GPS, Navigation and Trip Planning

[OWV]

We are in the queue for a new Entrega Aspire 44B and in the meantime doing our due diligence/collecting information leading up to pick-up date and beyond. One thing I would like to know is what people use for trip planning?

• The GPS that comes with the vehicle.
• A 3rd party GPS, like Garmin.
• Mapping software

Ideally I am looking for something that will allow us to plug in the size, weight and height of our unit and make plans based on criteria like scenic routes and/or non interstate routing, not paying tolls, etc. It would be great if we could plan routes on a computer and then plug them into a GPS and go merrily down the road.

Thoughts/suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Regards,
OWV, Our Wandering View
Entrega Aspire 44B, on order

[Shadowcatche]

A Garmin with updated maps, Google maps which can export directly to the Garmin and paper maps as backup. On board GPS are often primitive and difficult to update in comparison. I tried Microsoft streets and maps, cludgy and hard to use.

[AFChap]

MS Streets & Trips works well for me, followed by my Rand McNally 7720 gps that knows my height, etc and what kind of roads etc I prefer to avoid.

[PyrateSilly]

We check Mapquest to see which routes and roads we might run into.
We also have a Garmin DEZL 760. If there is a particular route we want to take instead of letting the Garmin decide then we download that one into the Garmin.
We also have the old fashioned paper maps to keep track in case the CB starts going on about a jam or accident then we can and have found a route faster than trying the GPS.
We also have both our cell phones with mapping software added in from Google already just in case we want to look up something without interrupting the GPS while on the route.
If needed we can and have asked for directions for any number of reasons.

[Fred and Bonnie]

Originally Posted by AFChap

MS Streets & Trips works well for me, followed by my Rand McNally 7720 gps that knows my height, etc and what kind of roads etc I prefer to avoid.

My method also, never give 100% trust in any GPS unit, they are navigation aids.

fred

[texnet]

I use RV Plan 'N" Go 2013 from Undertow Software Corp. I liked the 2012 version better as it had more info about campgrounds but they lost their deal with Affinity Group, Inc (Good Sams) and the 2013 version is not as good, so I still use the 2012 version also! I plan our trips with the software and they print out the campground list and use that to program our GPS.

[Statgeek]

We use the Rand MnNally iPad App, google maps on paper (reviewed prior to departure) and recently a TomTom that came with our new DP integrated into the radio.

The most useful is google maps because it's easy to adjust. But the IPad App does incorporate RV stats that you enter (ex. Height, weight, length, qty if LP on board) so we feel a little hesitant to abandon its routing.

[dfchrist]

We just bought a Megellan Roadmate Pro 9165T made for RVs. You input your height, length and weight. It also comes with live traffic info for major metropolitan areas. Up until now we were using the in dash TomTom that came installed in our 43 ft. American Revolution but intended for a small car. We contacted TomTom to buy a software upgrade since they make models for RVs and commercial trucks but we were told no upgrade was available for our Sony unit and we would have to buy a separate unit if we wanted a better system. So we did, but it sure doesn't say TomTom on it. We supplemented the "car" system with Smart Truck Route on an Android phone and an IPad, and google maps as well as a commercial truck atlas. Too many times our inadequate built in nav system took us down streets we had no business going. Too bad the manufacturer didn't install a nav system designed for the motorhome they sold. But what do you expect for $300k?

[hogdriver]

I am a former military pilot and I am accustomed to some hi tech Nav planning but alas my 13 Entegra has some hybrid Chinese/Tom Tom Nav system that I truly despised! Then I learned to work around the limitations. My Jeep has a Garmin Nav radio, which IMO is the gold standard, which I think is far better. I formerly planned trips on MS Streets and Trips and also used Garmin Worldmap then transferred files from my laptop, to a memory stick, then to my vehicle....what a PITA. Then my plans change, or I notice something we want to see and begin the cycle again. I don't have Mission Planners anymore.

What I do now is use CoPilot Live on my iPad and develop my plan the day prior. I can change routes or stops very quickly and graphically uint my inger. Then I use Allstays Camp&RV on my iPad to plan my campgrounds. Allstays offers coordinates for each campground which I enter in my klunky Entegra Nav system and it usually gets me very close. I have $30 invested in the two iPad apps and I only use my vehicle Nav system to monitor the route. Overall it works great. If you had a decent laptop with a GPS you could do the same thing but I prefer not to have some laptop and wires out when I drive.

Try CoPilot live and Allstays for your iPad!

[chiefneon]

Howdy!

I use a GPS app on my tablet and smartphone Co-Pilot live USA which has a setting for RV. Also research with google map and google earth map to look a campgrounds to check them out as we have a large MDT and 5er we're 65' long.

"Happy Trails"
Chiefneon

[OWV]

Originally Posted by PyrateSilly

We check Mapquest to see which routes and roads we might run into.
We also have a Garmin DEZL 760. If there is a particular route we want to take instead of letting the Garmin decide then we download that one into the Garmin.
We also have the old fashioned paper maps to keep track in case the CB starts going on about a jam or accident then we can and have found a route faster than trying the GPS.
We also have both our cell phones with mapping software added in from Google already just in case we want to look up something without interrupting the GPS while on the route.
If needed we can and have asked for directions for any number of reasons.

What software do you use that is compatible wiith the Garmin gps and does it have the bells and whistles to plug in height, weight, length of your coach and trip parameters like avoid tolls, use scenic roads, etc.?

[PyrateSilly]

Mapquest can be imported into the Garmin. Mapquest also allows us to input the MPG of the vehicles to check about how much it will cost for the trip or at least get a close idea of the cost. Did it for the last trip with no problems. I also downloaded some POI's from the POI Factory for free. The Garmin DEZL 760 itself allows us to input all the information about the RV and car.

[OWV]

Originally Posted by texnet

I use RV Plan 'N" Go 2013 from Undertow Software Corp. I liked the 2012 version better as it had more info about campgrounds but they lost their deal with Affinity Group, Inc (Good Sams) and the 2013 version is not as good, so I still use the 2012 version also! I plan our trips with the software and they print out the campground list and use that to program our GPS.

Can you download the route to a GPS, like the Garmin unit mentioned elsewhere in this thread?

Regards,
OWV, Our Wandering View
Entrega Aspire 44B on order

[middleman210]

Originally Posted by PyrateSilly

We check Mapquest to see which routes and roads we might run into. We also have a Garmin DEZL 760. If there is a particular route we want to take instead of letting the Garmin decide then we download that one into the Garmin. We also have the old fashioned paper maps to keep track in case the CB starts going on about a jam or accident then we can and have found a route faster than trying the GPS. We also have both our cell phones with mapping software added in from Google already just in case we want to look up something without interrupting the GPS while on the route. If needed we can and have asked for directions for any number of reasons.

just got the dezl how do you download to the gps for info I use a Mac