How To Mount A Tablet In Your Car With RAM® Mounts

Looking to mount a tablet in your car, ute, 4WD or work vehicle? RAM® Mounts offer a range of tablet vehicle mounting options, and the best choice usually depends on where you want the tablet positioned, who needs to use it, and whether you want a removable or more permanent setup.

Below are some of the most common ways to mount an iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Microsoft Surface or similar tablet in a vehicle.

If you want to compare ready-to-go options, browse our Tablet Mounts For Cars collection.

1. Backseat Tablet Mounts For Passengers

"Are we there yet?"

If you want to keep kids or passengers entertained on long drives, a headrest tablet mount is usually the easiest option. This lets passengers watch movies, shows or games from the back seat without needing to hold the tablet the whole time.

Headrest tablet mounts are a good choice for road trips, family vehicles, taxis, rideshare vehicles and passenger entertainment setups.

For this type of setup, the RAM® Headrest Ball Base (RAM-B-469U) is a clean starting point. It secures to the headrest posts in many vehicles and provides a B Size 1" RAM® ball, ready to pair with a compatible RAM® arm and tablet holder.

Please note that the RAM-B-469U is the headrest base only. To complete the setup, you will need:

• RAM® Headrest Ball Base (RAM-B-469U)
• a compatible B Size arm
• and a suitable tablet holder for your device.
  

2. Front Seat Tablet Mounts For Drivers Or Work Vehicles

If the tablet needs to stay visible from the front seat, RAM® vehicle mounts are usually a stronger option. These setups are commonly used in work vehicles, fleet vehicles, 4WDs, vans and service vehicles where a tablet is used for maps, forms, dispatch, job management or navigation.

For a more stable setup, many customers choose a RAM® POD or vehicle floor mount. These mounts are designed to support larger devices and keep the tablet positioned where it can be seen and adjusted more easily.

Browse our Tablet Mounts for Cars collection to compare more vehicle mounting options.

3. Windscreen Suction Tablet Mounts

For a removable setup, a windscreen or suction-mounted tablet holder may be perfect for your needs. You've probably seen suction cups fail in the past - but fear not, RAM® suction mounts are genuinely strong, and they are a long way from the cheap suction cups most people are used to. These are easier to move between vehicles and do not require drilling, but they may not be ideal for heavier tablets, rough roads or heavy-duty work use.

Suction mounts work great for mounting almost all tablets to windscreens, temporary use, or customers who want a setup that can be removed when not needed.

For most windscreen tablet mounts, we recommend the double suction approach. This is tough, reliable and works best if mounting the suction cups deep and low on the windscreen, with the tablet positioned close to the dash rather than hanging far out from the glass:

Double Suction Tablet Mount

• Double Suction Base (RAM-B-189BU)
• RAM Long Socket Arm with Round Adapters (RAM-B-101U-C)
• Suitable Tablet Holder for your device
  

Or simply check out our most popular windscreen option, a full mounting kit ready to go:
RAM Dual Suction Mount w X-Grip for 9"-11" Tablets (RAM-B-189-C-UN9U)

• RAM Triple Suction Cup Base With Arm (RAP-365-101U)
• Suitable Tablet Holder for your device

4. Rail, Seat Wedge And Clamp-Style Tablet Mounts

Some vehicles and setups have rails, posts or small bars that can be used as mounting points. In these cases, a rail base or clamp-style mount can be a useful alternative to suction, floor or drill-down mounting.

This style of base is more specialised, so it is worth checking the rail diameter, available space and tablet weight before choosing it for a vehicle setup. We stock an enormous range of different clamp and claw bases, great for poles, rails, roll bars or suitable edges.

And next, a seat wedge mount which mounts inside the wedge between the car seat and the centre console. Simple, and effective!

5. Seat Rail, Floor And Drill-Down Tablet Mounts

If you need something stronger than a suction mount, a seat rail, floor or drill-down mount is usually the better choice. These setups are more secure and better suited to heavier tablets, commercial vehicles and everyday work use.

These mounting styles are especially useful for tradies, fleet vehicles, delivery vehicles, 4WDs and mobile workstations where the tablet needs to stay stable and easy to adjust.

6. Choosing The Right Tablet Holder

The mount is only one part of the setup. You also need the right tablet holder or cradle. RAM® tablet holders are available for a wide range of devices and cases, including iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Microsoft Surface and other tablets.

If you want a secure everyday tablet holder, look at RAM® Tab-Tite™ options. If you need added security, RAM® Tab-Lock™ holders may be a better fit. For heavier setups, you may also need a stronger RAM® arm and ball size (ie. C Size, instead of B-Size).

Start with a complete kit if you want the easiest ready-to-go option. If you are building your own setup, choose a vehicle mount or base first, then pair it with a compatible tablet cradle for your device and case.

Still unsure? Browse our ready-to-go Tablet Mounts For Cars collection, view all RAM® Tablet Mounts, or contact us and we can help point you in the right direction.

Watch: Tablet Mounting Options For Vehicles

The video below shows different ways you can mount an iPad or other tablet in your vehicle with RAM® Mounts.