Poll Only For Those Who Have Used Both : Rand McNally vs Garmin

The RM, non-tablet, has better software and shows more useful info on the Driving screen.
Garmin has better hardware and will last longer.
My solution is to buy the RM and replace it every 4 years.

You can prolong the RM life turning it off and unplugging it when you sleep. Keep it out of the direct sun and out of the defrost's heat during the winter.

 

I used a RM 740 until end of 2021. To "fix the magnet mount" just make sure the RM is resting on some surface. The magnets will keep it attached but the surface it sits one will carry the weight. By mounting like this I think mine might fall off the magnet maybe once or twice in a year. The OEM power cord did fail after about 4 years. The battery died after about 4 years, it can be replaced by you for about $30 for the battery and $25 for the miniature tool set. There is a few videos on YouTube on how to replace the battery. I prolonged the life by taking the GPS home whenever I left the truck and I used the RM zippered case. RM stops updating maps and databases after 2 years from the unit's introduction. RM has little customer service or tech support.

I replaced the RM with a Garmin OTR 700. The screen looks beautiful and bright. It's like moving from standard def to HD compared to the RM. I never used the truck stop info on the Garmin because I use Trucker Path for almost everything. Garmin DOES NOT have a CAT Scale database in it. It will tell you about truck stops near your location but you can only guess or use another phone app to find out where is the nearest CAT Scale. That's almost unforgivable. The RM shows a list of nearest truckstop, cat scales, walmarts, etc, along with their distance. The Garmin seems to just show those types of locations one at a time, not as a list.

The RM is a cheap Chinese tablet in every respect. The Garmin is clearly better quality and feels very durable. I used the RM for about 4-5 years and the Garmin for about 3-4 months. I got used to the errors the RM makes. I felt I could more easily build the routes I wanted to follow in the RM than the Garmin. That might be just from more experience with the RM. So I never got comfortable with the Garmin. The Garmin should work fine for the newbies that just want to enter and address and follow whatever pops up. The Garmin mount is sturdier power connects via standard Mini-USB, not Micro-USB.

 

I have never had a RM .. but I got pissed off a couple weeks ago at my Gramin and tossed it out the window on the pig trail it put me on in Utah .... I'am undecided what to replace it with so I'll be watching this thread close

 

I have no trouble with my Garmin. Holds over 5K waypoints, the nav/echo sounder keeps a good track and picture. Also it’s been exposed to several years of bright sun, rain and salt spray.

 

My Rand McGarbage was returned for my money back. The other option was throwing it into the trash where it belonged. Yes, it was that bad, in every respect. My Garmin on the other hand has been very good.

 

I prefer Rand McNally...

...Atlas, with Google Maps. Doesn't answer your question, but it does...

 

Caveat before I start: my GPS is not there for routing. It's handy for seeing upcoming cross streets and ETAs, but the volume is always on mute. I will occasionally use it for rough trip planning, but frankly Google Maps is usually easier for that. I'll make use of the height feature occasionally, but I'm normally on familiar turf.

Now, I prefer the Garmin just because it seems that it's logic matches the way my brain works. Think Apple vs Android. The RM (like anything Apple,) was an exercise in frustration. And just because I'm old, don't assume I'm technophobic, that's not the issue. The Garmin UI is just easier for my brain.

BTW, I'm running a dezl 7-something I bought 9 years ago.

 

One feature of the RM I loved, but didn't know how much until I started using the Garmin, was the constantly updating to show what the cross-street was as you were driving on your selected route. I don't recall the Garmin doing that. Both units alert you to turn left/right in X feet. Does the Garmin show the name of each cross-street as you approach them? I was last using a Garmin Dezl OTR700