When we purchased our 2000 Beaver Patriot Thunder, it did not have a GPS, so we started using our Tomtom Go 920. While I like most of the features of the Tomtom, it does not take the motorhome height, width, length, or weight into account while calculating routes, which might potentially place us in a difficult position in the future. To avoid this, I have started looking at truck GPS alternatives. The models we are considering (at least for now) are in no particular order:
Rand Mcnalley TND 500 or TND 700
Garmin Nuvi 465T
Cobra 7700 Pro
Wordnav 7100
PCMiler Navigator PCM740
Does anyone have any experience with any of these units (good or bad), or is anyone able to recomend a viable alternative which might be better for the motorhome.
Thanks
Keith & Eileen C

FYI before looking at the alternatives, I contacted TomTom to verify they did not have a software /and or hardware option which was comperable to the features offered with Truck GPS packages offered by their competitors
Keith & Eileen C

I use Copilot truck program and like it a lot.  I load it in my laptop, and put it up on the dash with its large screen. The program will not take you to low underpases, and it also locates truck stops.

The thing I like about Garmin Nuvi products is that they are equally compatible with MAC OR PC'S.  Many others only support PC's.  That being said, I have been using A Nuvi 1490T for about a year now.  I really like them.  I have also download the safety/camera option.  That is GREAT as it warns you in advance. I got a ticket once because I was not able to stop in time (driving these rigs the question is, do you try to stop and create problems stopping these big rigs or do you go on thru).
I have checked out the manual for Nuvi you list and I will probably will get one for the BEAVER!  The 1490T's are okay for auto's, but don't have options to specify truck related information.

Quoted from tompatfud

I use Copilot truck program and like it a lot.  I load it in my laptop, and put it up on the dash with its large screen. The program will not take you to low underpases, and it also locates truck stops.

Thanks.  My first "Gps" was actually a Palm Pilot with a Delhhome antenna, and I frequently used a laptop in lieu of the Palm Pilot.  In the process crashed two hard drives while driving. Those failures and the resulting efforts to recover data have caused me to shy away from using laptops in a moving vehicle.  At this point, the only laptop I have is a business computer owned by the company I work for, and I won't be purchasing another laptop until I retire.
Copilot software is used on the PC Miler Navigator GPS devices, and I am considering those devices.

Quoted from LEAH DRAPER

The thing I like about Garmin Nuvi products is that they are equally compatible with MAC OR PC'S.  Many others only support PC's.  That being said, I have been using A Nuvi 1490T for about a year now.  I really like them.  I have also download the safety/camera option.  That is GREAT as it warns you in advance. I got a ticket once because I was not able to stop in time (driving these rigs the question is, do you try to stop and create problems stopping these big rigs or do you go on thru).
I have checked out the manual for Nuvi you list and I will probably will get one for the BEAVER!  The 1490T's are okay for auto's, but don't have options to specify truck related information.

I currently have two portable GPS devices. A Tomtom 920 we travel with, and a Garmin Zumo 550 I use primarily on my Harley. The issue I have with the specialized GPS devices is the limited options available. None of the devices for trucks or RV's include voice recognition capabilities and only one (WorldNav 7300) makes much of an effort to even market to the RV user. So far, the only thing I have been able to do is rule out one of the Rand McNalley units TND500 due to a lot of negative reviews.
Its taking a lot of effort to glean much useful information from most of the product reviews.

I am currently using a Garmin Nuvi, and it is useful but not adequate, in my opinion.  I am never comfortable letting the unit produce a route for me without following it from end to end under higher resolution to see what roads and intersections I am being sent through.  Leaving it up to its own devices, you will be routed where you do not want to go with a motorhome. It is close to impossible to effectively follow and pre-review a route and alter it using this unit by itself (at least for me).

Garmin has a program that was built for the marine side of the business called Map Source, that runs on a Windows Platform. With a U.S. database, and this program you can produce a route on your laptop, follow it, use waypoints to alter it, if online you can download with a key stoke a google earth view and see a section of your route on it if there is a question. It is not a great program, it is antiquated, and it is not always intuitive as to how you do things with it. For example, you can put a waypoint on an interstate, it will route you through that waypoint. If you are not at a high enough resolution and the waypoint falls on the wrong side of the interstate it will send you off the interstate to get on the other side to pass through it. Once your route is complete you can name it and download it to your Garmin, bring it up and use it. That is the best way I know of to safely use a Garmin. On the good side for what it is and what it costs, Garmin does produce a good product.

On my last coach I used Delorme Street Atlas, and found it superior for creating, reviewing, and following your route. The software was easier to use, the display had more useful features, and the map was displayed on a screen size that was easier to follow. That being said, it requires some creativity to place a display that is useful to a driver and may not fit well in all coaches. I used a laptop facing the passenger with a remote display mounted above the driver seat that I could readily see. It was great. If I had a question, I could ask my wife to check the screen and change resolution etc.

The newer coach does not have an overhead area that works for a display due to the tall windshield. I am looking at going back to Delorme Street Atlas,, and using a tablet like the new HP Slate or one of their Tm2t computers. The Delorme Software does allow you to import POI that people have built. I believe that there are files out on the web that display low bridges etc. but I am not familiar with them. What some people do is create a route with Street Atlas and then check it on a trucker atlas for issues and then use it.

I have looked at the Ipad as an option, but it has limited memory, Apps for creating routes are not very good yet, and many rely on a 3G signal to download maps on the fly as you travel. I ruled it out for now.

We do not seem to have the all in one RV Holy Grail yet....maybe some day.

later Ed

We have a discontinued Garmin 530 C, and it tried to route us under a 10 ft clerance underpass in Cleveland Tennessee this summer. We were lucky we could turn, and did not have to unhook the toad and cause a traffic jam. It is pretty old, so thinking of replacing so watching this thread with interest.

I use the Delorme Street Atlas and have become familiar enough with its requirements for route vias, etc that I am comfortable with it, however, I still go over the route carefully before using it to be sure it has not put us under a low overpass or through a side road that looks suspicious.  I like the feature where you can download an1 files and superimpose them onto any route to see for instance all Flying J's, Love's, Super Walmarts, Walmarts that won't allow overnight  parking, clearance for low overpasses, etc.

I called Delorme to see if they had a truckers version  but they don't have any plans to do that. I suppose we all have had to disconnect the toad and backup due to a route mistake but since I have been going over the route carefully we have avoided that.  

Ed,
In looking at the web site for the WorldNav 7300, one of the interesting options is the support for KML files, which allows you to use Google Earth to preview the route with a virtual tour. Take a look at it:

(http://teletype.com/pages/support/Documentation/KML%20ExportVersion10.pdf)

This looks to be similar to what you were describing with google earth.

Kieth,

That does look cool, but when it discusses adding live weather, that would imply that you would need to be online, which I am not able to do while driving. Not sure if the google earth map can reside on your computer for use or if this is only available while online.
In the case of the Garmin mapping it was available while online with a computer. You could do your route and whatever scaled map was on your screen you could pull the google map in and your route would be super-imposed on it much like your link. I have used it to find a house on a street or for a street that was not yet on a map. I used it to physically see a planned fuel stop to see if it was easy in/easy out. Unless the entire US google earth database in high resolution resided on your computer all the time then I would not want to rely on it. I actually do not have a problem with the current mapping and display technology without google earth, but would like it to be accurate and have better campground, truck stop, and clearance info.

Attached is what I had built into the area above my drivers seat in my 89 Contessa. When I look at my little Garmin screen it makes me want to cry.....it was so nice to glance up at a 15inch NEC display with no reflections or sunlight. Love the newer coach but miss that little gem. It was a bear to build the monitor in that overhead compartment, but sure loved the result.

later Ed

I use a Garmin 7200.  I like the 7 inch screen, but it does not have the truck routing you wanted. Camping World has the Cobra 7700 for $369.99 that has a 7 inch screen and truck-specfic routing that you wanted. Joe

I bought the Motor Carrier's Road Atlas by Rand McNally when we first got our coach, and can testify that it provides a lot of useful data.  Included is a state-by-state guide to overhead clearances.  I try to remember to peruse that guide, noting problem areas on my map and in my mind before entering a new state.

Of course it didn't help in 2007 at Elk Prairie Park in the California Redwoods, where I had to dump air and drive slow and straight to get under the unpruned low branches over their main campground entry road  .

-Joel

We've been using a Garmin Nuvi 350 since 2006.  Once it took us on what became a dirt forest road, but that was when I was just learning, and now I am more diligent with it.  That incident turned out OK as the road was only a mile, wasn't bad, and linked with a paved road at the other end.  Several other times over the years it took me to the wrong place for a business, because a data enterer some place fat-fingered or mistyped an address (N.W. instead of N.E. for example);  it might be off a half a block or as much as a mile or more.  Due diligence and common sense have to play a part.  Especially in an RV.  The other issue I have is the expensive map updates, which I do not spring for annually as Garmin would like.

In 2005-6, Nuvis like ours were going for 6 times what they do now, and today's models are more sophisticated.  Many come with free traffic analysis software, a convenience that I personally would like to have in our Portland traffic, but have refused to spring the subscription cost for, given I don't use the GPS often enough to fully justify it.  It being free on the new ones is a big carrot for me.  So is the available feature that graphics an upcoming highway exit (in certain areas) so I can position the coach in the correct lane well in advance.  Some owners of new models complain of ads onscreen, a problem my Nuvi 350 doesn't have, but one I'd find aggravating.

If I were to buy a new GPS, I would give the Garmin nuvi 465T strong consideration (the "T" in the model # stands for included free lifetime Traffic software), although it appears to be spendier than others ($315 at CWorld on sale).  The Cobra 7700 PRO and the nuvi 465T have trucker's software designed for high-profile vehices, as you've already determined.  I've also read there are now devices available that scan the road ahead measuring such things as overpasses and tunnels well in advance.  I imagine that perusing my Motor Carrier's Road Atlas in advance and a using a nuvi 465T enroute would suffice.

-Joel

Joel,
In attempting to compare the various available options and the flexibility of the various products which are available I am leaning toward two GPS devices (Garmin Nuvi 465T & Worldnav 7300) which have a reasonable feature set. While the Garmin supports FM traffic input I have not found it to be that useful we have it in one of our vehicles. Utilizing the RV profile information, allowing POI downlads and supporting Bluetooth connectivity weighs a little more heavily with me than traffic updates which tend to be delayed somewhat. The differentiator for the Worldnav 7300 is the tie in with Google maps

I wanted to revive this GPS discussion since I am looking seriously at all options. Has anyone bought one of the Worldnav 7300 or seen one? I like that it has truck routes and that you can specify your RVs height and weight in the menu and it routes accordingly. It is supposed to include campgrounds in its POI file. I noticed that they just released a 7400 model yesterday that will have tire pressure monitoring capability when the accessories are ready 2nd quarter 2011. Not sure of the cost of the accessories. The 7400 is reasonably priced at $349 given it is a 7 inch screen. Any news or ideas regarding navigation?

later Ed

The 5 inch WorldNav 5200 is an option also, and is $70 less.  The traffic antenna for both the 5200 and the 7400 is another $80, though.  The 5200 also has the tire monitoring option, and appears to do nearly everything its larger-screened sibling does.  I would consider the cheaper model mostly for the convenience of its smaller size, for use in the toad or carrying on my person.  In the coach, bigger may be better.  For someone like me, used to the pocket-sized Nuvi 350, the 5200 would be "upgrade" enough.

-Joel

Joel,

That is a thought to get the 5 inch version.... I wish there was a way to try these units out. I have not known anyone that has owned a WorldNav unit. I have read both good and bad user ratings and the database with user feedback is quite limited. You would wonder if they are selling enough units to stay in business. Garmin is probably a safer bet. I wonder if Keith made a decision yet?

later Ed

Hi Joe and Arlene,
  I also use the Garmin 7200.  I also like the 7in screen. It does have a "bus" setting which presumably allows it to route us where we can safely go.  I have a windshield mount so my co pilot Jane can operate it with the handy remote.  

In response to Ed's question I decided to wait for the rally in Perry in the hope that some of the vendors will have their GPS devices on display.  

Kieth,

Looking forward to hearing what you learn in Perry. You would think at this stage of GPS evolution that there would be a clear comparison on the web with a couple of clear choices..... Seems as confusing as ever with both happy and unhappy users. Garmin has so many models, that does not add much to the clarity. They have several new truck models but they are pricey for the screen size and some of the trucker reviews have not been overly filled with praise. I think Garmin has the largest market share by far and that certainly provides some advantages.

later Ed

Hello All

This site has a lot of GPS info -

http://gpsinformation.net/

Kindest Regards,
Brad Burgess
03 Monterey 800460