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Old 01-31-2025, 02:02 PM   #1
StartingLate
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tools for route planning?

Hi All,

What do you use for route planning?

https://www.campendium.com/ seems good for determining what is along the route, i.e. rest stops, campgrounds, etc.

But what I was looking for is a tool that will tell you what the road is like. For example, all the typical maps (google maps, apple maps, etc), show I can drive from Ouray, CO to Silverton, CO on route 550. But I know for a fact that is the "million dollar highway" and would not want to pull a 32foot fifth wheel over that pass. Heck, its scary with just the truck.

Is there a tool to use that will say something like, tight turns, steep grades, no turn arounds, on a specific road?

Thank you as always!
Scott
 
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Old 01-31-2025, 06:59 PM   #2
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I’m a big fan of RV Trip Wizard, which rebranded to RV LIFE app or https://tripwizard.rvlife.com/app.

I use it for planning and documentation and for finding places to stay, but I don’t think it gives any warnings for the terrain.
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Old 01-31-2025, 07:17 PM   #3
Carl n Susan
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I believe RV Trip Wizard has a display at the bottom of the screen that shows elevation of the route. But no warnings. The trucker atlas which you can find at truck stops, does have warnings associated with routes/roads.
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Old 01-31-2025, 08:29 PM   #4
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Thank you for the tips!
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Old 01-31-2025, 11:58 PM   #5
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We use the Good Sam Trip Planner. Has worked well for us. $39/year for membership. However, when the subscription ends, we’ll most likely switch to RV Trip Wizard as it has more features. $59/year or $20/month.
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Old 02-01-2025, 06:50 AM   #6
buck119fa
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RV Life trip planner. We found it has just about everything we need. safe RV routes, low bridge notifications, etc... We have the membership for the app, have been using it along with google maps and Waze as we travel for comparisons and seems to be pretty accurate for everything we've encountered so far. No issues, I've planned 3 long trips through multiple states and it's been really good.
I do like being able to use the trip planner to calculate the rough cost, milage, and fuel of the trip as well.
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Old 02-04-2025, 03:32 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StartingLate View Post
Hi All,

What do you use for route planning?

https://www.campendium.com/ seems good for determining what is along the route, i.e. rest stops, campgrounds, etc.

But what I was looking for is a tool that will tell you what the road is like. For example, all the typical maps (google maps, apple maps, etc), show I can drive from Ouray, CO to Silverton, CO on route 550. But I know for a fact that is the "million dollar highway" and would not want to pull a 32foot fifth wheel over that pass. Heck, its scary with just the truck.

Is there a tool to use that will say something like, tight turns, steep grades, no turn arounds, on a specific road?

Thank you as always!
Scott

I assume you have a good GPS...it will give you lots of information in addition to the route.
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Old 02-04-2025, 09:04 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StartingLate View Post
Hi All,

What do you use for route planning?

https://www.campendium.com/ seems good for determining what is along the route, i.e. rest stops, campgrounds, etc.

But what I was looking for is a tool that will tell you what the road is like. For example, all the typical maps (google maps, apple maps, etc), show I can drive from Ouray, CO to Silverton, CO on route 550. But I know for a fact that is the "million dollar highway" and would not want to pull a 32foot fifth wheel over that pass. Heck, its scary with just the truck.
!
Scott
I pulled my 37 ft Mountaineer to Silverton and am planning on going again this summer. I don't remember the road being bad, except maybe some stretches that don't have metal rails along the edge.
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Old 02-05-2025, 02:52 PM   #9
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Route Planning

I use RV Trip Wizard. Would not leave home without it.
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Old 02-05-2025, 03:48 PM   #10
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I use Roadtrippers. It has everything including RV safe routes. It also has a cell phone app that will show you full trip and if you use the Roadtripper's nav app it will only keep you on RV safe routes as you travel. Has a good database of stops or enter your own. They are the same company that owns Campendium and their website and app have Campendium built into to them. I tried Road Trip Wizard once and it sent me the wrong way, I tried everything to get it to change but it would not.
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Old 02-05-2025, 04:37 PM   #11
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Thanks. So far all is good. I will check out Road Tripper.
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Old 02-05-2025, 04:48 PM   #12
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My gripe with these apps is they require internet. What if you are somewhere that doesn't have wifi?

I use a 14 year old Trailer Life PC app. Only bad thing is all the rv campgrounds are reviewed 14 years ago! It used to have some sort of deal with RV Life or some such organization and used those campgrounds and reviews. It is also much easier and faster to use. Gives elevation on routes, etc. Pick your destination(s) and tell it how far you want to travel in a day and how far you can go past that limit. It then tells you where the nearest CG is located.
Sigh, I wish it was still around - or something like it. I am not a big fan of internet apps, by the way, in case you can't tell! LOL
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Old 02-05-2025, 05:05 PM   #13
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We use RV Trip Wizard and a Garmin RV770 GPS. We input length, height and weight into the Garmin. Hint: fudge your height by an inch or two. if you say 13'4" and there is a bridge at 13'4" it will think you're fine. If they have paved underneath it then it may not be 13'4" any more.
We review the route Garmin plans and double check it if anything looks strange.
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Old 02-08-2025, 07:10 AM   #14
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it is great there. From Durango to Silverton is no problem. From Ouray to Silverton is the "hairy" route. Beautiful, but many places there is no shoulder, the line is gone and it is a thousand foot drop off...
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Old 02-08-2025, 08:36 AM   #15
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it is great there. From Durango to Silverton is no problem. From Ouray to Silverton is the "hairy" route. Beautiful, but many places there is no shoulder, the line is gone and it is a thousand foot drop off...

Ive done it several times with different 5ers. No problem what so ever. Being from WV, we are used to narrow curvy mountain roads. The only difference is the drop is bigger there.


The new 790/890/1090 series RV Garmins are excellent in giving road info. Inclines, declines, sharp curves, rail road crossings, tunnels, height restrictions etc... Even propane restrictions.
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Old Yesterday, 08:27 AM   #16
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Don't forget to update your GPS....if Garmin they are free....I do it once a year. It's surprising how many updates and changes there are.
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