We are currently planning a six or seven thousand mile trip. We have iPhone 5s, with the navigation that now comes with it, plus an app we bought before Siri gave directions, plus Google Maps. All are pretty good (not perfect) for car trips but don't take into account length, height, or weight limitations. I've searched for an RV- or trucking-oriented app and thus far the only one that seems even close to satisfactory is $150 plus a subscription charge. Even that one, it isn't clear that it's up to the job and I'm surely not going to spend all that money on a guess. I'm open to suggestions. Height/weight-length-aware routing, traffic-aware routing, voice guidance, ability to add stops, and ability to preload maps so everything keeps working even out of cell range.

I like the Garmin Street Pilot App.

The navigation apps are all quite terrible. This weekend, in NY, my wife and I were using Google Maps on an Iphone 5S and it was terrible! Took us in totally out of the way places. As soon as we got back in my car with my Garmin, all was well.I've had more GPS units from Magellan (He got lost in the Pacific and died. Never did make it home. Why name a GPS after him!), Tom Tom, etc....None can compare to Garmin. I just bought the 760RV...Fantastic! Will keep an RV out of trouble....low bridges, weight restrictions, no LP tunnels, etc....

Try "Here" it is made by Nokia. Ive used it, told fellow rvers and have not had any problems.Nothing is PERFECT so don't expect it (even Garmin isn't) but for FREE it is great.If you do try it let me know. :)

Tried Here. No, not bad for car trips, but no advantage over what I'm already using. No length/weight/height awareness. I'll try Co-Pilot, but it doesn't indicate that it has the needed features. Does it? And it gets generally bad reviews. Street Pilot? Does it take height/weight/length into account? They don't say that it does, and I'm not willing to spend fifty bucks to find out. And it, too, gets really poor reviews.

IPhone navigation apps | Good Sam Community

sch911
Explorer
Dec 15, 2015
Try the CoPilot app.
DavidP
Explorer
Dec 15, 2015
I like the Garmin Street Pilot App.
Rbertalotto
Explorer
Dec 15, 2015
The navigation apps are all quite terrible. This weekend, in NY, my wife and I were using Google Maps on an Iphone 5S and it was terrible! Took us in totally out of the way places. As soon as we got back in my car with my Garmin, all was well.

I've had more GPS units from Magellan (He got lost in the Pacific and died. Never did make it home. Why name a GPS after him!), Tom Tom, etc....None can compare to Garmin. I just bought the 760RV...Fantastic! Will keep an RV out of trouble....low bridges, weight restrictions, no LP tunnels, etc....
DesertFiver
Explorer
Dec 15, 2015
Try "Here" it is made by Nokia. Ive used it, told fellow rvers and have not had any problems.
Nothing is PERFECT so don't expect it (even Garmin isn't) but for FREE it is great.
If you do try it let me know. :)
k6ncx
Explorer
Dec 15, 2015
Tried Here. No, not bad for car trips, but no advantage over what I'm already using. No length/weight/height awareness.

I'll try Co-Pilot, but it doesn't indicate that it has the needed features. Does it? And it gets generally bad reviews.

Street Pilot? Does it take height/weight/length into account? They don't say that it does, and I'm not willing to spend fifty bucks to find out. And it, too, gets really poor reviews.
jpmihalk
Explorer
Dec 16, 2015
I have 3 different apps on my iPhone. I use TomTom for everyday Jeep driving, as I don't care what kind of dirt road it takes me down. In the RV I use either CoPilot or the Garmin HUD. CoPilot is great for RV-specific routing as it is height and weight aware, and the Garmin HUD is great for highway driving. I always check routes with all of them prior to leaving just to see how they compare and then check the routes to find the one that makes the most sense. I don't want to end up going on some one lane dirt road just because it happens to be the "shortest route" and doesn't realize I am in a 22K lb. 34 foot beast.

As with most of these apps, there is a learning curve. Setting them all up correctly is a big part of using them.
Lantley
Nomad
Dec 16, 2015
You get what you pay for. There are lots of free GPS options that do a decent job, however if you want better you must be willing to pay for it.
I have a dedicated Garmin RV 760LMT. It has height length settings. It's not foolproof but I am happy with it. Never trust any GPS 100%. Always verify your route with another source

Garmin 760 on Amazon
sdianel_-acct_c
Explorer
Dec 16, 2015
CoPilot has an RV setting "RV mode: Calculates routes suited to larger vehicles, caravans and RVs. RV routing favors main roads and avoids U-turns when possible." It does everything you have on your list except I didn't see weight restriction setting. We have been using it for about a year. Easy to use. It uses your phone's GPS not cell service so you don't have to have a cell connection to use it. It adds your stops to "My Places" You can subscribe to traffic updates for a monthly fee. Traffic updates uses an internet connection. We chose not to subscribe to that.
k6ncx
Explorer
Dec 16, 2015
jpmihalk wrote:
I have 3 different apps on my iPhone. I use TomTom for everyday Jeep driving, as I don't care what kind of dirt road it takes me down. In the RV I use either CoPilot or the Garmin HUD. CoPilot is great for RV-specific routing as it is height and weight aware, and the Garmin HUD is great for highway driving. I always check routes with all of them prior to leaving just to see how they compare and then check the routes to find the one that makes the most sense. I don't want to end up going on some one lane dirt road just because it happens to be the "shortest route" and doesn't realize I am in a 22K lb. 34 foot beast.

As with most of these apps, there is a learning curve. Setting them all up correctly is a big part of using them.

OK, which version of Co-Pilot?
TakingThe5th
Explorer
Dec 16, 2015
CoPllot stores the map information on your iPhone so be sure you have sufficient room to hold it. Updates do take awhile. I had to take it off my 6 Plus because I failed to get a memory upgrade.

CoPilot was good for us and I agree with the comments above. It had it's good and bad points. Being more accustomed with app mapping, I was annoyed with the non-standard way destinations were entered and often with the inability to find an exact address.

X2 on checking your route with other apps - DW also uses paper maps - checking makes the trip more enjoyable in my opinion as opposed to just pounding out the miles.