Garmin or Rand Mcnally ?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by tommymonza, Mar 25, 2018.

  1. tommymonza

    tommymonza Road Train Member

    4,519
    12,844
    Sep 10, 2013
    S.W. Florida
    0
    What do you guys think is the more reliable and easier unit to use.

    I come from the marine world and Garmin has always been the most reliable and user friendly in that field.

    I bought a Rand McNally 740 last week from Best Buy and have been using it since.

    I ssumed Rand McNally was the king for navigation on the road. Frankly I'm not that impressed.

    Is the Garmin unit any better?

    I hav an IPad and would be happy using it if there was a good reliable app for it. They make one for the marine world that is unbelievable easy to use and is super reliable without needing a cellular signal.

    So what's the verdict guys?
     
    Drivingotr4life and dclerici1 Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. stuckinthemud

    stuckinthemud Medium Load Member

    620
    3,063
    Oct 20, 2013
    0
  4. bigcat1124

    bigcat1124 Heavy Load Member

    950
    659
    Nov 15, 2010
    Tampa, FL
    0
    I’ve always used Rand Mcnally, but I tried the Garmin dezl 770 since I saw all of the good reviews. I gave it 30 days and took it back and now have the OverDryve 7 from RM. No comparison in my book. Rand Mcnally hands down.
     
    kwan2323, tommymonza and Komputergod Thank this.
  5. Justrucking2

    Justrucking2 Road Train Member

    3,211
    4,291
    Sep 12, 2017
    Plymouth MI
    0
    I'm to dumb to figure out the RM, and so are quite a few other drivers that have asked me for help on their RM units in truck stops. I have used Garmin for years, no issues. Put it this way, you do not see a Garmin bug fix thread here, but there sure are a few RM threads on just that here. Garmin has my vote. Use that in conjunction with Google maps and an atlas, and you should be good to go. Just my .02
     
  6. Espressolane

    Espressolane Road Train Member

    14,762
    83,568
    Nov 21, 2009
    Just south of the north 40
    0
    I prefer Garmin, I find it to be an overall better product.
    TomTom now has a commercial unit available in the US.
    They are worth a look
     
  7. Offroad1978

    Offroad1978 Light Load Member

    124
    887
    Jan 23, 2017
    NY
    0
    I'll second the Garmin, I have an older dezl 560. Mine is 6 years old, never had any issues with it. However, I don't rely on it as a stand alone, I still buy the laminated atlas off of Amazon every 2 to 3 years.
     
  8. ChaoSS

    ChaoSS Road Train Member

    3,338
    6,753
    Sep 20, 2014
    0
    snowwy Thanks this.
  9. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    My RM740 is very capable, nut it takes time to learn. Also, it gives false warnings about HazMat restrictions that do not exist. The most consistent error I see with mine is incorrect lane guidance. For example "keep left to exit on Hwy 12 East". It's sometimes incorrect about the "left" or "right" but always correct about "hwy 12 East or West". If you ALSO read highway signs to confirm what GPS is saying, you'll be OK.

    I wish there was a way to save a custom route so I didn't have to build it everytime I want to use the route.
     
  10. tommymonza

    tommymonza Road Train Member

    4,519
    12,844
    Sep 10, 2013
    S.W. Florida
    0
    1st day I used it, it wanted me to make a left at where a Michigan left was required.
    Also some of the routes it has wanting to take me up to Goshen Indianna and to New Wilmington PA were far different from the recommended practical routes my fellow driving coworkers gave me.

    Thanks for all replys . Appreciate them.
     
  11. hamNbeans

    hamNbeans Bobtail Member

    22
    40
    Jan 16, 2018
    0
    I was told when I asked someone "What's the name on your atlas" so that's what I went with. Haven't tried any others
     
    ncmickey Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.