Best phone mounts for Tacoma

d8rkn3t · Dec 10, 2023

Elkhart said: ↑

New to the forum good to be here, first tacoma (2013 trd sport in Silver Mica)

Researched a bit and after a couple of weeks of throwing my phone in the cup holder I picked up the Hondo Garage 'Un-Holey dash mount' to pair with the Ram 'quick grip phone holder' Very happy with both.

Opted not to do the A pillar mount since it felt odd as a righty, and then in reading the user manual, found out left side phone/gps mount not advised due to the Driver side airbag in the pillar.

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can you provided the link for both RAM mount pieces thanks

Elkhart · Dec 10, 2023

d8rkn3t said: ↑

can you provided the link for both RAM mount pieces thanks
Click to expand...

Sure!

there are other “quick-grip” holders to fit whatever size phone, but I have this one https://rammount.com/products/ram-hol-pd4-238au

paired size B medium arm and size B ball base
https://rammount.com/products/ram-b-201u

https://rammount.com/products/ram-b-238u

RAM sells a ton of parts to build whatever configuration you might want https://rammount.com/collections/popular-components-b-size

Blain · Dec 11, 2023

Offroam magnetic mount.

Richard009 · Dec 12, 2023

Elkhart said: ↑

Sure!

there are other “quick-grip” holders to fit whatever size phone, but I have this one https://rammount.com/products/ram-hol-pd4-238au

paired size B medium arm and size B ball base
https://rammount.com/products/ram-b-201u

https://rammount.com/products/ram-b-238u

RAM sells a ton of parts to build whatever configuration you might want https://rammount.com/collections/popular-components-b-size
Click to expand...

I have the same mount, very solid when off-roading and love it.

007fodo · Dec 13, 2023

Richard009 said: ↑

I have the same mount, very solid when off-roading and love it.
Click to expand...

I see that you have an '09, despite Hondo only offering mounts for '12-15 and newer models. Does the 12-15 model work in our older 2nd gens?

ardrummer292 · Dec 13, 2023

I modified an Expedition Essentials 2TPAM to fill the role. Kinda overkill, but man it’s nice. I use it every day. Details and pics here:

ardrummer292 said: ↑

Did a bit of habitability work yesterday to tidy up the interior.

[…]

Phone mount

Before: adhesive-mount RAM ball on dash + medium length double-socket arm + QuickGrip holder + 3M-backed cable clips

After: color-matched Expedition Essentials 2TPAM (heavily modded) + QuickGrip holder

Ah yes, the 2TPAM. What an absolute bastard of an install. I received mine 6 weeks ago and had been trying to work up the nerve to install it ever since. I finally sacked up yesterday and got it done. Expo Essentials' video says it'll take about 2 hours:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oXagOgZW9A

The install took me 8 hours of swearing, chain-smoking, and rage. No exaggeration, I'll sell the truck before doing it again. This is why I don't do modding without adult supervision.

So if it was such a pain in the ass, why did I go through with it? My old phone mount was perfectly adequate for... well, holding my phone. The trouble is, when inserting or removing my phone from the spring-loaded QuickGrip holder, there was a significant amount of torque on the RAM ball superglued to my dash. I knew that something would eventually give, leaving me with a RAM arm assembly and phone flopping all over my dash, tethered only by the power cable. The idea of adding another projectile hazard during an accident was enough to justify the purchase and ensuing ass-pain.

The modding process took about 10 hours by itself. I re-cut the square access port for the USB outlets in the top face of the 2TPAM using a dremel...

... leaving the front face free for the QuickGrip phone mount. I drilled a pair of holes on the extreme upper and lower edges of the front face, which provide just enough clearance for the existing QuickGrip mounting holes to line up. I also had to dremel out a path from the existing square USB cutout, through the USB mounting bolt hole, and into a threaded mounting point; this is for routing the phone's charging cable out from behind the 2TPAM and to the side of the phone mount. Sorry, I didn't take any pictures of this part.

From there, I smoothed all the cut edges, roughed up the surface with some sandpaper, and cleaned it in preparation for paint.

I used gray automotive primer to prep the surface for color-matched vinyl paint. I finished my primer layer with a light dusting to get a uniform texture across the surfaces. From there, I used SEM Color Coat flexible coating, custom mixed by 66 Auto Color to match my existing interior trim:
https://www.66autocolor.com/Toyota-Interior-Colors-2013-p/sem-toyota2013.htm

My trim code is FL13. An extensive google search revealed that this code correlates to interior trim colors of dark charcoal (SEM No. 6195) and graphite (SEM No. 5844). I wanted the 2TPAM to match the darker trim around the upper portion of the interior, so I went with dark charcoal. Be advised that these colors are not normally stocked items, so you'll have to get them custom-mixed by 66 Auto Color or a similar specialty shop.

Once the Color Coat was applied to the primered metal, I applied SEM Color Coat low luster clear coat (P/N 13023). I don't know if this step is necessary, but I figured a bit of protection for the expensive color-matched parts wasn't a bad idea.

At this point, the modding was done. It's all over but the crying... er, installing.

I won't go into painstaking detail here, since Expo Essentials' video provides a pretty good overview. Does it gloss over some real difficult parts? Oh, you bet your ass it does. @boogie3478 even says as much in his video, which closely mirrors my own experience:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNAGYiwV2o4

Here's what I found out as I went through the process:

- Removing the head unit is super easy... if you already have all the wires disconnected, like in EE's video. Take lots of pictures of what connector goes where before you start yanking them out.

- You'll probably want a small pokey thing to hit the release tabs on the electrical connectors. Either that, or you'll want to grow a third arm before attempting the install. A small flathead would probably work; I used a dental pick.

- There are a few connectors that don't need to be removed, since they're just jumpers from one head unit port to another. There are 2 brown connectors (one on top of the other) with 2 white connectors right next to them in a similar configuration that can stay plugged in.

- According to EE, offset screwdrivers are common tools that most people have in their garage. Seeing as how I couldn't find one at a handful of automotive and hardware stores I visited, I'm calling bullsh!t. I thought I'd try to get by without one, using a pair of pliers and a screwdriver bit instead. This did not end well, leading to a brief venture around town with a gaping hole in my dash. Don't be like me, get your hands on one before you start.

- Have you ever tried performing surgery one-handed and blind? This is what it's like trying to reconnect the 12V power outlet after tapping the wires to connect the 2TPAM's electrical harness. I eventually got so pissed off that I ripped the 12V socket out of the face of my dash to get it reconnected. F**k it, don't care, it's done.

- Yes, you have to dremel the "lips" on the vent plastic and the gauge cluster. No, there's no way around it, other than not installing the 2TPAM.

- If you have a gap in the outlined area, your gauge cluster trim isn't seated correctly. Give it a wiggle and try again. If that doesn't work, you'll have to dremel off a bit more material. The edge of the vent plastic should be underneath your gauge cluster trim, as shown.

With the install process complete, one has to ask: was it worth it, and would I do it again? It was definitely worth it, since car crash dynamics aren't affected by the relative ease/difficulty of an install. I would do it again, but only with some more experienced assistance available. I guess that means I'll have to hassle @EatSleepTacos if I need to remove it for whatever reason.
Click to expand...

Elkhart · Dec 14, 2023

tell me about that built in right angle charger cable!

Naveronski · Dec 14, 2023

Elkhart said: ↑

tell me about that built in right angle charger cable!
Click to expand...

Here's mine, not sure which exact one he bought.

$8 UGREEN USB to USB C Cable 90 Degree USB C Fast Charging Cord Compatible with iPhone 16/16 Plus/16 Pro/16 Pro Max/15/Samsung Galaxy S10/S10+/Pixel 7/6a/LG G8/G7/Pixel/Switch, etc, 1.6FT

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PFHB3R4?ie=UTF8&th=1

ardrummer292 · Dec 15, 2023

Elkhart said: ↑

tell me about that built in right angle charger cable!
Click to expand...

I got mine from Titan Power. It’s pricey, but I really wanted something high quality since replacing it is a pain.

https://titanpowerplus.com/pages/titancable

TacomaAddict23 · Dec 15, 2023

I really like my Taco Garage DMM mount. I think they have one for the second gen. Also I have a Ram windshield mount for my auxbeam 8 switch. Its pretty nice too.

Elkhart · Dec 15, 2023

ardrummer292 said: ↑

I got mine from Titan Power. It’s pricey, but I really wanted something high quality since replacing it is a pain.

https://titanpowerplus.com/pages/titancable
Click to expand...

thanks! Will grab a couple.

brings another question: how'd you route it, behind the dash?

ardrummer292 · Dec 15, 2023

Elkhart said: ↑

thanks! Will grab a couple.

brings another question: how'd you route it, behind the dash?
Click to expand...

It’s plugged into the USB outlet on the 2TPAM, then routed out the front face of the 2TPAM. The excess cable is bundled inside the 2TPAM mount body.

Captain4x4 · Dec 16, 2023

+! for offroam.
The best $70 I have spent on the truck.

Shawner1974 · Dec 16, 2023

Offroam is best...rock solid. Expensive, but worth it.

Red13 · Dec 17, 2023

Not OP, but on the basis of this thread I bought the Offroam. Solid piece of kit. Thank you TW!

OBXPaul · Jan 4, 2024

BlkDakDave said: ↑

Yep, the "pillar mod" can be used for quite a few things. Like @HawkShot99 and I'm sure many others, mine has a dedicated GPS there. For my phone, I use the Panavise. Both make for convient access and viewing.

Click to expand...

Do you have a link to the pillar mount? TIA

BlkDakDave · Jan 4, 2024

OBXPaul said: ↑

Do you have a link to the pillar mount? TIA
Click to expand...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mod-a-pillar-ram-mount-gps-phone-holder.372250/

Sig45 · Jan 5, 2024

After trying the cupholder and vent type mounts, I've settled on the Magnetic Mob Armor mount. Super easy and in the perfect location. There's a metal disc adhered to the dash and on the back of my phone case. The mount can be easily removed from the dash. Obviously can't get a pic of the phone mounted.

Icarus II · Jan 8, 2024

Sig45 said: ↑

After trying the cupholder and vent type mounts, I've settled on the Magnetic Mob Armor mount. Super easy and in the perfect location. There's a metal disc adhered to the dash and on the back of my phone case. The mount can be easily removed from the dash. Obviously can't get a pic of the phone mounted.

Click to expand...

That actually adheres to the textured surface??

Sig45 · Jan 8, 2024

Icarus II said: ↑

That actually adheres to the textured surface??
Click to expand...

Yup! Comes with 3M adhesive pads on the circular pieces. Hasn't come off in 3+ yrs. Hundreds of off-road miles too.

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