GPS for CRUISIN'

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Okay, I'm not even going to try to justify the desire for this next gadget except to say I was born without a sense of direction...

I want a GPS thingamajiggy in the worst way. A friend of mine just got back from a trip during which he rented a Hertz car that had GPS. He said the thing gave him verbal directions which would tell him when to turn, how long to cook a three minute egg -- the works.

That's for me, 'cause I can get lost in a closet with a road map and my high beams on.

Anybody else interested in this sort of thing have any leads?

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97 2500 4x4, club cab, auto, 3. 54 limited slip, JRE 4" exhaust, Dr. Performance Fuel system (370 HP), turbo, Geno's guages -- Boost, EGT, transmission & Rear -- MAG Hytec covers, SunCoast Converter/Transgo shift kit, Brite Box, tons o'chrome under hood, Prime Loc, EZ Drain, Seat covers, wood dash, Rancho Suspension, Warn M12000 Winch on Warn Brush Guard, Warn driving and fog lights, Hella twin back up lights, 285/75/R16 B. F. G. ATs on Mickey Thompson rims; Linex bed liner, BD exhaust brake.

 

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Sasquatch - check out the 'I know guys don't get lost' topic in this forum. I know ther is a way to link it but I don't know how. Maybe someone could start a new topic showing how to link topics.

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Rick G - Phoeniz, AZ
99 2500 QC LB 4X4 5-speed
3. 54 LSD
E-brake, ISSPRO Boost & EGT gauges (mounted pre-turbo)
285/75 16 BFG AT KO on AR Atlas
Hadley Air Horns (no more wimpy horns)
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2000 Hitchhiker II 33ft 5er triple slide

 

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Sasquatch - I repair/install GPS in aircraft for a living. Although an aircraft GPS is overkill I have had the fortune of using a Garmin Streetpilot Colormap on a road trip with great results for relatively small cost. It doesn't talk out loud, but sure gives good directions as well as knowing where every McDonalds, Gas Station, hiway exit, etc. in the country is right down to street addresses. Funny thing is the $250 GPS I use for hiking has more features than a $3000 aircraft "cheapie". FAA is here to help!
Gary

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'96 2500 extcab, SLT, 4x4, auto-3:54 LSD, Banks#1, Dr. Performance#2, K&N, American wheels, 255/85R16, Bushwacker flares, silence ring & CAT raptured, Rhino Liner, EGT-Boost-Tran temp on dash, Reese class V hitch... Snowmachine hauler (Polaris Baby!)

 

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Rick,

Thanks for your comments and pointing me in the right direction, pal.


Gary,

I've been interested in this for a long time and the "color map" looks like a good choice.

My fantasy, of course, is to be cruising down the road, going ninety with my driving lights catching the sage on fire, soulful country western playing softly in the background from my way-to-expensive stereo system (yet to be purchased and installed), a softly illuminated dash (with gauges that tell me all kinds of useless crap), and a sexy woman's voice telling me lies about the nearest off-ramp leading to a McDonalds.

My problem with the "color map" is that it's too practical, (not expensive enough) and doesn't appeal to my "Walter Mitty" side; I mean, if I'm going to pull over to the side of the road to look into a 6" screen, and put my reading glasses on to follow text-delivered directions, I might as well whip out my dog-eared Rand McNally, behave like an adult and save myself about $700... (chuckling)

The "woman's voice" (if it's not a woman, I don't want to hear about it) doesn't come cheap. Phillips and some other outfit make a system for about $2,000 that had me all hot and bothered. My VISA card was getting a "woody" in anticipation of an easy score. Then I read further down the in the sales pitch and realized that the $2,000 buys you little more than an illuminated paper weight, with a woman's voice that says, "Where the Hell are we, honey?"

The Phillips system ("Never Lost") charges you an additional $99 per "zone" in the continental U. S. By the time you get from Atlanta to Portland, OR (my next trip) you've gone through about 9 zones and spent another grand with "Navistar" the software purveyor that downloads the information, at "street level" into your units hard drive. (My "unit" was no longer hard after reading the fine print)...

Please share with me what you know about the color map system. Is the cost inclusive of the mapping information, or is it another deal where you buy the hardware, first, then get beaten about the head and ears for the software that makes it useful.

Thanks for your response. ;-)

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97 2500 4x4, club cab, auto, 3. 54 limited slip, JRE 4" exhaust, Dr. Performance Fuel system (370 HP), turbo, Geno's guages -- Boost, EGT, transmission & Rear -- MAG Hytec covers, SunCoast Converter/Transgo shift kit, Brite Box, tons o'chrome under hood, Prime Loc, EZ Drain, Seat covers, wood dash, Rancho Suspension, Warn M12000 Winch on Warn Brush Guard, Warn driving and fog lights, Hella twin back up lights, 285/75/R16 B. F. G. ATs on Mickey Thompson rims; Linex bed liner, BD exhaust brake.

[This message has been edited by Sasquatch (edited 04-06-2000). ]

 

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The Garmin Street Pilot comes loaded with the software. The DeLorme unit that is noted in the other thread is $160 and will run on a palm pilot or a laptop. If you use a laptop, it also issues verbal commands. Another nice feature is the reroute (when you miss a turn it will replot a new course, if you don't want to backtrack). The DeLorme also has additional software (cheap) available with full topographics if you into off-roading or hiking.

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Rick G - Phoeniz, AZ
99 2500 QC LB 4X4 5-speed
3. 54 LSD
E-brake, ISSPRO Boost & EGT gauges (mounted pre-turbo)
285/75 16 BFG AT KO on AR Atlas
Hadley Air Horns (no more wimpy horns)
*************************
2000 Hitchhiker II 33ft 5er triple slide

 

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Rick,

Thanks for your reply.

I think maybe what I'm looking for hasn't been marketed yet -- a set up, for under a grand, that'll let you navigate, with your eyes on the road, while giving you residential street-level detail, nationwide.

I don't own a laptop computer. When I'm at home and/or in the office I rely on the conventional desktop setup with a 21" monitor. My vision isn't what it used to be, either. (cough) I considered buying a dedicated laptop, simply for automotive GPS use, but figured that by the time I did that and bought all the other stuff to make the system work (power adapters, antenna, shock mounts, etc. ) I'd have as much money in the system as I would simply purchasing the Magellan 750.

It seems like we're not quite at the "cake and eat it, too" stage of this technology's deployment to the general public -- maybe close -- but not quite there.

If you want the convenience of what the Hertz customer is currently enjoying, ("Magellan" "NeverLost") you're going to pay about $3,000 for it. Period. (... with all the "zones enabled" @ $99 per zone)

<img src= http://www.thegpsstore.com/site/images/750control.jpg>

<img src=http://www.thegpsstore.com/site/images/750control.jpg>

[This message has been edited by Sasquatch (edited 04-06-2000). ]

 

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Hey Sasquatch, I'm a member of the fucarewe tribe. The whole family is like this. Last year I went on ebay and bought a nice Gateway laptop with GPS use a priority. Well it is a year later and I still havent sprang for the software. I've been bidding on ebay and just havent won yet. I think I'm just going to break down and go to Delorme's site and get the earthmate gps with street Atlas version 8. 0. Let me know if you want me to keep you posted. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------Awaiting the works from Auto Wurks next week. 96 reg cab full bed auto 3. 50 gears. ALL STOCK FOR ANOTHER WEEK.

 

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bertyz,

Frank let me use his Garmin GPSIII/Plus on the trek from Reno up to the land of the Scourge. What a fine piece this is. I had it on the dash, right above & just to the right of the steering wheel. You can change the display to show detail all the way down to street level. It shows you where you are as you travel, what's coming up & how far. Better yet, mph & elevation. And I didn't even touch on all the stuff it could do. The display was more than large enough. #ad


http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsIIIp/



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Money Sink - 96, 5 speed, HX40-16, TST #11/280 slid 3/4 way, 300 HP Injectors, Scourge BD Governor kit.
4" CATless turn down straight out back.
ISSPRO Pillar, Delvac 1 & Amsiol, RE-0880, Mag-Hytec, 3:54, 235s on Alcoas, Rancho 9000's, Valentine One.
Clutch days are numbered, McLeod on the way.

 

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Sasquatch

Check out thegpsstore.com I looked tonight and they have the neverlost system for $1699, and they are offering a special that gives you all of the zones in the nation free.

 

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I second Gary,s comments on the Garmin Colormap . I have had mine installed for approx. 4 months now. It is great, with alot of features!! I also agree that it is a more feature packed unit for the money than any unit that I have used in an aircraft!!!! I too am so glad that the FAA is "here to help"!!!

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2001 QC4x4 eth dee slt+ 3. 54 blk agate leather Warn transformer mount Hella 4000s, Hella 530 backups, Optima redtops Toro liner, jacobs ebrake, wired front and rear for Warn 9000 winch, backup lights inset into rear bumper,bumper powder coated silver vein, bedliner on 6" of rocker,custom aluminum console with Garmin Colormap GPS and EGT built in

 

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Originally posted by Forrest:
bertyz,

Frank let me use his Garmin GPSIII/Plus on the trek from Reno up to the land of the Scourge. What a fine piece this is. I had it on the dash, right above & just to the right of the steering wheel. You can change the display to show detail all the way down to street level. It shows you where you are as you travel, what's coming up & how far. Better yet, mph & elevation. And I didn't even touch on all the stuff it could do. The display was more than large enough. #ad


http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsIIIp/

I couldn't agree more about the Garmin III/plus. I have a good friend who works for Trimble Navigation and he swears that the Garmin is the the best GPS for the money out there. I first used it on vacation in Graeagle, really cool the way it shows whats available at major highway intersections! Even my wife was impressed #ad



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01' 3500 Bright White,QC LWB, Auto, 4:10, Line-X Bedliner, Member San Jose RamRunners
2000 Dutchman Travel Trailer
1996 Harley-Davidson FLHR

 

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If you want an inexpensive GPS system and are also planning on installing a stereo, then go with an Eclipse deck in your truck that is compatible with "E-COM. " Then you have voice command of your navigation, excellent directions, and you have enough money left over to pay for all of your fuel costs because you're riding around everywhere.

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'01 BLK QUAD-CAB, ETH, 6-SPEED, HX-40, DD BOOST MODULE, STAGE III INJECTORS, ATS MANIFOLD, 4" EXHAUST, BED LINER, CLARION PPD KICKER FOCAL STEREO

 

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GPS's are cool. I have one that I use between my boat and truck. It's a Garmin III+. The only problem is that it will not *give* you directions. You have to plot your course in advance.

The one in the Hertz cars is made by Magellan. It wasn't available to consumers until recently. You can see them here:http://www.magellangps.com/frames/frame4.htm

The unit in the Hertz cars is the best that I have used (750NAV) but it's pricey. I have seen it for around $1995 installed. It includes the whole US (I don't know about Canada).

It actually uses a hard drive versus a CD or DVD.

Berserker

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99 2500 QC LB 4x4 Auto, Laramie SLT, driftwood. Cummins 24v w/ 275 HP injectors, Edge Products EZ & Banks Stinger Plus kit minus Ottomind, TST 10 level PM3, Stainless Steel fuel lines, EGT and Boost gauges on A-Pillar mount, Prime-Location fuel filter kit (removed pending outcome of testing), MagHytec Diff and Trans covers, ConFerr front heavy duty axle truss w/skid plate, EZ Change oil drain plug, BFG 35x12. 50x16. 50 MT's, Tuff Country 5” stage II lift-kit, Rhino liner, Smittybilt nerf bars, Warn chrome Transformer brush guard w/Warn12000 winch, Tow Hooks, Xenon fender flares & Abbott Electronic Ratio Adapter. DTT's Valve Body & Torque Converter.

MyTruck

 

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I use the De Lorme Earth Mate and road atlas mapping software with my Mac laptop. I looked into the Garmin unit and while, I'll agree it's easy, ... You don't get street map detail in all the US. You must buy disks to suppliment the basic road map coverage.
The Road atlas come with the entire US down to the smallest city streets included for 124$ and the map to GPS interface is seamless. It overlays your position relative to the map with great precision. I drove over 9 western states last year and never saw a discrepancy between the GPS location and the map. I can't stress enough the importance of good intrface between the maps and the GPS. If the maps are off, the GPS will show your location as somewhere your not.
Full color and directions too. My only gripe is that it eats 4 AAA bateries fast in the GPS antenna and their battery replacement plug in cord is 39. 95 Do I hear RIP OFF!But it still is a decent product for the price. I also really appretiate a full 15 inch color display when I'm alone and doing my own navigation. The Garmin gives you 5 if your lucky.
If you already own a laptop or want one so while traveling you have internet access and E-mail, the Delorme is worth looking into. If however, I wanted a stand alone GPS for over the road navigation, the Garmin street pilot color would be my choise.
-Paul R. Haller-

 

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I've got a Garmin E-Map hand-held gps. It's loaded with features, can be easily upgraded with CD's (for topography, water navigation, recreation, and street addresses) for the whole country. With a computer hook-up, the CD info is downloaded into your unit. I've used it a lot here in VA, both when driving and hiking. I also got to use it out in MT on a hunting trip. You might want to check out past issues of TDR magazine. I think that there's an article/comparison in one of them.

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95 2500 SLT, clubcab, 2wd, longbed, a/t, 3. 54, 139K miles, "all the usual refinements"

 

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Interesting subject.

All you need is any old pentium Laptop (like a 200mhz or equivalent)

A Garmin GPS antenna like the model 35 (for about 150 bucks)

Delorme Street Atlas (either current version) I have RWE (road warrior edition).

The Delorme product has street level coverage for the entire continental US (including Alaska, but no Canadian roads) AND has a voice to tell you if you are coming up on a turn, what the road is, how long you will be on that road etc.

So all you have to do is put your trip into the computer and hit GO.

Also it has the capability to HEAR your voice and do some tricks... I haven't tried that because my cab is so noisy;O

I sort of have some pictures about what I am talking about on my web site.

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'96 4x4, 2500 extended, 5-Stick, TST, big stereo, MP3 player, GPS, Kodiak Sidewinder steps.

http://www.geocities.com/mr_bubba_zanetti/