Built in vs. Stand-alone GPS?
We are currently shopping for a new tow vehicle. Trying to decide whether or not we want to shell out $750 for a built in GPS. As much as I like having the built-in system and not having another scr...
Forum Discussion
I have built in GPS in my GMC 2500HD and also carry a Garmin RV760 and then our phones have google maps. All have advantages/disadvantages.
google maps is great for knowing how LONG it will take to get somewhere
google maps will give rerouting instructions if there is a faster route.
Of course that assumes you have cell coverage.
and the reroute doesn't know if the route is "trailer friendly"
the "map" is the size of display of the phone so I rely on voice directions. Not always the bgest.
Garmin RV760 give good turn by turn and does a decent job of finding trailer friendly routes.
Garmin doesn't get real time traffic so may not reroute for accidents, closures etc.
Directions on which lane to stay in or use are good.
The GM built in IMHO has very good turn by turn directions, the best of all often giving exact lanes to be in with advanced warning often even the name of a business/landmark before a turn.
It doesn't automatically reroute for obstructions, but on several occasions I've hit the onstar button and the onstar advisor rerouted me on a RV friendly route when I told her I was pulling a 35 ft trailer. On another occasion I was informed that I should stay at the rest stop because all lanes were blocked due to an accident and the backup was approaching 25 miles. They said it was being cleared call back in an hour for an update. So.. we had some coffee, and waited.
Onstar will also download custom maps if you request, like keep me on highway 1 as much as possible from LA to cresent city, avoiding 101 if possible.
Display in my case is the biggest of all and turns are shown directly on the DIC in the spedo cluster if needed.
Maps are not as current as the Garmin or Google, and even the annual update isn't real up to date and updates cost, unlike Garmin and google.
Which is best? One that did what all of the above would do combined!
google maps is great for knowing how LONG it will take to get somewhere
google maps will give rerouting instructions if there is a faster route.
Of course that assumes you have cell coverage.
and the reroute doesn't know if the route is "trailer friendly"
the "map" is the size of display of the phone so I rely on voice directions. Not always the bgest.
Garmin RV760 give good turn by turn and does a decent job of finding trailer friendly routes.
Garmin doesn't get real time traffic so may not reroute for accidents, closures etc.
Directions on which lane to stay in or use are good.
The GM built in IMHO has very good turn by turn directions, the best of all often giving exact lanes to be in with advanced warning often even the name of a business/landmark before a turn.
It doesn't automatically reroute for obstructions, but on several occasions I've hit the onstar button and the onstar advisor rerouted me on a RV friendly route when I told her I was pulling a 35 ft trailer. On another occasion I was informed that I should stay at the rest stop because all lanes were blocked due to an accident and the backup was approaching 25 miles. They said it was being cleared call back in an hour for an update. So.. we had some coffee, and waited.
Onstar will also download custom maps if you request, like keep me on highway 1 as much as possible from LA to cresent city, avoiding 101 if possible.
Display in my case is the biggest of all and turns are shown directly on the DIC in the spedo cluster if needed.
Maps are not as current as the Garmin or Google, and even the annual update isn't real up to date and updates cost, unlike Garmin and google.
Which is best? One that did what all of the above would do combined!
