Garmin Vs Rand McNally

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Flgtrisk, Apr 26, 2020.

  1. Triumph mc.

    Triumph mc. Bobtail Member

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    Jul 6, 2018
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    Lots of post on here using Google along with their expensive gps! My old tnd 720
    Is practically the exact same as Google!
    What I'm seeing is more money less value; for our money same as today's phones bloatware out the yang.Thanks to all. I'm buying a tablet then downloading smart truck two,with lifetime purchase 300.or so dollars no monthly fees. Its seems like garmin and rnd,are building complete bs units,not updating correctly, power issues,freezing up,losing satellites, turning on off while losing routing,video quality on the dash cam ####ty and shaky, can't even keep em from falling to floorboard ,cheap mounts. with both manufacturers. for 300. To 600.plus $
    Glad ive read all of ure posts uve save me money
    #### U SURE DO GET A LOT FOR URE MONEY
     
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  3. Driver guy

    Driver guy Bobtail Member

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    Oct 1, 2022
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    I’m a little confused? Many of the things guys are saying RM can not do it certainly can. At no time in 12 years has a RM unit ever sent me somewhere I wasn’t aloud to go, but you do need to configure your truck properly in settings. Based on my experience I’m going to assume those who have issues with RM units just do not know how to use it, what else can I say. I can’t tell you about Garmin, never used one. I can tell you the RM units are excellent so long as you read the owners manual and understand how to use it. Im replacing my 550 with a Pro 8 II. It’s 4 years old and time to upgrade.

    Biggest reason I’m upgrading is the ease of dragging to place via points on oversized permitted routes on a bigger screen. As I understand it creating such routes is easier with the pro version.
     
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  4. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    16,234
    Nov 1, 2010
    Burnsville, MN
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    I have a Garmin in my car, but in the truck it will be RM.
    The 5 series, because I don't want a bigger screen blocking even more of my view. That is just a personal thing.

    The newer RM software I really hated for a time. It took away features that I relied on in the older version.
    But the latest updates have fixed most of that.
     
  5. Plantfoam

    Plantfoam Medium Load Member

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    1,125
    Aug 18, 2015
    DFW
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    I recently switched to a RM and so far it's much better than the Garmin I had. It's much easier to find and add stops of different kinds, and there's less false restrictions than the Garmin...which always told me that I-80 had a low bridge by the Delaware water gap.
     
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  6. Siinman

    Siinman Road Train Member

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    11,747
    Mar 5, 2017
    Kansas City, MO.
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    Would love to know how that new one works. Been thinking of upgrading soon.
     
  7. Truckersheldan

    Truckersheldan Light Load Member

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    Jul 30, 2011
    Taneytown, Md.
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    I’ve been running my RM740 for quite awhile now and so far no complaints. One thing I can say is that during any downtime I turn mine off and unplug it. Might just be my imagination but it’s as if it cleans itself out and runs better. I’ve only had a problem one time and that was with a RM510 and that was in Jersey. Led me astray. But again maybe it was just Jersey. Dread my 740 dying. Probably will have to upgrade someday. Definitely will be a RM.
     
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  8. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    I got over 5 years out of my RM740. I prtected it like it was a baby. I kept a sunshield over it. I turned it off and unplugged it when I took my 10 hour brakes. Batteries were not made to be charged to 100% for days and months and years. You can get replacement batteries from PalmDR.com. There are videos on YouTube on how to replace the battery.
     
    Truckersheldan Thanks this.
  9. Truckersheldan

    Truckersheldan Light Load Member

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    Jul 30, 2011
    Taneytown, Md.
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    That’s about what I’ve got on mine. I also take care of mine. When not in use unplug, take out of the window and I put in a case. I do preplan all my runs. I look the route up and write it down. Usually my wife rides along with me so I put her in charge of keeping track of the written route. The RM is great tracking time and mileage to go and usually coincides with my written route. All I can say is I really like it but as I said I don’t rely on it 100%. Although I can say so far it’s never let me down.
     
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