Stand-alone GPS or smartphone?

[SteveWoz]

My wife and I just purchased our first Class A motorhome (2015 Holiday Rambler Vacationer) and we’re eager to hit the road. I’m wondering what opinions you more experienced drivers might have about GPS alternatives. Is a stand-alone unit a must-have or can we get by well enough with an iPhone plus apps?

[Johno02]

I have a Garmin, and have use it, a cell phone, and a program on my conputer, all. As the best computer is no longer available, the garmin is my next choice. This if because the maps are self contained within the device, and it does not depend on the internet for downloading ps of where you are. Also, I have found the maps to be more accurate and up-to-date, especially in our of the way places. So, my answer woud be the stanflone GPS system. My choice is not dependent on price, would be one of the 7" models designed for trucking service or RVs.. The auto centered units can get you into deep trouble.

[bpounds]

I still use an older Garmin, and I still prefer it for most things. The cell phone is handy too, so I use both depending on what we're doing, but I would not be without my dash mounted Garmin. I always stash it out of sight when we are away, so that makes it less handy for quick access. The cell phone is useless when off the cell grid, which for us is quite often.

[ependydad]

As you can tell, it's a personal choice. I had a RV specific GPS for something like 4 or 5 years that we never used. I finally sold it this summer.

Heck, both of our trucks now (2012 and 2018 Rams) have both had built-in GPSs and we use Google Maps on the phone almost exclusively.

[schlep1967]

Garmin is having a sale right now. You can buy a stand alone GPS for $60 and have coverage everywhere. No reason not to.

[donn0128]

Stand alone, or more correctly a dash mounted portable works everywhere. A smart phone only works when you have cell service. A portable, at least the right models can be customized for your vehicle. A cell based cannot. For me its a no brainer.

[Matt_Colie]

Steve,

Either will work, but you have to get a mount and car cord for the cell phone. Then, set it up to not blank the screen and remember to download the maps for the days travel.

I never use our phones for that because their routing sucks if you are away from the blue roads and if you did not get the maps loaded, you can end up driving off the end of the world....

I have never seen an app that does bridge clearance, weight limits and propane restrictions. The dedicated RV GPSs can do this.

It all depends on where you are planning to go.

Matt

[DrewE]

Either one can work fine. Do remember that neither one is anywhere near an infallible master; don't feel you should slavishly follow the routing, and don't rely on any sort of a navigation device to always alert you of things like low overhead clearances or bridges with low weight limits.

I generally use a Magellan standalone GPS, but that may more be simply because it's what I'm used to. Google maps, and I suspect other cell phone navigation systems, has a way of downloading map data so you don't need to be in cell signal range to use the navigation (or consume data, assuming you download via Wi-Fi).

[pianotuna]

I prefer using a cell phone--but there are times when there is no cell signal--in mountains etc.