Rand Mcnally or Garmin Trucker GPS

People always prefer the brand they have. The guys who use a rand will say the rand units are the best. The guys who use a garmin will say they're the best. The truth is they both work well. I doubt you'd be disappointed with either one.

Something to consider when making your choice is what the focus of each company is. Rand is primarily a paper map company, garmin is primarily a GPS company.

 

So, mixed reviews.

I have the RM 510.
Overall I am happy with it, but it does have its problems.

But I imagine, so does every other unit out there.

It doesn't always find the best route, and sometimes says I am off the road.
But then, my map is 2 years old and there have been many road changes. Sometimes it seems just a few yards off, and sometimes I am traveling in an area that the RM doesn't even see a road.

But it is good at getting me back on route if I miss a turn or have to go around the block.
It is good with low clearance situations or roads that have weight restrictions as well.

I need to pay for the updated maps...

 

garmin has free map updates on all the gps's. I like the garmin but never had to use any others, But they are all pretty close to the same, some might be more technical.

 

tried the rand.

2 weeks later went with pcmiler. haven't looked back.

 

It has to have LM behind the number to get the free lifetime updates. There are many models you have to pay for the updates and it's like $59.99.
I like their little icon downloads plus they have voice downloads. I downloaded one the other day that sounds like a monster. He says stupid stuff at random like "What was that noise in the trunk"? lol
They have Yoda, Darth Vader, Alvin and a few other cartoon characters.

They all use Navteq mapping software. I think TomTom is the only one that writes their own software which sucks. The others just do modifications.
Iway had the best GPS's with Lorance C but they went back to strictly handheld and marine. My Peterbilt had one factory in the dash loaded with all the truckers goodies. None of the rest compared to it. Though I seen a few high dollar ones on the market lately. In the thousands.

The Garmin Nuvi 50LM is good for the buck. Free updates, traffic camera's, split screen showing lane count and what lane you should be in. It shows trucks stops under POI. Use the search feature helps finding them. They are about $140 now.

 

The new Rally Mcnally ''7'' inck screen. The Best!

 

I've used a Garmin Nuvi (car based) and now have a Garmin dezl 560 LMT. The issue isn't with the device, in so much as with NTTS who makes the maps, they don't confirm things they are told. The route I run every two weeks is truck compliant and confirmed by Colorado State Patrol and Colorado Dept. of Transportation as well as matches up with Motor Carriers Atlas. Yet, the GPS keeps trying to route me 30 miles and 1 hr out of route. I've complained to NTTS, they are working on it for future updates. I will say though that Garmin customer service and repair are superb, the Garmin on use on my motorcycle quit working two days after I bought it. They spent 45 minutes on the phone with me troubleshooting it before having me send it in for repair. I shipped it to them on Weds., they received it Thursday morning, repaired it and shipped it back out Friday morning, UPS screwed the pooch and didn't deliver it til Monday when it was marked for Sat. delivery, all I paid for was one way of the shipping.

No matter which model you chose, always check your route via Motor Carriers atlas and/or a phone call.

 

I have a rand 510. Actually 2 of them as I won one as a door prize during appreciation days at my company. I like it and its fairly accurate. A few of our drivers have the garmin and they don't have any complaints about them. I would not hesitate in getting either of them. I got the initial rand as I found it on sale for much less than the garmin.

 

one quibble i have with the Rand 510 is that it does not have free map upgrades.