Planning to go "wherever" in the USA and am concerned I'll lose signal (and therefore navigation ability using Google Maps) as I get into some much less populated areas.I have Verizon. Is this a legitimate concern?What's the latest everyone is doing to navigate in the middle of nowhere?Coming from boats, this is a core requirement of mine; not getting lost or stranded in the middle of nowhere.

You can download Google maps to use offline (it's a menu item in the app). I also carry paper maps. I like them better for finding back roads.

You could always go 'old school' and use paper maps. They have never left me down or lost the signal.GPS is a nice tool but, not always accurate.

The other thing is that getting lost in a car is not like getting lost on a boat. There are roads :).You can always turn around and find someone to ask (or a cell signal). If broken down, you can flag down a passing car.If you like to into the really wild places, do carry tools, water, food, repair manual, etc. But in an RV you will have your survival stuff handy anyway!

Naio wrote:You can download Google maps to use offline (it's a menu item in the app). I also carry paper maps. I like them better for finding back roads.I've seen that. I used the feature once and it seemed to download just a small area.I'm imagining say... going deep into the desert somewhere out west. I'm already used to being self sufficient for a month or 2. Plan to do similar things once in a while in the new TC.I used to like paper maps (and charts on boats) better, but the more recent versions of electronic work so much better for me. They also don't go out of date. I update them for free before major trips. Can you download say.... "Nevada" on Google Maps and keep it locally?

Google Maps? Locally stored maps? | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

Johno02
Explorer
May 01, 2016
Found this with Google
Garmin acquires DeLorme
Johno02
Explorer
May 01, 2016
Looks like the computer-based non-satellite maps are going away. Some may be availiable for professional use, but most are too expensive for average consumers, and don't work that well for our use anyway. I will just keep my old copy of S&T, and DeLorme running as long as possible.
Johno02
Explorer
May 01, 2016
Found this with Google
Garmin acquires DeLorme
Johno02
Explorer
May 01, 2016
Haven't heard anything about Garmin taking over, but really would like to know. Is Eartha still there??
JaxDad
Explorer III
May 01, 2016
Naio wrote:
I just tried out copilot, but it doesn't show even paved roads if they are small, let alone gravel or dirt ones. Not very useful for my kind of travel.

I think you might have missed a step. You have to download the map files for the area you to get anything but the most basic information.

In my area Co-pilot shows the most 2 bit of goat paths even.

The other (free) option is "Here maps" which is much like Co-pilot in that you download the map files and access them from your device's memory.
HadEnough
Explorer
May 01, 2016
Knew Delorme sounded familiar. I go to Maine frequently and love that company's headquarters.

Unfortunately, it looks like they were bought by Garmin and the store is permanently closed! Did Garmin buy them then gut them?? What a terrible loss if so.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeLorme
TyroneandGladys
Explorer
May 01, 2016
Use Google maps to plan a trip and to check the GPS directions. Before GPS I would print out the directions,broken down by days,and carry in a 3 ring binder. Still carry a road atlas as a back up.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
May 01, 2016
We'll stick to Delorme. It does everything we want.
Naio
Explorer II
May 01, 2016
I just tried out copilot, but it doesn't show even paved roads if they are small, let alone gravel or dirt ones. Not very useful for my kind of travel.
rekoj71
Explorer
Apr 30, 2016
The $9 app is Co-Pilot. (pick the USA version) It stores the maps on your device. You can get all of the USA and Canada stored on your SD card or internal memory and it will use less than 2.5Gigs, and has lots of POI's also.
It works almost as good as the dedicated GPS's out there.
I like Google maps but yes on some long stretches it blanks out, but the C0-Pilot app is great. Do a search on this forum and you will get lots of info on it too.
It also uses less battery than using Google as it doesn't need data, and I can use my data to stream music from Pandora or similar in the background while it's running.
You can also put in several preferences like avoiding highways, and it even has an RV setting that can help avoid low bridges.
It has a free trial before you have to pay.
There is also a newer more dedicated RV version (I don't have that one though) but it really only has some more customizable RV height and length inputs, but would be a good one also