Truck GPS apps

Snowwy: Could you go into alittle detail about your gps. I havent owned either brand you talk about. Currently running a 720 and it is "good". I had a garmin before. All of them have their good points.
When zoomed in the garmin would show all the street names. Would be nice if the 720 would do that.

 

i don't know all that it can do. i don't mess around with it. i just simply input the address and drive.

it's just a basic gps but it's trucker specific. it don't have all the fancy features some of you like in your units. but for all the fancy features. there's an app for that. on your phone. and free.

it does however do mileage for ifta. and on the rare occasion it can't find an address. my phone has google.

i think the biggest problem with gps's is that drivers have a tendency to DUMBLY go where gps tells them to go. without even looking for the signs. but you do also need to have your specifications set for your truck. if you have it set for 14 feet. it won't steer you on a road with a 12 foot bridge. least it shouldn't anyways.

you need to have your height and your weight programmed. people do that. there gps's will probably have less tendency to steer them on streets they don't belong on. course, i haven't been to chicago to experience the horror stories. or NYC for that matter. so i can't vouch for my gps accuracy in those cities.

the closest i get to chicago is going around that toll. i go up 2 miles then take that 7 mile stretch through the traffic lights over to the 57 i think it is back down to the 80/94

 

The other hugely important settings that affect the routing on the app that you are using (CPTruck) are the "custom road" Avoid/Neutral/Favor area, and the "National Network, 53' trailer, and Override restrictions" check boxes. These can make significant route differences in your truck profile just as much as the truck dimensions.

 

Bingo....
Everyone has heard stories about how the GPS gave bad directions. They are another gadget dumbing down America. Another gizmo to eliminate the thinking part of life! I am 100% for the easier,but everyone, include the thinking part! I am ashamed to admit, but i would hate to be without one now. I still look at a map when in unknown areas. Fuel is to expensive to be riding around, for nothing. GPS is a wonderful tool, but as previously said, it isnt 100%. I travel into RI regualarly. For some reason, the 720 will never use Rt146. Even when on 146 in MA it is trying to detour off every exit. About the time I get to 295 it finally will route via 146, taking off about 25 miles off oringinal gps route .

 

i think it has something to do with staa routes. for instance. 93 from vegas to phoenix. trucks use it. there's even a scale. but gps's don't like it.

the rand i initially tried wanted me to go into flagstaff and down. my pcmiler wants me to take the 95 through cali. 20 miles and half hour difference. but the rand would have been 170 miles.

least pcmiler will eventually accept the route where as rand would constantly scream at you.

it's the same thing with the 550 from durango to albuquerque.

 

I've been running in and out of RI on 146 with my google maps app. Doesn't seem to mind.

I must also confess GPS has a tendency to dumb me down. I used to be able to glance at a map and be good for the day, now I get lost leaving a drop I just drove into using the gps.

 

I have a Google Nexus7 and use CoPilot but I ALWAYS program the entire route and if it's saying "go this way" and I don't want to, I just hit the road I want and a icon pops up and I press "route through here" and customize the route. It's super easy and very fast. The best part is you download the maps to your device so you won't be using data while driving like with Google maps.

 

every time i pick a street with copilot. i end up where i shouldn't be. so i just listen to copilot. cuz it knows the streets better then me.

 

I have been using CoPilot on my iPhone and i can say that it's a good app. has got me out of NYC w/o hitting a bridge. Save me from having 10 gadgets on my windshield but, i really use my atlas, look at the alternatives the GPS is giving me. Though once i am close to destination thats when i really use it, i bough for that application, always updates, keeps record of miles in every state you go through..

 

you guys purchased the copilot truck version? I wondered if it was decent or not but have not wanted to drop that much cash on it.