Phone holder?

[Vanamax]

I’m looking for the best phone holder for the Vanagonso I can use google maps. The Van Cafe dash clip phone holder looks like it holds the phone in the right place, but I’m concerned over the years the metal clip might damage the dash.

Anyone have an other solutions that won’t muck up the dash? Anything that extends from the ashtray but has an arm to make the phone closer to the steering wheel? 🤔


(Please don’t comment about the evils of phones while driving, I have Bluetooth and just use the phone for a nav)

[shagginwagon83]

Do you happen to have a later iPhone?

Around iPhone 12 or so they introduced magnetic wireless charging (Magsafe). I literally slap my phone onto the mounted charger and it holds and charges the phone.

It is perfect for navigation - especially if you have to grab the phone, add a stop, and then return it to its mounted location. The magnets are strong enough to hold the phone during miles of Baja washboard.

Being wireless charging, it saves the life of your charge port.

I don't know if it gets any better than that.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08HNBHSQV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

You will want to make sure your iPhone case is magsafe compatible.
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"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram: @joannthevan

[dublife13]

I have a suction cup phone mount attached to the right of the cluster on the dash that extends in and out if needed. It is a $20-30 unit from Amazon that uses a magnet to hold the phone, and it does not work very well.

I may install a Ram mount this fall as I have heard good things.
https://rammount.com/products/ram-b-166-un7u

This ScanStrut unit is also attractive and has charging capabilities.
https://www.scanstrut.com/marine/charge/qi-wireless/edge-sc-cw-05/f

[scotty timmerman]

I got one off of Amazon. It comes with a disk that has a peel and stick on the back of it. I stuck the disk onto a 3” 90lb magnet and then the suction cup part to the disk/magnet. I stuck the magnet on to the metal portion of the dash by the defrost vent and it extends down to the right side of the instrument cluster. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B088BRCTXQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
_________________
71 ghia coupe: Build thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=511738&highlight=
71 type 3 fastback auto
71 type 3 fastback manual
73 super beetle
57 oval: build thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8616563#8616563
63 beetle reassembly: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7458619#7458619
2332cc engine build: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8608429&highlight=#8608429
84 vanagon westfalia wolfsburg edition

[dhaavers]

Here’s mine…full analog, no magnets, no moving parts. Cheap & simple. It just works.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0811WBKNC/ref=sspa_dk_d...F9kZXRhaWw

- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[Corwyn]

I use the Scosche Magic Mount. 3M VHP tape holding it to the dash just left of the ashtray. No drilling. Magmatic. Holds my phone even when off-road.

https://www.amazon.com/MAGDMB-MagicMount-Universal...d_source=1
_________________
'90 White Westy ("White Lightning")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[jlrftype7]

1st, do you have an early Vanagon with the Painted Metal Dash, or a later Vanagon with the updated dash?
We have an early Vanagon, and went with an articulating phone holder that I bought off Amazon. Sticky pad to the Metal Dash that the holder came with, and it's never come off the Dash since it was installed early in 2020. We don't off-road with the VW, so no rough roads really to survive....
Would have to track down the holder for you- I'll upload a picture later on as that's easier once I find it, and shows the style phone holder.
Photos added of ours-

This link to Amazon isn't the exact one we bought, but it's similar style. Sides move in or out to grip the phone. Cord fits through gap at bottom of holder to attach to the Phone. Pivot action and folding/articulation action for rest of holder.
https://www.amazon.com/VICSEED-Friendly-Dashboard-...b=eyJ2Ijoi
_________________
'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto

[space]

https://us.macally.com/products/windshield-phone-h...JYm-i8kK2g

This style works very well
We have it inline with the dash gauges
The bottom of the phone supported by the dash as well
_________________
82 westy
w:
2.5 JDM Subie
Rear discs

[jimf909]

I use magnetic phone mounts in cars, at the workbench, etc. Places where I want hands-free viewing of the screen.

In the van I have this mount attached to the side of the gauge cluster with VHB tape. It's reasonably clean, no holes, sits next to the gauges and the phone attaches with one hand. A charge cable comes out the bottom of the gauge cluster to charge the phone.

I mounted one on the dash to hold an ipad. The display was great but I didn't bring the ipad along often enough. Seeing this photo from 2016 makes me want to revisit this idea.

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- Jim

[Silverghost500]

I picked up a suction mounted holder from Costco. I have it suction to the windshield. It's got a pretty big arm and mechanical clamping mechanism to hold my antiquated iPhone 8 Plus with Otterbox case. The magnet type holders that you put magnets in the case couldn't hold the phone when stationary, much less when driving and hitting bumps.
_________________
1986 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia "Von Westy"
Honda K24A conversion
3-Speed Automatic

Von Westy YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbhyZYxJEQrUuLnMbLleeIA

[tencentlife]

[Mateo83]

I got a 3d printed Etsy that goes in the ashtray.
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83 Air-cooled 2.0 Tin Top

[shagginwagon83]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

buddy has one of these with a magnetic base

https://rammount.com/collections/ram-x-grip-phone-mounts

that fucker ain't going nowhere. I have yet to pull the trigger on a mount, but when I do it will be from these guys
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[MarkWard]

[xoo00oox]

Best solution I’ve found is to use a stereo that communicates with the phone. This gives you a nice big screen to use for navigation and music selection.

[SCM]

I have a Scoche (spelling?) suction cup thing that attaches to the van's windshield and a cord to charge the phone and connect it to the stereo (the stereo's bluetooth function is broke).

I have a similar Night Eyez mount (again, I don't know how to spell intentionally mispelled words) on my off road truck.

Both work fine for me although they do very rarely lose suction and become unattached.
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'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine

[markswagen]

l like and have these in all of our vanagons
https://www.ebay.com/itm/266565684405?itmmeta=01J3...R4DrpPGcZA
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markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.

619 201 0310

[djkeev]

[Buggeee]