Garmin Dezl 560LMT GPS

[anaro]

I know many have discussed how much they like the Garmin over the magellan and rand mcnally in the other threads. Just wondering if anyone has used the cheaper truckers version, the Garmin dezl 560LMT. My old Garmin Nuvi served me well but is in need of replacement. I was thinking of going with something I can program height into for my fiver. Is it a waste of money? Should I go back to a regular GPS? Through researching, I know to stay away from the Magellan GPS. Thanks

[Flapper]

I have the Dezl 760 and overall like it very much. That said, it has it's limits and you should be careful with what it tells you. One time in Maine it took me on a VERY problematic route to avoid a hazard. Luckily I was not towing at the time (even though it was left in RV mode), or I never would have made it through the narrow residential streets it sent me on.
It also tried to send me 200 miles out of the way to avoid a tunnel hazard on the Oregon coast, which I ignored. Turns out the edge of the tunnel was below minimum, but the peak of the arch was 4 feet higher. I was in terror as it kept warning me about the upcoming low clearance, but I kept seeing units taller than mine coming the other way....
There are a lot of places where it tells me that hazard data does not exist, so I end up having to cross my fingers there is nothing ahead that will cause problems, but they are obvious areas where there is no concern anyway.
I also have the Rand-McNally version on my iPad, and can't say in the above respects it is any better. I find operating the Dezl to be much better. Love the "lane assist" feature that tells you ahead of time which lane to get in to. Saved me in Chicago multiple times!

[LarryJM]

Lantley wrote:

anaro wrote:
Niaswagn- interesting thought. My defective gps is related to dropping it but I can try.

Lantley- I usually have DH have a back up set on Google maps ready on his phone when travelling. If I'm going somewhere really unfamiliar I have been known to print out mapquest and Google directions before going on case of loss of satellite or something crazy happens. I have been down a dirt road with a gps before, fortunately not with a trailer behind me

Then you get it. The truckers/RV model GPS will route you to avoid small streets, tight tuns and low clearances. I do believe they are worth the extra. But keep in mind they may occasionally take you the long way. If anything I sometimes find the RV routing to be too cautious. It will take the long way to avoid smaller roads. In the end better safe than sorry

IMO that is the single biggest negative with the 760 and while I can't be 100% positive I think when you are in the RV mode it uses all the truck routes around major metro areas as a default which is most often not needed when towing RVs.

Two features I do like a lot is the "rest area" and "truck stop" listings in the unit.


Larry

[Pirate1]

I have a Dezl. I use it in auto mode. It is not accurate in truck or rv mode for me. I like it for the screen size and dashboards.

[1775]

I recently went into Best Buy and there was a working Dezl on display. I set it to RV mode and entered all the vitals and then it asked to take truck routes and I did not check this box. I had it route to a location that could go through low overpass limited access highways or through a highway with no clearance problems at all - it went the route that would have torn the roof off an RV with the height entered into it. The truck route box had to be checked in the RV profile to have it go the safe way for an RV - but this followed routes for commercial trucks which was the longer way to go and not an RV route that would be shorter. If you are considering the Dezl go to a retail store that has it and try before you buy to make sure it takes you on correct RV routes.

[Lantley]

anaro wrote:
Niaswagn- interesting thought. My defective gps is related to dropping it but I can try.

Lantley- I usually have DH have a back up set on Google maps ready on his phone when travelling. If I'm going somewhere really unfamiliar I have been known to print out mapquest and Google directions before going on case of loss of satellite or something crazy happens. I have been down a dirt road with a gps before, fortunately not with a trailer behind me

Then you get it. The truckers/RV model GPS will route you to avoid small streets, tight tuns and low clearances. I do believe they are worth the extra. But keep in mind they may occasionally take you the long way. If anything I sometimes find the RV routing to be too cautious. It will take the long way to avoid smaller roads. In the end better safe than sorry

[anaro]

Niaswagn- interesting thought. My defective gps is related to dropping it but I can try.

Lantley- I usually have DH have a back up set on Google maps ready on his phone when travelling. If I'm going somewhere really unfamiliar I have been known to print out mapquest and Google directions before going on case of loss of satellite or something crazy happens. I have been down a dirt road with a gps before, fortunately not with a trailer behind me

[Lantley]

I have a Garmin 760 and it works well. However I would not trust the GPS 100% for anything.
Be it routing or low clearances do not rely solely on GPS. You will be on a dirt road facing a bridge before you know it.
My RV 760 does a decent job but I will generally review my route with Google maps and a Truckers Atlas if in doubt.

[NiasWagn]

You might want to call Garmin directly. Two times now I have traded in my old for a new one at a discounted price. They were both defective in some way. I'm not sure what your situation is but simple phone call couldn't hurt.

[anaro]

Cool thanks guys. Any issues with being incorrect on routing or height requirements (my fiver is 13'6" with its front AC unit so height is important). I will take some time and go through those threads and see if they show me more than what I found.

[ronfisherman]

I have the 560 Dezl. Works well. But I feel my older 465 does a better job of routing. 5" size works well on my motorhomes dash. Tried a 7". It seemed too big for my dash.

[donn0128]

Thats what I have. Since it has 4 modes I can set it up for my configuration and go. Works very well IMHO.

[2oldman]

Dezl threads