Need a new GPS, recommendations etc.

[FIRE_UP]

Folks,
We're in need of a new GPS unit 'cause ours is failing in health. It won't start up sometimes, won't handle touch screen commands, won't reset and more. It's a Magellan Road mate.

So, we're on the hunt for new one. We're not in need of NASA qualified ones, just one that will work when we ask it to work. I don't really care about programming for tunnels, avoiding cities and all that. We've been traveling now for a few dozen years and, haven't run in to a low bridge or tunnel yet that can't handle our rig.

So, who's got one that they really, really like and, has not had any issues at all with it. All of the ones the wife and I have looked at, on line so far, they're almost 50/50 good reviews vs bad reviews. That's not good track records folks. So, let me know what you've experienced.
Scott

[mtrumpet]

I realize from right off the bat that based upon previous GPS discussions here, a lot of folks don't care for this unit, (maybe because it says Good Sam on it?) but I've been very happy with it's performance. It has a lot of nice features along with the nice big 7" HD screen.

Good Sam (Rand McNally) GPS 7735 LM

[AAFD]

My RV radio has a mirror function that I going to try with my iPhone. We will see how it works.

KC

[Yellowboat_]

I use the Garmin 760 as well.

My experience is mostly Garmin products. Before there were GPS devices I used a PDA with GPS software. My first Garmin had a CRT screen.

I like the Garmin 760. I've owed it for about six months and I'm still learning features. One feature not on my older Garmin GPS's is a ping and text notification when the speed limit changes either up or down. I find this feature useful when driving on secondary roads and I'm prewarned about an upcoming slowdown that often indicates a small town or congestion.

In Garmin devices I have never needed an external antenna. The antenna built into the device is all that is needed.

Any electronic navigation device can lead you astray. We carry maps and we use them when traveling. My wife likes to track our trips on maps and she will override the GPS if she doesn't like the route.

And with my wife tracking our trips on a map and with GPS we have some well remembered trips when we ended up in the middle of nowhere.

Safe travels. JD

[BobGed]

chili's trip wrote:

BobGed wrote:

Billinwoodland wrote:
I put the co-pilot app on my wife's iPad which has the GPS receiver. It worked fine when we were traveling south. If going any other direction, we could not get a satellite fix. I came to the conclusion it needs an external antenna. I think I am going to buy the garmin 760. For those using the 760, where did you mount the antenna?

The CoPilot app is so much better than the RV760 you might want to consider this excellent GPS receiver Dual 150A GPS Receiver

Strong statement! Do you have a 760? Thanks.
Jack h

Yes I do, Jack. I used it and CoPilot on a trip from NV to AL and return using a different route. Had I followed the RV760 directions I would have driven an extra 165 miles for no reason. I also had to switch the 760 to automobile mode numerous times so that it would route me to RV parks because there were weight restrictions on the roads leading to the park. I didn't experience any of these problems with the CoPilot app. The 760 is now in one of my other vehicles that I mainly just use around town.

[chili_s_trip]

BobGed wrote:

Billinwoodland wrote:
I put the co-pilot app on my wife's iPad which has the GPS receiver. It worked fine when we were traveling south. If going any other direction, we could not get a satellite fix. I came to the conclusion it needs an external antenna. I think I am going to buy the garmin 760. For those using the 760, where did you mount the antenna?

The CoPilot app is so much better than the RV760 you might want to consider this excellent GPS receiver Dual 150A GPS Receiver

Strong statement! Do you have a 760? Thanks.
Jack h

[OLYLEN]

I would disagree on CoPilot being a better app but thats an opinion and so is yours. The 760 has a great internal ant. you should not need an external even headed north. Remember the Ipad is a great pad but not so good GPS. I ran the 465 north to Alaska inside the 40' pusher and never did loose Sats except in the valley while driving in the mountains and NO GPS will work there. And the 760 has an even better GPS receiver. I run the CoPilot app on a cell and it's OK but like the 760 better.

LEN

[BobGed]

Billinwoodland wrote:
I put the co-pilot app on my wife's iPad which has the GPS receiver. It worked fine when we were traveling south. If going any other direction, we could not get a satellite fix. I came to the conclusion it needs an external antenna. I think I am going to buy the garmin 760. For those using the 760, where did you mount the antenna?

The CoPilot app is so much better than the RV760 you might want to consider this excellent GPS receiver Dual 150A GPS Receiver

[Billinwoodland]

I put the co-pilot app on my wife's iPad which has the GPS receiver. It worked fine when we were traveling south. If going any other direction, we could not get a satellite fix. I came to the conclusion it needs an external antenna. I think I am going to buy the garmin 760. For those using the 760, where did you mount the antenna?

[Bill-R]

When I drove for Werner Ent. I bought a Garmin 465 T. no longer available. I bought the life time map updates. This unit has two sides, one for cars and one for trucks. I load my motorhome size in the truck profile so I dont go down the wrong road or try to go over a weak bridge. I switch to car mode when I use it in my car. Garmin has a replacement model for this type of gps. Been pretty much trouble free and if you update the maps when available it is reliable. I always carry a truckers road atlas and paper maps of states where i plan to travel, as references.

[JetAonly]

FWIW Aircraft certified stand alone GPS will occasionally build in discontinuities in routes, that your brain is required to close up. They cost 10's of thousands of dollars. You don't get to turn your brain off for a few hundred. I also wouldn't dismiss the ones that protect you from overweight, etc. if they save just once in the course of ownership it's worth having. Find one that works intuitive for you. I like Garmin products, TomTom not so much. The rest are also rans.

I've found route planning is still required. I frequently build in waypoints so as to drive the routing either too or away from places. The lane prediction feature is very helpful, although it can be misleading. Lanes appear left and right of you without warning. Garmin has a very accurate picture to help with this.

Garmin does not support internet access very long on a particular device and I have found Bluetooth to be useless as the speakers are too tinny for my jet damaged hearing.

I have a DSL560.

[Canadian_Rainbi]

ncrowley wrote:
We have the Garmin 760LMT and have nothing but good things to say about it. It works well and we love the big screen. We put it on the dash using the Garmin bean bag mount and it sits securely where we place it. In the coach, the windshield mount places it too far away.

c


X2 except that we stuck the plastic disc that came with it to the dash. It is closer to the navigator. Can be turned if one of us should be driving alone in a strange place.

[bigbaddad]

Double ditto on what Gjac posted. I have co-pilot on android phone and tablet. Works great. Not expensive. Tablet is bigger screen than virtually any GPS unit. Portable to cars as well.

[elhajj33]

Bumpyroad wrote:

elhajj33 wrote:
why not use a smart phone or (as someone suggested) an iPad mini with cell service. Much more reliable and updated maps.

some of us travel where cell service is not the best. and I prefer free GPS, rather than tacked onto my monthly phone bill. and I get lifetime updates with my garmin.
bumpy

if you buy TomTom app for iPhone or android it will cost you $50 (once) and it does not use data (or require cell service) as you travel. It also comes with free map updates.

I bought mine with the first iPhone came out and i am still receiving map updates for free.

[Gjac]

Scott you won't go wrong with the Co pilot app if you have a smart phone or a tablet. After 3 Garmin's I was going to buy the new 760 model for $400. After getting mixed reviews on here and other places, I decided to try the App for $6.99 first, figuring I could get another Garmin if I did not like it. I was a regular flip phone user until a year ago. The Co Pilot App has height input as well as avoid propane tunnels like the RV specific GPS's. It uses no data once you download the maps contrary to what some have reported. I have spent over a $1000 in Garmin's that have had the batteries go, connections fail, and have to be constantly updated. The early ones I had to pay for the updates. The CoPilot app is updated automatically. I made a mount for it for the MH and tow car. I would never go back to a costly GPS again. The phone was free with a 2 year contract. Now that there are no more contracts I'll just use my kids old phones, they have to have the latest technology, I just want something that works.

[slapshot12]

We have the Garmin 760LMT also. I'm very happy with it so far. Thanks to a ruptured disc and back surgery, I haven't used it on a trip yet. But just playing around with it locally, it seems to work really well. The 7" screen is easy to easy, and the Garmin bean bag mount works well. I just sit it on the center console of my truck. Being RV specific, there are options to enter your coach's dimensions to help keep you off smaller roads. I have owned nothing but Garmin gps products for both cars and boats and I'm very happy with them. I've had very few problems, and they were handled very quickly by Garmin.

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-road/rv/rv-760lmt/prod135455.html