Crazy Speedometer Idea?

[pabusnut]

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
--a little pricey, but maybe in the ballpark, when you account for labor?

I appreciate everyone's thoughts.

Steve Toomey
PAbusnut

[mugsytrpt]

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

[pabusnut]

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

[Lin]

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.

[wal1809]

I use my GPS.

[mugsytrpt]

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

[belfert]

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.

[technomadia]

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

[Busted Knuckle]

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!
  BK 

[Dave Siegel]

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

[technomadia]

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!
  BK 

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

[Gary W]

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

[Red Rider]

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

[John316]

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

A little pricey, but we have liked it.

John

[artvonne]

  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.