Gray Fox
Swansea Ma. USA
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Joined: 04/14/2003
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Hi everyone
We've been interested in getting a new GPS. Are there any that can be programmed for low clearances or to avoid certain roads? We can't seem to find those characteristics in the specs we've looked at. Any ideas about which models might be best? Thanks for any info you can give us.
Gray Fox
2005 F350 4x4 Diesel Lariat
2003 HHII LS RLBG
Always keep moving so you don't seize up.
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Traveling Texans
College Station, Texas
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Joined: 12/15/2005
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Gray Fox;
I don't know by brand which ones can be programes for that but some can be programes for truck routes. Just about any of them will get you from point a to b. The Garmin 350 is a very popular one and can be had for under 250. The best thing to do is make a short list of brands 3 to 5 then go shopping and ask a lot of questions.
2007 Chevy 2500HDCC D/A SWB
2006 Outback Sydney 28FRLS
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JoeRnCT
Brookfield, CT.
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Joined: 08/14/2005
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I don't think any have the ability to show height clearance. Maybe the GPS software for laptops can do it. (Streets & Trips, Co-Pilot etc.) As for avoiding certain roads, I know that Garmin units let you select certain things to avoid. Toll roads, highways, U-Turns etc. Garmin has a unit called the Streetpilot 7200 and another called Streetpilot 7500. These are (according to Garmin) made for trucks/buses/RVs. They have a 7 inch screen and should allow you to choose which vehicle to set it up for. Meaning, if you set it to "Car", you can take any road. Set it to "Truck", "Delivery", "Bus" or "RV" and it will automatically route you around roads where those larger vehicles wouldn't normally go. That doesn't mean it's avoiding those roads due to low bridges though.
Whoever said "Money can't buy happiness", didn't know where to shop.
2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD, SLE2, Duramax/Allison, Extended Cab, Long Bed, 4x4, Line-X Bedliner, Putco pop-up bedrail cargo anchors.
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portablevcb
Tijeras, NM
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Joined: 05/04/2006
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Co-Pilot seems to be the best for truck type routing.
We got the magellan maestro 7350. Why? Because it seemed to have the best way to find RV parks. Magellan also has a link to AAA stuff, which is handy. It has several drawbacks that I would like to see fixed.
-exit POI's are limited to eating places, hotels, gas, and auto repair shops
-POI search range is limited and is not adjustable
-no ability to change the type of voice (this is not important, just nice to have)
What I'd like to see and have not seen anyone do is add steep grades to route planning.
I use DeLorme software on my PC for route planning.
Our extended family has Garmin, magellan, and Tom-Tom units. We all like the ones we have.
I would look at features of all. Then go into a shop and try them out. Ease of use is important. Screen size also. The bigger the better for me.
How we use it. I plan the route on the PC and locate key POI's for the trip. Things like end of day stops, RV parks around the end of day, key gas stops, etc. Enter the waypoints and key POI's for the day's trip into the GPS. While on the road we use it to look for Rest Areas, gas stations, RV parks and distance to next POI.
Hope this helps.
charlie
2006 Toyota Tundra Crew Cab
2003 Skyline Nomad 24ft Fiver
Me and Wife
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msredneck84
Southeastern U S (habitually)
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Joined: 10/09/2006
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Have 2nd Garmin. Newest is Garmin Nuvi 660. Recommend Garmin.
Drinking out of my saucer!
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Cottontop
Vancouver, WA
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Joined: 11/02/2002
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You might like to keep this web site.
http://www.aitaonline.com/Info/Road/Low%20Clearances.html
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MandKFarmer
Glen Allen, VA
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Joined: 11/17/2006
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I use a couple methods, we have the Lowrance 500 and I also use Delorme, Delorme Topo, on a laptop that I setup in the truck on log trips this will also give you grade information for hills. I just recently found this link
http://www.trailerlifedirectory.com/travel/RVrouteplanner/Default.aspx
Appears to still be in a BETA version and I have not had time test the routing but does appear to be a step in the right direction.
Personally I like using several sources as they all seem to give you someting different.
Mark
01 Ford F250 SD, SC, 4X4 Off Road Package. 7.3
07 Mountaineer 307RKD
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DonPd
Crawfordville, Florida
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Joined: 08/14/2005
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I don't know any GPS that will do the low clearance. I do have two Garmins and I like them. I have a StreetPilot that came with software I can load on a computer, plot a route and upload it to the GPS. The Streepilot does allow you to select a truck route. You might want to check out this site. I purchased a Refurbished Streetpilot GPS from them and couldn't be happier. It looked new to me and came with a two year warranty.
http://www.getfeetwet.com/Default.aspx
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel, Automatic, Quad Cab, Shortbed.
2006 34' Mountaineer 328RLS, 5th Wheel Trailer.
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HerMan2
Indiana
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Joined: 12/29/2007
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I have Delorme Street Atlas running on a laptop, and a Garmin 270 for quick use. Neither will display low clearances. Street Atlas is a very powerful software mapping program. It offers many options a stand-alone GPS does not. Carrying an open laptop in a car is awkward and uncomfortable for everyone inside though.
After mapping a route on any type GPS, the route should be verified with a hard copy Trucker's Road Atlas. This allows you to find routing mistakes, low clearances, routes not suitable for large rigs, etc. In fact, ALL mapping software displays the disclaimer that it is not entirely accurate, and to double check your route with another source.
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Chris
Shelter Bay, Wa
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Joined: 12/19/2000
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We have used both a laptop with MS Streets and Trips and a Tomtom. The laptop is much better, larger screen easier to create a route and find RV parks etc. I was able to load a low clearance data base into it. The result of loading that is that I never want to RV on the East Coast!!!!! Where there are a hand full of low spots out West, it painted the screen black with low spots in the East.
On this trip we are planning on the laptop and then putting the days drive in the Tomtom.
Chris
My Rig
2001.5 2500 STD CAB AUTO SLT 4x4, CTD 4:10's, Bomb'd to Tow
2005 Cardinal 29WBLX.
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