Looking for a new GPS

Some general thoughts....

The cell-phone apps (Google Maps, etc) do -not- include things like low overhead (overpasses) and propane restrictions (tunnels, etc).

CoPilot general aps sound good, but I heard nothing good from a beta-tester of their RV version.

The Rand RV-GPS family has the best built in campground directory, but after market POI can easily over come that.

The Garmin series has a solid rep for the best user-interface, plus a good campground directory (which we supplemented with some 3rd party POIs)

The current Garmin's have an option to display the upcoming road grade.

Models with live "traffic" can be very useful in Metro areas. Mine have rerouted me around really bad traffic issues a couple times

avvidclif1 wrote:
That's a great idea as long as you have cell service. No cell service and no map or directions.

Google Maps should cache the maps if you've already visited that route. I think Apple's Map app might do the same thing now too.

Navigon is an outstanding navigation app and it loads the maps onto your local device. You use the map loader function to pick the states that you want to load onto your device. I used Navigon for years and I was always satisfied. I stopped using it when I upgraded to a newer truck with a good nav system installed.

There are a lot of GPS programs for phones or tablets that don't require cell service/data connection. Just go look in the app store for your device.

Cell phone works great with Sygic's program. You'll need a phone that takes a SD memory card but the entire program in kept on the phone so cell service is not necessary. The coolest feature is the 'heads up' display that will reflect an image of an arrow on the windshield at night (when I usually am most in the need of directions) along with some other info. You can download the program for 14 day's free trial. Just search for Sygic. Will also work on a GPS equipped tablet.

avvidclif1 wrote:
That's a great idea as long as you have cell service. No cell service and no map or directions.

My wife's tablet has native GPS, so no cell or wifi service needed. Nice to have a 10" screen... :-) Have CoPilot installed on it.

Lyle

We use the Rand McNally one, bought it at Camping World, you can switch it from Car to Rv mode, has most CG's, Fuel, Food, etc. listed, as well as free updates, Been Very Happy with ours and we have had it about 5 yrs now. Good Luck and Happy Camping !!

We like CoPilot RV app. Been using it for 2 years.

I bought the Garmin Nuvi 2539 LMT and so far am very happy with it. I load my own POI's and set my own avoidance alerts. I had a auto/truck GPS and didn't care for the fact it would try to route you off non-truck roads. A real pain.

FWIW I never allow the GPS to do the routing, I always trace out a route in Basecamp and then transfer to the GPS. I only use a GPS for directions so I have no interests in campgrounds, Walmarts, or other POI's that I don't personally load.

The Nuvi 2539 was about $150. I don't own a smartphone so the GPS is a wonderful thing to have, I wouldn't be without one.

Search 'gps' in advanced search, Subject only. You'll find tons of posts.

I'd get a Garmin with the largest screen I could afford. not a tiny smart phone sized one.
bumpy