Need advice: Garmin dezl 760 or Rand McNally TM720??

Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by dutchie-OTR, Mar 7, 2013.

  1. MJ1657

    MJ1657 Road Train Member

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    I have the Garmin Dezl and really like it.

    Best part for me is that it keeps track of my Ifta
     
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  3. skellr

    skellr Road Train Member

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    The Garmin 760 and the RM 720 are both overpriced, unreliable, rip-offs. It boggles the mind how these units made it pa$t quality control.

    No I don't have a good recommendation for a good GPS. The routing is easier to change on the Rand so it's the one I use the most.

    If i was to do this again I would buy something cheap so I wouldn't feel so shafted if it falls on it's face.
     
  4. k7tkr

    k7tkr Medium Load Member

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    There is no real good answer to this....it all depends on what you want in a PND and the kind of control you want over it and the data you want it to display. And only you can answer that for yourself. Sometimes I think the best way to do it is to buy one, play with it a while and if you don't like it- take it back and exchange for the competing device.

    Or...

    Go here and check out his excellent feature list on the top models

    https://www.dieselboss.com/

    Bottom line is both will get you where you want to go. Both are feature rich and offer extended features as well. I have both and my like or dislike on both units comes down to personal preferences in device aesthetics and manufactures approach to navigation and route building. Basically, I tend to get a little nit-picky but I also consider myself to be a very experienced user of these things. So believe me when I repeat that only you can decide for yourself which one- if any of these- will work for you. One thing is for sure though, both are competing hard for the top spot in truck specific PNDs. And unfortantly, both units suffer from problems in the databases (both the map and restrictions) and both suffer from hardware issues in one degree or another. It is no different then looking at buying any complicated piece of electronic hardware.

    One thing though, whatever you decide to buy if you do decide to buy one- take the time to really learn how to use it and get the most advantage from all the features the device has to offer [before] you get mad with it. Take the the time to learn what it can do and it's limitations. You will be less declined to shoot it when it does something you don't understand if you take the time to learn the unit. Read the manual!

    Good luck.
     
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  5. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    I have to add something here that I think may help out.

    I buy Garmin products and would never consider anything but Garmin. The reason is that Garmin is more than a company that just prints maps or has a third party engineering group do the work for them. They have a reputation for high end products and customer service that exceeds anything that Rand can ever provide, being in the Nav business since 1989. Their products are used in highly accurate Nav units that go into passenger aircraft, rescue helos and military equipment while Rand prints maps.

    Every company has bad products, Garmin is no exception but there is more to it than just the product, there is customer service, listening to the end users and so on. The commitment of the company also matters, I don't see it with Rand compared to Garmin. I have given feedback about the errors in the maps, I have sent them a list of features that they could add on to their units and a couple appear in the updates but I don't see it happening with other companies like Cobra or others like I do with Garmin.

    As for customer care, I don't have to worry about games being played with Garmin or having a store receipt. I was given a Nav unit for my birthday a while ago and it had issues. I called customer service and they gave me an RMA when I said it was a gift. NO BS, no "oh you have to be the original purchaser" just OK here is the RMA. The turn around time was quick, and the unit when it came back hasn't given me a problem.

    The bottom line is this we work in our trucks not offices and our equipment has to be dependable. Knowing where we are going and how to get there is very important to make even the smallest decision about what to buy.
     
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  6. k7tkr

    k7tkr Medium Load Member

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    @Ridgeline

    Can't find anything wrong with your post.... same boat here and a long long time user of Garmin products. However, RM has managed to come up with highly competitive unit, enough so that Garmin and RM find themselves fighting for the top spot. The differences lie in the approach to the problems of navigation and route development. No bones about it, it's a high quality unit. And before anyone mentions the problems....well Garmin has hardware and software issues as well. Unfortantly, over comming "bugs" seems to be the norm with trucker specific devices. They all suffer from some malady of some sort. My specific issues with the 720 largely involve the over all clunkyness of the device and the over crowded map page. It just doesn't run as smoothly as does the 760 which over all, has a cleaner sharper look with an uncluttered map page and customizable data fields. It also runs faster. Garmin went with an Android based system whereas RM went with a Windows based system. Makes a difference. Having said that though, the 720 edges out the 760 in functionality in routing with it's ability to more narrowly define route parameters. After that it's a matter of take it or leave it features that have little to do with the mission of the device and are only added selling features. Like these external weather features...eye candy.

    Point is that both units match up pretty well against each other and making it an issue of personal like. Sort of like the Android vs IPhone debate. Add to that that both units are comparable priced, offer both lifetime map and software updates, and are backed by usually competent and knowledgeable customer service. Both also have learning curves in learning the unit something I cannot stress enough.


    Mark
     
  7. J_FROG

    J_FROG Road Train Member

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    To answer your question Mark, go back and read my post. I said... at the time I did not have the money and was told to contact them again when I was ready. Which I did and was then told they never said that, then when I called again was told they never offered lifetime updates and I never had them. Another lie.
    Now I've sent you my information as you requested, you said to expect them or you to contact me to resolve this... I'm still waiting patiently. Its been 2 weeks now. But don't worry, if and when there is a rsolution I will post that too.
    But as of right now, my future choices will be the garmin. They haven't lied to me...yet.
     
  8. blazer1

    blazer1 Light Load Member

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    Another vote for garmin, it's only put me on a weight restricted road once or twice.
     
  9. Rustynutt

    Rustynutt Bobtail Member

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    Bottom line ......... just buy Garmin as their hardware is much much better and your new gps won't be sitting broken & useless like my RM is mere months after your $400 purchase ;-)
     
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2013
  10. tonyb103

    tonyb103 Bobtail Member

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    When I originally bought my first RM TND 500 it came with "lifetime updates". Those were updates to the road construction database and the software, not the maps. Back when that unit first came out nobody making a Truck specific map database was giving away free maps. That is a rather recent incentive that appeared in the last couple of years when the competition became stiffer with more units available.

    That being said, I had a problem with my TND 500 and was able to send it back to them and they fixed it.

    The issued with the power plug..well, my unit has that issue now. I look at it this way. The thing is over 3 years old now and it's been on the dashboard of a truck bouncing down the road for all that time, and it's been plugged in. That vibration will eventually wear it out. It's a mechanical piece of equipment, it does that. That's the reason all manufacturer warranties are limited on time. Things wear out.

    I'm looking at buying a new gps myself now and am looking at the same two units. I'm leaning toward the RM 720 just for personal preferences and ease of use.

    Just my two cents my friend.
     
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  11. tonyb103

    tonyb103 Bobtail Member

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    Nov 3, 2010
    Trenton, Tn
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    If yours was only months old, it would still be under warranty. Why didn't you send it back?
     
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