Rand McNally 7725 GPS--like it?

[MarkieBob]

I should have posted before jumping to the camping world sale, but I ordered the unit. OK--now tell me if I should quickly return it, or is it good? The only post I found said they didn't like it.

Are the new ones good? Thanks folks, Mark

[MarkieBob]

WOW--thanks pawpaw for all your work! Seriously! We do appreciate it. I am finishing our Christmas tree choose and cut farm now, so will have more time to research it better.

I agree that GPS are a tool, not a "bible" to follow. I once saw a guy with a scratched up side to a nice MH who followed a GPS that led to a one lane road with trees that did it to the side (he couldn't turn around).

I am concerned,though, that this Good Sam unit would not find those state parks and find others in the same area. All these parks have been there a LONG time. And you say the Rand data is old for state parks--well, like I said I'm concerned that Fort Casey (very popular), which is a very old park, wouldn't be in even a dated database. If I were not acquainted with what parks are available in a given area, I would totally miss Fort Casey as an option. I just wonder how many other areas are missing key state parks, or other parks for that matter.

Again, thanks pawpaw for your input--it's not the consumer's fault a product isn't performing as advertised.

Will I keep mine? I have 25 more days to decide before the 30 day return policy is over. I try it out.

Oh BTW, I also clicked the tell Rand button about missing Fort Casey

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

But remember - the Garmin is a nice, normal GPS - it has no RV oriented features.

Also, all GPS are only as good as the source data. Most highway data in the US comes from the same source and is based on information from the state highway department.

My home town (600 people in Arkansas) had a railroad track through the middle of town. For some reason, the former state highway, now US highway, which made 2 90 degree turns to cross the railroad is in most mapping software on a very small, almost alley sized, street, not the actual main road.

Whenever someone sees a big truck, a FedEx or UPS driver, or an out of state plates passenger car turning on to that street, we know they are following a GPS.

Every GPS or mapping program I've owned or seen has this error, including AAA, MS Streets & Trips, Bing Maps, Google Maps, etc.

RV GPS units are really not much different from a regular GPS. Yes, they should have an added calculation process to avoid low bridges and tight turns based on the RV size we enter in the unit. And that data is of course only as good as the source information - if a low bridge isn't in the database - the GPS won't protect you.

The organization of the POI makes using a GPS much easier.

Finding a COE or state park on the Garmin auto GPS is a real pain because they are lumped in with community parks.

That the Rand has campgrounds listed by:
1) All Campgrounds
2) Commercial (Good Sam Reviewed) Campgrounds
3) State Parks
4) National Parks
5) National Forests
6) Corps of Engineers
7) Bureau of Land Management
😎 County Parks
9) Military Campgrounds

Is a really big help.

With the Good Sam Reviewed category, I can filter that list to show only CG with 44 different features. The one I'd use most is to make the list show only CG with 50Amp service and Propane refills on site. Others would have other options. Such as only Good Sam parks, Big Rig Friendly with pull thru spots and an on-site laundry.

I hope someday to be able to filter the government parks by hookup categories. The additional information part of the parks is also very useful.

I like the Rand "Quick Stops" option which works for us. But some folks would find that the six standard buttons - Flying J, Loves Travel Stops, Pilot, TA/Petro, Walmart and Wilco(Hess) - as useless. It is also a prime advertising potential.

Having the RV Services section for Dump Stations is nice, though I haven't HAD to use it yet.

But as we discussed above - these categories and service listings are only as good as the source data. I do like the ability to submit errors, additional information directly to Rand. I haven't seen that on another GPS, but I'm not willing to say the other companies don't have that feedback capability.

This is a developing market - it will only get better if we, the users, let the companies know what we like, what we don't like and help them get better.

The other critical point to always remember is that a GPS is advisory. Never, Never trust one to be perfect. Know where you are going, watch the clearance signs - especially on small side roads. And if it looks like the GPS is trying to take you the wrong way - STOP and check a map.

The internet is a wonderful tool, but if we carry our complaints only on forums - they get as much changed as the old barber shop did back when I was young.

[ken_white]

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:
I did some checking my RND 7725LM and on a Garmin 1490 LMT. Both with the latest updates.

...

When I look at the state parks data in the notes section of each park I find on the Rand GPS - it is obvious that the data is old, and incomplete. And does not match either the Good Sam web site information or the Woodall's app information. The Woodall's information is very lacking.


I've submitted this as a bad listing with the Tell Rand feature. The more people who do so, the faster it will get fixed.

Thanks for taking the time to give a detailed analysis. I'm sure it will help others decide which products meet their needs.

🙂

[pawatt]

We have about 20,000 miles on ours and love it. It's not perfect but we are very happy with it.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

I did some checking my RND 7725LM and on a Garmin 1490 LMT. Both with the latest updates.

If I set the Garmin to show POI under "Recreation" and "Park or Garden" - shows the following state parks near Coupeville, WA:
Fort Casey State Park Tidelands
Fort Ebey State Park
Fort Casey State Park
Keystone Split State Park

It doesn't show any more distant than 6 miles - because that category also includes all city and county parks in the area without campgrounds.

Under POI "Lodging" "Campground or RV Park" - no state parks are shown though it shows many commercial parks within 20 miles.

I tell the Garmin to search on the words "State Park" near Coupeville, WA it shows:
Fort Casey State Park Tidelands
Fort Ebey State Park
Fort Casey State Park
Keystone Spit State Park
Fort Worden State Park
Joseph Whidbey State Park
For Worden State Park (listed twice)
Fort Flager State Park
Cama Beach State Park
Dugualla State Park
Camano Island State Park
Old Fort Townsend State Park
Mystery Bay State Park
South Whidbey State Park
Deception Pass State Park (5 listings)
Miller Peninsula State Park
Anderson Lake State Park
Iron Horst State Park
Wenberg State Park
Sequim Bay State Park

All within 20 miles of the Coupeville starting location (I do realize that in that area - 20 miles straight line distance might be 150 driving miles).

With the Rand GS GPS if I search for POI near Coupeville - RV Campgrounds - State Parks - it lists:
Fort Worden State Park
Fort Flagler State Park
Deception Pass State Park
Sequim Bay State Park
and several others more distant.

If I search for POI near Coupeville - Rand McNally Editors Picks - National & State Parks - it lists:
Ebey's Landing National Historical Preserve
Fort Worden State Park
Fort Flagler State Park
Camano Island State Park
South Whidbey State Park
Deception Pass State Park
Wenberg State Park
Sequim Bay State Park

I do find Fort Casey State Park Tidelands and Fort Casey State Park if I go to Other POI - All and spell Fort Casey to search.

Neither has any additional notes/ information about camping being available.

One of the selling points of the GPS is that it uses the Woodalls/ Good Sam directory for RV Park information.

If I go to the Good Sam website and do Plan A Trip - Find a Campground - Coupeville, WA - it lists:
Fort Casey
Fort Ebey
Fort Worden
Fort Flagler
Camano Island
South Whidbey
Old Fort Townsend
Deception Pass
Wenberg State Park (the only one with a State Park in the name)
Sequim Bay

I don't have a Woodalls Directory - but I do have the Woodalls app on my phone. If I search for parks near Coupeville - it lists:
Fort Casey State Park
Fort Ebey State Park
Fort Flagler State Park
Fort Worden State Park
Camano Island State Park
South Whidbey Island State Park
Old Fort Townsend State Park
Deception Pass State Park
Wenberg State Park
Sequim Bay State Park

When I look at the state parks data in the notes section of each park I find on the Rand GPS - it is obvious that the data is old, and incomplete. And does not match either the Good Sam web site information or the Woodall's app information. The Woodall's information is very lacking.


I've submitted this as a bad listing with the Tell Rand feature. The more people who do so, the faster it will get fixed.

[MarkieBob]

thanx pawpaw. Yeah, I went outside for clearer view of satellites and it did find my location (near my home, yes). Then the mileages were right, but it still won't find Fort Casey State park near Coupeville, WA. Check it out on yours if you want. I'll now try downloading as you suggest. Mark

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

There are at least two options, sometimes four, when you go to select a POI for RV parks.

My RV and City

My RV - the GPS will look near your RV (the last location the unit received from the satellites - learned that when I take any GPS on a plane trip - let it find its location after driving out of the rental car agency parking garage - otherwise it starts giving me directions from Dallas. Garmin did that in Phoenix which going to the GC).

If you select City - the GPS will search near the city location - however it shows the distance as being from the GPS/RV location.

Are you located at home in WA?

If I search for something near Whidbey Island - it's going show the state parks as being 1,700 miles away from my present location - not 1,700 miles away from the NAS.

[MarkieBob]

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:
You need to download and install the RND Dock program from RandMcNally. That does updates and helps with other things.

You can download the .PDF manual through the RND Dock program.

I just threw out some old software programs this week - complete with 5 to 10 pounds of manuals for each. Went in the recycling bin. Never read them.

I'm playing with mine in the shop. Our favorite state park that has been there forever is one we're planning to go back to next week so I tried to select points of interest button, for state parks and it listed a bunch of parks around there, but NOT ours. Couldn't find it anywhere. Then I noticed that even though I had selected Coupeville Washington it showed something like 1800 miles to the other parks--wrong! In my preferences I selected Pacific time zone, but found no other way to indicate my home area.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

You need to download and install the RND Dock program from RandMcNally. That does updates and helps with other things.

You can download the .PDF manual through the RND Dock program.

I just threw out some old software programs this week - complete with 5 to 10 pounds of manuals for each. Went in the recycling bin. Never read them.

[RVER]

MarkieBob the extensive owners manual is probably on line at the Rand McNally website. Most companies no longer print them and include them in the packaging, very annoying if you ask me but they do not ask me so... I hope it is everything you want it to be. I do like the Garmin RV 760 and I like Garmin customer service. Have owned 4 GPS for at least 20 years and all Garmins, one of which I gave to my spouse as a gift. NOT ONE ounce of trouble with them so went and bought the RV unit and expect it to be as good.

[MarkieBob]

Thanx PawPaw. Took delivery of mine recently too. I'm still looking at the abbreviated directions--I didn't get a formal owners manual--supposed to? it appears very large--should be easy to read in a MH. We'll see. Here goes....................

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

A follow-up.

A new 7725 arrived this evening. (It was delayed 3 days at UPS in Dallas due to the ice storm - UPS responsible, not Rand McNally).

I received a PM, and a follow-up phone call from a manger at Rand McNally on Monday. He assured me that the entire case will be looked into in detail, and he will also express my appreciation to the young Customer Service rep who actually go a unit shipped to me.

MarkieBob wrote:
It sounds like it worked great at first, but had to go to repair shortly thereafter and has been a nightmare since? Maybe it's not a good purchase for me?

Electronic stuff breaks. It happens, just like any other product. Usually electronics break very soon after they go into use.


I've worked around radio and television equipment, computers, servers, networking equipment for over 45 years and don't get upset is something breaks. No quality control can be perfect.

Given the number of units they sell, and the number of complaints I see - I doubt the units have a worse failure rate than Garmin or iPhones.

My only frustration was the delay in getting me a replacement unit - and I am very satisfied that my experience is being addressed with the Tech Service team, and the actual repair/ shipping team.

And Yes, I've tried Garmins. I bought my first one in 1991 for a boat. I've also looked at their RV unit - this Rand McNally is the first non-Garmin GPS I've every owned. And for RV use - in my opinion it beats the Garmin.

[MarkieBob]

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:
I love the 7725 - the few weeks I had it.

And I've been a steady Garmin customer since their earlier marine GPS units - long before there was a highway GPS product anywhere.

I hope your purchased the CW Protection Plan. With that if you have any issues - take it back to CW. Do not try to deal with Rand-McNally Tech Support.

I did get a call from Rand-McNally Thursday that they were going to ship me a new one. I won't be holding my breath, but this is the first time they have actually responded and said they were shipping one.

(Mine went in on an RMA on 18 Aug - and they found it unrepairable - and 'haven't had any units available' since.)

It sounds like it worked great at first, but had to go to repair shortly thereafter and has been a nightmare since? Maybe it's not a good purchase for me?

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

I love the 7725 - the few weeks I had it.

And I've been a steady Garmin customer since their earlier marine GPS units - long before there was a highway GPS product anywhere.

I hope your purchased the CW Protection Plan. With that if you have any issues - take it back to CW. Do not try to deal with Rand-McNally Tech Support.

I did get a call from Rand-McNally Thursday that they were going to ship me a new one. I won't be holding my breath, but this is the first time they have actually responded and said they were shipping one.

(Mine went in on an RMA on 18 Aug - and they found it unrepairable - and 'haven't had any units available' since.)