Truck GPS units are making my head spin!!

I have Garmin dezl 560lmt and its pretty good...but honestly if you have a smartphone, i would just get a dash mount and use that instead so it'll save you money and its more convenient. If i had my iphone back then, i wouldnt have even bought the GPS. I use my iphone and the google maps app works wonders especially for the street view where i can preview an area so ill have an idea of what to look for.

 

I wouldn't go with the Smartphone GPS unless you get a Truck Specific one, even then most of those will need a data connection to work also.
No Data/No GPS, then unless you have unlimited internets it could use a bit of Data.


I would Pick between the Rand McNally or the Garmin.

 

Upside of smartphone gps is lower initial cost.

Downsides....

1. No coverage no gps. This can be a big issue for some carriers like T-mobile, where you have large swaths of the country that have no coverage. Dedicated GPS units are satellite based.

2. You get a phone call and need to answer it, then it gets complicated to continue using GPS.... but you shouldn't add another distraction on top of distraction.

3. Using a smartphone for GPS burns data time like you won't believe.

 

Wait till you try to use it in Canada. You will see VERY HIGH charges.

 

I use Rand Mcnally 720, You have to work with it and not let it do all the thinking but I like it. Ive got electronic log, so some of the function are real nice. Like it will show how many miles to dest., what time you should arrive, and how many hours to dest. Ive been able to run my log within 3 min. without going over. Shows where rest areas are truckstops, Walmarts, krogers, ect. And you can pick one and add it to your route via. There is alot more to it but thats what I use it for mostly. Sometimes I get into arguments with it, in how it routes me but does good most of the time. Ive never tried the othere brands before so they may have same functions? I know I always said Id never get one, now I have one and I really like it.

 

WOW im glad my data is unlimited...

 

In that case i would just give the garmin deal 560lmt a try then...

 

I've got a gripe about Garmin. I've had a (non trucking) GPS in my car for about four or five years. I keep it updated regularly, having subscribed to the lifetime updates. My grip is simply that it seems to get more stupid with each update! Sure, they show new stuff on there.
But I am also seeing things that they used to get right, that are now totally out of whack. Things like taking you past your exit, to the next exit, then routing you back to where you should have got off the freeway in the first place! I've seen it in VEGAS quite a few times. OK, so they are growing and changing things there all the time. But it also does it right around here, in places that haven't changed in 20 years.
I don't know about any of the other GPS brands, as Garmin is the only one I've ever had, and up until a couple of years ago, I was happy with each of them.

 

ummm, you get the appropriate program. NO INTERNET REQUIRED.

copilot does just that. you download the entire map into your phone.

the downside is wear and tear from heat exhaustion. your phone won't last if you keep it lit up.

i use pcmiler. paper map not needed. call me an idiot, naive, insane. but i've had it 2 years now and wouldn't try any other brand. it's been that good.

but since 80% of my OTR has been west. we'll see the true test as i start roaming the east.