I need to repair the speedometer on my bus. The original didn't work too well (needle bounced wildly) and had no odometer. A replacement I bought on the e-place doesn't work either(I might have accidently fried it while troubleshooting something else, or it might just not work)
Since I don't have the tools nor appropriate surface to jack up the bus and remove the front wheel(read-spend more money to pay someone else to do it) to install new sender(which I haven't yet priced), I have a wild ---but maybe overall frugal speedometer idea!
I got thinking that since I had been using my car GPS for my speedometer, I wonder if there is a commercially made GPS speedometer I can use for my bus--AND I FOUND ONE!
---This is not an endorsment of this product!
http://www.speedhut.com/gauge_products-gauge_type-speedometer_GPS.htm (http://www.speedhut.com/gauge_products-gauge_type-speedometer_GPS.htm)
--a little pricey, but maybe in the ballpark, when you account for labor?
I appreciate everyone's thoughts.
Steve Toomey
PAbusnut
My speedo works....but the light for it is very bright compared to the others. My GPS fits in the circle of the speedo and I use it for directions and speed. Works great for me. You can get a basic GPS rather cheap. This would only work if you did not feel you had to have a working speedo on the bus.
Good Luck,
James
James,
That would work for me- :)--but the State of PA has different ideas when it comes to what constitutes a speedometer for state inspection! :-[
Steve Toomey
pabusnut
Since I also had speedometer problems, I looked into several different GPS ones. I ended up just mounting a regular GPS unit in front of the dash and use that. I like it enough that I consider the problem solved.
I use my GPS.
Steve,
Looks like at least a few of us use a gps. Too bad your state inspection is making you install one.
Good Luck. BTW the gps speedo you linked to us looked pretty nice.
James
I have a GPS speedo similiar to the one on the link. The only problem I have is it sometimes loses satellite contact in the mountains. I just have the GPS antenna on the dash.
Ooooo... the technomads like the GPS speedometer, perfect solution for our non-accurate built in one. We occasionally will use the GPS built into the iPad or iPhone to compare readings, but this would be super sweet.
Hmm, now to research further to see if there are options for ones that do data logging and/or are able to interface to other devices. Would love to output our routes, mileage, etc. for other uses, as we were already contemplating an ideal 'always on' GPS for that.
Thanks for sharing!
- Cherie
Personally I like the Garmin 7200 GPS 7" screen and always shows speed plus maps, distance, eta, next turn & etc. can be bought on ebay for what that fancy gps speedo costs or less and does more!
;D BK ;D
After looking at all the speedometer faces I finally found one that would be perfect but wow is it ever pricey. So off to the laptop and I searched the Android market and came up with this little jewel. It is called the GPS Speedometer by Linxmap. It is FREE and is very accurate, easy to use on your smartphone or tablet. Seems to make a lot of sense to me.
I have installed it on my Samsung Galaxy Tab and plan to use it when I bring our bus home from Gene's in North Carolina.
Dave Siegel
Quote from: Busted Knuckle on October 07, 2011, 10:56:51 PM
Personally I like the Garmin 7200 GPS 7" screen and always shows speed plus maps, distance, eta, next turn & etc. can be bought on ebay for what that fancy gps speedo costs or less and does more!
;D BK ;D
We've played around with several GPS models; dedicated devices, laptop based ones and ones for the iPhone/iPad over our 5 years on the road. For the way we travel - we find them pretty much annoying. We tend to change our routing based on scenery, weather, traffic, suggestions from friends, etc. - and most GPS systems don't have 'serendipity mode' and aren't able to keep up with our whims.
So, we end up with a bunch of annoying 'RECALCULATING!!' 'RECALCULATING' 'MAKE A U-TURN'.
Our GPS units tend to end up on eBay before long ;)
What is useful is live 'you are here' maps.. but we prefer to leave the routing to serendipity and our intuition. We'll pull up what Google suggests before hitting the road in the morning, but we hardly ever end up following it. So the maps on our iPad are good enough for us for that functionality.
- Cherie
A friend of mine installed one of those GPS speedo's from Speed Hut in his bus. He says it works great and has a odometer as well as a trip odometer.
Gary
We installed an electric speedometer last winter in the 4106 however I noticed that I "read" the Garmin more often than the speedo. My VIP steering wheel doesn't give quick glance clarity to the speedo but the GPS is always visable. FWIW
We use ours for speedo. I feel lost without it. Very accurate, nice and big. Visible. The problem is, it does have some routing issues. But, it will keep you on truck routes. Advise of low clearance areas, if you are off the suggested route, and warm of sharp curves. http://www.amazon.com/Rand-McNally-0528003518-Intelliroute-Truck/dp/B004P7GAPI (http://www.amazon.com/Rand-McNally-0528003518-Intelliroute-Truck/dp/B004P7GAPI)
A little pricey, but we have liked it.
John
An accurate tachometer makes an excellent speedometer. You can either mark the face, memorize various rpm/gear speeds, or put a card next to it as a reminder.
GPS mount gets suction mounted to the face of the speedo when I go charter driving...
With that sassy girl muted.
Already reviewed where I'm going, it's there as a reminder and an arrival estimator.
I don't like it mounted on the windows blocking my view.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
A good tach is great to have, but pretty lousy as an odometer. GPS does both, even on my android phone.
I also have the Garmin 7200 and love it. If you don't put goto in it will not bother you with recalculating and you have the map showing where you are. You can also mute it and not have to listen to the annoying instructions if they bother you. Rod. PS BK I sent you an email and never got an answer. Got addy from profile. Rod
In case any ones interested. Classic Instruments sells a device called Sky Drive that they claim works with most electronic speedometers. I want to put Auto Meter gauges in my 4104 so I'm going to give one a try.
I just checked out the Sky Drive, and it looks good, but it is only a sender and is about the same price as the Speed Hut speedometer. :o
I use my GPS as the speedo 90% of the time, it is easier to read and much more accurate.
However, for navigation it is not to be trusted, it has tried to lead me astray more than once and it sure gives some weird routing. It does keep you on your toes though!!
I have the sound turned off, drives me nuts!!
my spedo is broken as well and i think that is an awsome idea, just gotta figure what size to get (89 102C3) defenitly the way to go for me. Thanks
Quote from: gus on October 13, 2011, 05:59:47 PM
However, for navigation it is not to be trusted, it has tried to lead me astray more than once and it sure gives some weird routing. It does keep you on your toes though!!
Imagine if the software were subsidised by oil companies or dopt stores, etc.. It would be in "thier" best interests to make you go out of your way, either to burn more fuel or route you past thier business.
Several times I watched my buddies Nuvi route us rediculously out of our way, so much so it made no sense at all. Or did it?
Quote from: artvonne on October 14, 2011, 09:53:44 AM
Quote from: gus on October 13, 2011, 05:59:47 PM
However, for navigation it is not to be trusted, it has tried to lead me astray more than once and it sure gives some weird routing. It does keep you on your toes though!!
Imagine if the software were subsidised by oil companies or dopt stores, etc.. It would be in "thier" best interests to make you go out of your way, either to burn more fuel or route you past thier business.
Several times I watched my buddies Nuvi route us rediculously out of our way, so much so it made no sense at all. Or did it?
Are you aware of IBM's patent application (http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220110087524%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20110087524&RS=DN/20110087524) for "DETERMINING TRAVEL ROUTES BY USING FEE-BASED LOCATION PREFERENCES"?
You've just summed it up.
-jbn