Help me find a better GPS
My trip from Maryland to Goshen and back could have used a better GPS App. Your suggestions, please...
Everyone,
Here’s your chance to teach me something about GPS Apps. While I’ve been using Waze and Maps for years in my passenger vehicles, they really aren’t well suited for towing an RV trailer across the country. There’s a plethora of other apps available with a dizzying array of features, so I need your recommendations as to which apps to try.
Yes, I have Apple CarPlay and an IPhone
My tow vehicle (a 2020 F-150) has a well integrated dashboard display, so I really don’t want a physical GPS unit from Garmin. My trailer is pretty small, a GeoPro G-19FBTH, but it is 10’ 6” high and I’ve been to a few gas stations with 10’ clearance that would be taken off my A/C unit.
What I want it to do
I really want to be able to figure out a travel path in advance and avoid things like long construction zones (some can be dozens of miles long) as well as tunnels and low bridges. This route should be savable for my next trip. It would also be great to know the locations of truck stops and rest areas as well as trailer-friendly gas stations. And being able to locate overnight camping spots would be a plus.
What I don’t care about
I’m not looking for campgrounds with lots of activities or fun things to do while camping. I’m generally driving to RV Rallies and Shows to teach RVelectricity seminars. For example, I left last Sunday from western Maryland for the FROG Rally in Goshen, and drove back on Thursday. I’ll need to drive to Alumapalooza in a few weeks, and I may need to drive to teach seminars at the Tampa RV show in January. Those are long trips that could use some GPS help.
I just tried “HERE We Go”, but found it a bit clunky
It did allow me to avoid a few tunnels that I hate to drive though, but there’s no indication of construction zones. Plus the voice call-outs don’t tell you the name or number of the freeway you’re getting on. I like confirmation so I don’t make an early turn.
I do like that Waze gives you up to date traffic updates and lets you know when there’s a pothole or object on the road. But I can’t pick a route in advance.
Your suggestions please…
So what GPS app do you use and what do you like about it? I don’t mind paying for something that works well, but I don’t want to invest a lot of time in learning an App that’s woefully inadequate.
Thanks for your help - Mike
I use RV Trip Wizard - an online planning tool - and RVLife app that uses your saved, planned route and provides live GPS directions. When planning it will identify hazards but there is no traffic information.
This app/online tool does have an annual subscription fee.
Since there’s lots of comments about importing a trip from Trip Wizard into a Garmin RV GPS, I just found this How-To video on the process, I’ll study it more at length later tonight. https://youtu.be/TgFLv3aD9uI