As a parent, traveling long distances with kids can be challenging. After some trial and error (like purchasing cheap mounts online), RAM Mounts has released their new headrest ball base. I got a couple of these ahead of my recent trip to Yellowstone and wanted to share my thoughts on them.
This was the perfect way to mount my kids’ iPads in a way that didn’t strain their necks and wasn’t too close to their faces. I felt comfortable knowing that their devices were securely held in place. No matter how much vibration there was, they did not budge. The mounts are low-profile and do not impede the front seat passenger.
Table Of Contents
Product Overview
What’s Included
- Mounting base
- 1” B-size rubber ball for attachment to double socket arms
Our Yellowstone trip from Southern California was nearly 16 hours. Keeping the kids entertained for so long is difficult. The headrest base came in handy because my kids were able to watch their shows/movies without having to hold their devices and constantly look down. Plus, I’m not a fan of their iPads being close to their face for so long. The mount kept the iPad at a reasonable distance, far enough that they could pause or turn it off without having to unbuckle.
If you have any other RAM Mount accessories, you know that they are fairly easy to remove. Whenever we would pull over to rest or spend the night at a hotel, I would simply remove them and store below the seats to prevent any unwanted attention from thieves.
RAM Mounts’ advantage lies in its extensive range of accessories. They offer a variety of double socket arms to choose from, each designed to fit your specific needs. I opted for the smaller socket size, which gave me enough distance between the headrest and the iPad. I already use RAM Mounts for my cellphone, so I was familiar with their quality and durability, knowing they can withstand all road conditions. Once you tighten it down, it stays in place.
They also offer an alternative headrest mount that comes without the B-size base. You are able to add either the A, B, or C ball base to suit your needs. These bases differ in diameter, with A being the smallest. Like I previously mentioned, the options are endless.
Installation Overview
Tools Required
- Phillips screwdriver
For this install, all you need is a Phillips screwdriver. Start off by removing the headrest, and screw both ends of the base together. Do not tighten the screws completely until you have passed the headrest through, which gives you some wiggle room to set the mount where you want it. You can also install it without removing the headrest, but I found it to be a little more cumbersome.
Once the base is installed, I then connected the short double-arm socket and EZ-Roll’r cradle. My son’s 8th-generation iPad fits like a glove. The cradle also has a slot for an Apple Pen. The only downside to the cradle that I didn’t consider before purchasing is that I would have to remove their iPad cases in order for them to fit. This can get annoying depending on the iPad case (ours are a two-piece design). RAM does offer an X-Grip universal holder for tablets, which would solve this problem.
Final Thoughts
RAM Mounts has created a solution to address a common problem for those of us who travel in groups over long distances. The numerous accessories allow you to secure a phone, iPad, or any other tablet of your choice. For the price, it is a great bargain, and you don’t have to worry about durability. Having already invested in their ecosystem of products, I can confidently say that I made the right choice. You can easily interchange accessories since they are, for the most part, interchangeable.
Road trips with my kids have now gotten easier. Being able to watch their shows hands-free and looking forward instead of down has lightened stress from their arms and neck. Their devices are easily removable and ready to go once we arrive at our destination. As I previously mentioned, the only regret I have is not getting a different iPad cradle, such as the X-Grip. With that, I wouldn’t have to remove their iPad cases every time we need to use them. Aside from that, this has been one of my favorite interior mods because of its functionality and price point.
