can any 1 recommend a good gps for a rv.

2 olestiffs · Member

can any 1 recommend a good gps for a rv.

hufnpuf · Senior Member

My gps is an old Garmin. The maps are old, but it works fine as long as I don't venture into a new estate or somewhere they've changed the roads. I'm not sure what a 1k unit would give you over and above a basic unit? Mine still told me where I was when I went up to Exmouth. I don't mind the Garmin, the voices are not that bad, but they mispronounce things strangely sometimes.

Whenarewethere · Guru

I had (still have) a Garmin drivesmart 61 7 inch. It was having problems finding satellites. In the end couldn't find any. So I just bought a 65.

When I got home did some research on the 61 & it was suggested to give it a charge on 240v for 24 hours. Well that worked, so now I have 2!

I don't use it much, mainly in the outback to see small roads. But the annoying thing I find with it is the street resolution drops over 500 metres, fine in the city, but a pain in the neck in the outback as minor streets & tracks only show up at 500 metres, but in the outback these streets are kilometres apart.

Maybe I should set up the 2 GPSs, one at 500 metres & the other at 5 kilometres.

Other than that I am happy with the GPS. I prefer listening to Kate (British).

iana · Guru

We have a fairly new Garmin 61, could not recommend this brand, their maps and POI's are just so out of date.

Mike Harding · Guru

I use an Android tablet with the application Igo Navigation - A$25 from the Google Play Store.

I am a hard taskmaster of such software but Igo is generally pretty good and I recommend it. Free map updates and you can buy maps for most (all?) of the planet.

Igo Navigation

I believe it's also available for Apple devices.

Edit: Igo also offers a "Truck package" which I bought but it's not much use.

-- Edited by Mike Harding on Tuesday 27th of October 2020 05:51:12 PM

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Am still trying to learn (after a year) how to use the car's built in system.
Have a Garmin (a few years old now, with latest upgrade) to indicate actual speed as I have smaller tyres on the car. The car's system only tells me when I am 1-2 kms over the speed limit.

My previous Garmin failed miserably after 12 months (not constant use, either).

Tony Bev · Guru

Can not recommend anything around $1,000 as I have never spent that much on a GPS

I stay on the bitumen, but use coordinates to find the free camps

I have an old el-cheapo Garmin of around 2010 vintage, as my back up GPS
Although the maps are well out of date, the coordinates still work

I purchased an el-cheapo Navman, to find that it did not have coordinates
Navman confirmed by email, that this model did not have coordinates

I now have a newer el-cheapo Garmin, but on the last trip something went wrong, as it kept switching off
It was exchanged at Good Guys, when I returned home, (they send them away to be checked), as it was still under warranty

A younger brother has a Tom Tom, but I am sure he has to pay for map updates

Radar · Guru

I would say by far even thou we have an expensive Hema navigation system, the best by far is OsmAnd, look it up for fairly simple stuff it takes some beating.

We run it on our Samsung tablet, we did buy the paid version cheap as, but run the free version. It runs rings around other mapping services,

Like to add the mapping on Wikicamps can be real helpful also

-- Edited by Radar on Wednesday 28th of October 2020 06:30:50 AM

msg · Guru

I have a Garmin. Old model but young enough to get lifetime maps,

Mike196 · Senior Member

G'Day Folks,

I rely on a Tom Tom, never been let down. Current versions come with lifetime maps and I pay $49.99/year for red light camera updates.. I tried a Garmin and it was crap, always trying to send us down gravel roads etc.

Regards,

msg · Guru

Mike196 wrote:
G'Day Folks,
I rely on a Tom Tom, never been let down. Current versions come with lifetime maps and I pay $49.99/year for red light camera updates.. I tried a Garmin and it was crap, always trying to send us down gravel roads etc.
Regards,

That's because you didn't select paved roads.

markf · Senior Member

We have two.

A VMS 750HDX which is good when it's working. Seeing as it's mounted on a windscreen mount it gets hot and suffers from sun stroke usually just when you want it working. Other than the heat problems it's OK but not great.

The other is a truly ancient TomTom VIA which just GPS's along without a problem. It occasionally makes mistakes though - from Walkers Crossing to the Birdsville Track it suggested turning left to get to Birdsville....

Both of them have free map updates. Speed camera updates are of no interest to me.

If I were looking for a new GPS I reckon I'd be looking at TomTom. I'd not recommend a VMS - seems clunky with a confusing user interface especially when using off-road maps.

-- Edited by markf on Wednesday 28th of October 2020 02:31:05 PM

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Tom Tom and cheap eBay here . No issues with either . Not sure if its the Aussie, Kiwi or Scottish heritage ? Budget wise !! Lol

STRETCH ARMSTRONG · Senior Member

I'm on my second Garmin. First one so old l can't update it now but still works. The new one about 3 years old is 770RV with reversing camera. Took some messing with to get map setting right for me, but very happy with it now. Wifi reversing camera has worked perfect from day one.

Chris61 · Senior Member

Try Sygic, whether it be on an Android phone or an in dash unit

chrisanddiannesultimaadventure.wordpress.com/my-rig/2014-iveco-50c21/in-dash-entertainment-system/

2 olestiffs · Member

2 olestiffs wrote:
hi been checking the nett for past 3 days . for a good gps unit for us olds. have looked up a number of the latest truck units. had it down to 2 in the end. both brands got bagged in similar ways. both were close too 1k each. i searched here gps and the replys were a few years ago now. so i am all ears now as it looks like mr gronk & co. may be getting ready to release us. from home detention hopely soon in victoria. thanks sue.

hi thanks 2 all who replyed for advice. tomorrow going to check out some 1 with the new garmin rv 775 mt-s 7" gps unit. in their camper van for a demo run by of its operations system. can get 1 for on special for atm for $529. normal price closer to $600. thanks sue

FMC · Veteran Member

I purchased this particular unit "garmin dezl 780" 5 years ago, it has both car and truck applications available on it, if driving in the country I use in car mode and if really think I may get stuck in the city with the van, I put it in truck mode.

I have have set this truck mode up for a combination vehicle (feet) 37 long, 10 high, 9 wide with this information logged in it will not take you on any road that is not suitable, this works a charm.

Happy motoring