Digital navigation options

windtrader · July 26, 2018, 07:53:26 PM

Currently using a smartphone/tablet internet connected running Google Maps, Waze, Gas Buddy, Yelp, etc. Offer superior road navigation including traffic updates and rerouting, fuel prices, good places to eat and stop. Google Maps has an offline mode that does a good job of just routing but no real time updates, rerouting, fuel, dining, stops, etc.

Dedicated RV units offered by Garmin, etc. have features such as routing based on specific vehicle specs: height, weight, etc. Road conditions come via radio so not dependent on mobile internet. The data is offline and updated now and then (?)

What do you use and would recommend as the best solution?

lostagain · July 26, 2018, 08:19:58 PM

I plan ahead with a good paper map. A couple of minutes a every stop along the way to reconfirm the route ahead. Regular car GPS or Google Maps or Waze on the phone to support the plan through the cities. That has worked for me driving my bus and commercial semi trucks and buses for many years. I don't see spending $300 to $800 on a truckers GPS... I am better off looking up at signage than looking down at a GPS...

JC

chessie4905 · July 26, 2018, 08:26:30 PM

Garmin, google maps when necessary, and paper maps as needed.

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · July 27, 2018, 06:30:34 AM

I sometimes head down the road with the intention of traveling about 4-6 hours in any direction and ending up where I end up. If you don't get your bus into a situation where you have to unhook the toad and back up a few miles to get out of a sticky place with a low overpass or low hanging branches or a 5 ton bridge then you aren't living and have no sense of adventure.

Then I turn on my Garmin 760 Truckers GPS after the adventure is over to get to a place to sleep for the night.

lostagain · July 27, 2018, 07:06:01 AM

Trucking companies and bus companies do not supply their drivers with any navigation devises. At least not the ones I have ever worked for. It is up to the drivers to figure out the way. Most drivers use some kind of GPS. Some fancier than others. But the good drivers have their day firmly planned ahead of time. You can't just wing it by blindly following a GPS with a semi, or bus. The semi can be hard to turn around in tight spots, and it gets embarrassing to get lost with a tour group, or get them to an appointment late...

JC

richard5933 · July 27, 2018, 07:48:36 AM

Following GPS can also lead one up a far-too-steep road ending in a stop sign.

luvrbus · July 27, 2018, 08:44:36 AM

LOL several years ago I paid big bucks for a all in one Pioneer system it's useless now,no matter what you buy in a year with a GPS they useless.
In the winter time in Needles CA the snow birds are always smacking the 8ft clearance rail road bridge because the GPS routed them the shortest route to BullHead or Laughlin Nv from I 40

richard5933 · July 27, 2018, 09:15:41 AM

Quote from: luvrbus on July 27, 2018, 08:44:36 AM
LOL several years ago I paid big bucks for a all in one Pioneer system it's useless now,no matter what you buy in a year with a GPS they useless.
In the winter time in Needles CA the snow birds are always smacking the 8ft clearance rail road bridge because the GPS routed them the shortest route to BullHead or Laughlin Nv from I 40

Two things our Garmin does have: It knows our height and won't knowingly route us on a road with a height restriction. I still verify by watching signs along the roue, but it's pretty good at this. It also has lifetime map updates so they are usually relatively current.

Most built-in gps units don's update nearly as often as the Garmin maps, which I why I have a Garmin in my car even though it came with built-in navigation.

luvrbus · July 27, 2018, 09:32:33 AM

I have a newer 770 Garmin that will route you through the low over pass,I need to set down and figure the thing out I guess I only had it for a few weeks the boys got it for me as a gift.
lol they get their mother a nice set of noise canceling wireless Bose head phone and me a GPS wonder what they are trying to tell me

richard5933 · July 27, 2018, 10:11:19 AM

Quote from: luvrbus on July 27, 2018, 09:32:33 AM
I have a newer 770 Garmin that will route you through the low over pass,I need to set down and figure the thing out I guess I only had it for a few weeks the boys got it for me as a gift.
lol they get their mother a nice set of noise canceling wireless Bose head phone and me a GPS wonder what they are trying to tell me

To use the height feature you've got to first set up the profile with all the specs on your rig. Then when you first turn on the unit it will confirm that you want to use that profile (or another if you have multiple profiles).

Interestingly, if you are not having the Garmin route you it will scream height and weight warning for problems miles in front of you, even if you plan to turn off before then. Guess it can't mind read yet. For this reason, I'll usually let it route me even to places I know about so that I don't have to listen to it screaming the warnings.

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · July 27, 2018, 10:26:16 AM

The good thing about the RV and Trucker GPS's is that they avoid routes that are not adequate for a rig the size you program in. The problem is, they sometimes take you way out of your way on some roads that you know you can fit thru fine.

So if you are a good driver and are brave and have a 102" wide 40' long bus, you can lie to it and tell it you have a 96" wide 35' long bus. The only thing you don't want to lie about is the height. That is where you may want to add a couple of inches to compensate for extra layers of tar on the road in the underpasses. However, use this advice at your own risk.

chessie4905 · July 27, 2018, 10:57:55 AM

What would be helpful now that front and rear bumper radar units are common is to have one mounted on highest point on coach to warn of unexpected clearance issues if it would have enough range.

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · July 27, 2018, 11:14:21 AM

Quote from: chessie4905 on July 27, 2018, 10:57:55 AM
What would be helpful now that front and rear bumper radar units are common is to have one mounted on highest point on coach to warn of unexpected clearance issues if it would have enough range.

I had something like that on one of my RV's. I put a 102" CB antenna on my front bumper and cut it off 2" above my roof height. Then when I was in doubt about clearing an object, I would approach slowly and if the antenna moved, I would back up. Worked great!

luvrbus · July 27, 2018, 11:20:39 AM

I installed a roof camera to go with my side and backup cameras I would cry if I ripped off 5 roof top Penguin AC units

sledhead · July 27, 2018, 11:57:08 AM

I just replaced a old garmin gps that I use in the pick up with a new one . all because the old unit worked fine if you wanted to wait for it to start up ( some times 10-15 minutes ) as I am sure that it was in the last down loads from garmin as to make me buy a new one .

the one I have in the rv is a rand mcnally 7710 that I got from camping world years ago and it tracks my fuel millage and saves it plus it is bang on when I do the old way with a calculator and a pen .

I do use a garmin trucking one as well in the rv as all of you know you need 2 because you can't trust one . sooner or later it will send you in the wrong direction

Dave