GPS for RV's - Montana Owners Club

XGBOY · 12-30-2020, 03:13 PM

Any suggestions for a GPS which has features designed to assist RVer's in route planning for highway conditions (width, grade, overpass heights, etc)? I have been looking at some that advertise for truckers, RVs and cars. Thanks

dieselguy · 12-30-2020, 04:45 PM

Garmin RV 780 works for us. Voice command is handy. Fuel and dining has a good data base.

kowbra · 12-30-2020, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XGBOY

Any suggestions for a GPS which has features designed to assist RVer's in route planning for highway conditions (width, grade, overpass heights, etc)? I have been looking at some that advertise for truckers, RVs and cars. Thanks

Have you considered apps for your phone or tablet?
If that is an option, here are a few to check out...

https://www.truckmap.com/ (free; can plug in dimensions of your RV including height and avoid low clearances, etc)

http://www.lowclearances.com/ ($75 lifetime membership)

https://www.rvtripwizard.com/ ($49 per year)

hth

Brad

jeffba · 12-30-2020, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieselguy

Garmin RV 780 works for us. Voice command is handy. Fuel and dining has a good data base.

voice command is a joke. No really a joke. We can go for miles, with me trying to get it to find something and it repeating some nonsense. It keeps us in stitches

mhs4771 · 12-30-2020, 06:48 PM

I'm running the Garmin 785, same as the 780 but also has built-in Dash Cam.
Agree the voice command part is very limited, only a small group of questions you can ask of it.

rohrmann · 12-30-2020, 07:44 PM

We've had a Magellan RV9145T that has lifetime map updates. What is good about this unit is it has a large data base of RV parks and related services, in addition to the updates. Other than a quirk once in a while that steers you in a strange direction, it has kept us away from low bridge underpasses for over 7 years and still works great. Not sure it is available anymore, but any GPS that has similar features would do well.

jimcol · 12-31-2020, 07:07 AM

I agree with dieselguy on the database for fuel and food is good and would add campgrounds dbase is pretty good. Routing on it has never failed us. I also agree with jeffba, the voice command for the most part is a joke. He finds it entertaining, I find it frustrating.

h2ojocky · 12-31-2020, 07:22 PM

I have the Magellan RV9365 with lifetime maps and updates. It has worked well for us but the updates are non existent. Every once in a while it takes us in circles or some weird way but never any dangerous way.

dieselguy · 12-31-2020, 07:48 PM

At first I had issue with the voice command as well and still do but very little. If you make your voice sound nasally kinda like Gomer Pyle, it seems to better understand you. None the less, it is way better than listening to my co pilot cuss away as she tries to touch screen in what we were looking for. Also turn the radio down and close the windows.

Dave W · 01-01-2021, 05:50 AM

Any of the Garmin RV GPS from the 760 on will work. If we were still traveling as far and wide, I would upgrade to a 780/785 but my old760 still does just great. Some on another site suggested a trucker's version of the Garmins but doubt if they have the best search functions for an RVer. My only Magellan experiences are with rental cars and they seemed to do just fine.

Be careful of the Rand-McNallys right now. Several folks are reporting software issues that the manufacturer's customer service can't(wont?) figure out.

Cat320 · 01-01-2021, 04:19 PM

Check the Garmins, they have several that are RV friendly.

Clark 2012 346LBQ · 01-06-2021, 01:51 PM

After a lot of debate and searching we went with the farming 785. We have a dash cam as well as back up cam. And it has the routes downloaded so that if we go to an area that has poor or no signal we still know where we are going. I also like that it hooks up to my phone to use the WiFi for issues along the way.

Nighthawk · 01-06-2021, 02:45 PM

I've used several Magellan's in the past as well as a Garmin. I didn't notice any major differences in the 2 brands, both were OK. But, I liked the Garmin much better because it would display several other bits of info at the bottom of the screen, like ETA, Elevation, MPH, etc., whereas the Magellan only displayed one item at a time.

If I needed to buy a new one, I'd get the Garmin RV890 - 8" display, for C$579.

That's my 2 cents.

pitman44 · 01-06-2021, 03:57 PM

We bought a Garmin RV890 this summer. Really like it a lot. Changing Lanes did a review of it and a Rand McNally OverDryve 7 on YouTube. One thing I especially like about it is that one of the default buttons is for gas stations. We have a diesel. So you can change the POI search to truck stops and now it just looks for truck stops. I would definitely buy it again.

laverdur · 01-06-2021, 03:58 PM

My vote goes to the Garmin RV series. Pick the one that will best fit in your truck without blocking too much of the window.

TK1 · 01-06-2021, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XGBOY

Any suggestions for a GPS which has features designed to assist RVer's in route planning for highway conditions (width, grade, overpass heights, etc)? I have been looking at some that advertise for truckers, RVs and cars. Thanks

Stick with a Garmin their RV application models are great. Whatever you do don't buy a Magellan I bought one 3 years ago from C/W because it was a few bucks cheaper than a Garmin. That was a mistake I saved about $50.00, but the Magellan has just been a big disappointment.

bcrvman · 01-06-2021, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XGBOY

Any suggestions for a GPS which has features designed to assist RVer's in route planning for highway conditions (width, grade, overpass heights, etc)? I have been looking at some that advertise for truckers, RVs and cars. Thanks

Garmin just announced the newest model. a 10" model is 1090. Put your EV length, width, height and more and get routed safely. Remember ALWAYS fastest NOT shortest.

jjwhite368 · 01-11-2021, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pitman44

We bought a Garmin RV890 this summer. Really like it a lot. Changing Lanes did a review of it and a Rand McNally OverDryve 7 on YouTube. One thing I especially like about it is that one of the default buttons is for gas stations. We have a diesel. So you can change the POI search to truck stops and now it just looks for truck stops. I would definitely buy it again.

Thoroughly agree. We bought the Garmin RV890 from TechnoRV. Great unit and great service.

Bill Austin · 05-05-2021, 03:55 PM

So are you saying that the GPS in my new truck isn't capable of routing a 5th wheeler's route? Hard to believe I need to spend another $500 to $1000 for another unit. I have my truck on order so I am not able to see the new features.
Is this true?

pitman44 · 05-05-2021, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Austin

So are you saying that the GPS in my new truck isn't capable of routing a 5th wheeler's route? Hard to believe I need to spend another $500 to $1000 for another unit. I have my truck on order so I am not able to see the new features.
Is this true?

Most GPSs, including built in ones, don't allow you to input the height, length and weight of your TV and to account for road limitations when plotting your route.

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