I'm the navigator - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Teen · RV-Dreams Community Member

I'm the navigator

Jim01 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi back to ya!! smile

Welcome to the forum!!

Being a navigator is a very important job when traveling in an RV. You don't want to get into a bad situation if you can help it.

Be sure to jump in and ask or answer questions when you can. There's lots of friendly folks here to share ideas and comments with.

Jim

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

Rule number 1 for navigators....Never FULLY trust your GPS! They are good but they are far from perfect. If it takes you down the wrong road in your car you can laugh, turn around and get back on track. When you do this in an RV is can be a major hassle.

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Delaine always prints out our routes from beginning to end (Map quest). We also have a Garmin GPS and we have in 2011 began to use OnStar, which has worked great in both vehicles.. OnStar has taken us to the exact point each time so for... However common sense does work every time.. However we very seldom use any secondary roads, and when we do its normally for short distance.. Being around heavy equipment and large Trucks and trailers all my life is a plus for me... Delaine gets me the destination and I drive the Truck.... We always use the 6 P's and it works everytime.... Happy Trails....

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'll also jump in and offer a welcome to Christine. And, I'll also agree with the others regarding ANY gps-type device, including On-Star. While many may be good for routes, darn few take into consideration anything regarding the height of overpasses and bridges.

I can tell of an individual (to forever remain anonymous) who got sent off-route by On-Star and ended up in a section of a city they would never have gone. Then an 11' overpass did the rest. Their RV was totally wrecked.

For navigation, always rely first on good maps. (I don't even trust the online ones.) In the past, Howard has recommended Mountain Directory East and Mountain Directory West for navigation with RV's. If I remember correctly, those have the informaton on mountain grades, but it might take another trucker's atlas for bridge/overpass heights.

Jo and I don't even have a GPS unit yet, but when we've had the map systems in our vehicles, I mostly use it for local streets and occasionally to see what kind of feeder roads are coming into or exiting from Interstate interchanges.

Now, with all cautions aside, feel free to ask questions and make comments. I'm sure that some in the future will want to know of your experiences with the Tiffin. Should you start a blog or travel journal, post that on the forums so folks can learn from you.

Terry

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have found that if you need to use a GPS for navigation in a large unit it is best to stop in a truckstop and buy a Truckers edition GPS
The one I have takes in account for overpasses narrow bridges and other obstacles that tractor trailers run into and gives me a 2 mile warning that it is coming up......I also carry a truckers Atlas. and a lot of luck and coffee to keep me alert!!!!!!

I normally travel the interstate system but every now and then I have been known to drift off onto state highways and less traveled roads and it so far has not failed me (knock on Wood)

Other than that ...it is always best to preplan your trip and research it before starting......the computer has made trips so much easier to plan right down to fuel points and rest......

RVRon · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome to the forum, Teen!

Interesting comments on the GPS units. One of the big drawbacks of stand-alone GPS is that you can't review the entire route before you take it. That's how folks wind up in embarrassing places they wouldn't have otherwise gone!

We use Delorme Street Atlas on our laptop (sitting on the dash of the RV) and can review the entire route before we leave. More than once I've caught the dumb computer going a roundabout route instead of a direct one. I'll second the vote for a good trucker's atlas to show the low clearances. In smaller towns (and some large cities!) they can be in places you wouldn't expect!

One last thing I do is take a look at the actual route on Google Earth. Depending on the area sometimes resolution is so good you can see if the road has multiple lanes or wide shoulders... and how many stop signs or lights. If I can't see the road for the trees I know to watch out for low tree limbs!

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

Interesting comments on the GPS units. One of the big drawbacks of stand-alone GPS is that you can't review the entire route before you take it.

I can. I am not sure why others would not be able to do so, but then again, my Garmin is a unit from 2005.

RVRon · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bill Adams wrote:
Interesting comments on the GPS units. One of the big drawbacks of stand-alone GPS is that you can't review the entire route before you take it.

I can. I am not sure why others would not be able to do so, but then again, my Garmin is a unit from 2005.

Thanks for the correction, Bill. I don't own one myself so I was only going by what others have told me. If route preview is a common capability on most GPS units that would beg the question as to how many people actually use it or know of its existance.

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm a fan of Garmin as well. Although I just went off the deep end and purchased the Rand Mcnally 7710. I really like the 7" screen. As Bill mentioned I can see my entire route if I want to.

On the Garmin I always used the turn by turn directions instead of using the map. On the 7710 you can pull up a split screen that gives you both the map and turn by turn directions. I've only used it once in the MH and it did was it was supposed to do. I'll give it a rating later once I've used it a few more times.

One draw back, it's too big to be used in the toad! So I guess I'll keep my Nuvi 350 for the toad.

Teen · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hey thanks everyone for all the advice and experiences. I was feeling really confident about being the Navigator but now I'm thinking I'm quite the rookie and the big guy might have a tough time getting me out of the fetal position next time we head out in Red. Just kidding, looking forward to the challenge as well as seeing how the mister follows my directions. I'm sure once he sees my set up with the laptop, truckers maps, the Rand McNally 7710 and spit on my finger, he will feel very secure!

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree about the Garmin I can review my route by a touch of a button.. OnStar works for our use, its just one more tool to be used to make your travels better... I have found no gadget thats perfect, WiFi, Internet service, Air cards etc. We have tried many different type of gadgets and most don't work as advertised.... Some people are just easy to satisfy. Every day is a holiday if you retired.. And everyday is a adventure if you own a RV. Happy Trails.....

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

A question for the Rand McNally owners. We saw a demo in Quartzsite but I forgot to ask a question of the RM folks about the screen and the map. With my Garmin, I can touch the screen and slide the map up/down/left/right to look around a specific spot or scan to the middle or end of my route to zoom in the details of a specific part of my route. Are you able to do this with the RM? Also, if I know where I want to go I can slide the map around until I find the general area and touch the screen where I am select an option to take me to this spot. Can you do that?

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bill - the answer is yes to both of your questions. You can also set via points like the Garmin. You can also set permanent avoidance's something my Garmin wouldn't do. You can also have points of interest show on the screen i.e. gas stations and just about anything else you might want.

It also gives you trivia like sunrise and sunset times, elevation etc. you can also enter latitude and longitude.

Usnret · RV-Dreams Community Member

Teen,

Look forward to meeting ya'll on the road, actually at the CG!

Jim & Judy

Teen · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks for the encouragement! Look forward to seeing you at some point too. Where are you headed next?