This is a foundation component, not a complete mount: a Tough-Claw clamp base and a short double-socket arm, topped with a round plate carrying the universal AMPS hole pattern. It's the right starting point if you already know which holder or cradle you want (RAM's own or a third-party one drilled to AMPS spec), or if you're mounting a device that already has an AMPS-compatible back plate.

What's included

• A small Tough-Claw clamp base (tool-free, clamps 0.625″–1.14″ diameter rails/bars)
• A short double-socket C Size arm
• A round base adapter plate with the universal 4-hole AMPS pattern (and 3-hole 120° pattern)

Features

• Tool-free Tough-Claw jaw clamps quickly onto round, square, or odd-shaped rails and bars, from 0.625″ to 1.14″ in diameter
• Round AMPS plate is compatible with a large range of RAM and third-party cradles
• C Size 1.5″ ball with adjustment points at both ends of the arm for near-infinite positioning
• Backed by RAM's lifetime warranty

How RAM's modular system works

Every RAM mount is built from up to three parts that click together, and the same parts mix and match across RAM's entire catalog:

• A base — clamps, bolts, or straps onto the vehicle (a rail, a roll bar, a dash, a windshield, or a device's own housing).
• An arm — connects two RAM balls together. It locks at any angle, so once mounted you can tilt, rotate, and reposition the device freely, then lock it firmly by hand.
• A cradle or holder — grips the specific device (tablet, phone, GPS unit, handheld radio).

Not every product includes all three parts — some are just the base, some bundle a cradle, some are a complete kit. Further down this page we say plainly which parts this specific kit includes, so you know exactly what you're getting and what, if anything, you'd need to add.

The ball size determines what it can carry. RAM uses five ball sizes, each rated for a different weight and duty class:

• A Size — rarely used; costs more to make than B Size but carries less. Reserved for small, low-profile items like security cameras where bulk matters more than capacity.
• B Size (1″ ball) — RAM's most common size, standard duty. This is what RAM recommends for phones, GPS units, and light tablets in normal use.
• C Size (1.5″ ball) — heavy duty. Used for larger tablets, handheld computers/scanners, CB radios, and anything mounted somewhere that gets a lot of vibration or shock — exactly the case in a tractor, ATV, or UTV cab.
• D and E Size — reserved for large monitors and specialist/military equipment; rarely needed outside those cases.

This product uses a C Size ball (1.5″ (38 mm)). RAM builds every Tough-Claw clamp base — including this one — on the heavier C Size ball, because a clamp base is typically the anchor point for a larger device (a tablet, handheld computer, or scanner) that will see real vibration in a vehicle cab; sizing up from the start avoids having to replace the arm later if you outgrow a lighter setup.

Rule of thumb: if the mount will live somewhere that's frequently jostled, vibrated, or under constant load — an off-road vehicle like a tractor, ATV, or UTV — RAM recommends stepping up to the larger C Size ball for extra stability, even if a lighter B Size mount would technically hold the device's weight.

What makes the Tough-Claw base different. Instead of a bolt pattern or a specific strap size, the Tough-Claw uses a spring-loaded, tool-less clamp jaw — point it at almost any round, square, or oddly shaped rail or bar within its clamp range and squeeze the jaws shut with the built-in knob. That matters in a tractor, ATV, or UTV cab because roll bars, grab handles, and frame rails vary in profile from one manufacturer to the next, and even between model years of the same machine — a bolt-specific or single-strap-size base would need a different part number for each shape, while one Tough-Claw covers the whole range. It also means the whole mount can be moved to a different vehicle, or a different spot on the same cab, in seconds and without tools.

On this particular kit the Tough-Claw base sits directly under a round AMPS plate rather than a cradle, so the clamp's flexibility passes straight through to whatever AMPS-pattern holder you attach — useful if you're standardizing a fleet of vehicles on one cradle type but need the clamp itself to adapt to different cab layouts.

No tools required, on purpose. RAM arms are designed to be tightened by hand only — there's no official torque spec, because the ball-and-socket joint is meant to be adjustable in the field without a wrench. If hand-tightening doesn't hold your device firmly, that's usually a sign the ball size is undersized for the device — sizing up solves it, rather than over-tightening.

Aluminum or composite — both are built for the outdoors. RAM mounts are made from marine-grade aluminum or high-strength composite, interchangeably depending on the part; both carry a lifetime warranty and similar weight ratings. Aluminum's powder-coat finish handles rough vibration and shock slightly better; composite skips the paint entirely, so it has nothing to chip, and is often preferred in high-corrosion or salt-air environments. Neither choice is "worse" — it's a trade-off between finish and environment.

Specifications

Frequently asked questions

Does this include a holder for my tablet or phone?
No — this is the clamp base, arm, and round AMPS plate only. You'll need to add an AMPS-compatible cradle sized for your device. Tell us what you're mounting (an FJD AT2 terminal, a Trion V4E Pro, a phone) and we'll point you to the right cradle.

What rail or bar sizes does the clamp fit?
The clamp range is 0.625″ to 1.14″ in outer diameter — round, square, or odd-shaped bars all work, since the jaw is designed to grip a range of profiles rather than one exact shape.

Is drilling required to install it?
No. The Tough-Claw jaw is tool-free and clamps on without drilling into your cab. You will need small screws (commonly #8, #10, M4, or M5) to attach a cradle to the AMPS plate — those usually come with the cradle itself.

Why C Size instead of the more common B Size?
Because this base is meant to carry heavier, larger devices than a phone — tablets, handheld computers, scanners — that also tend to live in rougher vehicle environments. RAM builds all its Tough-Claw bases on C Size for that reason.

How secure is this on rough terrain?
RAM rates the C Size double-socket arm for 4 lb standard use and 3 lb heavy-duty (constant vibration) use — check that your chosen cradle-plus-device combination stays within that before relying on it in rough terrain.