What Is a RAM Mount?

A RAM mount is a modular ball-and-socket mount made by RAM Mounts, a brand of National Products Inc. in the US, and the name is widely used for the style in general. It has three parts: a base with a rubber-coated ball fixed to the vehicle or surface, a second ball fixed to the device or its cradle, and a double-socket arm that clamps both balls with a single knob.

Loosen the knob and the device can be swung, tilted and rotated to exactly the right position; tighten it and the rubber balls grip the sockets firmly. The rubber also damps vibration and small shocks, which protects the device and keeps the screen steady on rough roads.

Because the parts are standard, one device can be installed in very different vehicles by changing only the base or arm length. That makes RAM-style mounts popular for mixed fleets, where cabs, dashboards and seating positions vary from one vehicle to the next.

RAM mounts are sized by the diameter of the ball. Bigger balls carry heavier devices and hold steadier on long arms. Every part in a mount must use the same size, so choosing the ball size is the first decision.

Load ratings depend on the arm length and the vibration on the vehicle as well as the ball size, so check the manufacturer’s rating for the complete assembly. In practice, B is the common size for phones and tablets, and C or D for vehicle computers.

A complete mount is built from a base, an arm and a device interface, picked from a large catalog of interchangeable parts.

A vehicle computer is heavier and costs more than a phone, so the mount needs more care. Match the ball size and arm to the device weight, keep the arm as short as the cab allows, and fix the base to something solid: a dash frame or a pedestal, not a plastic trim panel.

Plan the position with the driver in the seat. The screen must be in reach and view without blocking the windscreen, mirrors or controls, and it must stay clear of airbag deployment zones. Most vehicle mount computers have a VESA pattern or mounting points on the back, so a VESA plate on the ball is usually all that is needed. Our guide to mounting an industrial computer covers other methods, including panel, wall and DIN rail mounting.

Ball-and-socket mounts are not the only option. Pedestal systems bolt to the floor between the seats and carry a computer or dock on a rigid pole, which suits heavy terminals and police vehicles with a lot of equipment. Powered docks hold a laptop or rugged tablet, charge it and connect it to roof antennas and peripherals, then release it when the user needs it outside.

Many fleets combine them: a pedestal or dash bracket for the main structure, and a short ball-and-socket arm at the top for fine adjustment. The towing fleet case study used RAM mounts to fit computers across different classes of vehicle.

Beyond cars and vans, the same parts are used on forklifts, tractors and construction machines, boats, motorcycles, wheelchairs and in warehouses and workshops. In each case the appeal is the same: a standard set of parts, firm positioning and some vibration damping. On vehicles, the most common loads are a mobile data terminal, a tablet for navigation or job lists, or a camera. See our vehicle mount computers for fixed terminals and our rugged tablets for devices that move in and out of the vehicle.

We supply vehicle mount computers and rugged tablets with the operating system and vehicle power settings configured as standard, and can recommend the mount, arm and base for each vehicle. Tell us the vehicles and where the screen needs to sit.