Zip ties are probably one of the most-used tools in any garage or off-road build. The problem usually isn't the zip tie—it's finding a clean place to attach it.
That's exactly why we started using magnetic zip-tie mounts.
Instead of drilling another hole, sticking an adhesive mount somewhere, or wrapping a zip tie around whatever happens to be nearby, a magnetic mount gives you an attachment point almost anywhere there's a suitable steel surface.
They're simple, removable, repositionable, and we've found ourselves using them for way more than just wiring.
1. Wiring Harness Routing
Probably the most obvious use—and one of our favorites.
Magnetic zip-tie mounts can be used to secure accessory harnesses along the frame, inside the engine bay, or anywhere else you have a suitable steel mounting surface.
They're especially useful when building or prototyping a harness because you can move the mounting points repeatedly while figuring out the cleanest routing.
That's exactly how we use them when developing products at ADV.
2. Rock-Light Wiring
A rock-light system can involve a surprising amount of wire.
Instead of leaving long sections of loom unsupported, magnetic mounts can provide additional attachment points along suitable steel areas of the chassis.
They're especially useful for DIY Shadow Eliminator™ harnesses, allowing you to adjust and clean up your routing without immediately committing to permanent mounting points.
3. Air-Line Management
Running an onboard-air system?
Magnetic mounts can help organize air lines along suitable steel surfaces without adding permanent mounting holes everywhere.
We've found them particularly useful when routing lines for compressors, remote air chucks and multi-tire inflation systems.
4. Under-Hood Wiring
Accessory-heavy builds can quickly turn an engine bay into a mess.
Lighting, compressors, switch panels, chargers and other accessories all add wiring.
Magnetic mounts give you another way to keep smaller harnesses and looms organized while still allowing easy access when something needs to be serviced or changed later.
5. Camper Wiring
Campers are constantly evolving.
You add a light. Then a fan. Then solar. Then another USB outlet. Then another accessory.
Using removable mounting points makes it easier to modify wiring later without creating another permanent hole every time the build changes.
If there's an appropriate steel mounting surface available, magnetic zip-tie mounts make future changes extremely simple.
6. Temporary Wiring During Installations
This might be one of their most underrated uses.
Before permanently mounting a harness, use magnetic mounts to temporarily route everything.
Install it. Test it. Move it. Drive the vehicle. Adjust it again.
Once you're satisfied with the routing, decide which locations can remain magnetic and which should receive a permanent mechanical mounting point.
They're essentially mock-up hardware for wiring.
7. Extension Cords & Shop Cables
They aren't limited to vehicles.
Stick them to a welding table, toolbox, fabrication equipment or other suitable steel surface and use them to manage:
Extension cords • welder leads • charger cables • small air lines • electrical wiring
Around a fabrication shop, you'll probably start finding uses you never originally bought them for.
8. Trailers
Trailers are another great application because they typically provide plenty of steel mounting surfaces.
Lighting wiring, accessory wiring and other low-voltage harnesses can often be routed cleaner without adding unnecessary holes or relying entirely on adhesive-backed mounts.
They're also easy to reposition when the trailer changes later.
9. Camp Organization
The mount doesn't necessarily have to hold wiring.
Combine the magnetic base with a zip tie or small attachment loop and you've created a simple removable mounting point around your truck, camper, trailer or other steel equipment.
That opens up plenty of creative uses around camp.
10. Trail-Side Temporary Repairs
This is one reason we like keeping a few extras in the truck.
Off-road trips have a habit of making things come loose.
A magnetic attachment point combined with a quality zip tie can help temporarily secure lightweight wiring, loom, hoses or other components until you can make a proper repair.
It's not a replacement for fixing the problem correctly—but it can be a very useful tool when you're miles away from the garage.
Why Magnetic Instead of Adhesive?
Adhesive zip-tie mounts absolutely have their place.
But heat, dirt, moisture and surface preparation can affect adhesive performance. Once an adhesive mount is installed, repositioning it usually means replacing it.
Magnets offer something different:
No adhesive.
No drilling.
Instantly repositionable.
Reusable.
If you decide your harness needs to move two inches, just move the mount two inches.
That's the entire idea.
Two Sizes for Different Jobs
ADV Magnetic Zip-Tie Mounts are available in two sizes, allowing you to choose the mount based on the space available and how much magnetic holding force you want.
0.75" Magnetic Zip-Tie Mount
Our compact option is ideal for:
- Wiring
- Small harnesses
- Air lines
- Under-hood organization
- Tight mounting locations
The 0.75" mount has an estimated magnetic holding force of approximately 15 lb.
Its smaller footprint makes it particularly useful when you're trying to keep a harness installation compact and clean.
1.25" Magnetic Zip-Tie Mount
For applications where you want additional magnetic holding force, the larger 1.25" version provides a much larger magnetic footprint.
It's well suited for:
- Larger wiring bundles
- Heavier harnesses
- Shop organization
- Larger air-line bundles
- Applications where additional retention is preferred
The 1.25" mount has an estimated magnetic holding force of approximately 25 lb.
That doesn't mean bigger is automatically better. For lightweight harness routing, the compact 0.75" mount may be all you need. The larger mount simply gives you another option when additional holding force is useful.
Holding Force Disclaimer: The approximately 15 lb. and 25 lb. figures are estimated magnetic holding forces and are not certified working-load ratings. Actual holding force can vary significantly depending on steel thickness, surface condition, coatings, contact area, mounting orientation, vibration and direction of load. Magnetic mounts should not be used as the sole restraint for safety-critical components or in locations where movement or detachment could create a hazard.
Sometimes the Simplest Products Are the Most Useful
There's nothing particularly complicated about a magnetic zip-tie mount.
That's kind of the point.
It takes something every builder already uses—a zip tie—and gives it an attachment point that can be installed, removed and repositioned in seconds.
We've used them on trucks, campers, wiring harnesses, onboard-air systems, fabrication equipment and throughout the shop.
And every time we build something new, we seem to find another place to use one.
ADV Magnetic Zip-Tie Mounts
Available in 0.75" and 1.25" sizes.
No drilling. No adhesive. Just put an attachment point where you need one.