Garmin RV 760LMT GPS pros/cons?

[lakeside013104]

I am interested in purchasing a Garmin RV 760LMT Portable GPS Navigator. Some of the recent reviews have me somewhat concerned with problem issues of the system continually locking up and in “fuel saver” mode sending you down some really bad roads. Some folks on RV.net have mentioned their good success with this unit while others, not so much. Anyone here have current user comments (good or bad) about this Garmin unit? I am ready to purchase, but hesitate thinking that maybe ALL the bugs will be worked out at some point!

Lakeside

[fpresto]

Often many reported errors with any GPS is operator error. A case in point is a coworker who mentioned that when going from Maryland to Virginia his GPS routed him around the DC beltway but used the much shorter route across the 301 bridge when coming back. The answer was easy I just told him to uncheck avoid tolls in the avoidance section. You pay a toll going to Virginia but not coming back. If you tell it to avoid tolls, U-turns, etc. it will do just that no matter how far out of the way it takes you. Check your avoidances.

[MarkTwain]

Save yourself a lot of headaches and time----Just call the Garmin Tech support. These folks are outstanding and will walk you right through the issues. An additional plus, all the tech people speak english:) they don't outsource their tech support:)

[clemdog]

1775 wrote:
Is your computer recognizing that it is attached? Go to My Computer and look to see that the GPS is there as a drive with a drive letter. It may not say Garmin but just show a drive letter - that was not there before. Click on the drive letter and the internal files will be seen. Then you know that the USB connected the Garmin properly. Then start the software and see if it recognizes the Garmin.

Yeah. Tried that. Doesn't recognize the Garmin at all...

I'll try going to the Garmin site as you suggested.

Thanks.

[Rollnhome]

hypoxia wrote:
In RV mode it takes you on crazy routings. I switched it to automotive mode & that cured the problem but offers no protections bu at least it gives decent routing.

Same here....on RV routing it has routed me miles out of the way when not necessary. The car routing works well but no protections for low clearance, etc. When in RV mode it gives you the speed limits for trucks which do not apply to RV.

[1775]

clemdog wrote:
I just picked up this GPS. When I connect it to my computer to update the software and maps the Garmin Express software tells me that no GPS unit is detected and to try again. I've done this 10 or 12 times without the computer seeing the GPS...

Any idea what I might be doing wrong?

Is your computer recognizing that it is attached? Go to My Computer and look to see that the GPS is there as a drive with a drive letter. It may not say Garmin but just show a drive letter - that was not there before. Click on the drive letter and the internal files will be seen. Then you know that the USB connected the Garmin properly. Then start the software and see if it recognizes the Garmin.

I had problems with Garmin Express and went to the Garmin website - support -and found alternate software to do updates and new maps with. Be aware that just like any Garmin map updates can take hours.

[clemdog]

I just picked up this GPS. When I connect it to my computer to update the software and maps the Garmin Express software tells me that no GPS unit is detected and to try again. I've done this 10 or 12 times without the computer seeing the GPS...

Any idea what I might be doing wrong?

[wintersun]

I saw it as the best choice in an RV GPS unit. Lots of people reporting problems with the Magellan Roadmate and the Rand McNally RVND 7720 in terms of their routing.

I use it with the Garmin BC-20 video camera as my backup camera so can use the 7" Garmin's display for both GPS and for backing up as a video display.

The only negative which is common to all these touch screens is that the display gets covered with fingerprints very quickly.

[1775]

Gjac wrote:

Pirate wrote:

Lantley wrote:

1775 wrote:
The only negative and what kept me from buying it is that there is no setting in the RV profile for propane. When I spoke with Garmin about this, the response was - "Oh yes, we should have included that. Perhaps on a future model." The same truck GPS from Garmin does have a profile setting for propane/hazardous gas on board. This may not be important for some, but on the East Coast there are a number of routes one cannot take with propane.

Is LP really an issue? I know the Baltimore tunnels prohibit propane but is there anywhere else on the east coast or anywhere else at all that also prohibits propane? I have not personally encountered total LP restrictions anywhere else.

No. But if it can't route around that, how can I be sure it is protecting me from low clearances and such?

This is a very good question, having had to backtrack do to a low bridge before, I have wondered if it would be better to get a car type Garmin and download low clearance POI's or does the 760 have these same POI's as part of its logic?

An RV routing GPS that avoids low clearances when it calculates a route is completely different from a Low Clearance POI that will come up as an alert before you are about to reach that low overpass. There are some roads that are limited access and before the low overpass there is no exit. The Garmin 760 or any RV specific GPS with low clearance routing will not put you on that road in the first place. As far as I have seen, there is no standard car GPS that can be set to avoid a POI category when routing.

[johnhicks]

Last week I was plotting a route through central Louisiana using Basecamp; I transfer the preplanned routes to the RV760 and it follows them admirably.

Basecamp was determined to route me way north or way south, seemingly without reason. I tried to force it using routing points and ended up at a canal bridge that it just wouldn't cross. Fired up Google Earth and looked using Street View and sure enough the marked clearance was 12'3", nine inches short of my profiled 13 feet. So the low clearance feature does work for routing at least.

Now it would've been nice if Basecamp could have indicated what the obstacle was...

[rhingst]

The unit has lots and lots of low clearances built in and that is why it may seem to take you on a crazy route. Propane and low clearances are 2 totally different issues. We have had our RV 760 since February and it has performed quite well. We have towed almost 4,200 miles on this trip and have had no issues with the GPS. As many have stated no GPS is perfect but for us it beats the heck out of a map. This is our 3rd GPS and by far the best one yet because of all the features. You can pick a destination and hit the ROUTES button and it will calculate all the routes it can to your destination and you can select the one you want and go from there.

[Gjac]

Pirate wrote:

Lantley wrote:

1775 wrote:
The only negative and what kept me from buying it is that there is no setting in the RV profile for propane. When I spoke with Garmin about this, the response was - "Oh yes, we should have included that. Perhaps on a future model." The same truck GPS from Garmin does have a profile setting for propane/hazardous gas on board. This may not be important for some, but on the East Coast there are a number of routes one cannot take with propane.

Is LP really an issue? I know the Baltimore tunnels prohibit propane but is there anywhere else on the east coast or anywhere else at all that also prohibits propane? I have not personally encountered total LP restrictions anywhere else.

No. But if it can't route around that, how can I be sure it is protecting me from low clearances and such?

This is a very good question, having had to backtrack do to a low bridge before, I have wondered if it would be better to get a car type Garmin and download low clearance POI's or does the 760 have these same POI's as part of its logic?

[Lantley]

Pirate wrote:

Lantley wrote:

1775 wrote:
The only negative and what kept me from buying it is that there is no setting in the RV profile for propane. When I spoke with Garmin about this, the response was - "Oh yes, we should have included that. Perhaps on a future model." The same truck GPS from Garmin does have a profile setting for propane/hazardous gas on board. This may not be important for some, but on the East Coast there are a number of routes one cannot take with propane.

Is LP really an issue? I know the Baltimore tunnels prohibit propane but is there anywhere else on the east coast or anywhere else at all that also prohibits propane? I have not personally encountered total LP restrictions anywhere else.

No. But if it can't route around that, how can I be sure it is protecting me from low clearances and such?

Unfortunately there are no guarantees. No GPS is foolproof. The driver will need to be alert and aware of his surroundings,and any hazards along the way. The GPS does not eliminate that fact. There will be low branches or bridge repairs that a GPS will never be aware of.
Hopefully you are not trusting your GPS 100%,it is merely a tool.
The driver is still responsible for researching the roads along the destination for potential hazards.

[Pirate1]

Lantley wrote:

1775 wrote:
The only negative and what kept me from buying it is that there is no setting in the RV profile for propane. When I spoke with Garmin about this, the response was - "Oh yes, we should have included that. Perhaps on a future model." The same truck GPS from Garmin does have a profile setting for propane/hazardous gas on board. This may not be important for some, but on the East Coast there are a number of routes one cannot take with propane.

Is LP really an issue? I know the Baltimore tunnels prohibit propane but is there anywhere else on the east coast or anywhere else at all that also prohibits propane? I have not personally encountered total LP restrictions anywhere else.

No. But if it can't route around that, how can I be sure it is protecting me from low clearances and such?

[hypoxia]

In RV mode it takes you on crazy routings. I switched it to automotive mode & that cured the problem but offers no protections bu at least it gives decent routing.