Best GPS?

[Blazing_Zippers]

Hey folks. We just drove the truck from North Idaho to Florida and back. We helped family repair storm damage, eat fried chicken, and went to the Cape for the Falcon Heavy launch. The final evening meal was shrimp, wrapped with bacon, dipped in butter. Huh? Huh? I still lost over 5 pounds.
We have/had an old Garmin GPS that went crazy as we entered Georgia. It finally was removed from service and thrown away. Now, we're shopping a new GPS to use with the truck/fifth wheel combination.
My question is; what is the "best" GPS? After reading the online comments, there are lots to be desired with what is on the market.

[evanrem]

I can tell you what the worst one is. The one that came built in my 2015 Chevy Silverado. It’s so bad it’s a joke now.

[GordonThree]

I like having a GPS I can just leave in the truck. My cell phone stays in my pocket or in the cup holder.

For my tow vehicle that's a Garmin 760 I bought at deep discount on a black friday sale (it was discontinued, replaced by the 770). The voice recognition on the 760 works SO MUCH better than Google, and doesn't need a cell connection to work.

For my daily driver, that occasionally goes on long trips, it's a 12 year old Garmin Nuvi.

Both have lifetime maps and traffic. The few times I've run into traffic neither the Garmin nor the all mighty "WAZE" could do anything about it, as there was no way to access an exit, or the side roads were just as clogged as the highway.

I don't vacation in cities or urban areas, so crowd sources traffic is of little use. While traveling to a destination, an accident or traffic jam in the middle of nowhere, there's not many options. I'm glad I have a kitchen and bathroom hitched up behind me.

[beemerphile1]

Blazing Zippers wrote:
...My question is; what is the "best" GPS? After reading the online comments, there are lots to be desired with what is on the market.

Define "best". It all depends on what features you value.

I recently got a Garmin DriveAssist because it has a built in dash cam together with voice activation, lane departure warning,forward collision warning, and a lot of other features.

[CA_Traveler]

Osmand looks interesting. What are the pros/cons vs Garmin?

[rr2254545]

bailer6334 wrote:
Two things to consider on smartphone/iPhone apps.

1. If you lost cell phone signal you do not have real time data.

2. When using map apps, unless you have a unlimited data plan, you are being charged for data usage.

I have been told you can download the route, but I prefer a Garmin 760LMT

I have been in the Texas hill country for a week - no Verizon cell service - my Garmin 660 RV GPS works great - headed to Big Bend National Park next no cell there either for two weeks except in spots

If you get off the beaten path cell apps are not the answer

[tdiller]

I use a cell phone app called waze. It is a gps but it also is crowd sourced for traffic. The more users in an area the better it is at detecting traffic issues. The few times I thought I was smarter than it I was stuck in traffic. It works great around populated areas but out in the country where there are fewer people updating it, it may not be so good at traffic. At one time it would only route if the destination was under a thousand miles don't know if that has changed or not. I still use it for my local area even if I know a route just in case traffic backs up.

I also still keep an atlas in the vehicle as well. I like maps.

[wildtoad]

I’d take a look at the Garmin RV 770. Nice big screen, plenty of features, and you can update it over WiFi... No computer required. I don’t trust Google maps as the last time I tried, it still didn’t find my house.

[TenOC]

You can find a good used Garmin StreetPilot 2720 on eBay for less than $50.00. People are selling them cheap as they replace them with smartphones.

The problem with the SP2720 is that you cannot load the complete North America map set because there is not enough storage space. I load the 80% of the map set that I am going to be traveling in. I use BaseCamp to plan the trip and then load the planned trip to the SP2720

[hugemoth]

Osmand as well as some other Android GPS apps do not need a cell signal to work. Once you download the maps they reside on your phone. You can plan routes, save them, edit them, get turn by turn voice directions, embed pics, videos, voice messages, etc.. All free. Plus you can choose whatever size phone or tablet screen you prefer. My whole setup cost less than $90, way cheaper than a new GPS.

[jplante4]

I have a TomTom which is next to worthless, but it keeps the DW happy as she can see how fast I'm driving.

On my side I use an Android tablet running Co-Pilot RV. Set your vehicle dimensions and it will pick routes based on that. I also run Waze for traffic alerts.

I consider these tactical tools for changes in route underway. The strategic planning takes place with Google Maps, Google Earth and the mountain guide.

I turn on terrain in maps and Google Earth has a route elevation profile feature that I use in the hills.

[bailer6334]

Two things to consider on smartphone/iPhone apps.

1. If you lost cell phone signal you do not have real time data.

2. When using map apps, unless you have a unlimited data plan, you are being charged for data usage.

I have been told you can download the route, but I prefer a Garmin 760LMT

[jkwilson]

My opinion is that a dedicated vehicle GPS is much better than a phone. I'll use my phone when I need to, but the dedicated unit provides much more. Pictures of complicated exits and indications of which lane you need to be in before you get there are a big deal to me.

I've been helping a Luddite friend's wife learn their Garmin RV 760LMT. It has the typical weight and height information for an RV unit, but one thing that has sold me on it is the ability to plan a route and then upload it to the unit for use on the road. I can see that being a big advantage when you want to apply some brain power to choosing the best route and still have the GPS give you turn by turn guidance.

[hugemoth]

My Nuvi died last year and I replaced it with a 10 inch Android tablet and Osmand GPS app. Way better than the Nuvi ever was.

[valhalla360]

We have an old nuvi but when it dies, it's the cell phone that will take over. Just doesn't make sense to carry and update a uni-tasker when the cell will work just as well and automatically updates the maps.

[lawrosa]

My old boss uses a truck one that gives bridge heights and such.. Lifetime maps etc.

If I was higher then 10 ft 7" I would get one..

The cell phone apps lead me on too many wrong paths.. especially the i phone one.. Google is better but nothing beats a device thats made just for roads...

I only owned garmins.

https://explore.garmin.com/en-US/dezl/