The KX3/KX2 Tripod Mount That Should’ve Existed

If you run a KX3 or KX2 in the field, you already know the pain points.
The radio is amazing, but the ergonomics are a mess once you leave a countertop.
The legs work until they don’t.
The screen is only readable from certain angles.
And you always end up improvising a solution you shouldn’t have to.

For years, all I wanted was one damn 1/4-20 threaded hole in the bottom of the radio. That’s it.
That one feature would unlock every tripod, arm, clamp, or support system already available on the planet.

But since it doesn’t exist, I finally got fed up enough to fix it myself.

 

It Started With a Fully 3D-Printed Prototype

The first version of this mount wasn’t pretty.
It was a rough, functional concept — 100% 3D printed, just to prove the idea worked.

• But the second that prototype clicked into place, everything changed.
  The radio instantly behaved like a real field radio instead of a fragile desktop radio being dragged outdoors.
  The concept was solid — now it needed real hardware.

Then I Scaled It Up With Proper Hardware

Once I knew the idea worked, I moved fast.

• Metal hardware
• Structural upgrades
• A redesigned interface
• Weight kept low
• Zero gimmicks
• No bulk
• No pointless “features”

This version wasn’t about looks — it was about strength.
If a mount is going to hold a KX3, it better be built like it means it.

The functional prototype was solid.
Now it was time for the production unit.

 

The Production Unit Came Together Just in Time

Right as everything was finished, I had an upcoming vacation to Florida — the perfect testing ground.

Most people test radio accessories on a bench.
I tested mine in one of the most unforgiving environments you can operate in:

• Sand
• Salt
• Wind
• Heat
• Moisture
• Zero stable surfaces
• High risk of catastrophic radio damage

If the mount failed there, it wasn’t just a design flaw —
it could destroy a $1,000+ radio instantly.

No pressure.

 

The Beach Test Couldn’t Have Gone Better

Here’s the part that matters:
It worked flawlessly.
Better than I expected.

And I didn’t even use a big tripod — I used a mini tripod.

Even on soft sand, even in high wind, even with salt spray in the air:

• The radio stayed stable
• The angle stayed perfect
• The screen was readable
• The entire setup stayed clean
• Operation was actually comfortable

That activation would have never happened without the mount.
I wouldn’t trust a KX3 sitting in my lap near saltwater.
I wouldn’t trust it on the built-in legs on soft sand.
And I definitely wouldn’t trust it perched on rocks or driftwood like some people try.

This mount is the only reason that activation wasn’t a disaster.

 

Why This Mount Exists

Because the alternatives were bad, overpriced, bulky, or over-engineered for no reason.

I didn’t want a cage.
I didn’t want extra weight.
I didn’t want a mechanical mess with a hundred screws.

I wanted:

• A clean 1/4-20 interface
• A stable base
• A lightweight solution
• Something that just works
• Something built by someone who actually operates in the field

So I designed the tool I wish existed years ago.

Bottom Line

This mount is simple on purpose. The problem never needed to be complicated.

If you take your KX2 or KX3 into the real world — not just the backyard — you already know why this exists. It fixes the pain points. It keeps the radio stable. It makes operating more comfortable. And most importantly, it gives you confidence that your rig isn’t about to dive into the dirt, rocks, or ocean.

The mount I used during that beach activation — the same one that went from rough 3D print to a fully engineered production unit — is the one I’m offering here. It works because it had to work. I built it for myself first, and I’m sharing it because other operators deserve a real solution too.

If you want the exact mount that saved my Florida activation, you can get it here:

→ GoatQRP KX3/KX2 Tripod Mount

— Josh Zimmerman, KC3VPZ
Founder, GoatQRP