GPS for RV

[Down South]

Yes, I did the search thing. Most threads are a year old or older. GPS technology changes rapidly.

I normally use Waze or Google maps for my GPS and that works great for a car or pickup truck. Recently going to one campground Waze took me in on a road that I shouldn't have been on with my rig and trailer.

So, I've decided that I need a RV GPS. From what I have gathered in my search of this forum is that Garmin is the best of the best of the best.
OK, that's good with me but which model?
I see that the 875 with dash cam seems to be a favorite among several of our RV folks.
I see model numbers up to 890.
I like the idea of the dash cam and I'm thinking about the 875. Change my mind...

[momdoc]

We have used our Garmin 660 for the last 3 years, or more, and it has only led us astray once.

[KenZ71]

Take rvtripwizard.com for a spin. Plug in the destinations that didn't go well via waze and see if it looks better.

The routing has been good for me over past couple weeks of use.

[Down South]

We have used our Garmin 660 for the last 3 years, or more, and it has only led us astray once.

I've read about the 660 and I see a number of folks using them. If my thinking is correct, the 660 is an older model and has been discontinued?

Take rvtripwizard.com for a spin. Plug in the destinations that didn't go well via waze and see if it looks better.

I forgot to mention. I want a dedicated GPS. I'd rather have my phone free.

[TimmyB]

Don't have a ton of experience yet with ours, which is a Garmin 780RV. Today, we went about 200 miles to the REV Tech Center in Indiana and compared the route provided to what Google Maps wanted us to drive. Night and day difference. All main roads/highways with Garmin, not so much with Google. Plus, as you said, our phone is not tied up trying to do everything. Bigger screen and MUCH better lane guidance as well. We already have a front facing camera so we didn't spend the extra dough on the 785. Was not disappointed with our first trial. We have four more travel days before we reach Florida. Hopefully, we'll feel the same way then.

[Red Wolf]

See this recent thread: https://www.irv2.com/forums/f53/best-rv-gps-509144.html

[miller806]

I have a Garmin RV 770, works great as long as you keep it updated. Garmin product generally about as good as it gets. I am still using a 10+ year old 61 on my motorcycle.

[Tombsy]

I just upgraded to the RV890 from the Rv660 mostly for the bigger screen, I had no dislikes with the 660 I’m selling it to my brother in law.
One note, the BC30 wireless rear camera does not work with the 890 you have to use the newer BC35.

[veraken]

We have a Garmin 760LMT and are very happy with it. That being said, we did have a trip where it tried to put us on a road which was not fit for a motorhome. Thankfully a local came by. He said his truck wouldn't even fit on the road the GPS was sending us on and gave us directions to get back to a major road. Yes, I did contact Garmin and notified them of the problem. Lessons learned!! Whatever you buy, don't trust your GPS as your only source to get you there!! We use the GPS as a guide, then check the maps (old school) and look at the directions given on the campgrounds website.

[TimmyB]

Originally Posted by veraken

...Whatever you buy, don't trust your GPS as your only source to get you there!! We use the GPS as a guide, then check the maps (old school) and look at the directions given on the campgrounds website.

I'm not trying to be a wise-guy, here. I have seen several people post warnings such as this and I'm genuinely confused. How does looking at an old-school paper map help you avoid the situation you found yourself in with the road that was too small? Paper maps don't tell us any information about the size of the road nor of the vehicles that it can support. They simply verify that the road exists, at least at the time of printing of that map.

[petrel]

Several models behind here. We use two Garmins a 760 and a 770. Just recently had them disagree with Google maps and Waze. Turns out it was for good cause. The route they were recommending would have been completely impassable, whereas the Garmins selected an approved truck route.

[hamm2018]

We use the Garmin 770, it does a good job for us. We have had a few issues with it, but turns out it was because of an address issue.
For example the Thousand Trails park in Batesville, Ind. which is called Indian Lakes. If you put in the address Thousand Trails has on it's website, of Batesville, Ind., the Garmin will not find the campground. Simple reason the campground is actually in Sunman, Ind., not Batesville. If you put in Sunman, there it is.
Keep in mind this things are only as good as the information in. Remember information in equals the information out.

[Indy Glenn]

I run a Garmin 760 and was thinking of upgrading to the 890.

The 760 runs great but I would like some of the new(er) features of the 890 such as wifi for map upgrades and the like. Don't need it but what the heck - keep the economy running.!!! LOL

Garmin has worked great but sometimes seems to get lost with a route or two, far and few between. Which is why I always have a back up route from RV Wizard from my trip planning.

I also looked at the Dash Cam Garmin.......the whole unit needs to be attached to the windshield for the camera. So I would have to watch my route and any warnings the GPS gives from the windshield. We have a class A and the windshield is more than an arms length away, I like the gps unit closer on the dash. But that's me.....

Good luck.....

g

[Down South]

I made a typo in my OP. I typed in model 875 and that should have been model 785. It looks like model 890 is the next model up from model 785.