue.

Impressions for the mount: I really like the small profile. Not bulky, looking out of place or a claw staring at me (which those have a purpose if aggressive off road driving). Does not obstruct driving visibility in any orientation. I tried to get pictures at my eye level and this isn't an issue at all.








Last, I did put the metal plates between the phone and case and held great and was how I tested it in the above review. Also tried the Qi charging with the plates installed and it charged same as no plate. This may vary with phone or plate locations but worked in every scenario I tried with my lady's smaller phone (Iphone X) using the small round plate ~ I had the large plate in my phone and my phone isn't compatible with the charger. I will update when I update my phone if anything changes.



Lastly, I want to say a big thanks to @LivinOnEdge for the reference. Thanks buddy

 

Nice write up man! One question about the Qi though. Would it perhaps charge at a slower rate with the plate on vs without? Perhaps it's a bit of a more technical question, but I am curious.

 

I can definitely get in some testing to see if there is a rate difference.

I'll see if I can get some variable testing with and without plates at different battery levels if that makes a difference.

I also have an adaptor for my phone and try it with both phones. Like the below, I just remembered I have one.

$7 QI Wireless Receiver, Adapter, Slim Charging Charger Card, Compatible With iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 6, 6 Plus, 5, 5s, 5c

https://www.amazon.com/amzaonbascis...ne+qi+wireless+receiver&qid=1603992776&sr=8-3

 

I just know I never really liked the Qi charger in general because it was slow to charge and made my phone hot. I use the "cigarette" port to charge my phone. Fast and less dangerous lol.

 

Same. Was nice to see it still worked with the plates though.

 

Do you know if ram arms would fit onto the machined ball?

 

From the manufacture themselves.

 

Thanks, I probably should do some reading before spouting off questions. I really like how this looks

 

2 month update*

So had more time on this and with a new phone.

This has been solid. My new phone is wireless charge capable. I did have to switch the large metal plate out for the smaller metal plate. The large plate covers too much surface for wireless charging use, I tried all sorts of positions. I personally like the larger plate, but for charging I put the small plate toward the top out of the way to properly charge when needed in the truck or my other wireless charger. It works great, wireless charging is slow in general but it works.



Putting the plate this way I can no longer put the phone in the horizontal position but not an issue for me. It still mounts strong but it will slide toward a vertical upright position while driving for a bit.

Overall, I still dig it.