Answered Question about GPS

[roxie]

Hello. Purchased 2025 Newmar Baystar. Looking for best GPS system for a motorhome. Looking for free app type that allows height to be considered. Any suggestions greatly appreciated !! Had a 40' 5th wheel for 11 yrs prior to buying this motorhome. Have been camping for 50+ yrs...pop-ups, tag along, 30' 5th wheel then 40'. Thank you for any suggestions!

 

[Neal]

Garmin 895 or the larger 1095

Amazon.com

 

[Jim]

Make a gallant effort to stay clear of the Garman 890, which can't find it's way home from the grocery store, let alone guide a 50,000 lb RV from point A to point B.

I'm sorry, that's incorrect. It will get you there, but it will go out of it's way to find the worst route possible.

YMMY.

RV GPS

Looking for recommendation for RV specific GPS. Need stand alone GPS not an I phone app etc. Currently have old Rand McNally Rv unit but getting time to replace. Thanks!

rvforums.com

 

[osuallen]

Make a gallant effort to stay clear of the Garman 890, which can't find it's way home from the grocery store, let alone guide a 50,000 lb RV from point A to point B.

I'm sorry, that's incorrect. It will get you there, but it will go out of it's way to find the worst route possible.

YMMY.

RV GPS

Looking for recommendation for RV specific GPS. Need stand alone GPS not an I phone app etc. Currently have old Rand McNally Rv unit but getting time to replace. Thanks!

rvforums.com

I have an 890 and have not had routing issues with it??

 

[Jim]

I have an 890 and have not had routing issues with it??

And I'm happy for you. But I've NEVER used it even one time that it actually picked out the best route. Not even once.

In some cases, it put me into such a tailspin that if we followed it, we would have found ourselves in serous problems. But your milage may very. It just hasn't worked for me.

 

[Neal]

No issues for me either. It’s important to have the parameters for your RV setup correctly and not include toad in the length of your RV. It’s good to have it connected to your phone for live traffic but not auto reroute. Devices like this are only as good as how they are setup and used properly.

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

I have the 1090 and love it.

 

[Neemer]

OP appears to be asking about an app. The only app I have used that takes into account RV parameters is the one put out by RV Life. I haven’t used it in years, but it was decent when I was using it.

 

[DennisT]

As far as an app goes I switched from RV Life to inRoute.

inRoute is less expensive and has worked really well for us when planning trips.

 

[Neal]

Hello. Purchased 2025 Newmar Baystar. Looking for best GPS system for a motorhome. Looking for free app type that allows height to be considered. Any suggestions greatly appreciated !! Had a 40' 5th wheel for 11 yrs prior to buying this motorhome. Have been camping for 50+ yrs...pop-ups, tag along, 30' 5th wheel then 40'. Thank you for any suggestions!

@roxie can you clarify what you're asking? Are you looking for a GPS to navigate with or an app to plan travel with?

 

[roxie]

@roxie can you clarify what you're asking? Are you looking for a GPS to navigate with or an app to plan travel with?

We need a free app that will give directions for height specific. Don't want to be on a road with bridge for 12' when the rv is 12'10". If none available Garmin 895 or 1095 will be checked out, as suggested. Thank you.

 

[Neal]

Okay, you're looking for an app that runs on a mobile device like Waze to navigate with that takes into account RV parameters? So if anyone knows of one, that seems what they're after otherwise Garmin...

 

[SGilbert]

OP appears to be asking about an app. The only app I have used that takes into account RV parameters is the one put out by RV Life. I haven’t used it in years, but it was decent when I was using it.

For the most part, RV Life works well, but once it took me into a narrow residential area.
Unless I fear some upcoming problem, I far prefer using Waze which uses Google maps. RV Life uses Here which, IMHO, is inferior to Google and Apple maps.
(Map wise, Apple's is better than Google's, BUT I like the other info that Waze provides: police, road obstacles, cars stranded, etc.)

 

[DKRITTER]

Hi Roxie and others, if I can throw in my $.02, please. Personally I wouldn't use my phone as my primary guidance system, there are way too many variables to trust a very, very expensive camper on it. Use your phone as a supplement to a good RV GPS System. We too have chosen Garmin, we set all of the sizes, weights, propane in the system so it knows how to route w/o issues. I like Waze on my phone w/o a route for better up to the minute issues.
My suggestion is Garmin, they make a few different RV specific models in different sizes and price ranges.

 

[Jim]

It’s important to have the parameters for your RV setup correctly and not include toad in the length of your RV. It’s good to have it connected to your phone for live traffic but not auto reroute. Devices like this are only as good as how they are setup and used properly.

Got it! And I'd love to love this unit, but it's been unreliable since the first time I've used it. So if I've set it up incorrectly, please tell me how to fix it so that I can begin to trust it.

I really love the turn by turn guidance, and the amount of time it gives till the next turn, etc. And I keep it honest by downloaded and printing directions from RV Trip Wizard. Which is what I would suggest everyone do regardless of what GPS they are using. But that aside, an expensive device by Garman (the king of GPS) should work better than the 890.

I have the following settings:

• Vehicle is Motor Home
• 45'1"
• 45,000 lbs
• No propane
• Fastest Time
• Allow toll roads
• Avoidance
  • U-Turns
  • Carpool lands
  • Unpaved roads

If I'm missing something, please point me in that direction.

Below is an example of what I've come to expect from my 890. In the following example, you're coming from the top down, as indicated by the 1st green arrow. The correct route would be to turn left where the 2nd green arrow is, and follow that road to Hwy 40. Turn left and go to the destination. These are all very good roads, no construction, no obstacles, etc.

The 890 wants me to pass the correct road and go down to where the red arrows start. Turn left and then follow the red arrows all the way to the destination. This route takes you through the historic area of Ocala where the roads are quite thin, stop lights every couple of blocks, and really someplace you don't want to drive a 45' Class A towing an 18' truck. (Almost 65' in total length)

So will it get you there? Yes. Will it use the best guidance? Not in my opinion.

EDIT: The route is easy to duplicate. If you currently own or have access to the 890, program it to leave a destination north of the Silver Springs/Ocala area, and have it plot a course to Wilderness RV Resort. I'd be interested if your results mirror mine. If yours chooses the correct route, then it's mine that must be set up incorrectly.

 

[MarkMaxPayne]

TruckMap is good (height, lengths, trucker safe routings, fuel stops, rest areas, etc.), but last time I tried the mobile app it didn't have a android auto plug-in. Each trip I try it to see if they've added android auto support. They claim to support it now so I'll have to try again. Easy quick nav for trucker friendly fuel, parking, etc.

I use both RV Life Pro and Waze in parallel to the built-in NAV. I just cannot depend on Riverpark's built-in in solution not flipping things around where it'll randomly think I'm traveling in the exact opposite direction of travel. Yes, they have a firmware patch for that, but to use their super secret/hidden reset option you have to be pulled off the side of the road and fully stopped.

With RV Life running in parallel I can compare routines and have a fail safe. I do run Waze at the same time, but not for navigation. I simply have it running without a route planned to warn me in real-time about closed lanes, objects in the road, accidents, delays, vehicles parked on the shoulder, cops, etc. on my current road.

Best,
-Mark

 

[Rollin Ollen]

Got it! And I'd love to love this unit, but it's been unreliable since the first time I've used it. So if I've set it up incorrectly, please tell me how to fix it so that I can begin to trust it.

I really love the turn by turn guidance, and the amount of time it gives till the next turn, etc. And I keep it honest by downloaded and printing directions from RV Trip Wizard. Which is what I would suggest everyone do regardless of what GPS they are using. But that aside, an expensive device by Garman (the king of GPS) should work better than the 890.

I have the following settings:

• Vehicle is Motor Home
• 45'1"
• 45,000 lbs
• No propane
• Fastest Time
• Allow toll roads
• Avoidance
  • U-Turns
  • Carpool lands
  • Unpaved roads

If I'm missing something, please point me in that direction.

Below is an example of what I've come to expect from my 890. In the following example, you're coming from the top down, as indicated by the 1st green arrow. The correct route would be to turn left where the 2nd green arrow is, and follow that road to Hwy 40. Turn left and go to the destination. These are all very good roads, no construction, no obstacles, etc.

The 890 wants me to pass the correct road and go down to where the red arrows start. Turn left and then follow the red arrows all the way to the destination. This route takes you through the historic area of Ocala where the roads are quite thin, stop lights every couple of blocks, and really someplace you don't want to drive a 45' Class A towing an 18' truck. (Almost 65' in total length)

So will it get you there? Yes. Will it use the best guidance? Not in my opinion.

View attachment 27351


EDIT: The route is easy to duplicate. If you currently own or have access to the 890, program it to leave a destination north of the Silver Springs/Ocala area, and have it plot a course to Wilderness RV Resort. I'd be interested if your results mirror mine. If yours chooses the correct route, then it's mine that must be set up incorrectly.

I'm looking forward to any replies too. My settings are the same as yours (except for the actual coach dimensions of course). I do carry propane but if you allow that, it doesn't want to route you through tunnels or take ferries etc so I have it set for NO propane. I use google earth and google maps as well as the Garmin. My navigator (my beautiful wife) and I go over our intended route before we take off so we know which device to follow and know when WE want to make turn. Garmin is usually the worst giving accurate directions giving forewarnings. If there is a way to improve it's performance, I'm all ears (eyes)!

Darrell

 

[roxie]

Hi Roxie and others, if I can throw in my $.02, please. Personally I wouldn't use my phone as my primary guidance system, there are way too many variables to trust a very, very expensive camper on it. Use your phone as a supplement to a good RV GPS System. We too have chosen Garmin, we set all of the sizes, weights, propane in the system so it knows how to route w/o issues. I like Waze on my phone w/o a route for better up to the minute issues.
My suggestion is Garmin, they make a few different RV specific models in different sizes and price ranges.

Thank you for your 2 cents! Sounds like Garmin and phone app back up is the way to go. Appreciate everyone's input! Happy travels to all ...

 

[Buster]

Got it! And I'd love to love this unit, but it's been unreliable since the first time I've used it. So if I've set it up incorrectly, please tell me how to fix it so that I can begin to trust it.

I really love the turn by turn guidance, and the amount of time it gives till the next turn, etc. And I keep it honest by downloaded and printing directions from RV Trip Wizard. Which is what I would suggest everyone do regardless of what GPS they are using. But that aside, an expensive device by Garman (the king of GPS) should work better than the 890.

I have the following settings:

• Vehicle is Motor Home
• 45'1"
• 45,000 lbs
• No propane
• Fastest Time
• Allow toll roads
• Avoidance
  • U-Turns
  • Carpool lands
  • Unpaved roads

If I'm missing something, please point me in that direction.

Below is an example of what I've come to expect from my 890. In the following example, you're coming from the top down, as indicated by the 1st green arrow. The correct route would be to turn left where the 2nd green arrow is, and follow that road to Hwy 40. Turn left and go to the destination. These are all very good roads, no construction, no obstacles, etc.

The 890 wants me to pass the correct road and go down to where the red arrows start. Turn left and then follow the red arrows all the way to the destination. This route takes you through the historic area of Ocala where the roads are quite thin, stop lights every couple of blocks, and really someplace you don't want to drive a 45' Class A towing an 18' truck. (Almost 65' in total length)

So will it get you there? Yes. Will it use the best guidance? Not in my opinion.

View attachment 27351


EDIT: The route is easy to duplicate. If you currently own or have access to the 890, program it to leave a destination north of the Silver Springs/Ocala area, and have it plot a course to Wilderness RV Resort. I'd be interested if your results mirror mine. If yours chooses the correct route, then it's mine that must be set up incorrectly.

I don't think it's your unit Jim.

I put in a route from Ocala North RV Resort to Wilderness RV resort and got the red arrow directions you have listed above when I have "shortest distance" on. I usually use "fastest time" and it had a very similar route with the only change being getting off at Silver Springs Rd from I75. I put in a custom avoidance of downtown Ocala and it still wouldn't route me over FL 326. For some reason it really doesn't like that road.

 

[Jim]

Thanks for confirming that, Buster. The first time I came to this area I followed the 890’s directions, even though my secondary system (Maps) was telling me to turn on FL326. After spending some time in the area and getting familiar with the roads, I realized I had been taking an unnecessarily long route each time. Not to mention routing me through the old narrow streets of downtown Ocala.

As I mentioned earlier, this is just one example. I’ve noticed incorrect routing is fairly common with this unit. Others have reported no issues with theirs, but I have to wonder how often they've been led the wrong way and just not realized it.