Which trucker GPS is better Rand McNally or Garmin

This question is older then dirt. And the answer is:

It depends on who you talk to. You'll get 50/50 responses. Both have their share of pros and cons, and neither is flawless in either routing or functionality. But that said, Garmin gets my vote but I haven't ran the current generation of RM's. But I know my Garmin and I'm satisfied with it. Happy and thrilled with it? No. Just satisfied. I know it's weaknesses and quirks and I know most times it will do me right and keep me out of trouble, and I don't feel like taking my chances with anything else at this time.

 

Here we go.

Let me get the "you shouldn't trust any GPS 100%" comment out of the way right off the bat.

Ok, proceed.

 

I prefer the one between the ears.

With that said, I used rand when they first released GPS back in the late 90's having positional to less than a interstate lane accuracy allowed me to pick a certain lane and instruct spouse to use this lane or that in LA during the morning rush to get loaded when traffic across 5 interstates come together it was useful.

It was also a problem once when a road was cut off and landscaped for a 40 acre cell tower. I entered that property following GPS in Delaware off 1 in really thick peasoup fog. After getting rig out I found the new connection further east. Rand did not update.

I suppose it improved with just a physical address of a pickup and you are there. No more ######## over the phone. Except that you purchase from Staples a few DVD's full of all business phone numbers and get yelled at "DRIVERS DO NOT GET THIS *^%%$ NBUMBLER!!!! /rant" Big deal. We have your number.

It was fun. But the best GPS is between your ears in your mind. You decide.

 

A good trucker GPS should be mandatory equipment. If for nothing else but to help guide you when an unexpected road closure happens (and it will sooner or later)

 

Garmin works well for me, but mine hasn't even been updated in about 8 years so she pitches a fit because she thinks I'm driving in the woods or a river at times.
Plus, I only use GPS for final mile directions. So many nowadays can't find their way from Dallas to St Paul without picking up a map.

That's what is sad.

 

http://www.dieselboss.com/truck_gps_review_features.htm

 

I have used both Garmin and Rand McNally. I prefer the garmin .Other driver's i know prefer the Rand just a matter of preference. Pro,s of the Rand -Gives u 2 route once u enter the address for destination. I used it in missouri and it put me on back roads that were barely big enough for a truck .Once loaded used my Garmin to get out and it put me on better roads to get out,so i prefer the Garmin just my 2 cents.

 

For a new[er] driver, the Rand McNally might be a better choice if only because of much more accurate and up-to-date "POI's" (truck stops, parking, etc) Garmin has truck stop data as it existed 5 years ago, and only somewhat accurate at that, they never update new truck stops that are opened monthly and/or change of hands to another brand name.

But to offset the Garmin POI's shortcoming ... "there's an app for that" to help find up-to-date trucks stop location data, it's just a matter of having to fly VFR or manually plugging address or selecting location on map to build nav route/distance.

If you could only rely on one app? Google Maps is far and away the most comprehensive and easy-to-use app that can/will find anything you can ever need, easily and intuitively, and show you the optimal route distance. But having the location be selectable in the GPS is nice, no doubt.

But as an experienced driver who is rarely in unfamiliar territory anywhere across the USA, I still prefer my Garmin.

 

I just purchased the garmin 770. Didn't like it. It would tell me turn down residential areas. Glass display was nice and was a lot snappier than Rand. I returned it for the Rand tablet. That think was junk. After having premium tablets their tablet is bottom barrel. Routing wasn't great either.


That being said. Copilot gets my vote. Lot of times I'm lazy and just roll with it. Since July running retail stores going in residential it has gave me the best routes over The garmin and Rand. Just wish it had all that eye candy the others have. Check it out. I believe on android they offer free trail. Buy your own tablet and run copilot