9 Reliable Dash Solutions for Keeping Items From Sliding in Your RV

Imagine navigating a steep mountain pass in a 24-foot Class C motorhome, only to have your sunglasses, phone, and GPS slide violently across the dashboard at the first sharp curve. A cluttered, unsecured dashboard is more than an annoyance; it is a dangerous driving distraction that can break expensive electronics in seconds. Outfitting your rig with the right dash security solutions ensures your essential navigation tools and personal gear stay exactly where you put them, no matter how rough the road gets.

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Why Standard Dash Mats Fail on Rough RV Roads

Standard passenger car dash mats are designed for smooth city streets and gentle highway cruising. RVs, camper vans, and schoolie conversions operate under vastly different physical demands, constantly dealing with heavy vibrations, stiff suspension setups, and body roll. Cheap, thin mats simply lack the mass and surface tension required to counteract these continuous forces.

Furthermore, typical RV dashboards are massive expanses of hard plastic or vinyl that bake under direct sunlight through massive windshields. High dashboard temperatures cause cheap adhesive backings or low-grade rubber mats to degrade, melt, or lose their tackiness entirely within a single summer season. Once the material dries out or becomes coated in fine road dust, it turns into a slick launching pad rather than a safety barrier.

Non-Slip Shelf Liner – Gorilla Grip Drawer Liner

A versatile, bulk solution is essential for covering the wide, flat expanses found on motorhome dashboards. Gorilla Grip Drawer Liner plays the role of a customizable friction barrier that you can cut to fit any nook, cranny, or tray on your dashboard. It prevents larger, lightweight items from shifting during transit without requiring any permanent adhesives.

This specific liner stands out because of its thick, open-grid construction and high-quality, slip-resistant material. Unlike cheap dollar-store alternatives, it does not crumble or leave a sticky, melted residue on your vinyl dashboard when exposed to intense summer heat. The textured design offers excellent shock absorption, dampening the constant road vibrations that cause items to “walk” across the dash.

Before buying, keep in mind that this liner relies entirely on gravity and surface friction. It is highly effective for flat dashboard trays but will not hold items on sloped surfaces.

• Material: Thick, non-adhesive vinyl
• Customization: Easily cut with standard kitchen scissors
• Maintenance: Washable with warm water and mild soap

This product is perfect for budget-conscious RVers who want to line large dashboard recesses, glove compartments, or overhead bins. It is not the right choice for drivers looking to mount heavy electronics or vertical screens.

Phone Dash Mount – iOttie Easy One Touch 5 Mount

Every driver needs a secure, accessible way to view navigation maps without taking their eyes off the road. The iOttie Easy One Touch 5 Mount acts as a heavy-duty mechanical anchor for your primary navigation device. It holds your phone securely in place, even when driving over corrugated dirt roads or washboard pavement.

This mount is highly recommended because of its patented Easy One Touch mechanism, which lets you lock your phone in place with a single hand motion. The base uses a highly powerful suction cup combined with a sticky gel pad that fills in the imperfections of textured RV dashboards to create an airtight seal. Its telescopic arm extends up to eight inches, which is crucial for deep RV cabs where the windshield is far from the driver’s seat.

Over time, intense heat can cause the sticky gel pad to lose its suction. When this happens, simply rinse the pad with warm water and let it air dry to restore its original tackiness.

• Extension: Telescopic arm extends from 5 to 8 inches
• Mounting: Suction cup base with optional adhesive dashboard pad
• Compatibility: Holds phones and cases up to 3.7 inches wide

This mount is ideal for solo travelers who need a rock-solid, adjustable phone setup that brings the screen closer to the driver. It is not suitable for those who want a minimalist, low-profile dashboard with zero visual obstruction.

Clear Museum Gel – Quakehold! 88111 Museum Gel

For semi-permanent items that you want to display on your dashboard, a completely invisible securing agent is the ultimate tool. Quakehold! 88111 Museum Gel acts as a temporary, liquid-plastic anchor that stops solid objects from sliding or tipping over during sudden stops. It provides museum-grade stability without requiring screws, clips, or unsightly brackets.

This product is the premier choice because it is completely transparent, non-toxic, and leaves absolutely zero residue behind when removed. It is designed to withstand earthquake tremors, meaning it easily handles the lateral G-forces experienced by a moving camper van. To use it, you simply roll a small amount into balls, apply them to the bottom of your item, and press it firmly onto the dashboard.

Keep in mind that museum gel is a highly viscous liquid, meaning it will slowly flow to conform to the shape of the object. Because of this, it is not suitable for vertical surfaces or high-heat environments where temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, as the gel can liquefy and slide.

• Appearance: Crystal clear and completely invisible
• Removability: Reusable, non-damaging, and washes off with water
• Cure Time: Reaches full holding strength within 30 to 60 minutes

This product is perfect for securing decorative items, small weather stations, or dash-mounted clocks that you want to keep in place semi-permanently. It is not suitable for items you need to pick up and move frequently throughout the day, like your phone or keys.

Silicone Dash Tray – Sunsnow Silicone Car Dash Mat

A dedicated organizational bin prevents pocket items from scattering across the cab during sharp turns. The Sunsnow Silicone Car Dash Mat serves as a self-contained pocket that holds keys, loose change, sunglasses, and charging cords in one neat, high-friction space. It acts as a protective barrier between your gear and the hard plastic of your dashboard.

This silicone tray is superior to plastic organizers because of its extreme flexibility and natural tackiness. It conforms perfectly to curved dashboard surfaces without any adhesive, relying instead on high-friction, food-grade silicone. It features integrated slots that hold your phone upright for quick viewing, alongside various compartmentalized walls that keep different items separated.

Because silicone is naturally high-friction, it attracts dust, pet hair, and lint over time. Maintaining its grip requires a quick rinse under the sink every few weeks to restore the tacky texture.

• Material: Eco-friendly, heat-resistant silicone
• Design: Built-in phone stand with multiple compartment dividers
• Adhesive: None; relies on high-friction surface contact

This tray is an excellent fit for van lifers and Class B owners who want a clean, removable “dump bin” for their daily pocket items. It is not the right choice for holding tall or heavy items that can easily spill over the shallow silicone walls.

Dash Organizer – High Road Contour Dash Organizer

When you need to store bulkier items like notebooks, paper maps, gate clickers, and multiple pairs of sunglasses, a soft-sided storage unit is necessary. The High Road Contour Dash Organizer acts as a weighted, multi-pocket console that sits securely on the wide, sloped dashboards common in Class A and Class C motorhomes.

What makes this organizer stand out is its weighted, bean-bag-style base, which features a non-skid rubberized bottom. This design allows the organizer to drape over the specific contours of your dashboard without sliding forward during hard braking. The soft-sided fabric construction ensures that your stored items do not rattle loudly while driving down bumpy highways.

The fabric exterior is durable but can fade under constant, direct UV exposure. It is wise to slide the organizer into a glove box or cabinet when your RV is parked in storage for long periods.

• Base: Weighted, non-skid rubber bottom
• Storage: Three open compartments with soft-padded walls
• Fit: Curved back panel sits flush against the windshield base

This is the perfect product for long-haul drivers who need to keep physical travel logs, pens, and toll transponders organized and within arm’s reach. It is not suitable for those looking to securely mount electronic screens for navigation.

Magnetic Phone Mount – Scosche MagicMount Pro 2

For those who prioritize speed and simplicity, a magnetic docking station is the most efficient way to secure mobile devices. The Scosche MagicMount Pro 2 provides an instant, low-profile mounting point that lets you grab or dock your phone in less than a second.

This specific mount is the industry standard because of its extra-powerful Neodymium magnets, which are 100% safe for smartphones but offer twice the holding power of standard magnetic mounts. Its compact base attaches via automotive-grade 3M adhesive tape, allowing you to mount it on tight, vertical, or curved dashboard surfaces where mechanical claw mounts cannot fit.

Using this system requires adhering a thin metal plate directly to your phone or phone case. If you use wireless charging, you must position this plate carefully to avoid blocking the charging coils.

• Magnets: Ultra-strong Neodymium magnets
• Mounting: High-bond 3M adhesive base
• Compatibility: Works directly with Apple MagSafe devices and standard phones

This mount is ideal for drivers who want a minimalist dashboard layout and absolute ease of use when getting in and out of the rig. It is not suitable for travelers who do not want to stick a metal plate to their phone or case.

Non-Slip Grip Tape – CatTongue Gription Tape

Sometimes, the best solution is a custom-made grip zone directly on your dashboard or the items themselves. CatTongue Gription Tape acts as a heavy-duty, adhesive-backed friction surface that you can apply to any flat area to instantly stop items from sliding.

Unlike traditional skateboard grip tape, which is abrasive and can scratch your hands or phone screens, this tape is made from a soft-touch, non-abrasive HDPE plastic. It is waterproof, dirt-resistant, and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. You can apply it directly to your dashboard tray or stick a small strip to the back of your phone, tablet, or remote control to give those items built-in slip resistance.

Because the adhesive backing is strong, removing it after years of sun exposure may require a bit of heat from a hairdryer to soften the glue and prevent dashboard damage.

• Texture: Soft, non-abrasive, and comfortable to touch
• Adhesive: Heavy-duty, residue-free removal backing
• Customization: Easily cut with scissors to any shape or size

This tape is a fantastic choice for DIY RVers who want to create custom friction pads on their dash or add grip to the back of slippery electronics. It is not designed to support heavy, vertically mounted screens on its own.

Friction GPS Mount – Garmin Portable Friction Mount

Dedicated RV GPS units are often heavy and require a mounting solution that can withstand both weight and movement without blocking your windshield view. The Garmin Portable Friction Mount serves as a heavy, flexible anchor that sits securely on your dashboard through sheer weight and surface friction.

This mount stands out because of its flexible, bean-bag-style design that drapes over any dashboard contour. The bottom is coated in a high-friction, non-skid silicone material that prevents the heavy base from shifting, even during sudden lane changes. It allows you to position your GPS close to the driver’s line of sight without leaving circular suction marks on your windshield.

Because this mount is heavy, it can slide if the dashboard surface beneath it is covered in a layer of fine dust. Regular dusting of both the dash and the silicone base is necessary to maintain maximum performance.

• Weight: Approximately 1.5 pounds for maximum stability
• Base: Non-skid, flexible silicone that conforms to curves
• Joint: Standard ball joint compatible with most GPS brackets

This mount is the ultimate choice for owners of large, dedicated RV GPS units who want to quickly stow their navigation device out of sight when parked to deter theft. It is not suitable for vehicles with narrow, highly sloped dashboards that lack flat surface area.

Sticky Gel Pad – Fixate Anti-Slip Gel Pads

When you need to secure lightweight items to angled or vertical surfaces without drilling holes, a high-tech adhesive pad is the best tool. Fixate Anti-Slip Gel Pads act as reusable, ultra-sticky pads that hold small accessories like keys, garage door openers, and backup camera screens directly to your dashboard face.

These pads are made from a proprietary polymer compound that mimics the microscopic grip of a gecko’s foot. They contain no glues or adhesives, meaning they can be peeled off, washed with warm water to remove dust, and reused hundreds of times without losing their incredible holding power. They can hold lightweight items at steep angles, making them incredibly versatile.

Because these pads are incredibly sticky, they can pull paint, vinyl wrap, or thin leather trim off your dashboard if removed too quickly or aggressively. Always peel them off slowly from the edges.

• Material: Washable, reusable, non-magnetic polyurethane gel
• Capacity: Holds lightweight items up to 2 pounds on clean surfaces
• Pack: Includes multiple shapes (circular and triangular) for different uses

These gel pads are perfect for securing lightweight, frequently used utility items like gate clickers, toll tags, or backup camera screens. They are not suited for holding heavy tablets, large phones, or items with highly textured, porous surfaces.

How to Prep Your RV Dashboard for Maximum Grip

No non-slip solution will perform effectively if applied to a dusty, oily, or sun-baked dashboard. RV cabs naturally collect a fine layer of road grit, diesel exhaust residue, and vinyl-protectant overspray that acts like a microscopic lubricant. Before laying down any gel pad, suction cup, or adhesive mount, a thorough deep-cleaning process is absolutely mandatory.

Start by wiping down the target area with a mild dish soap solution to break up heavy grease and dust layers. Follow this with a microfiber cloth damp with isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to strip away any remaining waxes, silicone-based protectants, or oils. Allow the surface to dry completely for at least ten minutes before applying your non-slip accessories, ensuring the material can make direct, molecular-level contact with the dash.

Securing Heavy Dashboard Gear for Sudden Stops

The physics of a sudden highway stop can instantly transform a loose one-pound GPS unit or tablet into a dangerous, high-velocity projectile. While friction mats and sticky pads are excellent for daily vibrations, heavy equipment requires mechanical or high-strength adhesive solutions. Relying solely on gravity-based solutions for heavy dash gear is a critical safety oversight.

For large RV tablets, heavy tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) screens, or auxiliary cameras, opt for bolted mounts or heavy-duty dual-lock tape rather than simple friction pads. Position these items as low on the dashboard as possible to minimize their leverage during a hard brake, and route charging cables tightly through wire ties to prevent them from acting as whips if a device does break loose.

Conclusion

Taking the time to properly secure your RV’s dashboard before your next road trip eliminates driver distraction and protects your valuable navigation gear. By matching the right non-slip solution to your specific items, you can focus entirely on the open road ahead. Secure your dash today, pack your rig, and enjoy a rattle-free, worry-free journey to your next off-grid destination.