GPS vs Smart Phone

[TFucili]

As we prepare for our toy hauler and dragging it over hill and dale, I have been debating using the phone or GPS. My truck has the base radio and does not have navigation. Google maps is great, but burns up data, and we very often venture into no-cell areas. I have looked at the offline option, but I don't see an option to save a predetermined, long trip, and the area you can save offline is relatively small. I have been looking at the Garmin RV 770(and others)which can do it's own wi-fi updates with no computer required, and it does include lifetime updates. The most useful thing I find on GPS is getting to the correct lane in advance as you approach large interchanges in metro areas, not getting caught flat-footed by a left exit, etc. What's everyone using?

 

[DavidC]

I use a gps. I also am a Good Sam member which has a trip planner online which can show campgrounds, fueling and other things. You can plan your trip and download to your Rand Mcnally gps.

Dave

 

[DavidC]

There is also RV Trip Wizard at about $40.00 a year and can download to different devices.
http://docs.rvtripwizard.com/export-to-gps

Dave

 

[TFucili]

Thanks, Dave, we plan to join Good Sam. Do you have the RM GPS? I was looking at them, and reading reviews there were quite a few people complaining about hardware failures. I don't find Garmin's software to be particularly intuitive(reminds me of Windows-Blech!)but I think their hardware is very robust.

 

[DavidC]

I have a Garmin and a RM. I picked up the RM for the sake of downloading the trips I design on trip maker as it does not support Garmin. The only complaint I have with RM is the audio does not adjust high enough. The trip maker is invaluable for designing, changing, adding etc. and downloading to the gps. I think I have 4-5 trips mapped out that are saved both on the website and the RM gps. I was offered the lifetime member many years ago and I think at the time it was $300ish. Glad I took it as no yearly dues to pay. If you join I would highly suggest doing the same if/when offered but I would bet it is costlier now. I have had the RM for about 2 years now. The last time I used the garmin it decided to clean itself out one morning and I had to do a restore to get everything back.

Dave

 

[Jim W]

I have the Rand McNally GPS RVND 7730, not the Good Sam's version. I do have life time maps and you can input all of the data needed to pull any 5er/trailer you have. You can also switch between car and RV/truck as needed. It does have the Good Sam's app on the unit through. This is my second unit the first one lasted 8 years. I will not tow with out this and would not use a phone at all.

 

[TFucili]

Good info, thanks!

 

[DavidC]

Don't know if you get these and more than likely need to be a Good Sam member to get these prices but I figured I would let you know.
https://www.campingworld.com/electr...xacttarget&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6720

Dave

 

[TFucili]

Don't know if you get these and more than likely need to be a Good Sam member to get these prices but I figured I would let you know.
https://www.campingworld.com/electr...xacttarget&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6720

Dave

I signed up about a week or so ago, have not received my packet yet. I have been reading reviews on the Rand and Garmin RV models. There are so many conflicting reviews. I have stopped by Wally World and Best Buy in my travels but they didn't have anything beyond auto. There is a Camping World 40 or so miles from here, so I'll make a run down there.

 

[DavidC]

Did they give you a membership # yet ?. Sign up online ?. If you opened an account you can print a temporary card under the account section after you log in. Be sure you can download the trip planner to your GPS which ever one you get.

Dave

 

[TFucili]

Did they give you a membership # yet ?. Sign up online ?. If you opened an account you can print a temporary card under the account section after you log in. Be sure you can download the trip planner to your GPS which ever one you get.

Dave

I signed up right before we traveled to PA, so our mail has been on hold. I did retrieve my temporary card. I think Trip Planner may only work with the Rand, but I am not positive on that.

 

[DavidC]

I signed up right before we traveled to PA, so our mail has been on hold. I did retrieve my temporary card. I think Trip Planner may only work with the Rand, but I am not positive on that.

I read somewhere maybe trip wizard that it went by the file extension ie .cvx,exe etc. Not sure what rand is or how to find out along with Garmin.

Dave

 

[Ozymandias]

Check out the MapsME App, I use that always for Offline Navigation.
You can download all the needed maps at home and go.
Maps show every single track road and more because its OSM Based.

The other App I use is HERE WeGo, also quite sophisticated and ofcourse Offline.

I never feel need for a built in Navigation.

 

[wtabke]

I use Sygic for offline maps:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sygic.aura

 

[DavidC]

For what it's worth so far
Rand Mcnally file format is .csv
Garmin format is .img

Dave

 

[TFucili]

Drove to Camping World to check them out. The display units were all dummies, so that was not very helpful.

 

[DavidC]

I just read up on them and new I wanted to know where the Flying J's were along the route and wanted to use trip maker to lay it all out then download to the GPS. From what I see it does not have to be a good sam Rand Mcnally as long as it is in .cvs format.
I ordered mine through camping world online as we were in Minot ND. at the time with no Camping World close by.
https://www.randmcnally.com/support/article/exporting-a-trip-to-your-rv-gps

Dave

 

[Lynx0849]

I have Garmin GPS units. One in truck and one (weatherproof) on motorcycle.

There is a free Garmin tool, Basecamp, to do trip planning. It runs on PCs or Mac.

I like it because I can break a trip down into daily segments and plan each in detail. The DW and I often spend weeks on the details for each day.
Heck, on one trip in the West during October, we planned out three different routes for one day going through the Rocky Mountains in Colorado depending on what passes might be closed by snow. We lucked out and our favored one (trail ridge road) was still open.

I plan on getting the large RV model soon. My current ones are a bit long in the tooth.



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