Which GPS to BUY???

[4Fun]

We are looking for a GPS with an RV/ Truck mode vs. just auto -
Looking for the following features :
1. 7 inch screen
2. Lane Assist
3. Height Clearance

Also, would like to be able to download to the GPS unit a pre-planned travel route from a program such as MS Streets and Trips.

Any suggestions of a GPS unit that would fill that bill??

Thanks so much -

[chiefneon]

Howdy!

If you don't have one you may want to consider a tablet (iPad, Samsung, etc...). I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab which is android an has a GPS feature. I use an app which cost $4.99 called Co-Polit Live USA. It doses have lane assist, posted speed limits, and also RV setting which goes up to 13'. I've been using it for a few months now and its working great. I do like the larger screen over the old Garmin, and no more expensive map up grades.

"Happy Trails"
chiefneon

[Bill Adams]

Not sure any thing that fits all of these requirements exists. Maybe the outdated Garmin 7" street pilot (with the add-on download for low clearance software). There is unit coming out this month from Rand McNally that will have at least some of your requests but as of today the jury is out (mostly NOT) on this unit. I think I might take a second look at this unit in a year or so if they are pro-active in fixing the problems with the initial release units. If I "had" to buy something today it would likely be a Garmin or Tom Tom with as many features as I could find (and without the crap I don't) that met my current needs.

[rvnavigator]

You should of course consider the Rand McNally RVND 7710. It is a specialized unit made just for RVers. Although it does not import routing from a laptop, it does have all of the other features mentioned plus many more that are specific to RVs. Not only can you select from a wide variety of RV types, sizes and weights, but it has specific routing options for RVs (out of the box). This is really more sophisticated than laptop software designed for car routing. The 7710 accepts custom POIs and has a full range of POIs built-in, including campgrounds, walmarts, truck stops, and many others.

[Camping4fun]

Since everyone is going to co-polit live USA it has went up to $9.99 for the app. As I had posted over in the general RV forum, I bought a Magellan Pro 9165T last weekend when I was up in Greenwood, In. at a Camping World. I went after the Rand McNally but the lady there told me they sold a lot more of the Magellan so that's what I got. Started making the 350 mile trip home the next day after we left the Colts football game and did not make it 5 miles out of the campgrounds when it locked up the first time, did this twice within a half hour of leaving. The volume was stuck on the lowest setting and could not be changed. The touch screen was so hard to use, you had to push hard with the end of your finger to change anything. Also they have adds that come across the screen every two mins for Best Buy & Best Western and when they did the screen would get brighter, at night this sucks. Called Magellan and was told by Tech to update unit this would fix all of the problems I was having so I did, no luck. I decided to return it this weekend to Camping World in Bowling Green, Ky. the man there told me that they have a lot more of the Rand McNally's returned than the Magellan's that most people complain about not being able to see the screen on the Rand McNally and a lot of the roads that are 5 years and newer are not list on it, even said the road there on is not listed and they have been there 4 years. Keep in mind I did not see this with my own eyes just what he told me. I went back with a second Magellan maybe I had a defect in the first one.

[Retiredblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camping4fun Since everyone is going to co-polit live USA it has went up to $9.99 for the app. As I had posted over in the general RV forum, I bought a Magellan Pro 9165T last weekend when I was up in Greenwood, In. at a Camping World. I went after the Rand McNally but the lady there told me they sold a lot more of the Magellan so that's what I got. Started making the 350 mile trip home the next day after we left the Colts football game and did not make it 5 miles out of the campgrounds when it locked up the first time, did this twice within a half hour of leaving. The volume was stuck on the lowest setting and could not be changed. The touch screen was so hard to use, you had to push hard with the end of your finger to change anything. Also they have adds that come across the screen every two mins for Best Buy & Best Western and when they did the screen would get brighter, at night this sucks. Called Magellan and was told by Tech to update unit this would fix all of the problems I was having so I did, no luck. I decided to return it this weekend to Camping World in Bowling Green, Ky. the man there told me that they have a lot more of the Rand McNally's returned than the Magellan's that most people complain about not being able to see the screen on the Rand McNally and a lot of the roads that are 5 years and newer are not list on it, even said the road there on is not listed and they have been there 4 years. Keep in mind I did not see this with my own eyes just what he told me. I went back with a second Magellan maybe I had a defect in the first one.

I gave my little garmin to my grand daughter and was thinking about getting one of those new "rv" GPS's but I decided to use my Acer netbook that I have and installed my old Co-Pilot 9 off of my big laptop on it. The screen is a little bigger than those new Rv gps's. Then I put velcros on the dash and the note book. We will see how it goes this trip. Really, I need a screen about 20"!

[jasult]

I also use a Acer NETBOOK with CoPilot live for laptops installed and it is great

Here is my home made netbook mount and yes it is plastic plumbing pipe lol

[Retiredblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasult I also use a Acer NETBOOK with CoPilot live for laptops installed and it is great Here is my home made netbook mount and yes it is plastic plumbing pipe lol

That's very good! If it works out for me, I might try to rig a bigger laptop so I can see it better. I'm getting to like copilot better, but one has to watch it, like any other gps. I don't know if they make it for laptops anymore. I know they used a obsolete data base for years.

[jasult]

they make a laptop version and that is what i use on the netbook. It is very up to date

CoPilot Live v8 for Laptop

[JohnRR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camping4fun Since everyone is going to co-polit live USA it has went up to $9.99 for the app.

$19.99 for the I Pad version.

[UFO Pilot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Adams Not sure any thing that fits all of these requirements exists. Maybe the outdated Garmin 7" street pilot (with the add-on download for low clearance software). There is unit coming out this month from Rand McNally that will have at least some of your requests but as of today the jury is out (mostly NOT) on this unit. I think I might take a second look at this unit in a year or so if they are pro-active in fixing the problems with the initial release units. If I "had" to buy something today it would likely be a Garmin or Tom Tom with as many features as I could find (and without the crap I don't) that met my current needs.

Hi Bill

Do you plan on being at Indio in January? I referred a friend to you and told him I would confirm your attendance.

[Fred1609]

we use the Garmin and it performed flawlessly on our 3 week trip this summer. We bought the model with life time updates. I'm sure there are more than a few used ones out there for cheap. Its a good unit to start with although I don't think it has height clearance (not sure if there is such a unit). Knowing the height of my 5ver helps when we went through a few tunnels in Oregon.

[Retiredblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasult they make a laptop version and that is what i use on the netbook. It is very up to date CoPilot Live v8 for Laptop

Thanks for the info, but I don't think I need to update anymore, I know the route from my place to my roosting place in Florida, don't think I will be traveling the country much anymore, been back and forth in this country for years, not that I have been everywhere. Fuel is getting so expensive and I think the way the world situation is going that all of us will be sitting and not going anywhere, and I think it is coming very soon.

[jasult]

Retiredblade
I think you are right about the not going any where