Rand Mcnally 710 GPS - should I buy one? Pros and cons...

On the gps map there is a little green arrow in the lower right hand corner. Click it and it lets you change the map orientation.

 

the 710 is a highly functional mapping tool that has far more depth of features than most people realize.
We all like a device that helps guide us to our destination safetly and easily.
the 710 will do this.
It is written from scratch as a trucker's GPS, not an auto GPS with an 'adaptor' kit.
It takes into account such things as weight limits of roads, heights of obstructions (bridges, etc), truck routes, and all the other things we need to be aware of as we head down the road.
You set your variables...weight, height, type of truck. It will route you according to those variables.
Now the big problem everyone brings up for ALL GPSs is the places it makes mistakes. And don't let anyone tell you differently, RM as well as everyone else has those.
The difference is RM has over 200 beta testers out there...testers that are truckers FIRST, who report back anything they find. Rand fixes those.
Rand is the only one I know that has such a responsive network to find the 'bugs', then actually fixes them...and gives you the updates for free.
I have used the 700, the 710, the 500 and the 510 all over the country. Rand has been excellent in fixing the errors I report as well as many others report.
I think that is the single largest benefit going with any GPS.
We, as beta testers are not paid. We do this to improve a product and make a tool that will benefit truckers all over.
My first RM was the 700. I purchased that myself, then later became a tester after RM steeped up to the plate and replaced my unit for something that I don't really think was their responsibility. Their integrity proved itself so great, I now heartily endorse the unit.
I'll also tell you what I don't like, just as fast.
If you have specific questions, go to the support thread and post. They will respond. If you want to ask me personally, go ahead and pm me.
One more thing. A GPS does not replace a truckers atlas. You still need to read a map, and plan a trip.
But when you're heading down the road, need to find a Pilot or rest area or truck washout, these things are fast and great.

 

I love mine......but dint put blind faith in it or ANY other gps......coming to trucking from an aviation background I learned the value of learning to read the map first and ALWAYS, no matter what the gps says.

Even as good as it is, sometimes I've found quicker routings just by looking at the map and comparing routes.

The second best investment I've made. The first one was the outstanding atlas that came first.

 

If you were interested I got an alert today the RM710 is on sale at $439.99 at Loves Truck stop till 8/21

 

you can change the orientation

 

I like my 710, I don't use it a whole lot as a gps. I mainly use it as a real time map showing my location on the map so I see where I am in relation to everything else. Helps me keep an eye out for streets I may miss due to missing/obstructed street signs. I find it has trouble a lot getting me to shipping yards. It will route me to the back of the yard instead of the gate, or nowhere near the yard. In these cases I will add a new location manually and save it in case I have to return there. I have also had it route me right past a turn to a yard, up 2 blocks, then have me take a very hard right (like a 270 degree right, almost having to jacknife the trailer to make the turn) then down 2 blocks and onto the road I should have turned on. It also occasionally tries to route me the wrong way down a one way street.

But I expect all this and am still happy with it. I did not get it to replace my atlas, but just to help which it does well.

 

when it routes you around the block like that, its so that the receiver is on your right as you come up to it. That way if there is a median you can still get in there

Thats why you should be google earthing every shipper/receiver to figure out before hand where the enterance is or if there is a median so you dont have to go around the block first lol

also if they have 2 enterances with google earth you can see which way to come in to be set up for the dock so you dont have to spin around...




American Trucker

 

nope, my shipper was on the right had it taken me the correct way, the way it gave me put the shipper on the left and made me make an unnecessarily tight turn to get there. i saved the location i'll try to take a pic when i get back in the truck to show you. you said there is a way to report errors?

 

google earth?......what ya never heard of a telephone? a simple 2 minute call " hi I am delivering / picking up at your location , were's the truck entrance?" I would bet my ### on that call over a google earth anyday!

 

I got some kind of fatal error box tonight on my 700, something like you'd see from a Windows OS. Not surprising as mine freezes up rather frequently. All in all I like it but its gotten me really twisted before as well, sending me down roads that aren't much better than bike paths, lesson learned there is don't miss your turn. yes I do blindly follow it sometimes when it gets within a few miles of my destination.