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Vanamax Samba Member
Joined: June 30, 2023 Posts: 31
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Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2024 6:51 pm Post subject: Phone holder? |
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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) |
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shagginwagon83  Samba Member

Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 4315 Location: SWVA
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Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2024 7:38 pm Post subject: Re: Phone holder? |
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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. _________________ "Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram: @joannthevan
Last edited by shagginwagon83 on Tue Jul 30, 2024 7:41 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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dublife13 Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2021 Posts: 124 Location: washington
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scotty timmerman Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2010 Posts: 1036 Location: gigharbor W.A
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dhaavers Samba Member

Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 8375 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:26 pm Post subject: Re: Phone holder? |
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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 _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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Corwyn  Samba Member

Joined: December 29, 2009 Posts: 2417 Location: Olympia, Washington
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jlrftype7 Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018 Posts: 4515 Location: Chicago
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Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2024 5:46 am Post subject: Re: Phone holder? |
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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
Last edited by jlrftype7 on Sun Aug 04, 2024 10:39 am; edited 1 time in total |
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space Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2017 Posts: 806
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jimf909 Samba Member

Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 8160 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2024 7:46 am Post subject: Re: Phone holder? |
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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.
_________________ - Jim
Butcher wrote: |
This is the main fault with DIY'ers, they get together on these forums and pat themselves on their backs spreading bad information. |
Guilty as charged.
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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Silverghost500 Samba Member

Joined: August 01, 2018 Posts: 1198 Location: Atlanta, GA
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Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2024 8:25 am Post subject: Re: Phone holder? |
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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 |
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tencentlife Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006 Posts: 10147 Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
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Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2024 8:27 am Post subject: Re: Phone holder? |
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Vanamax wrote: |
...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.
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I invented the clip, and manufacture that and the universal phone mount, and have used both for years. There's no marring of the dash cover. We specifically state that it won't.
Our universal mount isn't the cheapest, we don't have those economies of scale, but the clip kit alone allows you to use many other mounts, magnetic, suction cup or adhesive as well without leaving a mark on the dash, and lets you position your device in the perfect location for good visibility, minimal glare, and easy access. _________________ Shop for unique and useful Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/
also available at VanCafe.com!
Please don't PM here, I will not reply.
Experience is death to doctrine.
Last edited by tencentlife on Wed Jul 31, 2024 8:59 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Mateo83 Samba Member

Joined: September 14, 2021 Posts: 645 Location: Lodi, CA
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Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2024 8:32 am Post subject: Re: Phone holder? |
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I got a 3d printed Etsy that goes in the ashtray. _________________ 83 Air-cooled 2.0 Tin Top |
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shagginwagon83  Samba Member

Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 4315 Location: SWVA
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Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2024 8:43 am Post subject: Re: Phone holder? |
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Link
**please ignore my JDM gauges, that is on the to-do list to remove! _________________ "Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram: @joannthevan |
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skills@eurocarsplus Samba Peckerhead

Joined: January 01, 2007 Posts: 17823 Location: sticksville, ct.
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Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2024 9:56 am Post subject: Re: Phone holder? |
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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 _________________
gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
Jake Raby wrote: |
Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
Brian wrote: |
Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history |
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MarkWard Samba Member

Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 18695 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2024 10:19 am Post subject: Re: Phone holder? |
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My navigator Mrs. Ward we actually use 2 phones and seem to rotate use between mapping and research. I have two small aluminum tabs I bent up that keep the phones from slipping off the early dash.
My experience even with tint and AC, the phones can take only so much sunlight. Biggest improvement was adding Bluetooth to the stereo. We can actually hear the directions now. |
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xoo00oox Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2010 Posts: 2724 Location: East Nassau, NY
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Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2024 10:57 am Post subject: Re: Phone holder? |
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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. |
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SCM Samba Member

Joined: January 26, 2011 Posts: 3357 Location: Bozeman MT
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Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2024 12:35 pm Post subject: Re: Phone holder? |
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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. _________________ '91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
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markswagen Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2018 Posts: 1555 Location: san diego
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djkeev Samba Moderator

Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32987 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Buggeee Samba Member

Joined: December 22, 2016 Posts: 4925 Location: Stuck in Ohio
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Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2024 5:55 pm Post subject: Re: Phone holder? |
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djkeev wrote: |
Dave, I really like the low tech simplicity of this...... just added one to my cart!
Thanks. |
Me too! I just added one to my dash tonight, right on top of the gauge pod and it's perfect! I love that it sticks so well but is not permanent at all. I couldn't get a picture of my phone in the holder because... well the phone was in the holder! Ha Ha
The wife and I are taking a day trip tomorrow so I'll try to get a picture with her phone thanks for sharing the idea.  _________________ Big Time 1988 Vanagon Westy
Release the Krankenwagen! 1966 Sportsmobile Camper
Dr. Kompressor 72 Super Duper
61 Turkis Pile (adopted out) |
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