Been thinking about buying a GPS that might be more set up fro Truck drivers or large RV's, that would have info that actually helps us vs the GPS units made for people in compact cars.I'm thinking about this being am a commercial truck driver & also love to camp a lot in my RV in unknown places.I plan to camp the whole country eventually & think this would be very helpful.What are your thoughts?

Blanco1 wrote:Been thinking about buying a GPS that might be more set up fro Truck drivers or large RV's, that would have info that actually helps us vs the GPS units made for people in compact cars.I'm thinking about this being am a commercial truck driver & also love to camp a lot in my RV in unknown places.I plan to camp the whole country eventually & think this would be very helpful.What are your thoughts?DEZL GARMIN 770 LMTHD

You can use the POI Factory with any Garmin GPS and get the alerts you wish without limiting yourself to a truck GPS. My experience with a truck/RV GPS, the Garmin Nuvi 465T, was less than stellar. It simply would not allow me to plan a route that traveled roads that did not allow truck traffic. That was a real pain.Now I have a standard Garmin Nuvi 2539 and I put the alerts in it I want and have no travel restrictions that I don't choose to have.

djgarcia wrote:Blanco1 wrote:Been thinking about buying a GPS that might be more set up fro Truck drivers or large RV's, that would have info that actually helps us vs the GPS units made for people in compact cars.I'm thinking about this being am a commercial truck driver & also love to camp a lot in my RV in unknown places.I plan to camp the whole country eventually & think this would be very helpful.What are your thoughts?DEZL GARMIN 770 LMTHD& Why?What makes you recommend it?

fj12ryder wrote:You can use the POI Factory with any Garmin GPS and get the alerts you wish without limiting yourself to a truck GPS. My experience with a truck/RV GPS, the Garmin Nuvi 465T, was less than stellar. It simply would not allow me to plan a route that traveled roads that did not allow truck traffic. That was a real pain.Now I have a standard Garmin Nuvi 2539 and I put the alerts in it I want and have no travel restrictions that I don't choose to have.Never thought about that & something I will keep in mind, Thanks.

I have a Rand McNally GoodSam RV GPS that I purchased at Camping World.I love the interface with the search options especially for RV parks. Since we use military RV parks, the RandMcNally is the only one I've found with those separated out, and a complete database.My best RV friend used the Magellan RV GPS. He loves that interface, which I don't.The best GPS for traffic alerts is a Garmin with lifetime traffic and maps.The older Garmin Nuvi we have is a pain to update because the map database is one huge file. The Rand update is a much smaller map update file rather than an entire map replacement like the Garmin.However, no GPS is perfect. You still need to plan, and be aware of your route, watch road signs and drive with a heads up attitude.One issue I've found with all GPS came a couple years ago when I was on a beta team for a manufacturer.All the GPS companies get the same data from the state highway departments to setup their systems. One factor each company uses in determining if a road is suitable for big trucks and big RVs is the speed limit assigned to the road.In Texas we have two lane, 9 foot wide lanes, roads with no shoulders in many counties with 65 or 70 mph speed limits. We have similar roads with two foot wide shoulders with 75 mph speed limits.Many folks would consider that unsuitable for an RV - I've seen complaints about how bad a Garmin/ Rand/ Magellan GPS is for RVs for sending someone down those roads on this forum.No GPS is better than the base data programmed into the unit.Another problem with RV GPS units I see on these forums is that a lot of people do not take the time to learn the options and how to best use the unit. A GPS is a tool, and it takes time and practice to learn how to use the tool best.But ALWAYS remember the GPS is advisory. The driver has to be the ultimate decision maker.More than once, I've pulled over and looked at a map - rather than blindly follow a GPS if it wanted to take me somewhere I wasn't sure about.

Can anyone recommend a GPS for the Bigger rigs for camping?

22 Replies

F350_RR
Explorer
Dec 12, 2016
beemerphile1 wrote:
Your favorite tablet with "GPS Copilot" installed. The maps are loaded on the tablet (or phone), uses no data and you can custom tune it for RV use.

I have been using CoPilot for several years on iPad and iPhone in the US, Canada and in France. I use a BadElf GPS receiver that connects to devices via Bluetooth so no cell service is needed. If I want "active traffic" on CoPilot I use the iPhone as a Personal Hotspot for the iPad which is not cell equipped.

I still check where I plan to travel on the desktop before going anywhere. Gets me the zoomed out view and possible preferred routing and I make notes as needed. The BadElf receiver runs all day on its rechargeable battery and can be set to log the track as well as turn itself off after sitting still for a set time to conserve battery.

I use the BadElf on the boat with the iPad and marine charts as a backup or for a different view than the Garmin plotter. With a clear south view and a few minutes to acquire more satellites it reports an error of less that 10 feet.

Doug
Blanco1
Explorer
Dec 12, 2016
rr2254545 wrote:
owenssailor wrote:
We just got a Garmin RV 660. You can choose whether to use it for RV with the specs you put in or use it for a car. I have used it about 1500 miles so far this trip and am very happy with it. Screen is very clear. Directions for turns are easy to follow.

X2 love mine

GPS store on line currently have them for 249.95 with free shipping - I got mine there back in May

http://www.thegpsstore.com/Garmin-RV-660LMT-GPS-for-RVs-P4463.aspx

Because as I said I'm also a commercial truck driver, so hoping to find one that will help me in both work & play?
Chuck_thehammer
Explorer
Dec 11, 2016
the RV660. is the obsolete 760 with a smaller screen

an for me.. going from a 5 inch to a 6 .. why bother.

if you 770 is sending you down the wrong roads.. you have something wrong in the parameters you entered. my opinion.

plus the 770 has on-screen route adjustments. no need to download changed routes like from basecamp...

you can plan and adjust routes on screen... tap and drag for different roads or cities. not able in others.

purchase what you like. being software is so personal.. and different.. hard to compare non biased views.

going from Mulligan to Garmin.. was big in software difference.. but worth it in the end for me.
Bucky_Badger
Explorer
Dec 11, 2016
rr2254545 wrote:
djgarcia wrote:
Blanco1 wrote:
Been thinking about buying a GPS that might be more set up fro Truck drivers or large RV's, that would have info that actually helps us vs the GPS units made for people in compact cars.

I'm thinking about this being am a commercial truck driver & also love to camp a lot in my RV in unknown places.

I plan to camp the whole country eventually & think this would be very helpful.

What are your thoughts?

DEZL GARMIN 770 LMTHD

Why would you use a trucker GPS in a RV when there are a 6 and 7 inch RV model - trucker GPS takes you on strange routes sometime - I speak from actual usage

From the OP
GPS that might be more set up fro Truck drivers or large RV's, wrote:
beemerphile1
Explorer
Dec 11, 2016
Your favorite tablet with "GPS Copilot" installed. The maps are loaded on the tablet (or phone), uses no data and you can custom tune it for RV use.
mbopp
Explorer
Dec 11, 2016
Ditto - ordered a Garmin 660 from thegpsstore yesterday. I don't own a smart phone so that option's out.
rr2254545
Explorer
Dec 11, 2016
owenssailor wrote:
We just got a Garmin RV 660. You can choose whether to use it for RV with the specs you put in or use it for a car. I have used it about 1500 miles so far this trip and am very happy with it. Screen is very clear. Directions for turns are easy to follow.

X2 love mine

GPS store on line currently have them for 249.95 with free shipping - I got mine there back in May

http://www.thegpsstore.com/Garmin-RV-660LMT-GPS-for-RVs-P4463.aspx
rr2254545
Explorer
Dec 11, 2016
djgarcia wrote:
Blanco1 wrote:
Been thinking about buying a GPS that might be more set up fro Truck drivers or large RV's, that would have info that actually helps us vs the GPS units made for people in compact cars.

I'm thinking about this being am a commercial truck driver & also love to camp a lot in my RV in unknown places.

I plan to camp the whole country eventually & think this would be very helpful.

What are your thoughts?

DEZL GARMIN 770 LMTHD

Why would you use a trucker GPS in a RV when there are a 6 and 7 inch RV model - trucker GPS takes you on strange routes sometime - I speak from actual usage
RoyB
Explorer II
Dec 11, 2016
Blanco1 wrote:

DEZL GARMIN 770 LMTHD

& Why?
What makes you recommend it?

Google shows it available from AMAZON... Should have a few AMAZON reviews which they are good at providing...

Roy Ken
zigzagrv
Explorer
Dec 11, 2016
Came back a couple weeks ago from a 3300 mile trip using the free download of Co-Pilot with the voice option (about 10 bucks)on my Samsung tablet. Bought a mount for it at Five Below and it worked very well. You can preplan trips and save them. There are two selectable heights for campers. It will not take you on a route with low bridges or on roads that prohibit large commercial vehicles, like some of the parkways here in the northeast. I was very happy with it. Give it a try.....it's free!