Looking for a GPS

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Newf28, Jan 8, 2021.

  1. Newf28

    Newf28 Bobtail Member

    1
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    Jan 8, 2021
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    Hi there I’m new to the industry and looking to purchase a new gps for both city and OTR what are the best and most reliable ones out there ?
     
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  3. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    10,011
    41,498
    Jan 13, 2013
    SW Arkansas
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    Rand Mcnally's been having problems lately. Garmin seems to get ok reports. The Hammer app is truck routing and it is free.
     
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  4. Espressolane

    Espressolane Road Train Member

    14,875
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    Nov 21, 2009
    Just south of the north 40
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    I would not recommend a Rand McNally product at this time. The company has been having financial problems over the last several years and has been bought and sold to private equity companies 3 or 4 times in the last few years as well. The products have a number of reoccurring problems as well as the class action legal actions concerning a few of the products. A google search on these topics will return a number of results.
     
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  5. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    My Rand McNally 740.worked well with a few glitches for almost 4 years. RM, despite all claims stops updating maps 2 years after a new model is released to the public. Mine hasn't had a MAP/database update for a couple of years.

    I'm using my Love's points to buy a Garmin 785. RM are delicate and badly supported.
     
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  6. uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    Apr 9, 2009
    Humboldt, Sk
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    I have a Garmin Dezl truck specific gps
    Generally I like it, no technical issues.
    But as with all gps you cannot trust them.
    You still need to be able to read a map and have a general idea of where you are going.
    I have seen it route me 83 miles to go some place that was only 17 miles away. I took the known direct route.
    I stopped at a truck stop. When heading back out to the highway it wanted me to go the wrong direction 31 miles, do a u-turn then resume on the proper course.
    I needed to take a left at a light. It said to go straight one block, hang a right, a right, a right and then go straight.
    So if you don’t have a clue where you are going, you’ll be putting on a lot of extra miles.
     
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  7. WesternPlains

    WesternPlains Road Train Member

    6,236
    47,802
    Sep 1, 2017
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    Get a Garmin with a built in dash cam. That cam will save you.
    Garmin do a whole bunch. Don’t have all the answers. Sometimes goofy. But mostly... it’s a whole lotta tool.
    You’ll love it.
     
  8. MBAngel

    MBAngel Medium Load Member

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    Apr 1, 2018
    Tucson, Arizona
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    I use my GPS as a secondary. I count more on the company routing in my qualcom. I have a rm tnd80. Never buy one of these. The #### gps is so unreliable, I can only use it to suggest break stops, and then I have to remember which exit to take because the GPS goes out 5 miles from the exit. Pos.
     
  9. laaylor

    laaylor Road Train Member

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    Oct 16, 2007
    Creston, Wa
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    I love my garmin! I’ve used it for years: I tried rand McNally once about 4 years ago and the darn thing quit on me in less than a year...
     
  10. MysticHZ

    MysticHZ Road Train Member

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    May 28, 2010
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    It does that because it doesn't know you parked ... It's trying to safely route you back to the interstate based on the direction you turned when you got off. You can reset your route while you're parked of you want.
     
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  11. Dennixx

    Dennixx Road Train Member

    4,154
    12,727
    Feb 13, 2010
    twin cities
    0
    I 2nd the dezl.
    Rand McNally for maps.
    Garmin for GPS...imho.
     
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