GPS Question

[bikerbob]

Hey folks I'm new here...as in today.
Bought a 2021 Geo Pro 20' travel trailer that I pull with my 20' pickup.

My 13 year old car GPS is on its way out so I'm looking for an RV specific model. Seems that only a few models allow for specifying separate truck and travel trailer lengths.
In order to save $100 or more, what length should I tell the GPS my RV is for my setup?
Thanks in advance.

- Bob

 

[Neal]

I'm a huge fan of the Garmin RV 890, some use the larger 1090. It has a profile feature to allow you to input dimensions.

Amazon.com: Garmin RV 890, GPS Navigator for RVs with Edge-to-Edge 8” Display, Preloaded Campgrounds, Custom Routing and More

Amazon.com: Garmin RV 890, GPS Navigator for RVs with Edge-to-Edge 8” Display, Preloaded Campgrounds, Custom Routing and More

www.amazon.com

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

I like the Garmin RV 1090.
You put your vehicle type and size in and it will direct you accordingly. You can have dozens of points of interest, guesstimated fuel range, etc, etc. More infor than you will probably ever need.

 

[bikerbob]

I'm a huge fan of the Garmin RV 890, some use the larger 1090. It has a profile feature to allow you to input dimensions.

Amazon.com: Garmin RV 890, GPS Navigator for RVs with Edge-to-Edge 8” Display, Preloaded Campgrounds, Custom Routing and More

Amazon.com: Garmin RV 890, GPS Navigator for RVs with Edge-to-Edge 8” Display, Preloaded Campgrounds, Custom Routing and More

www.amazon.com

Thanks Neal.
I don't see a Travel Trailer pick on the screen that Garmin shows online. The RV 795 does show it between the Car and Motorhome picks so it makes me concerned that I don't see the pick on others.
To be honest I don't see the need to spend over $400 on a GPS. I guess you can color me frugal. However, if the extra change is worth it I suppose I'll bend.
I'll put the 890 on my list.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

Thanks Neal.
I don't see a Travel Trailer pick on the screen that Garmin shows online. The RV 795 does show it between the Car and Motorhome picks so it makes me concerned that I don't see the pick on others.
To be honest I don't see the need to spend over $400 on a GPS. I guess you can color me frugal. However, if the extra change is worth it I suppose I'll bend.
I'll put the 890 on my list.

I think this question if a RV specific GPS is needed - is a valid question.

For me the 3 reasons to have an RV specific GPS are:
- Are there any overpasses that are too low for my height?
- Are there any bridges that have a weight limit that I will exceed?
- Are there any tunnels that I should be concerned about? (since many of them prohibit propane in the tunnel)

If a trailer height was “low”, didn’t have a heavy trailer and didn’t carry propane - then I would skip the RV GPS. But since I care about 2 of these 3 items, I use a RV GPS.

 

[bikerbob]

I like the Garmin RV 1090.
You put your vehicle type and size in and it will direct you accordingly. You can have dozens of points of interest, guesstimated fuel range, etc, etc. More infor than you will probably ever need.

Thanks for the tip Dan. Also sounds good but the screen seems too big for me.

 

[bikerbob]

I think this question if a RV specific GPS is needed - is a valid question.

For me the 3 reasons to have an RV specific GPS are:
- Are there any overpasses that are too low for my height?
- Are there any bridges that have a weight limit that I will exceed?
- Are there any tunnels that I should be concerned about? (since many of them prohibit propane in the tunnel)

If a trailer height was “low”, didn’t have a heavy trailer and didn’t carry propane - then I would skip the RV GPS. But since I care about 2 of these 3 items, I use a RV GPS.

Thanks for the reminder Mem.
Towed x-country earlier this year and had my Rand McNally truck maps with me for that reason. Will definitely be getting an RV specific unit this time.

 

[DKRITTER]

We have a 1090 in the MH and love it but in a pickup it might be over kill. Garmin 780 and up would be my recommendation.

 

[Russellvh]

Think about RV Life. A computer version and a smart phone app. You put in your RV dimensions and it guides you around any hazards. A lot lower price than a separate unit. Just an opinion.

 

[bpaikman]

We have traveled thousands of miles with .. and without... RV specific GPS. Your question made me think about whether it's worth it.
When we took our first trip in this RV, I laid out our route using Google maps and since we always stick to big-rig campgrounds, and as big a highway as we can find, preferably interstates, we don't worry about big-rig obstacles. I also use RV trip-planning apps - Those route you around tunnels, ferries, low overpasses, etc.
We now have the Garman 890 (I found the screen too big on the 1090) - I like big screens but I have no trouble seeing the screen on the 890.
HOWEVER Sometimes that thing will try to route us in some weird route. But Google maps seems to make the same errors. The Channing, Texas route is especially puzzling - detour to (very narrow, shoulderless) 354 and not much better 387 - why not continue US-87 ? We've done both routes - US 87 is far superior....did Channing Texas bribe Google maps to get traffic?
I do like having the big screen while traveling, but I don't find it any more useful than my cell phone and the apps. because I always plan out every trip anyhow, using trip planning apps and carefully perusing the route and destinations with Google Earth.
Oh yeah, the RV GPS will sometimes audibly warn you of curves. Not always. I think they are also capable of warning you have traffic jams and steep grades. I consider them worth it for the big screens and the audible warnings. I jlike to have a dedicated device but I don't fully trust it.

 

[LMHS]

I bought a cheap Vankyo MatrixPad S7 7" tablet (GPS enabled) and a car dashboard & windshield tablet mount holder to use as an "RV GPS".

I have the (paid) CoPilot RV app on the dedicated tablet. The tablet allows me to take the my GPS in my old towed or the truck camper or anything else I decide to drive. I tried the RV Trip Wizard but it lost it's mind somewhere down the highway (Arkansas, I think). I find the CoPilot app easier to use.

I have a Next Exit book, a Rand McNally trucker's atlas and a Rand McNally mid sized road atlas. I ripped the midsized atlas apart and it lives in sheet protectors in a 3 ring binder, just like the Next Exit does. I always have my route written down on paper.

To plan a trip, I use various websites, the Next Exit and the midsized atlas. I build the maps (by state) in Google My Maps. I include campgrounds/rv parks, overnight parking locations, restaurants and attractions that meet my personal criteria on the state maps. I will find a place/area to visit and build a map around that and save it for later. I prefer to find a "base" campground/RV Park and daytrip from that base. I have several "maps" saved in My Maps that I can build into a new trip.

Since I like to run US highways along with a few state and county roads, I use the trucker's atlas to make sure there isn't a problem with my route. Once I get my basic route marked out on the Mid sized atlas with wet erase markers (and this is why they are in sheet protectors), I double check my stops on Google satellite view to see where my best parking will be.

GasBuddy.com is good for finding fuel stops. Although I default to Sam's Clubs and Murphy's for fuel, particularly if overnight parking (ONP) in a Sam's Club lot (most of the time, not always, those two have the cheapest prices, unfortunately not all Sam's Clubs have diesel - I do use Google street view to see which side of the station the diesel pumps are on, then note that in the listing on My Maps). I do unhook to get fuel as it's easier and I top off fuel either the night before or in the morning before heading out.

Once my trip is finalized, I plug it into the CoPilot. Each day is a trip. I have discovered that is easiest to work with.

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

I bought a cheap Vankyo MatrixPad S7 7" tablet (GPS enabled) and a car dashboard & windshield tablet mount holder to use as an "RV GPS".

I have the (paid) CoPilot RV app on the dedicated tablet...

I have a Next Exit book, a Rand McNally trucker's atlas and a Rand McNally mid sized road atlas.. .

To plan a trip, I use various websites, the Next Exit and the midsized atlas...

Since I like to run US highways along with a few state and county roads, I use the trucker's atlas to make sure there isn't a problem with my route...

GasBuddy.com is good for finding fuel stops.

Once my trip is finalized, I plug it into the CoPilot. Each day is a trip. I have discovered that is easiest to work with.

That just seems like an awful lot of work.
I do a quick route plan on google, then transfer it to my Garmin. The Garmin will make sure that I am on roads that will handle my rig configuration.