But remember - the Garmin is a nice, normal GPS - it has no RV oriented features.
Also, all GPS are only as good as the source data. Most highway data in the US comes from the same source and is based on information from the state highway department.
My home town (600 people in Arkansas) had a railroad track through the middle of town. For some reason, the former state highway, now US highway, which made 2 90 degree turns to cross the railroad is in most mapping software on a very small, almost alley sized, street, not the actual main road.
Whenever someone sees a big truck, a FedEx or UPS driver, or an out of state plates passenger car turning on to that street, we know they are following a GPS.
Every GPS or mapping program I've owned or seen has this error, including AAA, MS Streets & Trips, Bing Maps, Google Maps, etc.
RV GPS units are really not much different from a regular GPS. Yes, they should have an added calculation process to avoid low bridges and tight turns based on the RV size we enter in the unit. And that data is of course only as good as the source information - if a low bridge isn't in the database - the GPS won't protect you.
The organization of the POI makes using a GPS much easier.
Finding a COE or state park on the Garmin auto GPS is a real pain because they are lumped in with community parks.
That the Rand has campgrounds listed by:
1) All Campgrounds
2) Commercial (Good Sam Reviewed) Campgrounds
3) State Parks
4) National Parks
5) National Forests
6) Corps of Engineers
7) Bureau of Land Management
8) County Parks
9) Military Campgrounds
Is a really big help.
With the Good Sam Reviewed category, I can filter that list to show only CG with 44 different features. The one I'd use most is to make the list show only CG with 50Amp service and Propane refills on site. Others would have other options. Such as only Good Sam parks, Big Rig Friendly with pull thru spots and an on-site laundry.
I hope someday to be able to filter the government parks by hookup categories. The additional information part of the parks is also very useful.
I like the Rand "Quick Stops" option which works for us. But some folks would find that the six standard buttons - Flying J, Loves Travel Stops, Pilot, TA/Petro, Walmart and Wilco(Hess) - as useless. It is also a prime advertising potential.
Having the RV Services section for Dump Stations is nice, though I haven't HAD to use it yet.
But as we discussed above - these categories and service listings are only as good as the source data. I do like the ability to submit errors, additional information directly to Rand. I haven't seen that on another GPS, but I'm not willing to say the other companies don't have that feedback capability.
This is a developing market - it will only get better if we, the users, let the companies know what we like, what we don't like and help them get better.
The other critical point to always remember is that a GPS is advisory. Never, Never trust one to be perfect. Know where you are going, watch the clearance signs - especially on small side roads. And if it looks like the GPS is trying to take you the wrong way - STOP and check a map.
The internet is a wonderful tool, but if we carry our complaints only on forums - they get as much changed as the old barber shop did back when I was young.
