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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Technology On The Road -> GPS Software
Post Info TOPIC: GPS Software
jholderbaum


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GPS Software
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So I tried to do a search, but didn ot see anything that was newer than a year old:

What is the best GPS Software?

This is actually two-fold, I have a laptop that I built a mount for in the center of my current truck.  I use Microsoft Streets and Trips to initially plan my route, then use Delorme's Street Atlas to do the actualy navigating.  Mind you, these products are from back in 2007.  Most of the places I go now, I don't need the GPS at all, since they are usually horse shows at places I have been to over and over and over again.

I also used this setup in my Old 32' Gas rig, but never worried about how tall it was.  In that rig, I replaced the old back-up black&white 'tv' monitor with a 14" LCD display, then piped the camera into my laptop and overlayed the map with the camera when needed (not to mention it was a LOT bigger)

We are planning on buying a RV, most likely one that is 5'+ taller than our current truck/horse trailer combo, meaning I will actually have to worry about the rig fitting under things.  I want to mount either the laptop or a monitor like I did in our old 32' RV, but also want to have the 'latest and greatest' software running the GPS, that is hopefully reasonably priced.

I've looked over Delorme's latest, and it does not mention anything about routing for RVs, or by clearences/propane limited routes at all (I am hopeing to get a all-electric rig though).

I have the latest (2013) Streets & Trips, and it definitly does not have any allowance for clearences.  I use it to route motorcycle trips, then with a little 3rd party utility transfer the route to my Motorcycle-mounted GPS.

I did see the Co-Pilot software, and it is very attractive, but at $189 it seems like a lot.  I will end up buying this if it comes down to it, but I'd like options.

What do you all use?  Different for routing than real-time driving?

Jess



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bjoyce


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http://www.discoveryowners.com/cginfo.htm has map overlays for both Streets and Trips and Street Atlas, including ones for clearances like 12' 4", etc.  The text files normally can be imported in anything, including older software.  



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jholderbaum


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It seems MS Streets and Trips does not create routsthat exclude those clearances (one of them is new where I live), whle informative, its not really what I would want for either routing, or as a live-navigator.

Jess

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bjoyce


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There are also GPS apps for iPad/Android from Copilot and Rand McNally to handle RVs and other big rigs. They keep the entire map on the device so you do not need internet access while driving down the road. But the device does need a GPS, which not all have.  Some friends think the $100 cost of the Rand McNally RV GPS app is worth it with their iPad 3.  Others seem to like CoPilot, but the Android Truck app is $150.



-- Edited by bjoyce on Wednesday 3rd of April 2013 07:32:18 PM

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krackle12


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Have you considered some of the RV specifc GPS units available? They are pricey but they use that data for routing, although its not perfect but what is.

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MarkS


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I would just stick to truck routes in areas that I did not know. When I was driving for a living I never ran into low clearance situations using that rule. One rainy cold night in Chicago I broke my rule and had to stop traffic to turn a 53' trailer around on a busy street.

Bottom line is, I would never trust my roof to technology.

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bjoyce


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MarkS: You will appreciate the vidoes on this site, http://11foot8.com/ , of a 11' 8" bridge in Durham NC.  Someone who shouldn't tries to go under it about once a month and a guy documents it.



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Terry and Jo


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I don't have personal experience except to relate the story of someone who had problems with using electronic directions.  In their case, it was with On-Star's gps system and they were in the East somewhere.  The On-Star wanted to shift them to an interstate or turnpike that was automobiles only.  They ended up being stuck "downtown" with no help coming their way from On-Star's operators.  They were evidently using their own GPS's maps.  Finally, with their help and a police officer, they go ta route back to a highway they could use.  The only issue was an 11'+ bridge that peeled back the roof of their fifth wheel.

Since then, I've read of folks saying that they would travel over to Pennsylvania before continuing either North or South around that area, just so they can avoid New York City.

Here is a link to a thread that lists some different atlas products:

Road/Truckers Atlas

The Rand McNally Motor Carrier's Atlas can be found at Rand McNally's website.  Rand McNally also has some GPS products that are designed for trucks and RV's, so one might check them out to see what they offer in the way of low clearance sites.

RV GPS

There is also an updated RV GPS on the above Rand McNally RV GPS site which is the 7720 model.  I think I saw it at Amazon's website as well.

Terry



-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Friday 5th of April 2013 09:50:57 PM

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Neil and Connie


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My suggestion; forget using standard GPS software on your computer or phone or a standard auto GPS. Get one of the Trucker units (we've got a Garmin). In the setup you put in your length, weight, and height and the GPS calculates the route based on your size (along with the standard U turn, toll roads, ferries, and other choices. It doesn't take you where you won't fit or aren't legally allowed to go.

Once you've done this; don't forget to actually pay attention anyway; we always watch the overpass height and weight limits (only really applicable on 2 lane smaller roads) as well…just in case the GPS has inaccurate information.

Ours is (I think) the 465 series; we got the one that includes lifetime traffic updates which have occasionally come in handy. Connie uses the Garmin application on her iPhone as well to double check and it usually varies a little bit from the truck GPS route…we always follow the latter.

Last thing about GPS…you need to learn to trust but verify…we were on a trip a couple years back from Fairfax, VA to Cincinati, OH and back and checked "avoid highways" which according to the manual would only avoid limited access freeways and not standard 4 lane divided highways that are not limited access. We didn't verify and as a result had a quite scenic route through the wilds of West Virginia and southern Ohio.



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MarkS


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Love that website, Bill. What do you suppose all that signage and the flashing lights mean? Low bridges are more prevalent back east. Chicago is famous among truckers for its low bridges. I suppose driving a big truck you are more aware of hazards like that. There are some disciplines that translate to pulling a fiver or driving a class A. One is to read and understand every road sign. Two is check your mirrors every five to eight seconds.

I love my GPS. I have a TomTom car version with C3PO's voice. I like to know where I am and how fast I am going. The remainder of the operational decisions on the bridge of my vessel shall be made by the captain. Route planning shall be accomplished using current documentation before the gearshift is moved to 3rd gear and the clutch engaged. I won't frequently travel on non truck routes. When I do I'll check the roads out to the best of my ability before I go. I will never use my GPS to determine my route without cross checking the route with google maps and a truckers atlas. I'm a wee bit OCD but I never lost the roof of a trailer.

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2004 Volvo 780 530 HP Cummins 13 speed
2014 Trilogy 3650RE
fulltime since Oct 8, 2016
MarkS


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Rand mcnallys motor carrier atlas can be purchased at any of the big four truck stops in three different versions, large print, laminated, and just paper

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MarkS & Jackie
MSgt, USAF, Ret
2004 Volvo 780 530 HP Cummins 13 speed
2014 Trilogy 3650RE
fulltime since Oct 8, 2016
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