GPS to track actual speed with 315/70/17 tires

[wscott]

Several guys have mentioned that after they have swapped the factory tires for bigger ones and that you have confirmed the the new speed with a GPS since the speedo if now obviously off now. I am currently looking to purchase a GPS for other reasons but want to make sure that the one I buy can indicate current speed. Is this pretty much a standard feature or is it more limited to specific units? I know nothing about GPS and am just looking for some help. Thanks in advance for any help you can render.

 

[KLockliear]

Get on GPS City for more info on the models. If you want something handheld and cheap, look toward the Garmin GPS 12... want something with mapping... try the GPS 3+, want mapping and auto trip routing with more memory for street maps, look at the GPS 5. Need a color and bigger screen, but more like a permanently vehicle mounted unit, look at the Streetpilot series.

 

[krabman]

I have never seen one that didnt display speed. Most units have more features than you will use even at the lower price points. If you plan on chart plotting the screen becomes an important issue, the bigger and higher resolution the better. One feature you want is the ablility to adjust smoothing. This is the number of times the unit averages your speed, position or altitude which it is calculating every second. In other words you can tell it to average or smooth over ten seconds and with your speed for example it will average your speed over 10 seconds and read the average number out. This is good because it can hop around quite a bit if you smooth on a short inverval. In fact at one second you can stay parked and the unit will continue to show you moving and changing directions because it will decide you are at a slightly different spot every time it recalculates. All GPS have this, some dont let you adjust it to suit your needs. On my boat when Im crossing the Gulf of Alaska I will run my smoothing up to 2 minutes and all they way down to 15 seconds if Im splitting cans. I would guess most any unit nowadays will be able to carry more waypoints and that sort of thing than non commercial users will use.

 

[91W350]

I have a Garmin GPS III plus and a Garmin V. The V adjusts much faster and has a much better mapping system in it. It also acquires satellite readings faster. I prefer the III plus though because of the recreational maps that I have with it. The V is nice for finding your way home, it actually gives you corner by corner directions, not just for home but for any location you enter. I have checked both against the mobile radar in my patrol unit and can verify the amazing accuracy. I help a friend with used cars and these are worth their weight in gold, no worry about how far off the speedo is, just jump in and go. Like the previous posts, there are a load of good ones, I would recommend Garmin though, their service has been outstanding! One of my new addictions is www.geocaching.com Glen

 

[Blakers]

I have the Garmin 12 and like it very much. Small, simple and pretty cheap. I think you can get them at Walmart for about $125. Get the 12 volt cord too, which you might have to order. I made a little plastic bracket for the dash in my 95. I'll have to modify that for the new truck I get.

 

[Dean Upson]

I have the Garmin Street Pilot 3 and highly recommend it. It will tell you just about everything you want to know except the news and weather.



Dean

 

[mgonske]

I upgraded two years ago from a Garmin III+ to their 176c--it's a larger, color screen. I bought my Dad a Street Pilot III Deluxe, and I love the address to address routing, but I can load topo maps and nautical charts in the 176c.

Originally posted by Dean Upson

... It will tell you just about everything you want to know except the news and weather.

I have to keep an eye on weather radar at work when there's risk of lightning, and I find the habit of looking at it to see what the rain and storms are doing gets a little too ingrained--I sometimes find myself looking at the GPS in the truck expecting I'm going to see weather data

 

[Blakers]

Originally posted by mgonske

I have to keep an eye on weather radar at work when there's risk of lightning, and I find the habit of looking at it to see what the rain and storms are doing gets a little too ingrained--I sometimes find myself looking at the GPS in the truck expecting I'm going to see weather data

Wait a couple years and they'll offer weather radar in trucks.

 

[Peter Campbell]

They already have weather radar in trucks. Trouble is that is all the truck carries. I am referring to the doppler radar trucks that "chase" tornados.