Do you have a Good Sam Rand McNally RVND-7725-Lm GPS

I spent a couple hours tonight using the unit around town on some errands. Most of the time though I spent having the unit calculate routes and comparing them to my smartphone Google Maps and TomTom for Android.

First, there is definitely a difference in routes and ETA between car mode and RV mode. It is doing something more than just warning you of RV related "issues" with your route while you drive. In a few cases, even if the route was the same in car mode and RV mode, the ETA was not. That stands to reason. There is a 5-level adjustment to the ETA when in RV mode. You can pick to have the 7725 display the ETA as calculated or adjust the ETA longer or shorter in two steps each way. It will take awhile to learn which is appropriate for my personal driving habits.

There were times that my test routes on the 7725 picked a completely different route when switching between car mode and RV mode.

I continue to find the ETA's of the 7725 to be very, very good, especially in car mode. They are right on what TomTom calculates and very close to Google Navigation. I caulk this up to Navteq data and the additional of Navteq's historical speed database, which appears to be growing quickly.

Tonight I saw speed limit coverage on several in-town local streets that are not part of any highway system. These were 35 mph roads. I also got a curve warning on a local street.

Lane guidance and freeway sign imagery popped up on a couple routes tonight. As expected with Navteq data from my Garmin experience, it was accurate.

I am finding the 7725 to be a worthy device so far.

If you are on the fence about the Rand McNally devices I'd encourage you to spend some time reading Amazon reviews. There is a BIG difference in the sentiment of reviews between the 7710 and earlier devices and the 7720 (which is what the 7725 essentially is).

Thank you GoPackGo. Yes, RAM makes 4 different X-Grips. They make one for phones, one for big phones (phablets), one for 7" tablets and one for 10" tablets. I have one for my smartphone already and bought the 7" model for the 7725. The RAM model number for the 7" is RAM-HOL-UN8BU. That model number gives you the mount, which terminates in a standard RAM 1" ball. You then, as you say, have to build how you want to mount it in your vehicle. I picked the locking suction cup RAM #RAM-B-224-1U. I've had excellent luck with that one. That also terminates in a 1" ball. Then you have to connect the two 1" balls together. The most straight forward way to do that is with a double ball socket arm. One model is RAM-B-201U. But they make a variety of lengths. You can pick the length so that the GPS sits out from the windshield as far as you'd like. RAM also makes more sophisticated mounting solutions that are permanently installed as you said. I've never used those. You are right, this stuff is not cheap but it is just awesome stuff. The suction cup, arm and X-Grip will run you about $45 pieced together.

Jeffcarp - I also have the RM 7720 and just took delivery of an F350 so I'm interested in a good mounting system. I just read your review - very good. Can you tell me which exact Ram Mount x grip you will use ? There appears to be more then one choice. Also, how will you mount it ? Suction cup to the windshield, or some kind of permanent Ram Mount installation ? Thanks, I'm somewhat familiar with Ram Mounts as I've used them in the past. Really great, heavy duty stuff. Also not cheap.

Thanks, again.

I am curious about the mount for the ipad... i bought one and it is to awkward and when I place it forward enough on the dash, the glare makes it difficult to read... looking for something that shades the scree and provides a stable mount to prevent all the jiggling of the image.

jeffcarp wrote:
I received my 7725 and have completed my "first impressions" blog post. You can read it here.

Great review, thanks, let us know when you post more.

I received my 7725 and have completed my "first impressions" blog post. You can read it here.

I will receive my 7725 by UPS today. I plan to do a full review with first impressions / setup and settings kind of stuff. Then I will do a follow up after using it for routing on a trip in 2 weeks.

Any body else have one? would like more info.

The Rand is one of the worst RV GPS ever to hit the market. There are so many info bands on the screen that it really is only a 3.5 inch screen. The sound is like a crystal radio. The voices suck. I returned it and bought a real GPS Garmin 760 DEZL.

Moisheh

I just bought one and when I got it home I had it route me locally. Here there are limited access highways with 7'10" clearances and that do not allow RVs on them. This was my test for this Rand Mcnally GPS. I set my RV specs into the unit and put in the route. It sent me right onto the roads that I am not permitted on. I increased the height clearance to the maximum RV height and it did the same thing. I then changed the settings from RV to truck. Commercial trucks are not permitted on these same roads. The routing was exactly the same. I packed up the unit and took it back to where I bought it for a refund. I also contacted Rand Mcnally about this and got no satisfactory response from them.

I am going to get a Garmin Dezl Truck GPS. I tried one of these in Best Buy and the same route went no where near the roads I cannot drive on. Garmin has both 7" and 5" screen models with free lifetime maps and free lifetime traffic. There are settings in the Garmin Dezl models for both trucks and RVs.

Maybe this would not be a problem for you where you will travel with the Rand McNally but if this does not know the roads around Metro NY I would not trust it to know the road regulations and clearance heights anywhere. And if anyone is using it and comes into NY state beware because the whole state has these same restrictions on certain roads.