TripWizard Experience

[TB673]

Originally Posted by DenDeeRV

What apps are you using to navigate low bridge heights? For routine driving which is not specific for directions to a Campsite

I use Trimble Co Pilot on a tablet, and Rand McNally Motor Carrier Atlas for low clearances, but saw some decent reviews for this:

https://lowclearances.com/

Tim

[Parafango]

RVtripwizard is supposed to avoid low overpasses.

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I have experienced a version of the issues, where I'm on an Interstate, no exits in sight and it will tell me to "stay in the lane", then " follow the route". There were no waypoints set either.

I am unable to get the volume from tripwizard to be more than a whisper on my iPad. Internal sound in trip wizard set to max, headphone loud sound suppression is off, iPad sound is maxed. All other sounds, like music is fine.

In relation to the OP, I' relieved to hear it didn't put him in a bad part of town or down a dead end street. I've had some excursions down residential streets that were rather odd.

Thanks for the tip to Truckrouter, I just wish it was exportable to Garmin without so many steps.

[Donskiman]

We had a similar experience with the RV Life Trip Wizard GPS today. We were driving from Pueblo, Colorado to Dodge , Kansas. The route is all on US50. I selected match route exactly. For some unknown illogical reason the GPS wanted to take me off US50 near Rocky Ford, Colorado and use a county road. Since I study my routes before I go, I knew that was wrong and didn’t turn off. The GPS kept trying to redirect me, so I turned it off.

The thing is, when choosing match route exactly, it should do that. It should not be directing us off the planned route. Why is this not being addressed and fixed? We pay a fee for this and it should work correctly.

As for the OP, you should study your planned routes. If you know where you’re supposed to be going you won’t let a faulty GPS misdirect you.

[Alan_Hepburn]

Originally Posted by Donskiman

The thing is, when choosing match route exactly, it should do that. It should not be directing us off the planned route. Why is this not being addressed and fixed? We pay a fee for this and it should work correctly.

It will only be addressed if it is reported, and it can be duplicated...

[NLOVNIT]

It's been posted time & time again, no trip planner/GPS should be the sole tool to use for navigation. Always consult multiple devices & internet mapping programs, even paper atlas', to come up with the best route for your planned trip.

[Parafango]

I particularly like (insert sarcasm font here) here the reroute if you miss a turn. However, I think this applies to both RV Tripwizard and Garmin (with RV mode)
If you're not paying attention or not sure of which way you're really suppose to go, both will take you a LONG way off your path until it finds what it thinks is a safe place to do a U-turn.

[andrew_]

However, looking at available information - there is NO RV SAFE route to or from Bandy Creek (assuming you mean the Bandy Creek Campground in the Big South Fort National River & Rec Area).

That's just not true. The route in from the west is safe, and that can be verified with a simple call to the visitors center and a quick chat with the Ranger on duty. We had no issues coming in that way, and chose to leave the same route instead of attempting to head East immediately from the park. The route out of Bandy Creek heading EAST is not remotely safe for most RVs, again can be verified with a phone call, as well as innumerable posts on these here forums.

I find the replies from folks saying "you should be using multiple sources" disconcerting, and distracting. In my post I clearly mention that I had personal responsibility for verifying the route, and for paying attention to the road and not just the device. I've been a user of Google Maps since the first public release, MapQuest before that, AAA Trip Ticks before that. I know how unreliable the apps can be - I'm a software engineer and we're far from infallible. And yes, since I was 16 I've carried a road atlas; there's one in the cab.

My post was about sharing my experience with one particular source, and warning of its failures as a realtime guide and as a manual turn by turn planner on my trip.

[Jeffcarp]

I think there is a misconception here based on how RV Life chose to name their app. There are no judgement calls being made on the safety of routes. Roads are permitted or not permitted based on weight, height, width, propane, and government restrictions. That's it. No app is going to avoid a route because a ranger says there is a better way.

Now, if RV Life Safe GPS had traffic content like any decent navigation product should, other routes may get chosen because both the historical and real-time traffic speeds will likely be less, making other routes more attractive.

[Donskiman]

Originally Posted by Alan_Hepburn

It will only be addressed if it is reported, and it can be duplicated...

How do I report it? How is it going to be duplicated after the trip has already taken place?

I've now had the match route exactly function fail at least twice. In both instances the GPS kept trying to redirect me back for many miles. The first time it happened this went on for over 100 miles. It wasn't until I was getting close to my destination that it finally picked up the correct route.

A new thing happened on my current trip. There was a section of eastbound road being replaced. Due to that, the route went onto the westbound lanes for several miles. The GPS kept repeating "recalculating" every few seconds until it got so annoying I had to turn it off.

Until this year I had only been using Trip Wizard to plan routes. I had not used the GPS. However, since I'm paying for this, I decided to use the GPS and have found it to be somewhat less than entirely useful. If I wasn't closely studying my routes ahead of time and ignoring the GPS when it tries to take me off the planned route, I would have been redirected several times already. If the GPS has been set to match planned route exactly, that's exactly what it should do. It shouldn't be able to override a planned route.

[Tilted Kilt]

Originally Posted by andrew_

That's just not true. The route in from the west is safe, and that can be verified with a simple call to the visitors center and a quick chat with the Ranger on duty. We had no issues coming in that way, and chose to leave the same route instead of attempting to head East immediately from the park. The route out of Bandy Creek heading EAST is not remotely safe for most RVs, again can be verified with a phone call, as well as innumerable posts on these here forums.

I find the replies from folks saying "you should be using multiple sources" disconcerting, and distracting. In my post I clearly mention that I had personal responsibility for verifying the route, and for paying attention to the road and not just the device. I've been a user of Google Maps since the first public release, MapQuest before that, AAA Trip Ticks before that. I know how unreliable the apps can be - I'm a software engineer and we're far from infallible. And yes, since I was 16 I've carried a road atlas; there's one in the cab.

My post was about sharing my experience with one particular source, and warning of its failures as a realtime guide and as a manual turn by turn planner on my trip.

Thanks for sharing.

Safe travels

[NLOVNIT]

Originally Posted by Donskiman

How do I report it? How is it going to be duplicated after the trip has already taken place?...

1. You use the Contact Us link on Trip Wizard (see below screenshot).

2. The helpdesk will attempt to virtually duplicate your trip to try to resolve the problem.

[Jubalr]

I use TW only for planning. Putting in each nightly and fuel stop before the start of the trip. Then each morning I put the address of the next stop in the Garmin built into the MH and into my phone with Google Maps. I watch them both and they usually agree, if not I use them Garmin since it has our rig info. I keep Google Maps running to notify me of traffic delays, wrecks, etc..

[Donskiman]

Originally Posted by NLOVNIT

1. You use the Contact Us link on Trip Wizard (see below screenshot).

2. The helpdesk will attempt to virtually duplicate your trip to try to resolve the problem.

Is the screen shot from a computer because I don’t see anything like that on my iPhone? When do I report the issue? Right after it happens or can I still report the issues I’ve had?

[NLOVNIT]

Yes, it's from my laptop. I'm not an iPhone person, so I can't help you there. Maybe a member come along who uses Trip with an iPhone can tell you where the Contact Us is.

You can report an issue anytime. Before, during or after the issue.