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Old 05-01-2017, 07:15 AM   #1
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What's the best navigation app?

I know they make apps for our smart phones that are for RV'ers or truckers to navigate the best routes for large vehicles but there are so many its hard to choose.
Do any of you have a favorite navigation app that you like to use?
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Old 05-01-2017, 10:13 AM   #2
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Unless you have unlimited data on your phone, you might not want to navigate by your phone. For this reason I bought a gps. I never bother with setting it for large vehicles. Unless you are traveling back roads you would seldom have a problem, and they generally are well marked in advance.
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Old 05-01-2017, 10:24 AM   #3
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I too use a Magellan GPS with RV and truck settings as my primary navigation tool. But, I will also have WAZE GPS and road warnings running on one of our phones. WAZE does a great job of keeping you up to the minute informed with road hazard warnings, abandoned vehicles on the side of the road, accidents ahead and road closures, and police with radar, though in the rig that isn't too much of a concern. For my wife to have something to do while I'm driving I also print out directions from Google Maps. This way she can make sure the GPS is giving the right route information.
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Old 05-01-2017, 10:50 AM   #4
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I agree with vincee ... Waze is one of the best navigation apps on the smart phone. Just be aware of the data it will use. It does seem that Waze has made some improvements in that aspect over the last few months. I would still recommend paying close attention to the data usage the 1st few times you use it if you are not on an unlimited plan.
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Old 05-01-2017, 10:54 AM   #5
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I know the younger generation with their phones surgically attached to their hands like to use a map app, but I don't want to be using my phone as a GPS while driving. As stated, it can use a lot of data, has a small screen and if the phone rings during a critical maneuver and you lose the map, it can be a problem. Missing a turn in a car is one thing, missing it in an RV can be a 20 minute detour.

GPS units are SO inexpensive now, why not just buy a stand alone. I actually run two. I have an in dash unit that we set for our destination. I mounted the second unit near my wife. She can use that one to search for things like Rest Stops, restaurants or other points of interest. Occasionally, we find that one or the other GPS can't find a location.
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Old 05-01-2017, 11:16 AM   #6
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For any big, long distance trip I use Garmin's Basecamp software on my Mac Air to plan the base route we plan to follow, then download the routes to our Garmin RV760LMT. We then use Google Maps, InRoute and/or CoPilot apps for double-checking and any side trips. With CoPilot you can download the maps at home and use them offline without burning up a lot of data. InRoute, if purchased, let's us see how severe elevation changes are or how curvy roads may be. And of course we carry the latest Rand McNally Road Atlas for a backup. No matter how you do it or what apps or device you use, always zoom in and really double check routes to make sure they make sense.
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Old 05-01-2017, 01:27 PM   #7
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Thanks for all the posts. Some have recommended "Waze" I looked at it and it looks like it just warns about traffic problems as well as navigation but does if give you the best navigation based on driving a large RV or big rig to avoid certain routs?
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Old 05-01-2017, 01:56 PM   #8
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I like Google maps with my 8' tablet and Bluetooth headset. It's very easy to take calls, add destinations, and reroute because of traffic. I'm only in a 30' Class C that I can take anywhere though.
If I ever go to 40+ with Toad I'll have to research more I suppose. It just seems like the truckers go on every road so with practice who knows?
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Old 05-01-2017, 04:21 PM   #9
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Spend the $250 and get a GPS designed for RVing. Rand McNally and Magellan make them, and if bought at Camping World, they come preprogrammed to list all campgrounds and gas stations. Once it is mounted on your dash, you will not only get good directions, but the one time setup takes into consideration you heath and length. At 65 MPH, you should not be messing with a phone or tablet.

An app or Google might take you to your location, but won't tell you about that low bridge.
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Old 05-01-2017, 04:40 PM   #10
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Just a side thought... we traveled full-timed for many years and the majority of time was done off the interstates using only a paper map with no issues for our 40' motorhome with 'obstacles'. This included mountains and backcountry. We did eventually get a Garmin GPS but we sure didn't rely on it to be 100% foolproof - and still don't. We've always gone over our planned route manually by doing our own research. GPS's are great in a big city when we drive the car and are looking for a particular destination but we'd never take our motorhome for siteseeing in a big city anyway. Driving through the city on the interstate would be no problem. I guess my thought is... don't put all your faith in a GPS and trying to navigate driving a RV and using your phone isn't the best thing.
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Old 05-01-2017, 08:16 PM   #11
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Not a navigation app, use tow vehicle navigation. However, I find the ALLSTAYS apps life savers on my I pad. Good for finding campgrounds,, Walmarts, truck stops, dump stations etc.
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Old 05-03-2017, 04:29 PM   #12
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I use sygic rv app on my phone
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Old 05-03-2017, 04:50 PM   #13
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What's the best navigation app?

I would never rely just on the GPS especially while towing. It is just a tool along with the routing information we print out on MapQuest. We use Google Earth to check out campsites and the GPS is really good for which lane you need to be in when exiting. We ignore ours quite a bit because we know where we are going with our paper directions. Our GPS eventually catches up with our route. We are definitely not going off route with our 37 ft 5th wheel. Our GPS gives us traffic alerts and also weather alerts too. It is a built in model in our Ram dually.
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Old 05-03-2017, 05:43 PM   #14
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My F150 Platinum also has a built in 8" GPS screen, but I prefer our Garmin RV760LMT because I can build our main routes with Basecamp and download them to the GPS after I thoroughly review the routes with maps, Google Maps, etc.
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