Garmin or rv trip wizard - another gps thread

Oldcow

Senior Member
RV LIFE Pro
Joined
Oct 12, 2012
Messages
359
Location
Eastern Canada
Is an RV gps really a needed tool? Can RV Trip Wizard with google maos do the trick?

I have neither but swore I would never buy another Garmin as I use mostly user friendly apps when navigating my bikes on and off road. I understand the functionality of the RV GPS. I have yet to use RV Trip Wizard but will download that soon.

Oldcow
 
Is an RV gps really a needed tool? Can RV Trip Wizard with google maos do the trick?

I have neither but swore I would never buy another Garmin as I use mostly user friendly apps when navigating my bikes on and off road. I understand the functionality of the RV GPS. I have yet to use RV Trip Wizard but will download that soon.

Oldcow

I use a combination of Google and Sygic. Sygic is a travel site from out of the US initially set up for trucks, but have added RVs to their capabilities.
 
I'm not convinced that an RV specific GPS is necessary, but I would hate to be without my Garmin Nuvi 2539. I plan all my trips, input the routes and go. It works well for me. I have tried Trip Wizard and am getting more used to it, but it hasn't replaced Basecamp yet. :)
 
RV Trip Wizard for planning purposes. A good RV GPS for daily travels.

Google maps will just send you down a road you shouldn't be on. And it will also reroute you to one of those too during heavy traffic periods.

There are some smartphone apps. So you see some feedback on those.

May view is that after spending tens of thousands of dollars on a truck and camper, now is not the time to act cheap and use apps instead of dedicated tools (like an RV GPS).
 
I use the older Garmin 760LMT and it has lifetime updates & I update each qtr. I might use a google map on my phone as a backup but I'm not depending on cell service to be everywhere & it's not , but satellite signal is allways there ( it can be not there for different reasons but rare ) .
When it dies will get another Garmin rv unit
 
RV Trip Wizard for planning purposes. A good RV GPS for daily travels.

Google maps will just send you down a road you shouldn't be on. And it will also reroute you to one of those too during heavy traffic periods.

There are some smartphone apps. So you see some feedback on those.

May view is that after spending tens of thousands of dollars on a truck and camper, now is not the time to act cheap and use apps instead of dedicated tools (like an RV GPS).

It's more about limiting the number of screens than being cheap. But $1,000 does hurt.

I use the older Garmin 760LMT and it has lifetime updates & I update each qtr. I might use a google map on my phone as a backup but I'm not depending on cell service to be everywhere & it's not , but satellite signal is allways there ( it can be not there for different reasons but rare ) .
When it dies will get another Garmin rv unit

And I probably will as well get a Garmin even though I do not find them as user friendly as apps that can also be connected to my truck screen.

Oldcow
 
I use a Garmin RV890. I can't comment on other alternatives, but I can say that the Garmin has the range of capabilities that I need:

Large (tablet-size) screen
Length/Height-specific routing
Traffic via phone connections with estimates of delays
Weather radar overlay on route (which is REALLY nice if there's severe WX bearing down on the route)
Database of campgrounds, POIs, Flying Js, etc., with reviews (Trip Advisor) and other information
Warnings for:
• Speed limit changes
• Steep grades
• Sharp turns
• Narrow bridges
• RR crossings, school zones, red light cameras, etc.
Save/recall routes
Search along route and add stops to current route
And lots of other features I'm not thinking of.

...and so on. I suppose it's possible to cobble together apps and websites to get the same range of functionality, but it's nice having everything in-place in a single device.

Skip
 
Garmin 890 here also. Lifetime updates and they are frequent so I update before each long trip. I like that it takes height and length into account. And I like that it is easy to modify your route on the device by pointing to the alternate road you want; especially handy if you don't always want to take the fastest or shortest route as we like to take backroads. I use RV Trip Wizard to plan the route then duplicate it on the Garmin. Works for us, but you'll have to find what works best for you. An RV GPS certainly is not needed but once you get used to one it will be hard to give up. I also like that it's just always there and on, and our phones are free for other things.
 
Garmin 890 here has worked great .
We traveled in Canada and our phones wouldn't work .
We camp in alot of places without cell service.
 
Garmin 890 while driving but RV Tripwizard for planning. My wife runs the trip wizard in background on travel days just as a back up but I don’t like seeing that low bridge sign that is less than my height 13-6. Not that common but we have experienced that before we ran with The 890. Considering what we pay for everything else the cost of a reliable GOS seems pretty negligible.
 

As is the 795 - at $609.99Cdn. https://www.gpscity.ca/garmin-rv-795-gps-navigator-for-rv-and-camping

My truck has Android Auto (and Apple CarPlay) which I use after I have parked the trailer. With a downloaded map of the area, a mobile/cell connection isn't needed. And my RV 890 takes a fair amount of precious windshield view. But the limitations of Android Auto spurred me to buy a dedicated RV GPS for towing. And I work pretty well in Basecamp due to previous experience planning motorcycle trips for a dedicated m/c GPS.
 
I have an rv GPS. It is literally the worst thing I have purchased for the rv. It’s the garmin rv 780. It is always wrong and has never helped me in any capacity. Just use your phone and if you can save the maps to your phone so if you lose data it will still work.
 
I have an rv GPS. It is literally the worst thing I have purchased for the rv. It’s the garmin rv 780. It is always wrong and has never helped me in any capacity. Just use your phone and if you can save the maps to your phone so if you lose data it will still work.

Saving map is all good tell you want to change your route
 

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