Rand McNally or Garmin

Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by Mototom, May 18, 2021.

  1. Mototom

    Mototom Road Train Member

    1,382
    2,696
    May 7, 2019
    0
    So I have a random McNally 750 and am quite frankly pissed off.
    I spent several hundred dollars on a GPS that falls short of even google maps.

    while google maps might try to take me down a restricted route that’s so much easier to deal with then the nightmare I’m getting.
    RN 750 will take me down country roads with no shoulder 20miles out of the way for NO reason at all.

    it will make me take a left then want me to do a u turn when I could have just taken a right from the beginning.

    it will add zig zag turns for no reason, turns impossible to make with a trailer.

    mid garmin objectively any better? I’m thinking about getting a small 5inch tablet garmin to try. I thought it was like 300$.
     
    disoba Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. God prefers Diesels

    God prefers Diesels Road Train Member

    4,198
    22,246
    Jun 26, 2020
    South Texas
    0
    I'd try out Hammer as an option before you drop some coin. But out of those two choices, Garmin hands down.

    I run Hammer with Google maps as a supplement. Before I start out, I check the route against the RM Atlas. If it all checks out, I roll.
     
    H3R3T1C, Pamela1990, BigTizle and 3 others Thank this.
  4. Mototom

    Mototom Road Train Member

    1,382
    2,696
    May 7, 2019
    0
    That’s what I do now with my IOS maps. Has hammer gotten better? I was a beta tester for them before I quit driving. It seemed decent back then
     
  5. God prefers Diesels

    God prefers Diesels Road Train Member

    4,198
    22,246
    Jun 26, 2020
    South Texas
    0
    It's got it's quirks, and you have to keep your head on a swivel, but I like it. Doesn't seem to be any worse than the horror stories I've heard about the dedicated units. Plus, it's free.
     
    H3R3T1C Thanks this.
  6. Arctic_fox

    Arctic_fox Experienced mx13 execrator

    2,959
    12,512
    Sep 16, 2016
    0
    Garmin is even worse. Mine tries to give me routes such as into the atlantic ocean. Or i will put in an adress one time and it works then the next time i use the exact same address it gives me a route to the other side of the country across rivers.
     
  7. MidWest_MacDaddy

    MidWest_MacDaddy Road Train Member

    10,682
    17,390
    Feb 21, 2015
    South Carolina
    0
    I have an RM 740 that works great for me. I like the what’s ahead of me for planning breaks and stops… but it’s been acting up lately. I was thinking of grabbing a 750 to replace it but hearing some disappointing things like this OP.

    Maybe I can find another 740 someplace.
     
    H3R3T1C and rachi Thank this.
  8. Jenn72

    Jenn72 Medium Load Member

    604
    1,452
    Jun 7, 2019
    0
    I have had my Garmin Desl 780 for a couple of years now. I have never had a problem, thank god.

    I also use the hammer & smart truck route 2. Compare the 3 & come up with the best route.
     
    Timin770 and rachi Thank this.
  9. Lucky12

    Lucky12 Medium Load Member

    600
    2,297
    Nov 24, 2019
    0
    I use one of each:

    RM Overdyve 8

    Garmin OTR 700

    The Garmin directiobs are generally better but the Rand McNally has a ton of cool features I use. My RM is 1st generation. They now come with a new navigation engine, and they have added II to the end of the model name. If you buy a RM be sure to get the new one. I really like having one of each, sometimes either one might not have an address. Also, comparing the total miles for a load, the RM is often shorter on miles whereas the Garmin will add quite a bit in miles to stay on interstate. Since RM improved their navigation engine, it might be my first choice (I haven't used the new version).

    Let us know which one you get and how you like it.
     
  10. CrappieJunkie

    CrappieJunkie Wishin' I was fishin'

    3,962
    18,325
    Mar 9, 2014
    In a van down by the River.
    0
    Never mind. You won't like my answer.
     
  11. Joyce's Volvo

    Joyce's Volvo Light Load Member

    96
    132
    Jun 28, 2016
    0
    Use all avalible info at your disposal , I run with a rm 740 ( I don't completely trust it, has put me in "not to good of places"). I'll verify with the road atlas and then use I- pad (Google) then a state map to see if all is on same page but , have been in places where 740 says ' NO DATA ' , atlas is useless and Google 'no signal ' and really looking for any chance of turning around. Have no advice on choice of gps to offer other than ' don't trust then 100%'
     
    rachi Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.