You have chosen your RAM® mounting base, arm, and device holder. The main components fit together, and the device is ready to be installed. But is the setup actually complete?
A mounting system can be technically compatible and still need a few finishing touches before it works well in everyday use. Security, mounting hardware, secondary retention, and cable access can all become important depending on where and how the device will be used.
At Mounts New Zealand, we look at a complete setup differently. It is not just about whether the components connect. It is about whether the finished mounting system works properly for the device, the user, and the application.
If you are still selecting the three main components, start with our RAM® Mount Setup Guide. This article focuses on what to check once those core parts have already been chosen.
1. Does Your Setup Need Additional Security?
Security requirements can change considerably depending on where the mount is installed.
A mount inside a personal vehicle may not need the same level of protection as one fitted to a shared fleet vehicle, workstation or publicly accessible area.
For compatible RAM® systems, security accessories such as RAM® Pin-Lock™ components can help make mounting hardware more difficult to remove or adjust without authorisation.
The important question is not simply whether security hardware is available. It is whether additional security makes sense for the way the mount will be used. If authorised users need to reposition the mount regularly, unrestricted adjustment may be important. If the system will remain unattended for long periods, however, additional security may be worth considering.
Our recommendation: Think about who needs to adjust the mount and who should not be able to remove it.
2. Are All the Mounting Components Actually Compatible?
RAM® Mounts are modular, but modular does not mean every component connects directly to every other component. A missing adapter plate, mismatched ball size, or different hole pattern can stop an otherwise suitable setup from coming together.
Before finalising the installation, confirm:
- The mounting pattern on the holder, cradle, or dock
- The mounting pattern on the component it needs to connect to
- The RAM® ball size used throughout the setup
- Whether an adapter plate or additional mounting hardware is required
The AMPS hole pattern is commonly used across RAM® bases, plates, and device holders, but it is only one mounting standard. Two plates that look similar are not necessarily interchangeable.
The mounting surface itself also needs consideration. For drill-down installations, check what is behind the panel or surface before fixing anything permanently. Clearance, access to mounting hardware, and the structure of the surface may all affect the installation.
Our recommendation: Confirm the connection method, ball size, and mounting pattern before ordering the final components. Visual similarity alone is not enough.
For more detail, see our guide to the AMPS hole pattern.
3. Does Your Application Need Secondary Device Retention?
The operating environment can determine whether the standard holder is all you need.
Take a phone mounted on a motorcycle as an example. The holder may securely retain the device during normal use, but the phone is also exposed to wind, vibration, and sudden movement.
That is where secondary retention can become useful.
For compatible RAM® X-Grip® holders, a RAM® tether can add another point of retention around the device. This can be particularly useful in applications exposed to greater movement or external forces.
This does not mean every X-Grip® installation needs a tether. The decision should be based on how and where the device will actually be used.
Our recommendation: Do not only consider what device you are mounting. Consider the conditions the device and mount will experience during use.
For detailed installation guidance, see our RAM® X-Grip® tether guide.
4. Have You Tested Charging Through the Full Range of Movement?
Charging is easy to overlook because a cable can appear to fit perfectly while the mount is stationary. The problem may only become obvious when the user extends the arm, rotates the device, or changes the viewing angle.
A cable that becomes tight during adjustment can make the mount awkward to use and place unnecessary strain on the cable or device connector. Before permanently completing the installation, connect the actual charging cable and move the mount through the positions you expect to use.
The cable should retain enough slack to move with the device without becoming stretched, trapped, or pulled tightly against the charging port.
Our recommendation: Do not only test whether the cable reaches. Test whether it still works comfortably when the mount is being used.
For commercial tablet installations where continuous charging is important, our Complete Tablet Mount Setup for Field Teams guide covers power and operational considerations in more detail.
5. Should You Keep Any Small Parts or Accessories as Spares?
For an individual mount, replacement components may only be needed occasionally.
For businesses operating the same RAM® setup across multiple vehicles, workstations, or devices, the situation is different.
Keeping a small supply of commonly used hardware or replaceable components can make maintenance easier and reduce the need to replace an entire mounting system when only one small part needs attention.
This is one of the advantages of a modular system. Individual components can often be replaced or reconfigured without starting again from scratch.
For fleet deployments, it can therefore be useful to standardise common mounting components where practical and identify which smaller parts are worth keeping available.
The Mounts NZ Four-Check Test
Before calling a RAM® Mount setup complete, we recommend checking four areas:
- Fit: Does the holder suit the exact device and case, and are all mounting components compatible?
- Position: Can the device reach the required viewing and working position without interfering with controls or other equipment?
- Environment: Is the level of security and device retention appropriate for where the mount will be used?
- Power: Can the device remain connected to charging while the mount moves through its normal adjustment range?
These four checks move the focus from “Do the parts connect?” to “Will the complete setup work properly in use?”
Complete the System, Not Just the Parts
The base, arm and holder form the core of a RAM® Mount system, but the smaller details can determine how practical the finished installation is.
A security component may make sense in an unattended vehicle. A tether may be useful in a high-movement environment. An adapter may be the missing link between two otherwise compatible parts. A few centimetres of extra cable slack may make adjustment significantly easier.
You will not need every accessory for every installation.
The goal is simply to identify what your setup requires before it is permanently installed.
Complete the system, not just the parts, and build a RAM® Mount setup that works where it matters: in everyday use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What else might I need after choosing my RAM® Mount base, arm, and holder?
Depending on the application, you may also need an adapter plate, security accessory, secondary device retention, installation hardware, or an appropriate charging solution.
How do I know whether two RAM® Mount components are compatible?
Check the ball size, mounting pattern, and connection type of both components. Do not assume compatibility based only on their appearance.
Do I need an X-Grip® tether?
Not necessarily. A tether provides secondary retention and may be useful when the device is exposed to greater vibration, movement, wind, or other external forces.
Should I test the setup before permanently installing it?
Where practical, yes. Assemble the device, holder, mounting components, and charging arrangement first, then check the working position, movement, and cable access before completing a permanent installation.
Can I add security to a RAM® Mount?
Compatible RAM® mounting systems can be fitted with selected security accessories, including Pin-Lock™ components, to provide additional protection against unauthorised removal or adjustment.