Looking for a new GPS

[diandtom]

I am looking for a new GPS soon and would like a Garmin. Which one should I get. I would like the four inch screen. Is there one that can be use to show farther down the road ? My old Lowrance Iway 250 only shows a couple miles and no rest stop information.

[bdaball]

Garmin 760. Has everything you need at a resonable price

[D in Davie]

Consumer reports rated the Garmin Nuvi 255 pretty good last year but that was last year. You can get them for $160-$180. Last year they were going for $260. They don't have the updated traffic reports but I'm not sure how that works anyway; If you have to pay a subscription fee or what. After messing with maps the wide screen garmin looks pretty good. JMO

[randco]

If you want a GPS that has features that are suited for RV's, take a look at the Garmin Nuvi 465T. It is the first Garmin to incorporate truck specific routing and trucking POI’s from the National Truck and Trailers Services breakdown directory. Because the Nuvi 465 is made specifically for trucks it will design routes to specific truck types as well as load and physical restrictions.

[Logthumper]

Check out the Garmin 7200. Has big 7" screen designed for trucks and RV's. Although it is a discontinuled model, it still is available from Garmin and many ebay stores. With the 7" screen, you can see what you bought a gps for. I went from a 4.3 screen to the 7" and couldn't be happier.

[Gary RVRoamer]

I use a Garmin GVN 53 which is designed to be built in and uses the dashboard monitor for a display. Works good if you have decent sized color display for your back-up monitor.

In the car I have a Garmin 260W, which we also like very much.

[justimagination]

Have you considered the Microsoft Streets & Trips program for your laptop? It's not that expensive, and a really good set-up. It even has compass, MPH, Voice directions, and many features ie rest area's, food, gas, stores and a lot more............JMHO......Iwouldn't be without it.
David G.

[Barbara S.]

I have Microsoft Streets & Trips on my laptop but could never figure out a way to have the laptop accessible while driving. I tried to put it in the front seat but I have a dog who believes that is his territory - even with the laptop computer there. That didn't work. I tried putting the laptop on the seat behind me but then I couldn't see it driving down the road. I have a Garmin 200W (my second one) and it works well to get me where I want to go. I would like to be able to find rest stops but I haven't found a way for my GPS to alert me to them. I have heard that some models will do that, but mine will not.

[RVThere]

I have the Garmin 465T and its not all that I expected.

You can set it to 'truck mode' and it routes differently, but you cannot add low clearance bridges and have it route around them. It does have a lifetime subscription to traffic info but for $500, you expect the darn thing to be able to make sure your roof doesn't get chopped off.

I used Google maps before the trip and use their 'Streetwise' feature which actually puts you on the road so you can see what's coming.

[FLYING BUTCH]

Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents. I have had 4 GPS systems in cluding a $1400 Clarion. I bought a cheap $99 TOM TOM and I'll tell you what. It is easier to operate, has way more functions, free map updates etc etc than any GPS I have seen period! Only thing is that the screen is small and I don't know about the larger models but am sure that they are the same as the cheap one. I have it sitting on the dash in all three vehicls that have the way more expensive models in them. A couple friends of mine have the Garmin and I tried to do a few simple things for them that the TOM TOM will do and theirs doesn't do it. Like I said " kust my two cents"

[Blue74]

I broke my Sony NV-U73T 2 weeks ago in Baton Rouge so I stopped at Sam’s Club to get another one but had to settle for a Garmin nuvi 1350 ($180.00). I don’t like it as well as the Sony but the Sony is out of production but I went to Sony Style and ordered a refurbished one for $99.00. I drive big truck in all 48 states and Canada so it must have those maps. The biggest reason for not liking the Garmin is when it recalculates the map goes away and you only have a small car on the screen, on the Sony the maps stay on the screen. So if I can not take the route recommended I can see the next road that will work for me. Also it seams to get stuck in doing the recalculate and repeats the directions over, over and over. Today I laughed at it as it kept doing this and the map would zoom in and out with the voice kept repeating to turn. And I use the cap of a pen to use the touch screen, have not tried the voice command.

Also the Sony had more information on which lane to get into or the ramp to take than the Garmin. The maps on the Garmin look like they where drawn with a crayon.

On the plus side it seams to find address that the Sony did not but has not found some. It will find most roads/routes by number but could not find one in NJ even though I could slide to it on the map. Have not figured out how to make that the designation when I find the location by scroll to it on the map.

Also the Sony I can make folders in My Places to store locations so I do not have a long list to look through. I will say that I had used the Sony for over a year and became more familiar with it. And I think I will go back to Sony Style and order the NV-U83T for $139.00 refurbished, it has a 4.8 screen.

The Garmin has a small window with the speed limit of course if it is a split limit it will show the car speed but still handy and has been amusing to see how close the change is to where the sign is.

The Sony is waiting for me when I get back home so the Garmin may or may not end up into my pick up. Would it be too geeky to have two in my tractor?

Paul

[a k]

I have the Nuvi 350. I use it and I have an in-the-dash Pioneeer and it's almost useless.

Plus if you look close enough, you can get Garmin updates cheap.

[paulb4333]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbara S. I have Microsoft Streets & Trips on my laptop but could never figure out a way to have the laptop accessible while driving. I tried to put it in the front seat but I have a dog who believes that is his territory - even with the laptop computer there. That didn't work. I tried putting the laptop on the seat behind me but then I couldn't see it driving down the road. I have a Garmin 200W (my second one) and it works well to get me where I want to go. I would like to be able to find rest stops but I haven't found a way for my GPS to alert me to them. I have heard that some models will do that, but mine will not.

Try ram-mounts
RAM Mounting Systems, Inc.

Lot's of add-ons and highly flexible. There are cheaper ones on ebay that might also work, but this one is high quality and looks good as well.
Very happy with mine. They are happy to help you with questions as well.

Paul

[alvinc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYING BUTCH Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents. I have had 4 GPS systems in cluding a $1400 Clarion. I bought a cheap $99 TOM TOM and I'll tell you what. It is easier to operate, has way more functions, free map updates etc etc than any GPS I have seen period! Only thing is that the screen is small and I don't know about the larger models but am sure that they are the same as the cheap one. I have it sitting on the dash in all three vehicls that have the way more expensive models in them. A couple friends of mine have the Garmin and I tried to do a few simple things for them that the TOM TOM will do and theirs doesn't do it. Like I said " kust my two cents"

I will also put in a kudo for the TomTom. It is easier to use than the others and comes with free lifetime map updates. They are updated 4 times a year. I have used the XL330, which has a 4.3" screen and it works great.

Now for a few negative on the TomTom.
a) It is for vehicular traffic. The version I have, and I believe all versions, do not have waypoint capability or coordinate searching capability. So no geo-caching. The batteries typically last about 3 hours, and I have used it on foor, just be aware of no waypoints.

c) TomTom does no offer a option or model for trucks or large vehicles.

Other than these two comments, TomTom specializes in auto GPS, so there attention is not diverted by boating, airplane, hiking, or trucking options. They have a simple clear interface.

Ancedote: On one trip we took the GPS to Italy and Spain (purchased regional map). It seems our favorite voice on the GPS was Laura (spelling) and early in Spain I did something that changed the voice while at a meal. When we got back on the road there were a complicated set of turns to make and the rest of my family was groaning about the annoying voice (default I guess). Eventually I was able to change it back and there was peace in the car. My wife became so attached to the GPS (she did not drive) that for the rest of the trip she started greeting Laura when the GPS was powered on.