RAM Quick-Grip XL Phone Mount: Drill-Down Base Setup Guide
By RAM® Mounts | Best Phone, Tabletand Laptop Mounts for Cars and ... | Published: 2026-10-13
Category: How-to Guides
A step-by-step walkthrough for installing the RAM Quick-Grip XL spring-loaded phone mount with its drill-down base, including the mistakes that loosen the mount and how to avoid them.
Quick answer
Mount the drill-down base first on a flat, reinforced surface, then attach the Quick-Grip XL arm and cradle, and set the spring tension only after the base is fully tightened. The order matters: tightening the base last, or drilling into unsupported material, is what causes most loose mounts and cracked panels.
What you need before you drill
The RAM Quick-Grip XL Spring-Loaded Phone Mount with Drill-Down Base ships as a permanent-mounting solution, so once you drill, the holes stay. Confirm you have a drill with bits sized to your included fasteners, a pencil, a center punch, a level, and a screwdriver or socket that matches the base hardware. Check the underside of the surface for wiring, fuel lines, or structural ribs before you mark anything.
- Choose a spot where the phone sits within easy reach and does not block vents, airbags, or your view of the road.
- If the surface is thin plastic or hollow, plan a backing plate or washer stack so the base has something solid to compress against.
Position the base so the cradle lands where you want
Set the base in place and attach the arm and cradle loosely, then hold your phone in the cradle to test the final viewing angle. The drill-down base is permanent, so this dry fit is your only chance to correct the position without patching holes. Mark the mounting holes with a pencil through the base, then center-punch each mark so the bit does not wander.
Drill and fasten without crushing the surface
Drill at the marked points with a bit matched to your fastener diameter, keeping the drill perpendicular to the surface. Start with a pilot hole if the material is hard or brittle. Insert the fasteners and tighten them in a cross pattern, a little at a time, until the base sits flush. Stop as soon as the base stops moving; over-tightening is the most common cause of cracked plastic and stripped holes.
Attach the arm, cradle, and set spring tension
Once the base is solid, attach the socket arm and the Quick-Grip XL cradle, then tighten the arm's adjustment knob only after you have set the angle. The spring-loaded cradle grips the phone on its own, so you do not need to force the phone in. Slide it in until the springs close around it, and check that the side grips contact the phone evenly rather than pinching one edge.
Installation steps
- Dry-fit the base, arm, and cradle together: Assemble the mount loosely and hold your phone in the cradle to confirm reach and angle before marking anything. Checkpoint: if the phone blocks a vent, airbag, or sightline, reposition now, not after drilling.
- Mark and center-punch the holes: Trace the base holes with a pencil, then punch each mark so the drill bit starts exactly where you want it. Mistake to avoid: skipping the punch and letting the bit walk, which shifts the base off-center.
- Drill pilot holes at the marked points: Use a bit matched to your fastener and keep the drill perpendicular to the surface; add a pilot hole first on hard or brittle material. Checkpoint: confirm no wiring or structure sits directly behind each hole.
- Fasten the base in a cross pattern: Tighten the fasteners gradually in an alternating pattern until the base sits flush, then stop. Mistake to avoid: over-tightening, which cracks plastic and strips the holes.
- Mount the arm and Quick-Grip XL cradle: Attach the socket arm and cradle, set your viewing angle, then tighten the arm knob. Checkpoint: the base should not flex or creak when you adjust the arm.
- Insert the phone and verify spring grip: Slide the phone into the spring-loaded cradle until the grips close evenly on both sides. If the phone shifts, recheck the cradle angle rather than forcing it deeper.
Product facts
- RAM® Quick-Grip™ XL Spring-Loaded Phone Mount with Drill-Down Base: Spring-loaded Quick-Grip XL cradle securely holds your phone in place, and the drill-down base provides a permanent, stable mounting option. The spring grip means no tools to insert or remove the phone, while the drill-down base is the right choice when you want the mount to stay put rather than move between vehicles.
- RAM® Drill-Down Mount with Garmin Spine Clip Holder: The RAM Drill-Down Mount with Garmin Spine Clip Holder includes a Garmin Spine Clip Holder and uses the same drill-down design for permanent installation. If you run a Garmin device alongside your phone, this mount follows the same installation logic, so one drilling setup can serve both.
