|
11-13-2011, 11:29 AM
|
#1
|
Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Portland
Posts: 16
M.O.C. #10617
|
GPS recommendation?
I am looking for our first GPS unit and am interested in your thoughts. I have read the previous posts on GPS units on this site, but would like some more current information or opinions. Some of the reviews of the RV specific units have mentioned problems and are expensive. What type of unit are you using? What are the pros and cons? Would you recommend it to others? Does it support downloads to a Mac?
Thanks for you help.
|
|
|
11-13-2011, 12:10 PM
|
#2
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
|
We now have a built in with the new Dodge, but the wife still has the old Garmin we used before we got the new truck. We bought the lifetime downloads and they work fine on our Mac. It's not the RV kind, but I'm sure Garmin probably makes one.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
|
|
|
11-13-2011, 01:16 PM
|
#3
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Layton
Posts: 1,048
M.O.C. #666
|
I like Garmin Nuvi line. Been thinking of one of the new 2012 models with voice command.
I never thought that I would like the windshield mount and bought a dash mounted weighted unit. Then I decided to try the windshield mount in our Yaris and like it a lot. Not as portable to hand to each other but a Yaris is not that large to begin with.
|
|
|
11-13-2011, 02:13 PM
|
#4
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: New Bern
Posts: 4,372
M.O.C. #8728
|
Garmin makes a truckers GPS that works great with RV's.
|
|
|
11-13-2011, 04:02 PM
|
#5
|
Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
|
Garmin 1490LMT works great for me. Downloaded app from Lowclearance.com for $9.95 using the MAC. Less than $200 invested. Amazon.com.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
|
|
|
11-13-2011, 04:40 PM
|
#6
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
|
We have the trucker garmin GPS 465T.It also has a car mode so it is two units in one. These rigs are more like a big truck than a car and the trucker GPS has done well for us.
|
|
|
11-13-2011, 04:55 PM
|
#7
|
Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Glendale
Posts: 97
M.O.C. #11715
|
Garmin here also
|
|
|
11-14-2011, 02:26 AM
|
#8
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Hollister
Posts: 1,043
M.O.C. #10764
|
I run two. The Trailer Life Navigator software for route planning and GPS running on my laptop connected to a GPS antenna. I also run a ASUS EeePad Transformer with CoPilot live turn-by-turn voice GPS mapping and backup route planning. DW is not a navigator and I find that with a constant map (laptop) on the screen, I can still get around if the CoPilot leads me astray. I have the low clearances and rest stop POIs downloaded on the laptop. I like the bigger screens (laptop 13" and EeePad 10".
|
|
|
11-14-2011, 03:45 AM
|
#9
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Adirondack
Posts: 367
M.O.C. #10754
|
Garmin 465T
|
|
|
11-14-2011, 04:13 AM
|
#10
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Arnold
Posts: 1,200
M.O.C. #2586
|
I talked w/Garmin last week. The 465T does not have campground POI's in it, but the NEW (and expensive) dezl 560 does have CGs and the trucker/RV features (ht., width, length)of the 465T w/low clearance, steep grade, etc. warnings.
|
|
|
11-14-2011, 11:40 AM
|
#11
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
|
I am very, very happy with my Garmin 1490T (same as the 1490LMT except I had to buy the lifetime maps separately). I like this model for several reasons:
1. I can have multiple routes available to select from plus many, many more in the unit ready to import.
2. I can have a ton of waypoints along the way to force the route to go the way I want to go. I like to use a different route each time we traverse an area.
3. I can easily develop routes on my laptop and upload them via the usb cable to the Garmin.
4. There are tons more reasons and many models that would fit my needs. But if they can't handle the above, then I won't consider them.
Chris, I had the 465T and it had a lot of CG's in the poi database, as does this 1490T and my 2720 prior to that. I don't think it's the entire Trailer Life directory, though. My 465T was defective so Garmin swapped me to this 1490T at no cost and no shipping cost to me.
|
|
|
11-14-2011, 12:17 PM
|
#12
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Garland
Posts: 450
M.O.C. #10688
|
Garmin DEZL 560; it is a little pricey, but for me the features make it worth it.
|
|
|
11-14-2011, 01:33 PM
|
#13
|
Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Portland
Posts: 16
M.O.C. #10617
|
Thanks for all the information. It looks like Garmin seems to be the favorite. We did look at a Magellan that had the AAA features of rest areas, RV parks, campgrounds, etc. But we researched it, and people complained of quality of service from the company and dependability so it looks like Garmin is the better unit.
Captain Joe, where do you get the application for Rest Areas and Low Clearances?
|
|
|
11-14-2011, 06:02 PM
|
#14
|
Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,371
M.O.C. #4831
|
The best place to start with is the POI Factory http://www.poi-factory.com It has the Rest Stop, State Parks, and Exit Information along with locations of all types of businesses (Wal-Mart, Flying J, Costco, etc) and much much more. It also has Low Clearance POIs. All of these are free.
For a fee, the site http://www.lowclearances.com/ offers a set of POIs which will alert you and (allegedly) are updated frequently.
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
|
|
|
11-15-2011, 06:48 AM
|
#15
|
Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Portland
Posts: 16
M.O.C. #10617
|
Carl - Thanks for the websites!
|
|
|
11-15-2011, 02:09 PM
|
#16
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Grain valley
Posts: 356
M.O.C. #5098
|
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by kylec2
Garmin DEZL 560; it is a little pricey, but for me the features make it worth it.
|
Kylec2,I plan to purchase a DEZL 560 LT this spring. How do like the features of the 560? Does it keep you off of roads that large fivers should not be on? Does it have CG's listed?
|
|
|
11-15-2011, 04:11 PM
|
#17
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Garland
Posts: 450
M.O.C. #10688
|
I like the features of the 560; so far it has kept me off the goat trails and on the main thoroughfares. It has an extensive list of campgrounds and park. The lifetime map upgrades is a nice touch as well.
|
|
|
11-16-2011, 02:32 PM
|
#18
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Bonita Springs
Posts: 1,943
M.O.C. #6977
|
I have the NUVI 1390 as my 1490 quite working so I traded it out at Costco as I had the receipt and got a new unit with $200.00 in return...sailer
|
|
|
11-16-2011, 03:57 PM
|
#19
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 1,298
M.O.C. #5165
|
One other thought, if you have a hand held GPS, you might want to buy the same manufacturers product for use in trip navigation. I use DeLorme because I have a hand held GPS for geocacheing and a DeLorme mapping software loaded on my laptop. Oh--yes the 13 inch laptop display is nice and large for good viewing while driving. GPS is very helpful, but I also have a current Atlas.
__________________
F-250 King Ranch Crew Cab 2012, Single Wheel, 6.7 L Diesel, Transfer Flow Internal 50 Gallon Fuel Tank, Upgraded Ford Software for 50 Gallon tank, 2006 3475Rl with Mor-ryde King Pin, 2nd AC, 2nd Battery, Pressure Pro TPMS, Wet Bolt Shackle Kit
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|