GPS Navigation device advice

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GPS Navigation device advice

August 17, 2018, 09:05:32 am

Camping world has their RV GPS devices on sale with free shipping.
Looking for advice or experience with any of these units. Good points / bad points.

GPS Navigation - Camping World

Garmin / Rand McNalley / Magellan ?

Best brand for the buck without breaking the bank?

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #1 – August 17, 2018, 09:28:52 am

I don't know anything about the specific models you've listed but I've always had good luck with Garmin. I just bought a new Garmin marine GPS/Chartplotter from the The GPS Store and had a good experience with them. They have the same price, free shipping & no sales tax on at least one of the units you are considering. 5 star rating with 92 reviews.

https://www.thegpsstore.com/Garmin-RV-770-LMT-S-RV-GPS-P5153.aspx

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #2 – August 17, 2018, 10:06:47 am

If you are determined to by a dedicated GPS, check the reviews at: 10 Best RV GPS Reviewed and Rated in 2018 . Then look online for the best deal on the model you like best. Ebay or other online source.

Tablets are inexpensive and many have the GPS/Glonass receiver built in plus they do hundreds of other things. Here are the seven best tablets with GPS/Glonass for 2018: 7 Best Built in GPS Tablets to Run MAP Apps Offline | Mashtips

A used tablet like my Galaxy Tab S can be found for under $150. I used it for everything from flying to RV navigating to internet searching, Yelp, Gasbuddy, etc. Good to take with you to anywhere in the world as the maps are free and excellent for just about any destination. So, why buy both dedicated GPS and tablet/phone? Updates are also much easier on tablets/phones.

Smart phones are also excellent for navigation with the same free apps that the tablets run. Androids and iPhones equally good here.

Pierce

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #3 – August 17, 2018, 10:26:54 am

I have both the Camping World(Rand McNally) and Garmin RV770 and I by far prefer the Garmin.
John

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #4 – August 17, 2018, 10:28:59 am

Thanks guys,
Mainly looking for avoidances like bridge restrictions, narrow curvy roads elect. and road grades while in the mountains.

Hands free voice navigation as I am the only one awake while traveling sometimes.

Our current old Garmin has none of these avoidances and have had to turn around at a couple of bridges and overpasses.

Thanks again.

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #5 – August 17, 2018, 11:21:36 am

Honestly, had the rand McNally 700 worked good.. all the info I put in to keep me safe, height etc
Not so good
It was more complicated than a tablet but did more in one device..

After all this, I decided to google earth, ask on forums..

Take care.. Great trips... your making LIFE LONG MEMORIS, my friend

John

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #6 – August 17, 2018, 12:08:26 pm

Thanks John, good to hear from you, hope to meet up again on the road one day.

I would like a device where I can enter our length, weight and height then select a route or particular highway and it show the areas to avoid. I've been planning our trips the old way using an atlas and google maps, plus research on the net. Works OK until a wrong turn or exit or just have a change in plans along the way.

Thanks for the replies, I always value the experiences of others.

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #7 – August 17, 2018, 01:05:19 pm

I'm giving copilot RV a try on my iPhone and iPad, but after two days I'm not impressed. It is missing campgrounds, off on addresses, and the robotic voice is beyond annoying. But it does know my dimensions and driving speeds for different types of roads.

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #8 – August 17, 2018, 01:50:24 pm

I had a Rand McNally RV5510 which worked very well for the motorhome WHEN IT WORKED. I attempted to update the "Lifetime Maps" but no computer I used could recognize it (two Macs, two desktops and two laptops), so could not update the maps. I sent it to RM who changed it (NOT good) so that it then froze several times a day and required reboots - very inconvenient. The irony is that I still could not update the maps (so no Mexico). I gave it to another Foreforum member but have not heard if he was able to update the maps.

I replaced it with a Garmin RV660LM (no traffic) for circa $200 from eBay. I love this Garmin now that I have learned how to use it. It has USA, Canada, and Mexico maps and RV settings (length and weight) so it provides over weight or narrow road warnings.

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #9 – August 17, 2018, 02:20:01 pm

Quote from: Tom Lang – August 17, 2018, 01:05:19 pm

I'm giving copilot RV a try on my iPhone and iPad, but after two days I'm not impressed. It is missing campgrounds, off on addresses, and the robotic voice is beyond annoying. But it does know my dimensions and driving speeds for different types of roads.

Copilot made a lot of mistakes and had a very incomplete database when I tried it and like you say, the voices were annoying.

Here-we go and Maps.me work well and are totally free. Maps.me allows partial map downloads so if you are in a spot or country without fast internet, you can download just the area you need. Some double DIN radios like Pioneer allow you to mirror the screen on your phone/tablet and then use your radio face as a touch screen. Our Pioneer only does this with Waze, another good free offline nav app. The drawback is they don't do bridges, tunnels, etc.

I have used Sygic on tablets with excellent results. Nice maps with buildings in cities. They have an Android/iOS truck version for $139 or RV/Caravan North American version for $89 with 3 years free maps. My Mexican maps works well. They do off significant discounts from time to time. E-shop - GPS Navigation - Pricing for Android | Sygic

If you do have a internet connection, Google Maps is great.

I did notice the Garmin 660 for $280 new to $150 used on Walmart/ebay. The 770 looks even better with a 7 inch screen but is $350. I have always found major faults with previous Garmin products from the Nuvi to Garmin GLO to aircraft radios. The later Garmin products seem to be getting better and have excellent and friendly support when you have a problem.

Pierce

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #10 – August 17, 2018, 04:54:58 pm

Been running the Garmin RV760 several years - very happy with it.

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #11 – August 17, 2018, 05:13:26 pm

Our coach came with the Garmin. Didn't use it on the way up, used Iphone and android. On the way back hooked up the Garmin and liked it a lot. Not sure which model it is, but its RV specific. I would buy one if I was in the need. I like having a dedicated unit for nav. I like how it gives changes in speed coming up, school zones, sharp curves etc. And of course, height.

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #12 – August 17, 2018, 08:50:20 pm

The thing I don't like about the iPhone GPS is the fonts and such are microscopic. The dedicated GPS's are much easier to read "on the go"

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #13 – August 17, 2018, 09:11:30 pm

iPhone gps also works on the much larger iPad. I'm using an iPad mini.

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #14 – August 17, 2018, 09:31:36 pm

Quote from: Tom Lang – August 17, 2018, 09:11:30 pm

iPhone gps also works on the much larger iPad. I'm using an iPad mini.

My poor outdated iPad (1st gen from 2010) doesn't have a GPS chip. I plan on buying a VMSpc when Roger gets back to the lake country. Might give GPS on that a go. The Garmin works so well I don't think anything else would be any better. Just different.

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #15 – August 17, 2018, 09:42:07 pm

We use a first gen iPad as well with no cell or gps chip. We Bluetooth our position from a Dual satellite receiver (.https://gps.dualav.com/wp-content/uploads/xgps150_om.pdf) and use an app called CoPilot that has the maps resident on the iPad. Allows us to input our vehicle profile and preferences for highway types. It's a beautiful thing. The iPad sits in a larger mount to fit the iPad which we use in landscape position. Easily viewable from each of our positions. Good use of an old iPad and no depending on cell signals.

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #16 – August 17, 2018, 09:44:17 pm

I'm in a similar situation. Have the Rand MacNally 7 inch model now but not very satisfied. It's not very flexible to use, forcing one into a lot of jury rigging if you don't like the route it chooses. Many of the campgrounds I look up the machine has them but gives me one of those old Maine jokes -- "can't there from here".

The worst part was that the battery pretty much died in less than a year so it will only operate if continuously plugged in. The battery can only be replaced by RM Techs at more than one-half the price of a new unit.

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #17 – August 17, 2018, 09:51:58 pm

I run my iPad using Allstay's in the centering mode using a bag bottomed RAM mount in the vertical mode while driving.

Next to it is my old garmin 740? Which shows the speed limits and the coach current mph.

It is not reset on a trip until home so it shows the total trip mileage.

It showed the Speedo is 2% fast BTW.

Alternate screens on the iPad are gas buddy and trip advisors and Windy plus weather radar.

DW has her iPad with all stays and all the other programs to look ahead and weather channel for upcoming weather.

I use my iPhone and AirPods to call ahead for reservations and to verify fuel prices on gas buddy.

Modern world sure beats rving in the 80's with maps and a bag phone. And dial up internet

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #18 – August 17, 2018, 10:02:55 pm

Quote from: BillO – August 17, 2018, 09:44:17 pm

I'm in a similar situation. Have the Rand MacNally 7 inch model now but not very satisfied. It's not very flexible to use, forcing one into a lot of jury rigging if you don't like the route it chooses. Many of the campgrounds I look up the machine has them but gives me one of those old Maine jokes -- "can't there from here".

The worst part was that the battery pretty much died in less than a year so it will only operate if continuously plugged in. The battery can only be replaced by RM Techs at more than one-half the price of a new unit.

I wouldn't worry about battery time off the power cord. Even on the newest GPS's. An hour on batteries is doing really well. Plus these types of GPS's aren't meant for hiking away from a power cord anyway.

The Garmin does let you alter the route from the screen. But it's a bit fiddly.

Garmin does have a free download called base camp that allows you to pre-plan trips on your PC or Mac and transfer it to the GPS.
Garmin Base Camp

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #19 – August 17, 2018, 10:15:55 pm

Quote from: bigdog – August 17, 2018, 10:02:55 pm

I wouldn't worry about battery time off the power cord. Even on the newest GPS's. An hour on batteries is doing really well. Plus these types of GPS's aren't meant for hiking away from a power cord anyway.

The Garmin does let you alter the route from the screen. But it's a bit fiddly.

Garmin does have a free download called base camp that allows you to pre-plan trips on your PC or Mac and transfer it to the GPS.
Garmin Base Camp

The battery issue probably needed some elaboration. The RM unit has a "smart" battery. If it runs down too far the unit won't even turn on when plugged in. You have to go through a battery reboot procedure which requires 24 hours. At this point the battery goes down in about 10 minutes, and I've not left it unplugged long enough to go through the reboot again.

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #20 – August 17, 2018, 10:22:28 pm

Quote from: BillO – August 17, 2018, 10:15:55 pm

The battery issue probably needed some elaboration. The RM unit has a "smart" battery. If it runs down too far the unit won't even turn on when plugged in. You have to go through a battery reboot procedure which requires 24 hours. At this point the battery goes down in about 10 minutes, and I've not left it unplugged long enough to go through the reboot again.

OK, So it's pretty much toast.
I just downloaded Base Camp. It has a trip planning function specifically for RV's. Just plug in a Garmin GPS to your computer, Start Base Camp and it will bring up the GPS units maps on your screen. And you can plan away and save your route to the GPS.

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #21 – August 18, 2018, 01:01:08 am

In 3 months and 6,000 miles on our inaugural journey our Garmin RV770 LMT-S has done all we've asked.

In RV mode you enter length, width, height and weight and the unit will route you to avoid areas your size prohibits. You can also customize routes and the unit will alert you if the customized route includes such violations. You can also set avoidances for dirt roads, ferries and toll roads.

Routes can be plotted using Garmins Basecamp computer software and downloaded to the GpS.

Lifetime map and software updates are included.

Using the included Garmin Smartlink on your phone adds Live Traffic and Weathwr. You can even set it up to send emails to friends and family to display real-time routing

Menus on the device allow searches for RV parks, gas stations and a host of other points of interest.

Can be used in your car using the Car Profile which excludes the RV limits stated above.

Big screen and voice activated.

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #22 – August 18, 2018, 07:33:41 am

The Garmin. RV 770 LMT-S is the same unit I use. Clould not be happier. Does a great job and when on an interstate highway it splits the screen to show a picture view of ramp intersections on your route.

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #23 – August 18, 2018, 07:47:25 am

Thanks for all the replies............. seems that Garmin is preferred over RandMcNally and Magellan. The downside of using a tablet or I-pad is the usefulness if no internet or cell signal available. Advantage being we have I-phones and I-pads already.

Re: GPS Navigation device advice

Reply #24 – August 18, 2018, 10:27:21 am

Lack of internet on the road is no more of a disadvantage with an iPad than a stand alone gps device. I have all the Maps I need downloaded and the gps works wherever there is open sky. Both lose traffic without internet. The main advantage and disadvantage is software.

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