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The Bad News and the Good News and the Bad News RM TND 720 vs Garmin 770

Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by 6daysontheroad, May 2, 2015.

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  1. May 2, 2015 #1
    6daysontheroad

    6daysontheroad Medium Load Member

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    Dec 15, 2012
    North of the Rio Grande
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    First the bad news. After 3 years my TND 720 finally took a dump right after I bought a memory card and did a map update on it. Don't know if the update has anything to do with it or not. But now it will run for a couple of hours then gets hot and shuts down.
    The good news is this gave me an excuse to buy the Garmin DEZL 770. And now the other bad news, After about a week of using the Garmin, today I had it set to take me to a particular truckstop. It routed me off one exit too early and led me through a bunch of Kentucky back roads a told me to navigate off-road. After an extra 5 miles through the mule trails I ended up about a mile away back on the interstate from where I took the exit LOL. This reminded me of my TND 720 so much it brought a tear to my eye.
    now instead of warnings that my route will take me on dirt roads, I am being told to prepare to navigate off-road. I can't believe that these GPS companies expect me to use a map and my brain to keep from getting into trouble. Oh well, I guess it's back to the atlas and Thomas Street Guide. The only problem with this is, at my age I have to stop about every 5 miles to look at the map because I forget where I am going.
     
    6daysontheroad, May 2, 2015
    6daysontheroad, May 2, 2015
    #1
    mrg1, DUNE-T, 4noReason and 2 others Thank this.
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  3. May 2, 2015 #2
    CallOfTheWild

    CallOfTheWild Light Load Member

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    Maybe next time you'll learn to read a map...
     
    CallOfTheWild, May 2, 2015
    CallOfTheWild, May 2, 2015
    #2
    112racing, Mr.X, joseph1135 and 1 other person Thank this.
  4. May 2, 2015 #3
    poppapump1332

    poppapump1332 Road Train Member

    2,987
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    Jan 2, 2010
    birdsboro,pa
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    You guys spend too much money on those gps just get a map and make a phone call to shipper/receiver id rather spend that 300-400 on cb stuff yep im old school.
     
    poppapump1332, May 2, 2015
    poppapump1332, May 2, 2015
    #3
  5. May 2, 2015 #4
    STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Longview, TX
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    The Garmins will do that at a few locations here and there. Once you program in a new or first-time stop or truck stop or whatever, it's always a good idea to view the route overview to completion BEFORE you get too near the destination, and see if it makes sense. Garmin's database of low bridges and weight restricted roads is not too accurate or updated. There are a number of erroneous entries that creates problems like you mention. That said, I still prefer Garmin DEZL units over Rand McNally but there's not much wrong with the RM's other then personal preference and the way the interface works (for me)

    Garmin's error reporting system is almost non-existent and once you find out where/how, the process is not very user friendly so I gave up reporting errors to Garmin.
     
    STexan, May 2, 2015
    STexan, May 2, 2015
    #4
  7. May 3, 2015 #5
    6daysontheroad

    6daysontheroad Medium Load Member

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    Dec 15, 2012
    North of the Rio Grande
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    I like my electronic gadgets, but I'm not as bad as some. I see some of these guys with 3 or 4 GPS's plus their smartphone on a holder.
    If it can't even find a truckstop along a major interstate maybe it's time to go back to old school. One caveat about calling shipper/receiver is that if you get someone that has never driven a truck giving directions that can also get a guy into problems
     
    6daysontheroad, May 3, 2015
    6daysontheroad, May 3, 2015
    #5
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  8. May 3, 2015 #6
    Hardlyevr

    Hardlyevr Road Train Member

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    Since you are posting on the internet, you obviously have access to it, so when you know where your destination for the trip or day is, look it up on Google or Bing maps and see what exit and streets you must take. The gps is fine for along the way, but it is best to know how YOU want to get to the destination ahead of time.
     
    Hardlyevr, May 3, 2015
    Hardlyevr, May 3, 2015
    #6
    6daysontheroad Thanks this.
  9. May 3, 2015 #7
    6daysontheroad

    6daysontheroad Medium Load Member

    462
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    Dec 15, 2012
    North of the Rio Grande
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    Yeah, normally I preview the route my Gps is giving then use google maps or earth to look at it and make sure it's kosher, especially when going into delivery or pickup because every GPS I've tried usually falls flat on its face going into a lot of cities.
     
    6daysontheroad, May 3, 2015
    6daysontheroad, May 3, 2015
    #7
  10. May 3, 2015 #8
    Mr.X

    Mr.X Heavy Load Member

    737
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    Oct 31, 2013
    Spokane, WA
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    Funny as hell) ,because it's true! Cool digital toys,but when it comes to driving a truck it is literally the thought that counts!
     
    Mr.X, May 3, 2015
    Mr.X, May 3, 2015
    #8
  11. May 3, 2015 #9
    STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Longview, TX
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    To be fair, one would expect a GPS device to properly route you to a simple truck stop off of an interstate exit. "Reading a map" in this situation is hardly called for. Do you consult the atlas when you're trying to get to a truck stop 50 miles up the road? What good is an atlas going to do to help you get to a truck stop?
     
    STexan, May 3, 2015
    STexan, May 3, 2015
    #9
  12. May 3, 2015 #10
    Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

    20,736
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    Dec 18, 2011
    Michigan
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    No trucker should ever use a GPS to get to a truck stop.
     
    Ridgeline, May 3, 2015
    Ridgeline, May 3, 2015
    #10
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