Community Forums

vanvectra07 · 03-06-2012, 03:26 PM

Hello all,
This would be my very first post on irv2.com! My husband and I just bought a 2007 Winnebago Vectra 40FD...we haven't picked it up from the dealer just yet, they are doing the cleaning/and inspections on it this week. We are getting it officially on Saturday 3/10/12.

I want to put a GPS system in the vehicle, because I use my GM OnStar and Navigation in my Tahoe all the time, and I love it. I am very techie when it comes to GPS, and electronics for my vehicles. I like bluetooth, and voice-activated navigation and calling. Very handy.

My question is this, what are the advantages to having an installed GPS unit on the dash of a MH, vs. just using your iPad with a gps app on it.

I know, I already am sold on the GPS, but my husband is adamant about NOT messing up the dash to put in a custom Kenwood DNX7180 unit. Even though it is nice, he thinks we can get by with just using an iPad, mounted on a suction cup attached to the windshield.

I am worried that our cell carrier (Verizon) might not have coverage in certain areas, which would render the iPad maps unusable. I like the idea that the installed (Car Toys) would custom fabricate a plate that would seamlessly blend the existing back up camera unit and the Kenwood so that they looked uniform.

The unit would cost $1945 installed, and it comes with a 4 year warranty. My husband thinks it's too much, and that the iPad will be what we need.

I am unsure how to proceed now....the Car Toys installed needs to know asap, so he can get the unit installed if we choose to buy it, before Saturday.

docj · 03-06-2012, 03:56 PM

Although I like having a separate GPS, I would never again have a built-in one. We had an expensive Pioneer unit and another in a car that required costly updates and eventually both were "dropped" by their manufacturers. So there we were with GPS systems we couldn't even update. Compare that to a Garmin or other brand that comes with lifetime map updates online. Even if it were to break or Garmin go out of business, the replacement cost is so much less than the $2k you're talking about I could buy a dozen of them.

As for GPS vs iPad or Android phone or equivalent, my experience is that periodically the phone will lose its data signal and all navigation simply stops. Not pleasant. Some day this will probably be the way to go, but IMHO not yet.

vanvectra07 · 03-06-2012, 04:01 PM

I just called Car Toys and told them to hold off...still need to research more. I have been reading another similar post on line here about what GPS to purchase for a MH.

I like the idea that POI's can be geared towards MH drivers and warnings about low bridges and such are extremely useful.

Also, an in-dash unit is not preferable, in the even that the toad you are bringing along, might need to have use of the GPS as well...an in-dash unit would not work in that case.

So.....I think for now I will do my research on just what GPS is the best for the price and updates, and reliability. Thank you all for the posts and the replies...lovin' this website, glad I joined!

Considering:
Magellan RoadMate Pro 9165T
Rand McNally 7710 Tripmaker,
NUVI 3790 LMT

Any other's that are road-tested and worth consideration?

W4MBG · 03-06-2012, 04:02 PM

there are gps apps you can get that will let you download the maps by region or state. then you dont need the 3G link. motion-x gps is one of them that i use on my iphone. i use a vizio tablet (android) and use a gps app with a virginia map set. the tablet is wifi only, so no chance of 3G updates on the road.

777 Driver · 03-06-2012, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanvectra07

Hello all,
This would be my very first post on irv2.com! My husband and I just bought a 2007 Winnebago Vectra 40FD...we haven't picked it up from the dealer just yet, they are doing the cleaning/and inspections on it this week. We are getting it officially on Saturday 3/10/12.

I want to put a GPS system in the vehicle, because I use my GM OnStar and Navigation in my Tahoe all the time, and I love it. I am very techie when it comes to GPS, and electronics for my vehicles. I like bluetooth, and voice-activated navigation and calling. Very handy.

My question is this, what are the advantages to having an installed GPS unit on the dash of a MH, vs. just using your iPad with a gps app on it.

I know, I already am sold on the GPS, but my husband is adamant about NOT messing up the dash to put in a custom Kenwood DNX7180 unit. Even though it is nice, he thinks we can get by with just using an iPad, mounted on a suction cup attached to the windshield.

I am worried that our cell carrier (Verizon) might not have coverage in certain areas, which would render the iPad maps unusable. I like the idea that the installed (Car Toys) would custom fabricate a plate that would seamlessly blend the existing back up camera unit and the Kenwood so that they looked uniform.

The unit would cost $1945 installed, and it comes with a 4 year warranty. My husband thinks it's too much, and that the iPad will be what we need.

I am unsure how to proceed now....the Car Toys installed needs to know asap, so he can get the unit installed if we choose to buy it, before Saturday.

You might want to look at this iPad app: http://www.copilotlive.com/us/personal/ipad.asp

On a 3g capable iPad (GPS equipped), CoPilot Live HD will give you full GPS navigation capability EVEN WHEN NOT connected to a 3g or WiFi network. The map data is stored on your iPad and updates each time you start the app when you are connected via 3g or WiFi.

I have a manufacturer installed GPS in one of my cars. Quite disappointed in it. It seems significantly inferior to a Garmin Nuvi that I also have. The built-in GPS costs $249 to update the nav data. The POI's are sifgnificantly lacking.

Take care,
Stu

docj · 03-06-2012, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanvectra07

I like the idea that POI's can be geared towards MH drivers and warnings about low bridges and such are extremely useful.

You don't need to use POIs for things like bridge heights if you purchase a "trucker" GPS like the Garmin Nuvi 465T. You program in the size and weight of your vehicle. We've been very satisfied with ours. I believe there is also another Garmin model with a larger screen and similar capabilities.

Wayne M · 03-06-2012, 05:22 PM

We have an iPad, and we have a TomTom740Live gps. The TomTom is very portable and I carry it from MH to TOAD, and when back at the stick house I carry it in DW's automobile. Of course the iPad is portable also. For the TomTom I mounted the little circle plastic disk using double back tape on the dash of the MH and for the autos I use the suction cup to the window - works well.

Now for the iPad. That is typically in DW's lap but they do make a mount for it for autos.

Here is what we have observed. The iPad is very nice for planning, and when going along and you need to find an alternate route. Since it is a "mapping" program (the one that comes with it) it is very good at looking at alternate routes. Although the TomTom will give me (and I assume Garman will also) an alternate route it does not give the nice picture you can get to see if it is routing you through congested neighborhoods.

We have used TomTom and the iPad simultaneously with the iPad in it's 3G mode. There is some delay in updating the map through the 3G mode. I surmise that this is a product of having to track from cell to cell, and other things. So there were times when the iPad would have given us a turn to late and we would have to re-plan the route. The GPS reacted much quicker with the satellite download.

Personally I prefer the GPS over the iPad for quicker navigation.

Good luck.

wa8yxm · 03-06-2012, 05:48 PM

I am told the I-pad GPS aps (Which should not rely on cell coverage by the way, but the key word there is SHOULD NOT... Does not mean they do not)... I'm told that the I-Pad and Cell phone aps are not as accurate as a real Garmin GPS.

Plus there is a large "No texting while driving" lobby out there now days, and for good reason. And if some cop sees you looking at your cell phone while driving,, He might jump to the wrong conclusion.

SVTotem · 03-06-2012, 06:18 PM

Vanvectra07,
You will get varied opinions here. That is because no one solution works for everyone. It is great that we have so many choices. Here is what we settled on:

We use a Garmin 465t for driver guidance on each leg of a trip. It routes based on the size and weight of your rig.

For overall trip planning we use MS Streets and Trips on a laptop and for fine tuning enroute we use iPhone and/or iPad apps. When well off the interstates we need to plan ahead for lack of cell coverage and carry some paper guides such as Trailer Life as backup.

I would stay away from expensive built in units. Technology moves too quickly to invest that much in a perishable product.

Welcome to iRV2 and enjoy your new coach.

stuhly · 03-06-2012, 06:56 PM

Been all over the west 1/2 of the US using a Garmin setting on the dash, then move it to the toad. Update it twice a year. Never had a bad issue with it. Service always seems to be right on. Used it for four years now.

dons2346 · 03-06-2012, 08:09 PM

Don't get one mounted in the dash. If it breaks in later years, then you have a hole that nothing will fit.

Get a Garmin with lifetime maps and use the suction cup mount on the driver's side window.

kellylipp · 03-06-2012, 10:29 PM

We've traveled about 15k miles since we bought our TT. The truck has a dash mounted GPS which is pretty good. We hardly ever use it as we have an iPad. The iPad doesn't talk but whoever is seated in the right seat does. In the MH the right seater could be in the john I suppose. If it's an either or choice true GPS or the iPad acting like one take the iPad. So much more flexibility. We use the mapping app and and an app that helps find campgrounds. Will the GPS do that? I don't know one way or the other.

I will look at a better app for mapping as another poster is correct: no Internet no maps but I'm sure that can be rectified with a better app than the built in map.

Oh and now you have to wait for the iPad 3!

rsflight · 03-07-2012, 07:48 AM

I use the CoPilot app for the iphone, the ipad version will be similar. It allows you to input your RV height. It does well to avoid low bridges. You can have only GPS service & it works fine. I've used it all over the US & Europe without issues. The price is very reasonable. They offer a trucker version too.

BpK9Miami · 03-08-2012, 05:26 AM

Like many others I use a combination of the Nuvi 465T (height & width) and the CoPilot iPad & iPhone application while travelng. I can (and do) switch the GPS between vehicles and have the portable stand for the iPad that fits into a cup holder. I've only had one issue in the last 18 months and that was a 12' passover (RR overhead bridge) that popped up out of no-where on a secondary road around a blind turn from a merge lane. (Outside of Sugarland, TX) Neither the GPS nor the CoPilot gave any warning. Thankfully I was in the Mini and it wasn't an problem.

Since I travel alone, I've come to rely on the simple solution and the two of them combined seem to fit the need.