Which GPS

I use a GPS everyday for my travels for work. I have used 4 different brands and love the Garmin Nuvi best. For towing our TT I would like to purchase a RV GPS but cannot justify the $375.00 for one.

GrandpaKip wrote:
We just bought the Good Sam version of the 7" Rand McNally. One trip so far and it was spot on. Still carry an atlas and maps, though.

Kip

Is it the Good Sam Rand McNally RVND7725?

If so I am particularly interested in your comments on these features:

• Wi-Fi—Connect to a wireless hotspot or mobile access point on your smartphone to receive live weather data.
  
• Weather—Dynamic weather data, including current and forecasted information for your current location, destination, and anywhere along your route. Choose from 10 different live map overlays to display important information for RVers, such as wind speed and precipitation.
  
• Warnings for speed limit changes, sharp curves, dirt roads, and other potential hazards
  
• Exits Quick View—RV parking and amenities at exits
  
• Predictive traffic—Routing based on historical traffic patterns
  
• RV-friendly gas stations (aside from POIs to truck stops)

The last bullet is most important for me. In other words I want to see what sets it aside for the RVer while driving.

Aside from the above I get all of that with my present Garmin or pre-trip planning.

We just bought the Good Sam version of the 7" Rand McNally. One trip so far and it was spot on. Still carry an atlas and maps, though.

We have both Magellan and Garmin, and the family agrees that the Garmin is just easier to use... the Magellan just seems "clunky", if that makes any sense.

I don't have a "trucker" gps. As many other posters say, use your head while traveling, don't put all your trust in the gps. Gps units especially seem to love directing you to parkways, which many times (around me at least) do not allow trailers or large vehicles.

I usually print out a map using Yahoo maps (which I am used to), bring a large map book, and use the gps while towing. What I really love about the gps is that it warns you of upcoming turns, intersections, etc.

I wouldn't be surprised if dedicated gps unit sort of fade away in the next few years. Everyone is using smartphone with gps, and when we bought our most recent gps last summer we were surprised at how fewer units seemed to be available compared to just a few years ago.

And almost always before leaving on a long trip... I ask here on Open Roads if anyone has up to date info about my route.

AirForceAngler wrote:
Google maps on a smartphone or tablet. Free to use, free updates, good traffic updates.

I use my smartphone and Google maps often, and it works well. The only problem is, if you don't have cell service, and need to find anything... You're out of luck. You can save a route, so that you'll get navigation even if you lose signal, but if you need to change that route, and find the campground you'reat has no service, you're out of luck.

I often will use my smartphone to find an address, use Google maps for an aerial view, get an idea of the route and surrounding area, and then use my truck's GPS to handle the navigation.

john&bet wrote:
Gps may be good, but you better watch the road and signs. That is what works pretty good for me. Thanks for the reply. Happy trails.

x2 on watching the signs. I've yet to use an infallible gps, every one I've used has steered me wrong more than a handful of times...

I updated one of my hand-held Garmins with the 2014.04 maps just released. It also loads a copy to my Mac for use with RoadTrip and BaseCamp. I checked and didn't see the road at all.

GordonThree wrote:

john&bet wrote:
I have a question for you. If your Garmin is so up to date would you see if a road numbered Indiana 750 is shown. It has been open since Dec. 10,2013. For reference it is off of US-50 east of I-65 as a bypass around North Vernon,In. I personally do not own an up dated GPS. Thanks.

I have not updated my Garmin yet this year, as I have an older model, I'm only allowed two updates annually, so I'm waiting for my spring road trip to get a bit closer.

The road is not shown on my Nuvi, which was last updated July 2013.

Out of curiosity I checked my smartphone.

Google shows the road being partly completed... picture attached.

BING maps from Microsoft does not show the road at all. (Ditto for Streets 2013)

MapQuest (TOMTOM) does not show the road at all.

I would assume it takes a year or more for brand new roads to make it into the base map for navigators.

May be that explains why so many truckers missed the signs to turn and went straight ahead then stopped on the berm and attempted to turn around. They made a mess in several places. One even got arrested when he got stuck and was found to be drunk x-2. The \+complete bypass will not be completed till about this time in '16. Gps may be good, but you better watch the road and signs. That is what works pretty good for me. Thanks for the reply. Happy trails.

Garmin 2555LMT

john&bet wrote:
I have a question for you. If your Garmin is so up to date would you see if a road numbered Indiana 750 is shown. It has been open since Dec. 10,2013. For reference it is off of US-50 east of I-65 as a bypass around North Vernon,In. I personally do not own an up dated GPS. Thanks.

I have not updated my Garmin yet this year, as I have an older model, I'm only allowed two updates annually, so I'm waiting for my spring road trip to get a bit closer.

The road is not shown on my Nuvi, which was last updated July 2013.

Out of curiosity I checked my smartphone.

Google shows the road being partly completed... picture attached.

BING maps from Microsoft does not show the road at all. (Ditto for Streets 2013)

MapQuest (TOMTOM) does not show the road at all.

I would assume it takes a year or more for brand new roads to make it into the base map for navigators.