Good Sam GPS

[grayghost58]

We just recently purchased a Good Sam GPS powered by Rand McNally model RVND 7735 LM. We plugged it in 3 days ago and it still hasn't charged. The screen on it flashes constantly with the good sam logo and was wondering if this was normal? Also, we can't even turn it on while its plugged in at the house. Haven't tried it in the truck yet with the 12 volt plug but hope it works while plugged in to the truck other wise what good is it. It seemed like it had all the features we wanted so that's why we purchased it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[laknox]

jerem0621 wrote:


That's the thing about a Garmin with Life Time Maps...even the older models get updated maps.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Try that with a Street Pilot. 🙂 Why my dad just bought a new Nuvi.

Lyle

[jerem0621]

laknox wrote:

TucsonJim wrote:

laknox wrote:

temccarthy1 wrote:
Getting ready to buy an RV GPS... read a lot of reviews.. The GS Rand McNally has the WORST ratings! The best are the Garmin 760 RV GPS.. That's what I plan to buy soon!Return it and get a GARMIN

I have an older Nuvi, with lifetime maps, that was given to me. I like it, but with only a 5" screen, it can be a bit hard to read. I'm seriously considering the Copilot RV app with the Route 1 add-in on my wife's Galaxy Tab 2 with a 10" screen. 🙂

I don't know why Garmin doesn't make the RV unit in a 7" screen like they do the trucker model. I mean, a goodly number of us RVers' more "mature" eyes would sure appreciate that larger screen. 🙂

Lyle

Lyle - Check out the Garmin RV 760LMT. It's a seven inch GPS made for RV usage. It's a great product.

$319 on Amazon.

Jim

That's an older model, Jim, and not in their current catalog.

Lyle

That's the thing about a Garmin with Life Time Maps...even the older models get updated maps.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[laknox]

TucsonJim wrote:

laknox wrote:

temccarthy1 wrote:
Getting ready to buy an RV GPS... read a lot of reviews.. The GS Rand McNally has the WORST ratings! The best are the Garmin 760 RV GPS.. That's what I plan to buy soon!Return it and get a GARMIN

I have an older Nuvi, with lifetime maps, that was given to me. I like it, but with only a 5" screen, it can be a bit hard to read. I'm seriously considering the Copilot RV app with the Route 1 add-in on my wife's Galaxy Tab 2 with a 10" screen. 🙂

I don't know why Garmin doesn't make the RV unit in a 7" screen like they do the trucker model. I mean, a goodly number of us RVers' more "mature" eyes would sure appreciate that larger screen. 🙂

Lyle

Lyle - Check out the Garmin RV 760LMT. It's a seven inch GPS made for RV usage. It's a great product.

$319 on Amazon.

Jim

That's an older model, Jim, and not in their current catalog.

Lyle

[enblethen]

OP:
Did you call Rand McNally?

[TucsonJim]

laknox wrote:

temccarthy1 wrote:
Getting ready to buy an RV GPS... read a lot of reviews.. The GS Rand McNally has the WORST ratings! The best are the Garmin 760 RV GPS.. That's what I plan to buy soon!Return it and get a GARMIN

I have an older Nuvi, with lifetime maps, that was given to me. I like it, but with only a 5" screen, it can be a bit hard to read. I'm seriously considering the Copilot RV app with the Route 1 add-in on my wife's Galaxy Tab 2 with a 10" screen. 🙂

I don't know why Garmin doesn't make the RV unit in a 7" screen like they do the trucker model. I mean, a goodly number of us RVers' more "mature" eyes would sure appreciate that larger screen. 🙂

Lyle

Lyle - Check out the Garmin RV 760LMT. It's a seven inch GPS made for RV usage. It's a great product.

$319 on Amazon.

Jim

[laknox]

temccarthy1 wrote:
Getting ready to buy an RV GPS... read a lot of reviews.. The GS Rand McNally has the WORST ratings! The best are the Garmin 760 RV GPS.. That's what I plan to buy soon!Return it and get a GARMIN

I have an older Nuvi, with lifetime maps, that was given to me. I like it, but with only a 5" screen, it can be a bit hard to read. I'm seriously considering the Copilot RV app with the Route 1 add-in on my wife's Galaxy Tab 2 with a 10" screen. 🙂

I don't know why Garmin doesn't make the RV unit in a 7" screen like they do the trucker model. I mean, a goodly number of us RVers' more "mature" eyes would sure appreciate that larger screen. 🙂

Lyle

[temccarthy1]

Getting ready to buy an RV GPS... read a lot of reviews.. The GS Rand McNally has the WORST ratings! The best are the Garmin 760 RV GPS.. That's what I plan to buy soon!Return it and get a GARMIN

[Traveler_II]

Ours is about a year old, most of the time it works, but the other day I turned it on and it didn't come on until later in the day.

It is hard to read, we have the sun screen and glare shield, but it's still hard to read. I can't recommend the GS GPS.

[Jim_Sharon]

Tried a sunshade ?

I have not. I thought about making one. It should not be too hard to do.
But then I discovered that the display unit by itself, would fit into the recess where the speedometer, and gauges are mounted. This recess has it's own sun shade, and keeps the display out of the sun most of the time.
It also puts the unit where it is quick to the eye. I think it's going to be a win-win for me.

Thanks ...Jim

[Dandy_Dan]

Jim have you tried one of the clip on sunshades? If you don't like theirs you should be able to make one fairly easy. I use one all the time.

[Jim_Sharon]

THE FIRST 7735 I bought would not turn on. I sent it back.

The replacement worked as soon as I plugged it in.

However it was not very bright.Not bright at all. It is set for maximum brightness, day time only, and is only usable if I keep it in the shaded spot in the truck. If I take the unit outside,in the bright sunlight, the screen is completely washed out.

My wife's Garman GPS is easily read, all the time, even in direct sun light. In fact it's brightness is only set for 80%, and is easy to read.

I love all the features that the 7735 has, but if I can't see the features on the screen,it's no better than listening to a Mother-in-law.

A smart man would have sent the unit back by now, but I was on the verge of a six week trip, and assumed that I could get by if I placed the unit on the floor hump, in the shade. That kind of worked as long as the sun was in the right location, but it caused me to look down at the floor a lot while driving, which drove my wife crazy.

Now I have an almost unusable, smart, $350. GPS, with a couple months left in warranty, and I am facing another 6 week trip this June, and NO original box to ship this thing somewhere (if it can even be made right).

[Jim_Sharon]

THE FIRST 7735 I bought would not turn on. I sent it back.

The replacement worked as soon as I plugged it in.

However it was not very bright.Not bright at all. It is set for maximum brightness, day time only, and is only usable if I keep it in the shaded spot in the truck. If I take the unit outside,in the bright sunlight, the screen is completely washed out.

My wife's Garman GPS is easily read, all the time, even in direct sun light. In fact it's brightness is only set for 80%, and is easy to read.

I love all the features that the 7735 has, but if I can't see the features on the screen,it's no better than listening to a Mother-in-law.

A smart man would have sent the unit back by now, but I was on the verge of a six week trip, and assumed that I could get by if I placed the unit on the floor hump, in the shade. That kind of worked as long as the sun was in the right location, but it caused me to look down at the floor a lot while driving, which drove my wife crazy.

Now I have an almost unusable, smart, $350. GPS, with a couple months left in warranty, and I am facing another 6 week trip this June, and NO original box to ship this thing somewhere (if it can even be made right).

[Dandy_Dan]

We are on our 2nd Rand McNally and have not had trouble with either sending us on bad directions. Just make sure you set it up for the RV mode and not Car mode when towing. You should have no problem returning it to CW.

[TucsonJim]

We went through the same garbage with our GS GPS. We had to return two of them before we got one that "works". In my OPINION, they are the biggest piece of garbage you can purchase. Even though the third unit would "work", it took us on crazy routes, turned off in the middle of busy traffic in a city, and was worse than not having one at all. I sold it to somebody who wanted it for 25 bucks three months after purchasing it. It was either that or toss it in the trash.

If you look at the Rand McNally GPS (7730) which is basically the same unit as the Good Sam version, you'll see that there are more 1 star ratings than there are 5 star! That says a lot.