Lesson Learned... Verify what your GPS is telling you in advance

[Richardk]

Heading for a RV park outside Kansas City. "Turn Left" says GPS. As soon as I turned, something didn't look right. Road seed too narrow, (about a car and half wide) and poorly maintained). But, I was supposedly 700 feet away, so on I went. 700 feet later, "Your destination is on the left." Uh, no. So, what else can I do? Continue down the road until, yeah you guessed it, dead end. There I am, 36 ft. Flat towing.
Unhook the toad, move it, then a 14 point turn to turn around in a space about the width of my driveway, and finally off to my destination.
Moral of my story, had I looked at google maps (or any like it that has satellite view) the stop before, I'd have seen nothing there, and could have verified the location with the park. Same goes with fuel stops to see the layout of the pumps.
Happy Travels...

[fastcat]

Bad enough in your situation. Try it with a 29' race car trailer behind you. Can't unhook that! Wells Nevada Pilot, never again.

[taminator]

Yepper. That's happened to us too. And why is it you always have to learn this stuff the hard way?!

[plasma800]

BEEN there, done that!

Google maps on satellite is now my new best friend

[plasma800]

and hey, I've BACKED down a road like that after taking the toad off. I'm just glad im not alone!

[Dillon_fwa]

I usually try to validate my route with either mapquest, the maps on my phone, or google earth. I have had too many wrong directions from the GPS.

[Chuck 1935]

Yup, unhooked the toad five times in one day. The fifth time was the final resting place of my GPS, RIP!!

[Richardk]

Double reply,
Taminator,
I guess sometimes it's part of the adventure...

Dillon,
Google maps would have sent me to the same location. Verify it by satellite view...

[Tony Lee]

It is all part of the fun - and improves your reversing skills.

Why don't you try things for a week with the GPS switched off and see which is worse.

[Richardk]

Originally Posted by Tony Lee

It is all part of the fun - and improves your reversing skills.

Why don't you try things for a week with the GPS switched off and see which is worse.

Tony,
I guess great minds think alike :-)

[Skip426]

Originally Posted by Dillon_fwa

I usually try to validate my route with either mapquest, the maps on my phone, or google earth. I have had too many wrong directions from the GPS.

Dillon; Welcome to iRV2.
First post I see.

[RickO]

Many of us feel your pain.

After >50000 miles traveling nearly everywhere, we only had one experience like this with our Tom Tom. But, it was a doozy.

We were somewhere in Wyoming and had programmed in the address of the CG we wanted to overnight at. It told us where to exit the interstate and guided us through this small town until we crossed a small bridge which wasn't marked but looked suspiciously weak for our weight.

Before we knew it, we were on a one lane, dirt road headed out to the middle of Wyoming cattle country. After two miles, Tom Tom proudly announced... "you have reached your destination".

Panning the horizon, we came to the conclusion that Tom Tom was wrong and we had to disconnect and make the dreaded 14 point turn to get headed back from where we came.

All in all though, she's done an admirable job for us.

Rick

[Skip426]

Quick story somewhat similar to Rick O's.

Friends were coming back to Canada from Spokane Washington, following GPS's most direct route. . Anyhow got to the end of the road, middle of nowhere, luckily in their Avalanche and not towing it. Pull out the map to see what happened. While they had the map up , Highway Patrol pulls up behind them, lights on. Fearing the worst ; trespassing, crossing the border not at an authorized crossing ; he rolled down the window , officer said only " Following your GPS aren't you , follow me ." 5 miles later they were back on track.

[Moonrover]

Comforting info brought to you by friendly GPS:





Then there is always a map to get you there:




> My motto: I like breathing. It gives me something to do ....