Gps

Charlie G · 09-30-2020, 11:35 AM

I currently use my phone and a regular garman gps. A couple of times I have found myself pulling my 32’ TT on roads I would rather have avoided. Can anyone recommend an RV gps? I do not need or want a lot of bells and whistles... just a best route to the destination.
Thanks for responding.

CAG · 09-30-2020, 11:58 AM

The search function in the gold band at the top of the page is pretty useful for these questions. It is a little dodgy at times but it does work.

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...rvs-67698.html

Murff · 09-30-2020, 12:08 PM

Any Garmin RV GPS should serve you well. I just bought a new Garmin RV 780 and out of the three I have owned, it is the best one.

For bells and whistles, the Garmin RV 890.

Murff

sturgissteele · 09-30-2020, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murff

Any Garmin RV GPS should serve you well. I just bought a new Garmin RV 780 and out of the three I have owned, it is the best one.

For bells and whistles, the Garmin RV 890.

Murff

That RV780 looks good.

Boooker · 09-30-2020, 02:53 PM

Garmin RV780 works great for me.

Jayco 24B · 10-01-2020, 09:05 PM

There is plenty phone apps to use as a RV GPS and they will always be up to date.
I use CoPilot for $29.99 a year and it works great. There is another one, RV LIFE that its a paid subscription as well.

I rather pay $30 a year than $600 for RV dedicated GPS that want you to pay extra to update the maps.

Its just my opinion and it works for me.

RetiredOne · 10-01-2020, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayco 24B

There is plenty phone apps to use as a RV GPS and they will always be up to date.
I use CoPilot for $29.99 a year and it works great. There is another one, RV LIFE that its a paid subscription as well.

I rather pay $30 a year than $600 for RV dedicated GPS that want you to pay extra to update the maps.

Actually, you can get the Garmin RV770 for around half the $600, and it comes with FREE lifetime map updates.

Plus, it doesn't tie up your phone, doesn't rely on having a cell connection, and provides many RV specific data points and services, as well as notifies you of road the rig can't go on.

And lastly, having a bigger screen to look at than a cell phone is always a plus!

**norty1** · 10-02-2020, 05:46 AM

We rely on arv760 that we bought new years ago. It has lifetime map updates and is very good even now. Garmin comes out with new issue often, like iphones for "have to have the latest" crowd.

We have had 3 vehicles each with a different make of GPS built in . In my opinion they are ALL very hard to use, NOT user friendly, and a big expense to update. Basically useless except for looking at where you are!

WeRJuliian · 10-02-2020, 05:50 AM

Keep in mind that there are places where GPS doesn't work, either.

A backup is always good :-)

Racinforthefinish · 10-02-2020, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie G

I currently use my phone and a regular garman gps. A couple of times I have found myself pulling my 32’ TT on roads I would rather have avoided. Can anyone recommend an RV gps? I do not need or want a lot of bells and whistles... just a best route to the destination.
Thanks for responding.

I also wish I knew what GPS to use. I have a Garmin RV770 set on Rv mode. Last week it had me get off the interstate and take a very narrow mountain road about thirty mile across a mountain to get where I was going. If I had driven a few more miles up the road there was a very good road that went straight to my destination. Always have a good map ready and know in advance where you are going. I run my GPS everywhere I go and sometimes just for entertainment to see what it will do next.

Marcm157 · 10-02-2020, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racinforthefinish

I also wish I knew what GPS to use. I have a Garmin RV770 set on Rv mode. Last week it had me get off the interstate and take a very narrow mountain road about thirty mile across a mountain to get where I was going. If I had driven a few more miles up the road there was a very good road that went straight to my destination. Always have a good map ready and know in advance where you are going. I run my GPS everywhere I go and sometimes just for entertainment to see what it will do next.

My Garmin RV770 has routed me on some "adventures" to say the least. I find that at times it will send me miles and miles out of my way on a trip. I agree with Racin - ALWAYS have a map with you...

Old and soft · 10-02-2020, 07:31 AM

Not to long ago, my employer switched to a paperless work order app on a co provided tablet. It uses map quest for job locations. This one map in Aviston,Il ended with a - - - -. Turns out that was a 1/2 mile wide cornfield. Mapquest fail. At least I was in a co service van.

WeRJuliian · 10-02-2020, 08:24 AM

Like any mapping system, you are at the mercy of the people who compile the data...

We once wound up on a forestry fire road, in the dark, after taking the advice of our GPS :-) One of those times when I was really grateful for 4WD !

PaulB12 · 10-02-2020, 08:53 AM

Blame the folks that write the algorithm, the mapping company, and not setting the parameters of how you want to travel.
Between Google maps and my updatable Garmin I have few problems. With old school maps I had problems too.
JMHO
PaulB12

CAG · 10-02-2020, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeRJuliian

Keep in mind that there are places where GPS doesn't work, either.

A backup is always good :-)

Download maps to your phones memory. I use OnXmaps a bunch for hunting, hiking areas where there is no phone service. If my phone can load Sats, and unless you are in a deep narrow canyon, it almost always can, I have GPS.

Head units with GPS maps is slowly fading out as new units come with direct connections to phones.

RetiredOne · 10-02-2020, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcm157

My Garmin RV770 has routed me on some "adventures" to say the least. I find that at times it will send me miles and miles out of my way on a trip. I agree with Racin - ALWAYS have a map with you...

I've had similar adventures where it sends me the "safe" way, not the most direct way. I now run it in Car mode, not RV mode, but I pay attention to what's coming up.... I also like to live "on the edge"..

What I usually do is map my route before I go on Google maps, and look at the satellite view, to see if there might be any issues. This also gives me a proposed route, so when I program the Garmin, I compare the routes to see the differences.

CAG · 10-02-2020, 10:10 AM

The rule when using a GPS is know where your are going and how you will get there before using the GPS. Just use the GPS to warn you of turns. Driving blindly with just the GPS directing you is like RetiredOne says. An "adventure" in the making.

Most times when I am in the back country, I have laid out a route, with waypoints at turns and important locations along the way. Having the GPS send you on an adventure when you are on sketchy 4WD roads with lots of forks can lead to some interesting results. I generally do that same lay out with RV road trips. Many "headunit" GPS programs do not allow waypoint layout. Some of the newer ones are doing that but a GPS that will not allow waypointing is really pretty useless for me at least.

You may also like: