Looking for a GPS that includes height restriction

[BeerBrewer]

We use an App on our phone called Copilot (https://copilotgps.com/en-us/). Its for RVers and truckers. It costs RVers about $30 per year. So far it's kept us off parkways (there are lots of these in the northeast) and away from low bridges. After you install the app you can download the map (we did for all of North America) so the navigation still works without a cellular connection. We also run goggle maps, just in case.

[Soundsailor]

I don't have much to add about the tools (also use a Garmin RV GPS, RV Trip Wizard, etc.). Just wanted to add one caveat to all this: the devices and routing tools are only as good as the data fed to them. Sometimes state and local authorities are not reliable or prompt about updating information to the various databases when roads have been resurfaced - often raising the road and decreasing the clearance by several inches. As a result, I never rely on "squeak by" situations - always shoot for at least a foot of extra clearance. A good rule of thumb is to watch the semis... if you don't see any in front of you or coming your way, think twice.

Rob

Hey Rob (@Second Chance), do you see much difference between the Garmin and the app? I'm leaning towards an app-based GPS since it will integrate better with what I'm already using. Don't want the dash to get too crowded with another screen.

[MoonShadow_1911]

Hey Rob @Second Chance), do you see much difference between the Garmin and the app? I'm leaning towards an app-based GPS since it will integrate better with what I'm already using. Don't want the dash to get too crowded with another screen.

I know you were asking @Second Chance, but I'll chime in here.

We started using the RV Trip Wizard app and it seemed to work well, however, on it last trip to Livingston, there were several times the app just locked up. On two of those occasions, I had to reboot my phone.

So, what I do now is use RV Trip Wizard, on the computer, to map out and plan the trip, including fuel stops, then I export it out, then import it into the Garmin RV 780 GPS. Several extra steps, but easier to plan. I will also use Google Earth and Google Maps (with the Low Clearances POIs) to check anything I might have concerns with.

[JM0397]

For planning & route scouting: https://tripwizard.rvlife.com/
Then run Android Auto on my phone to the Truck's entertainment center and use Google Maps for the actual drive.
Annoyingly, for some reason the Trip Wizard app doesn't come through the Android Auto app, hence why I'm using Google Maps for the actual drive and copilot has alternate directions if we need to go a different way around.

[livinthelife]

One thing we’ve come across is the height of the Solitude and low clearances. There are some old railroad crossings, bridges that are sooooo close to our 13’5”. What does everyone use for gps? Waze doesn’t have an additional way to modify, nor does google maps. Thanks I’m advance!!

We use Sygic. It was originally a trucker app, but they now do RVs. You tell it your height, width, and weight, and it will route you around KNOWN trouble spots.

[sande005]

Not much to add - I use
Trip Wizard for route planning at home, including low clearances, and the a Garmin RV GPS on the road. Note that importing routes to the Garmin really only imports waypoints, so the Garmin may or may not have a little different idea as to the best route.
The only issue I've had with the Garmin and low clearances - if there is one on the route, it will route you around, but sometimes for a really long detour, with no indication as to why it is adding 100 miles to your trip! On US 1 in Calif. it did this, and I ignored it. It got more and more insistent that I was going to die really soon, the further along we got. Yet I saw Greyhounds coming the other way. Turns out the height of the tunnel we came to was below our minimum at the very edge of the shoulder, but a couple of feet extra in the actual travel lane. So they do do the job, but conservative and hard to decide whether to take the detour or not....

[Second Chance]

Hey Rob (@Second Chance), do you see much difference between the Garmin and the app? I'm leaning towards an app-based GPS since it will integrate better with what I'm already using. Don't want the dash to get too crowded with another screen.

My dash has more technology on it that the planes I flew in the '70s (minus the NavComs, of course - and they didn't have GPS, yet). The main difference I notice between the Garmin RV GPS and RV Trip Wizard (the only "app" I use) is that the Garmin will usually give me a choice of routes to choose from. I combine data from RVTW, The Mountain Directory, and the Garmin to select my final route(s).

Rob

[Second Chance]

I know you were asking @Second Chance, but I'll chime in here.

We started using the RV Trip Wizard app and it seemed to work well, however, on it last trip to Livingston, there were several times the app just locked up. On two of those occasions, I had to reboot my phone.

So, what I do now is use RV Trip Wizard, on the computer, to map out and plan the trip, including fuel stops, then I export it out, then import it into the Garmin RV 780 GPS. Several extra steps, but easier to plan. I will also use Google Earth and Google Maps (with the Low Clearances POIs) to check anything I might have concerns with.

And... I forgot to mention that I only use RVTW on my laptop for planning. I only use the Garmin RV GPS in the truck.

Rob

[Jims94vmx]

Have been using the Garmin RV 890. Great GPS, we love it.

Same here. Does great job.

[Jangle2]

Thank you ALL!! We have time before our next trip to check a couple of these out.