I've been reading older post on this forum, they tend to die out because I can't seem to tell if the majority lean one brand over the other. So I decided to ask a comparison of the 3 top brands mentioned thru out the forum of which "appear" to be better for RV use than an other.Not really trying to kick a hornets nest, but as with everything I start to research, always seems one brand has something better than the others and then each have something different but better then those others.I would like to ask if anyone actually likes the features that these "RV" devices offer?I would be replacing a really old Garmin that can't hold charges at all, very difficult to accept the map downloads. I have a 2011 Yukon and the latest GM update is 2016, (just ordered it because the original is almost useless where I live). Order off eBay $14.00, not GMC site of $180., newer has to be better than 2011????Lets just compare the GPS choices and not so much the google maps and the other great ideas others have mentioned in prior posts, nothing beats a paper map etc. (I agree).I am leaning toward the Rand McNally brand, but that's because of the minimal marketing I've been reading on all three. The RM seems to market more for the RV's, but as others here say, do your planning research and not specific to the GPS.Anyone interested in hashing this out "AGAIN"?Thanks for any input!ThanksJon

I am interested. I am in the market now for my first RV GPS, because of the height of my trailer. Right now I am leaning towards the Garmin RV 770.

Guess I'm the oddfellow. I had a Garmin, sold it on Flea-Bay and got a Magellan Road Mate. I'm very happy with it. Mine has the big screen too. Easier to see.

SidecarFlip wrote:Guess I'm the oddfellow. I had a Garmin, sold it on Flea-Bay and got a Magellan Road Mate. I'm very happy with it. Mine has the big screen too. Easier to see.Lets add it, I must admit, I haven't kept up with GPS brands. Does it have a truck or RV feature you particularly like?

Had a RV/Truck specific Garmin that I hated, you couldn't differentiate between a truck and an RV, so you were constantly unable to plot a route that traveled over "No Commercial Traffic/No Truck Traffic" roads. What a pain. I went back to a auto oriented Garmin Nuvi 2539. I loaded the Low Overhead from a site, and other Points of Interest, and campgrounds from POI factory. It's worked just fine so far. However I never use it as a route planner. I plot out my routes in Basecamp and transfer them to the Garmin, then I double check them to make sure they're correct. Asking a GPS to take you somewhere and then relying on it to do so correctly usually is an exercise in frustration.

Perhaps you could find a trucker's forum and do a search there to see what they use.

Rand McNally, Garmin, TomTom, RV GPS, Kick the Hornets Nest

johnhicks
Explorer
Jul 26, 2018
I find that by the time I'm actually following a plotted route I've looked at it so much I don't need the gps.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jul 25, 2018
I still use paper. assisted by Google Maps on my phone.. I also have Microsoft S&T with a GPS dongle for my Windozer but I've found the Google Maps to be very good.. YOU DO however have to use brain, not just GPS. For example at one corner Google tells me to turn left. Well there is no left turn (in fact at more than one) WHat happens is the road I'm on takes a half right. and a DIFFERENT road is straight ahead.. Sometimes Google gets this right. Sometimes Wrong. and by "Turn Left" they really mean DO NOT TURN at all.

But then That's why I back it up with paper.
johnhicks
Explorer
Jul 24, 2018
The trick is that there's a 12'3" clearance bridge on TX-63/LA-8 at the Sabine River. Garmin has it, lowclearances.com does not, and AITA has it at 12'1". My Basecamp set at 13' routes around it. I don't know what Google would do.

A gripe about Garmin and Basecamp is that while it'll route around such obstacles it won't tell you why; it'll just refuse to go there. I confirm via Google Earth and sometimes confirm that there's no obstacle on the route I want but it's a block over.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Jul 24, 2018
Dup.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Jul 24, 2018
Many tablets DO have an actual GPS chip built in. I use a 10" Samsung for my GPS needs along with Google Maps and/or WAZE. With Google Maps you can also download the maps before you leave if you are not going to have a MiFi type device (or your phone used as a hot spot). The advantage of having an internet connection while traveling is the live traffic data provided by these 2 services. It's nothing like the nearly worthless traffic data available when using a Garmin or similar GPS unit which if FM (radio) based and only available in limited areas, mostly big cities.
apr67
Explorer
Jul 24, 2018
Normy wrote:
Does the Android tablet use SAT technology like the actual GPS units?

I'm not a full timer, so I'm not sure I'll need a mifi? I could be wrong?

My tablet does not have GPS built in, so I will add an external GPS receiver. I will provide it wifi via my phone as needed, but with copilot all the maps are able to be downloaded to the device, which is a big plus when traveling.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jul 24, 2018
From Garmin Basecamp:

1. Burkeville, N30° 59.963' W93° 40.100'
2. Get on Hwy63 and drive northeast, 323.3° true, N30° 59.963' W93° 40.100'
3. Turn left onto N 5th St, 28.87 mi, 31 min, 28.9 mi, 31 min, 88.1° true, N31° 08.595' W93° 15.827'
4. Turn right onto Alexandria Hwy, 1.20 mi, 4 min, 30.1 mi, 35 min, 331.9° true, N31° 09.602' W93° 16.000'
5. Turn left onto Hwy8, 5.62 mi, 6 min, 35.7 mi, 41 min, 90.0° true, N31° 09.596' W93° 10.338'
6. Get on Hwy8 and drive east, 27 ft, 65.0 mi, 1 h, 19 min, 4.2° true, N31° 24.311' W92° 49.584'
7. Take the I-49 S/La-8 E ramp to the right towards Alexandria, 6.92 mi, 9 min, 71.9 mi, 1 h, 28 min, 60.0° true, N31° 24.508' W92° 43.054'
8. Continue on I-49 S towards Lafayette, 18.01 mi, 17 min, 89.9 mi, 1 h, 45 min, 145.2° true, N31° 18.472' W92° 27.001'
9. Us165 N, 0.33 mi, 20 s, 90.3 mi, 1 h, 45 min, 67.3° true, N31° 18.222' W92° 26.841'
jplante4
Explorer II
Jul 24, 2018
Google Maps

Follow TX-63 E, LA-8 E and LA-28 E to 10th St in Alexandria. Take exit 85A from I-49 S/LA-28 E

Copilot RV

63 east, 8 north, 1213 north, i71, 8 east, bus. 28, i165 north
johnhicks
Explorer
Jul 24, 2018
Just for giggles everyone please plot a route from Burkeville TX to Alexandria LA using TX-63/LA-8 and relate what you come up with.
sempka
Explorer
Jul 24, 2018
I use Co-Pilot RV on a 9 inch tablet, it does use GPS to determine your position. Maps can be stored so that an internet connection is not required on the road. Have been satisfied with both the planning and the on the road features.