RV GPS question

[jscott6]

I have been using a GARMIN automobile GPS for a number of years.
I recently heard from a friend that they experienced two Low Clearance underpasses which they could not go under due to their RV' height.

I am comsidering buying an Garmin RV780.

Have otheres experienced Low Clearance issues with a CAR GPS ? ?

[Kjon]

I have a Garmin RV 760 and have never experienced a low bridge issue. However I never trust the Garmin when it comes to bridges / underpasses. I rely solely on the highway markers for actual height.

Regards

[bfisher003]

I used a Garmin RV760 GPS for a few years until it quit working and subsequently bought the Garmin RV890 and if I let them route us we have never had a low clearance issue. The newer RV890 is really awesome, with lots of great features.

[Wayne M]

Car GPS per say are not designed to put in RV specifications like those built specifically for that task and can still be used for cars.

As stated the Garmin line of GPS's gives as good an information regarding low crossing, high bridges, etc., based on the parameters you plug into the settings. For my money Garmin is good for RV'ing.

My built in GPS on the MH is Rand McNally and so far it has also be good.


Even though they provide RV road information, there is nothing better than watching for those YELLOW WARNING signs.

[okcnewbie]

Originally Posted by jscott6

I have been using a GARMIN automobile GPS for a number of years.
I recently heard from a friend that they experienced two Low Clearance underpasses which they could not go under due to their RV' height.

I am comsidering buying an Garmin RV780.

Have otheres experienced Low Clearance issues with a CAR GPS ? ?

I have the 890 and like it. It has fallen off the window several times. I think the suction cup has a problem and I'll probably buy a new base to see if that fixes the problem.
The 890 has told me that two major highways were closed and rerouted me. In both cases I ignored and the highways were not closed.

[Tombsy]

Originally Posted by okcnewbie

I have the 890 and like it. It has fallen off the window several times. I think the suction cup has a problem and I'll probably buy a new base to see if that fixes the problem.
The 890 has told me that two major highways were closed and rerouted me. In both cases I ignored and the highways were not closed.

I didn’t trust the suction cup because the unit is so front heavy and I wanted it on the dash with no screw holes.
I modified the screw down base that came with it by attaching a flat pexi base to it with some small pan head bolts countersunk into pexi with nuts on the top. Then attached it to my dash with 3M mounting tape.

[GypsyR]

And what the holy heck is that behind it? Looks like a cross between a piranha and a flying fish.

[Tombsy]

Originally Posted by GypsyR

And what the holy heck is that behind it? Looks like a cross between a piranha and a flying fish.

Lol that’s my fishing mascot, a guy in the Bahamas carved it for me. Kind of matches my plate

[johnfr80504]

This past fall we did a trip from Colorado to Maine and down the Blue Ridge to Knoxville and back to Colorado, some 6800 miles total. I downloaded the trip plan from RV Trip Wizard and it worked well for us most of the time. As with any GPS it got itself (and us) lost a few times. The maps aren't perfect. It never took us to a low underpass.

One time it took us on a back road "shortcut" that turned out to be a 1-1/2 lane paved but very hilly and crooked back road with no place to turn around. I zoomed out on the screen and could see that it was going to eventually reconnect with the intended route. Once we got to the intended route I realized it was avoiding a short section of toll road.

[dons2346]

A GPSr should be used for amusement purposes only...never trust it 100%. I use mine on the main roads as an aid to let me know which side to exit as some roads/highways will have exits on the left and it is nice to know what lane to be in.


The only time I trust a GPS is while flying but even then there is a backup to verify position

[Dutch Star Don]

I never understood the need for bridge heights unless you drive every farm road in the country. Major interstates and highways all have bridges that are not an issue. In 45 years of RVing, I know of three bridges that are too low for an RV. One is in Washington State on a farm road, one is off the 101 Hwy in Southern California and is clearly marked and one is on the funniest videos where you see trucks scrape their roofs off. It's marked too.

You're not going to be going 60mph on the freeway and run into a low bridge. If there is a low bridge, it will be on a side road where you're going slow and should be able to recognize or get early notification.

I run two GPS units. One is a Kenwood radio built-in, that I use as the main unit for me to watch. The other is mounted next to my wife to check for something like a gas station, Rest Area, or to compare when there is a conflict.

[Lt Dan]

My Garmin 760 insisted on routing use 150 miles out of the way on Hwy 101 in Oregon. There was a tunnel south of Yachats that showed 11'6" at the outer edges but it was an arched tunnel which was about 15' just a few feet in from the sides. I knew it was passable since we had driven it in the Jeep, but the GPS was insistent that we don't go that way. After I was through the tunnel it went right back to the normal route. The low clearance warnings do work if they are in the database, but it won't account for low hanging trees and wires that aren't registered.

[timjet]

I have a Garmin 780 GPS that I use for traveling but I do all my planning on RV Trip Wizard. I planned a trip in upstate N.Y with trip wizard and I noticed it took a route 10 miles out of the way vs an obvious more direct route. I ignored it and planned on the more direct route. The morning of our departure I cranked up the GPS inserted our destination and it too took that same extra 10 mile route. I ignored it and got underway.


When I reached the point where the GPS and trip wizard guided me on to the longer route, I ignored it. About 3 miles later I get this alarm from my GPS and something flashed on the screen but disappeared before I could see it. About a mile further along I got another warning from the GPS and this time I noticed it said "Low Clearance Ahead" Uh oh! With no place to turn around I kept going until I see the sign 11' 6" clearance. We're 13' 2". Fortunately about a quarter mile from the low clearance RR bridge I found a place to turn around.

I pay more attention to the GPS routing now.

[joshjack]

Originally Posted by jscott6

I have been using a GARMIN automobile GPS for a number of years.
I recently heard from a friend that they experienced two Low Clearance underpasses which they could not go under due to their RV' height.

I am comsidering buying an Garmin RV780.

Have otheres experienced Low Clearance issues with a CAR GPS ? ?

We previously pulled a TT but are now shopping for a Class A. Using just Google Maps GPS or WAZE on my phone we were frequently routed around interestate traffic jams on side roads that often had sub 12' clearances. My TT was just under 10' so I was always vigilant and never had to turn around; but I am aware this approach will not work for a Class A with a toad.

This is probably a debate for another thread but I do not understand in this day and age the need for a standalone GPS device??? All of the major GPS companies have RV/Trucker centric apps for smartphones with live traffic and weather conditions and automatic rerouting. The RVLife app allows route planning on your computer and automatic cloud syncing to the app on your phone. You've already paid for the phone and you're paying for the service, why not use it?