Best GPS for RV
I am ready to pick up a new GPS for RV use. Any opinions are appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Forum Discussion
Here is one of many reviews, look at the CON in this review
3.0 out of 5 stars Very good, but YOU MUST check for bridge heights, July 23, 2011
By Royal "RoyalEF" (New Rochelle, NY United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Garmin dezl 560LMT 5-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable Trucking GPS Navigator with Lifetime Map & Traffic Updates (Electronics)
I agree with just about everything that East Coast RoadRunner's review. Very loud speaker, does quick re-routes most of the time. Like all GPS devices, there are inefficient and badly mapped exits. There is no getting around exceptions... it is a fantasy not to expect them. However, I feel the rate of oddball spots in their maps is nice and low. The POI database is impressive. It has found everything I went looking for as long as I had a name. Categorization is unreliable (true of all brands).
I pings when you are more than 5 mph over the speed limit, and it has been very accurate there. It also produces a series of warning, such as traffic, tight turns, steep grades, sharp bends, etc. However it simply bings and places a red circular icon on the screens. If you need to see what it really is you must point and a pop up comes up. There are times I wish it would say the alert.
MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR CON : If you have a TALL (>12') vehicle you CANNOT RELY ON BRIDGE HEIGHTS AT ALL.
I will be driving a 13' RV. I am using the RV profile to drive a pickup truck around and scout roads--to test out the GPS more than anything. It has already directed me under a 10'6, 12'3 & 12'8 overpass with a 13' RV. Two of those situations would have resulted in calls to police because I would be stuck backing up on a two lane one-way highway for up to a mile to get off that road.
In all cases I opened the Rand McNally Motor Carriers' Road Atlas and every one of those low clearances are documented. That is a bible for truckers. There is no excuse for routing a 13' tall RV into... what honestly could be a life endangering route. It also put me on Route 134 in NY, which is quite narrow and windy through a residential area. Not my first choice with a 52' truck & trailer profile. I kept checking that the RV profile was actually selected because I didn't think that part of the route was suitable for a 52' vehicle.
I'm contacting Garmin, so this could be a software error, but until it fixes this WILL NOT ROUTE TALL VEHICLES. I'll update if Garmin gives me a fix.
Short of that issue... it has been very good. Take a while to boot. Responsive, except searching POI can be painfully slow. I do wish I could search a POI near a city. It will only tell you POI near your current position. If I know of a Home Depot 60 miles away, I have to pick something random near there and wait till I get closer then search for "Home Depot". It will show all the ones nearby. BUt not the one you need to go to. SO far distances POIs don't work unless the name is nice and distinct. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
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Comment Comments (3)
3.0 out of 5 stars Very good, but YOU MUST check for bridge heights, July 23, 2011
By Royal "RoyalEF" (New Rochelle, NY United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Garmin dezl 560LMT 5-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable Trucking GPS Navigator with Lifetime Map & Traffic Updates (Electronics)
I agree with just about everything that East Coast RoadRunner's review. Very loud speaker, does quick re-routes most of the time. Like all GPS devices, there are inefficient and badly mapped exits. There is no getting around exceptions... it is a fantasy not to expect them. However, I feel the rate of oddball spots in their maps is nice and low. The POI database is impressive. It has found everything I went looking for as long as I had a name. Categorization is unreliable (true of all brands).
I pings when you are more than 5 mph over the speed limit, and it has been very accurate there. It also produces a series of warning, such as traffic, tight turns, steep grades, sharp bends, etc. However it simply bings and places a red circular icon on the screens. If you need to see what it really is you must point and a pop up comes up. There are times I wish it would say the alert.
MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR CON : If you have a TALL (>12') vehicle you CANNOT RELY ON BRIDGE HEIGHTS AT ALL.
I will be driving a 13' RV. I am using the RV profile to drive a pickup truck around and scout roads--to test out the GPS more than anything. It has already directed me under a 10'6, 12'3 & 12'8 overpass with a 13' RV. Two of those situations would have resulted in calls to police because I would be stuck backing up on a two lane one-way highway for up to a mile to get off that road.
In all cases I opened the Rand McNally Motor Carriers' Road Atlas and every one of those low clearances are documented. That is a bible for truckers. There is no excuse for routing a 13' tall RV into... what honestly could be a life endangering route. It also put me on Route 134 in NY, which is quite narrow and windy through a residential area. Not my first choice with a 52' truck & trailer profile. I kept checking that the RV profile was actually selected because I didn't think that part of the route was suitable for a 52' vehicle.
I'm contacting Garmin, so this could be a software error, but until it fixes this WILL NOT ROUTE TALL VEHICLES. I'll update if Garmin gives me a fix.
Short of that issue... it has been very good. Take a while to boot. Responsive, except searching POI can be painfully slow. I do wish I could search a POI near a city. It will only tell you POI near your current position. If I know of a Home Depot 60 miles away, I have to pick something random near there and wait till I get closer then search for "Home Depot". It will show all the ones nearby. BUt not the one you need to go to. SO far distances POIs don't work unless the name is nice and distinct. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
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