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Jamie65 · 10-03-2015, 10:45 AM

Our Garmin 760 RV GPS took us on a country tour that turned into a very narrow road with a hair pin turn that we could not make without disconnecting the tow car.
After that with the car still disconnected I encountered another 180 degree hair pin turn that had me wedged in the turn on a very steep down hill in the rain, after pulling up and backing several times at only a few inches at a time I managed to get free. Not before denting and scratching the bottom of my rear lower panel on the Bus. Fortunately no bad damage, but after unhooking I neglected to wrap my cables because I was blocking the road and by the time I got to a highway where I could hook up the car, my brake air line was destroyed and my wiring harness is damaged, that I can splice until we get home. The air line I will visit a auto parts store and replace.
I have a definite love HATE relationship with the GPS, it has screwed me before but not this bad. Earlier on this trip it told me to take a right turn then left and then navigate OFF ROAD, this was a dead end road.
Beware of the GPS.
Several stiff drinks are in order for later!!!

rskeans · 10-03-2015, 11:00 AM

After several bad navigation fiascoes with GPS, I now have to give it a 'sanity check' when in unknown territory. It comes with the turf.

Fred1609 · 10-03-2015, 11:05 AM

We always check the route with a map first. We also update our GPS before heading out on trips into the unknown.

Pigman1 · 10-03-2015, 11:20 AM

It's a gadget, not God. People have lost their lives by blindly following GPS directions without reviewing and questioning where it's taking you. check, Check, CHECK!!!!

timetogo · 10-03-2015, 12:55 PM

Always carry paper maps.

GG1 · 10-03-2015, 01:02 PM

Always recheck with a map first and if the route looks in question make a call to the local pd or state police to see if its ok for a tractor trailer or bus especialy if the gps takes you off the main highways

dons2346 · 10-03-2015, 01:19 PM

GPSrs are for amusement purposes only. I never,never use it as the gospel truth for routing. Using it to show freeway exits and entrances is the best part.

DonDee · 10-03-2015, 01:41 PM

Got on a nice unpaved road, many miles later, almost to our destination there's a sign: END OF COUNTY MAINTAINED ROAD. Ruh-roh.... Managed to turn around w/o unhooking the dolly and then saw a local on an ATV coming the way we were going. Talked to him and he sent us on the passible route! He said he barely made it with his ATV!!

halfwright · 10-03-2015, 01:42 PM

My GPS took me on a one lane road with pullouts for passing in West Virginia. Just after I started hearing banjos playing, I found a bridge to get to a two lane road on the other side of the river. It is right ninety seven percent of the time, but that other three per cent can really get you in trouble.

geocacher · 10-03-2015, 03:00 PM

Just a thought - Under "Tools" check your "settings", then "navigation". You can set your route preferences for fastest time, shortest distance, less fuel or off road and also "avoidances", like U-turns, highways, toll roads, etc. Look to see what yours is set for. Any gps is a tool and we love to use ours. Yes, it has taken us weird ways to get where we are going. I've been known to make ours mad by taking the road we want to instead of the one she wants us to. Got to love that "recalulating"!

baraff · 10-03-2015, 04:39 PM

Our Rand McNally told us "Turn right to your final destination". Turning right would have put me into the Gulf of Mexico. Glad I have eyes.

1ciderdog · 10-03-2015, 05:46 PM

Several years ago when I bought my first GPS I was heading home and it directed me to turn into a private drive about 1/2 mile from our house. It was telling us to turn into a drive that long ago had been a county road. I think I have had four GPS's since then but still don't completely trust them when going someplace new.

This past year we left Zion and wer heading to Canyon Lands NP and the GPS directed us down a road. After a few miles the road turned to dirt. The GPS said the next intersection was 40 miles or some other long distance. I looked at the GPS settings options and hadn't checked no dirt or back roads, or what ever that option was. Had to disconnect the tow car to turn around but that was not a major chore.

I don't really trust it for new locations but for visiting relatives or places we have previously visited I do like it for distances, estimated time of arrival, etc.

tom77hmstd · 10-03-2015, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dons2346

GPSrs are for amusement purposes only. I never,never use it as the gospel truth for routing. Using it to show freeway exits and entrances is the best part.

This is funny but TRUE. Been there done that dead end dirt roads made me realize they are a tool to add to a map collection.

Harry · 10-03-2015, 06:29 PM

I don't know to much about the 760 unit but we have one of the Garmin unit that has 2 navigation modes in it one for a auto and the other for trucks. I learned the hard way back in 2009 when I didn't know about the 2 modes and mine was in the auto mode and it put me on a parkway in NY which was for cars only. I managed to get off with out any harm luckily but it sure taught me a lesson I will never forget. I would check the navigation mode setting on your unit.