GPS Navigation

My favorite topic....

The science around RV navigation is a double-edged sword. You need it but it can make life miserable for you at the same time.

Firstly, reliable programming on the GPS itself is near impossible. The interface is not meant to plan a trip with multiple stops. You have to train yourself to think Point A - Point B and that's it. Even if point B is a gas station or stop along the way. There is no Point C.

Secondly, look at the route carefully. Check route using a 2nd reference, possibly a 3rd. I use the Rand McNally truckers map (laminated) to verify at a 20,000'view, then use Google Earth to get down to the side road details.

Thirdly, and most importantly, Do not expect to buy a software package to set up your trips and then export to your GPS. Nothing but a pit of frustration. They all do a great job at selling, poor in practice.

So, that said, I have a Garmin 760LMT. It works OK, does not crash, but not 100% reliable. For example, I am at an RV resort right now that is 200' from the highway. There is an on-ramp at the highway going North. This exit is famous as a truck stop. Garmin has me going south on the highway for 2 miles and turn around to go north, go right past the ramp I should have taken in the first place. It has done this 3 other times in different places. Almost like Garmin does not recognize the northbound ramp. In July, took me down a side road with a 4 ton limit. I have a 46,000lb MH.

All I can say is that, from what I have read, it is better than the rest!

Good Luck!

don't cha just hate when the map catches fire and leaves you stranded?

This is addressed to the Men not the Ladies. We all know how to run everything we purchase, no need to read the manual. We also never review the route, just trust in that mile portion of the route on the screen will get us there. Read the manual cover to cover then practice and review routes(zoom out to see where we are going) and 90% of the going the wrong way goes away. And yes I have blindly gone where the GPS instructed too. One time I remember from Bakersfield to I5(I'm not from this area) the GPS said take next exit. I did and then was told a right, three lefts, a right and I was back on the four lane. If I would have zoomed out I would have know just keep on going or if I had familiarized my self to the route I would have known better. GPS is a lot better than a paper map at 60 mph but still only a tool and one MUST learn how to use it affectively.

LEN

msmith1199 wrote:

rgatijnet1 wrote:
As far as picking the route, most GPS units have settings to take you the "fastest" route or the "shortest" route. Mine also has settings to avoid interstate highways or toll roads. My Garmin also allows me to set up a "custom" route to take me on roads that I prefer which may not fit in to any of the other categories. In other words, if your GPS tries to guide you to roads you do not want to travel on, check your settings. If properly set up, most GPS units will guide you exactly where you want to go. If not set up properly, you may end up taking a route that is great for an automobile, and not suitable for an RV.

Which one of those settings tells the GPS to select dirt 4wd roads? Many of these problems are not in the user settings.

On my Garmin, I can select an Off road setting under "Navigation" "Preferences". This will route me to "Off Road" trails that I guess are mapped on government maps. I can also select to avoid unpaved roads. I'm sure it all depends on what type of GPS unit that you have as to how many options/choices you have.

rgatijnet1 wrote:
As far as picking the route, most GPS units have settings to take you the "fastest" route or the "shortest" route. Mine also has settings to avoid interstate highways or toll roads. My Garmin also allows me to set up a "custom" route to take me on roads that I prefer which may not fit in to any of the other categories. In other words, if your GPS tries to guide you to roads you do not want to travel on, check your settings. If properly set up, most GPS units will guide you exactly where you want to go. If not set up properly, you may end up taking a route that is great for an automobile, and not suitable for an RV.

Which one of those settings tells the GPS to select dirt 4wd roads? Many of these problems are not in the user settings.

As far as picking the route, most GPS units have settings to take you the "fastest" route or the "shortest" route. Mine also has settings to avoid interstate highways or toll roads. My Garmin also allows me to set up a "custom" route to take me on roads that I prefer which may not fit in to any of the other categories. In other words, if your GPS tries to guide you to roads you do not want to travel on, check your settings. If properly set up, most GPS units will guide you exactly where you want to go. If not set up properly, you may end up taking a route that is great for an automobile, and not suitable for an RV.

msmith1199 wrote:
Being led astray may not always be the maps. I have had my GPS units (various brands over the years) pick routes at times that just don't make sense. The correct roads are all there, but something in the programing leads it to pick a bad route. I had one GPS that would never program a route over the Pacheco Pass, Highway 152 in California. I live east of that pass and a lot of things I want to go to, like Monterey and Santa Cruz, are on the other side and the GPS always wanted me to go all the way North to Highway 580 and then come back down. Which ever side of the mountain pass I was on it would do that. And it would keep recalculating and trying to get me to go that way until I got onto the Pacheco Pass and then it would recalculate and tell me to go straight ahead and cut 100 miles off the route.

Some friends and I ride quads up the mountains just below Yosemite. There is a forest service road we usually park out trailers at and start from there. At the start of this dirt road is a sign that reads, "You can't get to Yosemite this way, don't believe your GPS." Actually you could get to Yosemite that way, but only on a Quad or a good 4wd like a Jeep. One day we asked a guy that lived up there about that sign. He said one of the big car rental companies out of SFO had GPS's that would pick that route to get to Yosemite. So tourists from all over the world would get in their rental car and program in Yosemite and end up on this dirt road. And he said many of them would trust the GPS and keep going until they got stuck. He said he had used to his back hoe to pull out at least 10 and another neighbor had pulled out at least that many too.

Not only do you have to make sure your maps are updated, you have to make sure the thing is picking you a good route too.

this is a good point. we've been using a GPS device in one form or another for many years now and while rare there have been one or two occasions where the GPS lost it's mind and routed us thru the inner city or down a dead end road. the first time it happened taught me to always review the route before embarking on it.

Stand along GPS units (Tom Tom, Garmin, etc.) sure seem to be a dying thing. And I read about FAR more complaints with them than apps or online GPS programs. I've been using Waze (owned by Google) for a couple years and it's been about 99.99% perfect. Anything is capable of failing... even a paper map can catch fire :) Or become outdated. So, cross checking when you're in unfamiliar territory is always wise.

Being led astray may not always be the maps. I have had my GPS units (various brands over the years) pick routes at times that just don't make sense. The correct roads are all there, but something in the programing leads it to pick a bad route. I had one GPS that would never program a route over the Pacheco Pass, Highway 152 in California. I live east of that pass and a lot of things I want to go to, like Monterey and Santa Cruz, are on the other side and the GPS always wanted me to go all the way North to Highway 580 and then come back down. Which ever side of the mountain pass I was on it would do that. And it would keep recalculating and trying to get me to go that way until I got onto the Pacheco Pass and then it would recalculate and tell me to go straight ahead and cut 100 miles off the route.

Some friends and I ride quads up the mountains just below Yosemite. There is a forest service road we usually park out trailers at and start from there. At the start of this dirt road is a sign that reads, "You can't get to Yosemite this way, don't believe your GPS." Actually you could get to Yosemite that way, but only on a Quad or a good 4wd like a Jeep. One day we asked a guy that lived up there about that sign. He said one of the big car rental companies out of SFO had GPS's that would pick that route to get to Yosemite. So tourists from all over the world would get in their rental car and program in Yosemite and end up on this dirt road. And he said many of them would trust the GPS and keep going until they got stuck. He said he had used to his back hoe to pull out at least 10 and another neighbor had pulled out at least that many too.

Not only do you have to make sure your maps are updated, you have to make sure the thing is picking you a good route too.

Thanks for all the responses. I appreciate each of you taking the time and providing your perspective.