maps or gps

I used to use Delorme's Street Atlas series and USB receiver along with my laptop and a RM trucker's atlas for restricted roads/heights. Nice thing about GPS is that you don't have to waste time looking for street signs at night or in crappy weather.

 

You really need an atlas to go along with any GPS unit you use in my opinion. I use a Garmin GPS. It has a setting for trucks but will still route you on non truck routes if it thinks that is the only way. Obviously there is always another route that you can take. The unit I have was not made specifically for trucks. Garmin does have one that they advertise for a "semi" but it has the same software as mine.

Co-pilot makes software that is probably the best for a large truck. Problem is that you need to have a smart phone or computer to use it. It can and will make mistakes however as I have a friend that uses it. It sent him down a road that had a low bridge that was listed in the atlas he had. Fortunately he paid attention to the signs and did not hit the bridge.

A GPS is a great tool to go along with an atlas and common sense.

Good luck.

 

Jonny1, thanks for the tip on Bizrate. I'll try there also. I've been looking on E-Bay, not much cheaper than regular retail...

 

Which Garmin are they advertising for "semi" ?

 

You better have a deep wallet.

StreetPilot 7500
Part Number: 010-00400-20
Suggested Retail Price: $ 1392.84 USD

Found at Circuit City for over a $1,000

You can get a computer laptop and software for a total of around $800 if you go with the cheapest computer and pick the software you like. That price of $800 is paying $299 for Co-pilot for trucks. Bigger screens and can do what the Garmin does and more.

I would like to know as well which one NMR has it maybe cheaper. I for one hope it's a lot cheaper then around $1000

 

I have used a Garmin Ique M3 for over a year with no problems, Funny thing about this unit is it seems to learn. When I first got it it would try to send me on a highway I couldn't be on. After about 5 trips it didn't route me on that highway anymore. I also have a Garmin Nuvi350. Both are good units for trucks. But when in doubt I pull the routing and verify with the atlas. The Ique I bought for $399, and the Nuvi cost $450. The Ique is a PDA with a build in GPS, and I have seen that Walmart is carrying its cousin now for like $599. Its just a newer unit so I'll stick with what I have. I used a TomTom 510 for a few weeks. Liked the interface wasn't impressed with the routing.