Cheap Local GPS

Truck gps are horrible with local, back roads type deal. They are only good for staying on the interstate.

That's why lot of us refer back to the atlas and/or Google map to help us the rest of the way.

I say get the cheapest gamin or rand McNally and use it as a route planner but review it everytime

 

Google maps is nice in that it has multiple views...Maps,Street and Satellite. You can also get real time traffic updates. I would also recommend a state map to avoid restricted routes that Google does not provide for trucks.

 

CoPilot would take care of most local trucking issues but probably not any better with smaller local roads. Cheaper than a stand alone GPS. It's not perfect but the issues I have with it are related to OTR.

If you already have a smartphone, I would say to try CoPilot with Apple/Google Maps. It's normally $150 but historically has been on sale in the fall. If you can't wait that long then it's still half the cost of a Truck GPS.

 

What's wrong with a trucker GPS in extreme rural application? I storm chased for many years using a Garmin DEZL. They show virtually every public road, paved or dirt in the most rural of areas. They even show a number of private roads. It will route fine. Just allow it to use dirt roads in the settings.

You will need to understand it will sometimes assume a route that you may know to not be ideal but you can make the necessary adjustments and ignore the route.

 

The thing I liked about CoPilot being on the phone was that it's always with me and not setting in the truck all the time. And I could install it on both my iPhone and my iPad for the one time fee.

Now, it's not perfect, and I am actually saving up some cash for a RM but that's due to issues you may never hit running local.

I would say, since you already have a smartphone, try CoPilot first... Possibly save some cash up front... Save the stand alone GPS as Plan B if needed.

Just my two cents worth.

 

Just be advised, if the maps are not permanently loaded directly on your phone, and you require cellular data to feed the maps (as is typically the case) the data usage can eat you alive if you utilize it all the time.

If you're dealing with rural backroads most of the time, a new "trucker GPS" probably won't be all that much of an advantage over a typical automobile GPS anyway as there is not a lot of truck restrictions entered by Garmin or RM, other then related to state roads or greater. Go to a pawn shop or Amazon or Ebay and pick one up for $35

 

CoPilot downloads all the map data onto your smartphone... I have used it a few times when I was without cellular signal. So no worry about data download expense with it.