RV Specific GPS

As I mentioned, the RV GPS units do allow you to add certain restrictions to your trip routing. You can also add POI's such as low overpass info to most of the GPS units giving them the same capabilities. It's much less expensive to buy a Nuvi for $150 and add the free POI's.

Bill.Satellite wrote:

Gjac wrote:
I have been looking into the RV specific GPS's and have got a lot of varying opinions. The question that I have is what logic does the Garmin 760 and RM use to determine routing for your RV? Many report that when using the RV routing it will rout them to truck routs that are longer or keep them off more direct routing. Does anyone know how this logic is set up in the these GPS's? or is it the same logic used for truck routing?

There is NO RV routing available in any GPS. There is trucker routing and car routing. You can add some limitations like weight and length and the manufacturer can add some RV related POI's but the routing will still be done as if you are a commercial truck (truckers GPS) or a big long, heavy car (RV GPS). I suggest that you always check your route online or with a paper map i you plan to leave the Interstate highway system. I really like planning using Google Earth. It not only shows the exact route and allows me to drive it, but you can right click on an active route and you will be able to view all elevation changes along the way in both slope (5%) and elevation gain or loss.

I have been basing my conclusions on Bill's reply to my question which is there is NO RV routing on any GPS only car routing and Truck routing.

If you rely on a car GPS unit and come to where I live you will be soon wondering what you are going to do now that your RV's roof has been ripped off. The car GPS will put you on roads here with low overpasses and no exit before them every time. This, if nothing else, is the value of an RV specific GPS.

My Good Sam RM 7725 doesn't seem to follow truck routes and does route me directly, according to my settings, on the shortest route avoiding "small roads." It has not sent me on "truck routes" through cities. To me it's worth every penny to not come upon a low tunnel or bridge where I would have to stop disconnect the toad and try to do a u turn.
Since I am a solo rv'er, checking google earth constantly to see if there is anything ahead or using a smart phone is not an option for me. I do also use a map to look over the route before I set off for the day.

Gjac wrote:
My conclusion after reading Bill Satellite's reply is that the Garmin 760 and the RM 7725 both use a truck routing logic to rout your RV. This would keep you on truck routs only. Why would one spend $400 on a "RV specific GPS" that would keep you off of direct routes? It seems these GPS's have some more RV POI's than the standard ones, but not sure it is worth $300 more than a standard GPS.

I have the Garmin RV 760LMT GPS. I have no idea what Garmin uses as the basis for their routing but it doesn't take you out of your way. Typically the route it calculates is the one I would take, I always check my routes before leaving. Sometimes it surprises me. On a recent trip to the California delta I was expecting to be on the interstate most of the way but it chose a more direct route over state highways.

Do you need an RV GPS? No. Most of the time, not always but most of the time, I find that the routes it calculates for cars and RVs are the same, at least for the basic trip. Where it may vary is at the start and end of the trip where you leave the highway and travel local streets to and from the campground. That all makes sense to me, the potential trouble points for RVs are not on the highways.

I travel the western US, maybe things are different where you live.

My conclusion after reading Bill Satellite's reply is that the Garmin 760 and the RM 7725 both use a truck routing logic to rout your RV. This would keep you on truck routs only. Why would one spend $400 on a "RV specific GPS" that would keep you off of direct routes? It seems these GPS's have some more RV POI's than the standard ones, but not sure it is worth $300 more than a standard GPS.

We have had an RVND7710 for the last 3 or 4 years and have had no problems. It has worked well for us all across the country.

I have a RM7725 (Good Sam brand) for the motorhome. I really like that I can set the height and length of the MH and toad and it will avoid routing on roads with sharp turns and/or low tunnels. You do have to set your road preferences; "avoid small roads," etc. I also like the campground search feature. It takes a little getting used when compared to the Garmin I use in my car, but now that I am familiar with it I like it better than the Garmin. It is easier to enter addresses and search for POI's. I haven't had any problems with it, it works well, has never locked up or frozen.

Guess I'll be the lone dissenter here. We have the RM 7720 and really like it. No GPS is perfect, and will sometimes,do wonky things. But this one is pretty darned good. Maybe the Good Sam-branded one messed things up. I wish I had a 7720 in my car.

Bill.Satellite wrote:

Gjac wrote:
I have been looking into the RV specific GPS's and have got a lot of varying opinions. The question that I have is what logic does the Garmin 760 and RM use to determine routing for your RV? Many report that when using the RV routing it will rout them to truck routs that are longer or keep them off more direct routing. Does anyone know how this logic is set up in the these GPS's? or is it the same logic used for truck routing?

There is NO RV routing available in any GPS. There is trucker routing and car routing. You can add some limitations like weight and length and the manufacturer can add some RV related POI's but the routing will still be done as if you are a commercial truck (truckers GPS) or a big long, heavy car (RV GPS). I suggest that you always check your route online or with a paper map i you plan to leave the Interstate highway system. I really like planning using Google Earth. It not only shows the exact route and allows me to drive it, but you can right click on an active route and you will be able to view all elevation changes along the way in both slope (5%) and elevation gain or loss.

Thanks Bill that was my suspicion after reading some of the threads. How were you able to find this out? To the average RVer if you read their marketing claims they say you can input ht,wt,length and it will find the perfect road for you. I do use Google earth and a road atlas to plan trips and an old Garmin Nuvi. My first Garmin 330 (I think it was) had truck, car, and pedestrian mode. When it got stolen I bought this Nuvi assuming it had the same or more because it was newer and more expensive but only has a car mode. I was trying to determine if the $400 "RV specific gps's" were worth the extra cost.