GPS

[Tony_B]

What is your favorite GPS?

[PyrateSilly]

We have both the Garmin 760 and the Nuvi. We use the 760 in the RV and the car, last year I took it with me to use in a rental while I drove a 9 yr old for 12 hours. The screen is big enough she can see all the info on how long and stuff without having to keep asking me "are we there yet?".
The Nuvi we still keep around for a just in case scenario, like this past November when we traveled over to the UK and rented a car (manual rents for about $6 a day) and loaded it up with current traffic maps for the UK and used that for driving around. Worked great, especially with the round-abouts that they love over there.

[Itching2go]

jeffcarp wrote:
Truck GPS devices do not limit you to only truck routes. Truck routes do not mean that you can't use other routes, at least in the US. Truck routes are informational and indicate that a truck would find the route more suitable. Trucks are only restricted by specific truck restricted road designations (as well as weight and height restrictions). A GPS may favor truck routes but, if it has a robust traffic source or historical traffic data, it's likely because it's actually the quicker way to go.

Perhaps it varies by which model of GPS you have, but with the Garmin Trucker's version that we had, we were never routed via a road/street that was not marked as a truck route. The tipping point for us to replace it was when we were routed a couple of miles out of our way when headed for a campground in New York. Found out from the campground staff the next morning that there was a much shorter path back to the interstate, but used roads that the local municipality had not designated as truck routes. This was three or four years ago, though, so perhaps things have changed since then.

[jeffcarp]

Truck GPS devices do not limit you to only truck routes. Truck routes do not mean that you can't use other routes, at least in the US. Truck routes are informational and indicate that a truck would find the route more suitable. Trucks are only restricted by specific truck restricted road designations (as well as weight and height restrictions). A GPS may favor truck routes but, if it has a robust traffic source or historical traffic data, it's likely because it's actually the quicker way to go.

[Itching2go]

Tony B wrote:
I noticed some of the GPS's say "RV" and some say for "trucks".
Would I be better off using the one for trucks?

No, you would not be better off using a GPS designed for trucks. While both will route you to avoid low clearance obstacles, a trucker's version would limit you to streets and roads that have been designated as "truck routes" regardless if it is indeed the most direct path to your destination. We started out with a trucker's GPS and replaced it within a year for this very reason. We've had a Garmin 760 RV unit for the past few years, and it has served us well.

[RVER]

Tony YES I was talking about taking it on trips for towing a fifthwheel or my Motorhome, AND then using it for the PU truck when not pulling fiver. You can switch from RV to Car for routing because with "car" it will bring you down roads with low overpasses etc but in "RV" mode it is supposed to steer you away from problematic roads etc. Make sure you put it in Fastest Route and NOT SHORTEST ROUTE. I am still looking for the guy who posted about the $50 GPS that worked for him (Chinese I think) . I bought one and I am having a hard time figuring out how to get it past the first place i had it take me. Each time I try to put in a destination it comes up with the first address that I had put in to test it.

[Tony_B]

RVER wrote:
......I have a Garmin 760RV and like it but keep having to switch it from RV to truck etc .......

What do you mean by switching from RV to truck? Are you talking about towing and then back and forth to PU truck alone or are you referring to changing from RV to a semi?

If I bought the 760RV and already have a regular auto type GPS, I wouldnt have to do that, just change GPS's. Is that correct?

[The_Painting_Te]

I like my Garmin Nuvi 2589LMT. It's mounted on the windshield and easily visible while I look ahead. It has lifetime map updates and traffic alerts (with rerouting), lane warnings for exits, shows how far to next rest area, gas, food, your speed, road's speed limit (but it is not updated for construction zones). Very happy with it.

[RVER]

HI, someone posted they bought an off brand of GPS and was very satisfied with it except something about still working with the company about updates. The GPS cost $50 so I thought I would go for it just to check it out. I have a Garmin 760RV and like it but keep having to switch it from RV to truck etc so bought the $50 unit and seems so far GREAT. BUT did not write dqwn the name of it and it does not have a brand name on it so wanted to tell friends about it but would appreciate it if the OP who had the website to put it up again I would appreciate it. So far I do not see anything about updating the maps so would be interested in that as well from the original OP.

[ncrowley]

I have the RV specific Garmin and it is great!

[sayoung]

ROBERTSUNRUS wrote:
🙂 Hi I have a Garmin RV 760 GPS with wireless back up camera for my trailer.

Same here, been easy to use and I actually glance at the screen when backing rv .
I use a DualGPS for my IPad , sends gps info on Bluetooth as I have several apps it works with.

[Tony_B]

paddykernahan wrote:
......
so opted to get the RV specific GPS......I don't want to have to depend on cell service so still want stand alone GPS.

I have decided to go the same route as you with the Garmin 770.

As for 'stand alone', I think pretty much all Ipads and tablets ARE stand alone. They work off of the satellites and not wi-fi for GPS operations. I use my Tablet on my boat when long range cruising as a back-up GPS. The real down side of Tablets is that GPS really uses up the batteries. When traveling, I have the Tablet on GPS mode and plugged into a 12V accessory socket. It eats up the battery faster than I can keep it charged. it will go to almast zero charge in about 7 hours - with the accessory 12V plugged in. I also noticed that when I downloaded the marine program it stated that in GPS mode, it will shorten battery life - they are not lying.
I'm pretty sure I will go with the garmin and a Tablet App for back-up.
Anyway, thanks all for the input.

[paddykernahan]

Just ordered a Garmin RV 770LMT-S.
New to motorhomes and a bit concerned about low bridges and weight restrictions so opted to get the RV specific GPS.
I have always used Garmin products and have always been happy.
I don't want to have to depend on cell service so still want stand alone GPS.

[RPreeb]

Tony B wrote:
What is your favorite GPS?

Garmin. I have 3 - Garmin ETrex for hiking, Garmin Approach for Golf, and Garmin Nuvi in my F-150. This is the 4th vehicle that I've used this Nuvi in, and since I only paid $189 for it, that is a huge savings over any factory in dash unit.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

CoPilot is what we use. It does not need cell service as it uses the GPS in your phone. We upgraded to the new RV version with free live traffic for one year. We've been using it for 2-3 yrs with zero problems.