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

[Bumpyroad]

what is the big issue with not charging of a RV/CAR/ETC. unit? mine is plugged into 12 volts all the time I am driving.
bumpy

[koda55]

We use the Garmin RV660. We put our info in when we first got it and never been put on bad roads. We can also switch it over to car. We love it so far. Bought it when they first brought it out.

[Bill_Satellite]

gatesy12 wrote:
If you are looking for a RV GPS be advised that the Rand McNally 7720 LM is a piece of ****. Mine lasted less than 2 years and now wont charge so it is basically useless. Rand will try to repair it for $99 plus tax and you pay postage,your out a GPS for an extended period with no promise it can be repaired. I was in VA Beach last week and talked to someone who tried to upgrade maps and theirs died less then 2 years old. So buyer BEWARE of the RAND MCNALLY GPS

I guess that could be said of any piece of electronics that is out of warranty. I can't say that I would expect any company to do more than Rand McNally has offered to do for you.
Your example is not the usual experience for RM GPS units but it can certainly happen to any user of any product at any time.
I am not a fan of the RM unit but not because I don't believe that it is a quality product. I just believe there are better GPS units available out there.

[gatesy12]

If you are looking for a RV GPS be advised that the Rand McNally 7720 LM is a piece of ****. Mine lasted less than 2 years and now wont charge so it is basically useless. Rand will try to repair it for $99 plus tax and you pay postage,your out a GPS for an extended period with no promise it can be repaired. I was in VA Beach last week and talked to someone who tried to upgrade maps and theirs died less then 2 years old. So buyer BEWARE of the RAND MCNALLY GPS

[gatesy12]

mtrumpet wrote:
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]

I am going to try google maps, apple maps and copilot using the mirroring function on my RV radio. Ill see how well it works.

KC

[mtrumpet]

wa8yxm wrote:
I recall reading an article in, GPS magazine, a publication dedicated to GPS devices and users.

There's actually a special magazine for GPS users? :E
I'll admit, it's got my curiosity.

[wa8yxm]

I recall reading an article in, GPS magazine, a publication dedicated to GPS devices and users.

They took a top of the line Magelling, Tom Tom and Garmin

Gave all 3 the same start and end points and drove the route

They did this for 3 different routes chosen at random

on all 3 routes the person with the Garmin got there first and turned RIGHT into the parking lot at his desitnation.

The others took longer and turned LEFT into the parking lot (Left turns are more dangerous)

Now that said. I like a BIG and I mean BIG screen

The screen on this laptop is 17" give or take a bit.... Microsoft S&T with a dongle works great (in the motor home).. not so great in my compact car but great in the motor home.

Though S&T has been known to route me over 300 miles of freeway for a 200 mile trip. and it's been known to live up to it's name.. Sometimes it gives you STREETS, and sometimes it's a TRIP (Think bad acid). So you need to watch it's routing habits.

[Tvov]

BobR wrote:
My vote is for a smart phone with Google Maps. Bluetooth the phone through your radio and you will always hear the driving directions. Free and great app. Did I mention the app is FREE.

That's what I do now. For better or worse, I've stopped using CoPilot. Just didn't work great for me. I was only using the free version, don't know if the paid version is better (I assume it is).

Google Maps is great, but... it will drain your phones battery, even if it is plugged into a car's USB port. Those USB ports don't seem to provide enough power while the phone is "mapping". Buy a "power plug" that plugs into a power port or cigarette lighter to charge your phone while driving.

This may have been posted before... thread has been going on for awhile!

[kiloo9]

Hello Scott,hope you guys are doing fine. Long time no hear from you, guess what I just finished remodeling my front TV on the Coach, just like the one I did on my Admiral came out real nice. would post pictures but forgot how to do it.
Take care buddy.

[BobR]

My vote is for a smart phone with Google Maps. Bluetooth the phone through your radio and you will always hear the driving directions. Free and great app. Did I mention the app is FREE.

[wildmanbaker]

Scott, most of the negative reviews are probably from New user of the Magellan and was a steeper learning curve from what they were use too. I would stick with what had, as it will work almost the very same way.
Good luck and let us know what you end up with.

[Kaz]

FIRE UP wrote:
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

Seems like all you need is a basic unit. I have a long list of requirements, most of which probably don't apply to you (like the ability to overlay NEXRAD weather on the route, the ability to do trip planning on the computer and transfer it to the GPS, the ability to turn off auto-zoom and auto-recalculate, etc.), but what might be relevant to your is that I'm using an old Zumo 665 that I pulled off my motorcycle. I've used many of the basic Garmin units over the years and I've never had a problem with any of them. I agree that all routing programs (including the smart phone alternatives) can suffer from bouts of temporary insanity, but that's just life. Keep your brain engaged and I'm sure a Garmin will be fine.



Skip

[webslave]

mtrumpet wrote:
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

I'll add an X2 to the above. We've been more than pleased with ours. It has not let us down, I can use the Good Sam Routing system to plot our trips (it took some getting used to, but, after several years, it does everything I need it to do) and down load it to the GS Rand unit and away we go. Every couple of days, I'll hook the Rand up to the internet and download updates so that the data stays reasonably current and road conditions are also updated. Big screen that is easy to see, programmed warnings and all the campgrounds. I've side loaded POIs from the "factory"...works for us.