Kanata
Ottawa, Ontario
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Joined: 09/23/2006
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I find a GPS particularly useful in finding an exact address, especially on a busy street when options to turn around are limited. Also at night I even use it in cities I am familiar with, but not sure of the location of the address. Saves a number of u turns.
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mwallace61
Alabama
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Joined: 03/28/2008
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We are using both as well. I would not be without either now.
Mike & Karen
ForrestGump
USA
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Canadian Campers
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 06/10/2004
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My hubby gave me a Garmin c530 for Christmas 2006 (I'm the navigator). We did 11,000 kms through the US in May of 2007. I pre-planned almost the whole trip on the GPS before we even left. I also had all my paper maps with me, as I like to follow them as well.
The GPS was only wrong twice... once in Arizona as the entrance to Dead Horse Ranch State Park had been moved, and once in, I believe Jackson, WY, where a two lane highway had become a four lane.
I love the fact that we can use the GPS to find food, accommodations, fuel, and sightseeing destinations. In all of the National Parks that we visited, it even shows the internal park roads and the major sites of interest within the park.
Our son bought one shortly after seeing how ours worked, and we purchased our daughter a Garmin Nuvi 250 last Christmas. Since we got ours, several family members (my hubby has a huge family who almost all RV), have also bought Garmins.
We wouldn't travel without it now...
D&S
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
21' Gulfstream Ameri-Lite
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fchammer1
AR, FL, PA & points in between
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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And -- for those husbands who might need a few thousand additional reasons to invest in a GPS system -- HERE they are!
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houtrz
Lake Jackson Texas
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Joined: 05/15/2005
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Use both but rely on the GPS first. If I"m on a long distance trip I"ll see how my Tom Tom will route us then look on a map. This is before we leave. If I want to go a different way, I"ll tell Tom to travel via a certain point or road. Tom has routed me thru big cities to catch an expressway and in alot of cases, there is no way I could have figured it out that quickly and without a headache.
On our last trip, we left the paper map at home all together and I didn't pre-plan anything. I couldn't have been happier with what Tom did for us. Its a breeze.
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emmmw
Virginia
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Joined: 02/24/2007
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GPS' are great and I think they are well worth having one. In addition to finding our way around it is terrific to be able to find the nearest... whatever you are looking for. Almost as good as having internet on the road when you need something or want to research what is ahead of your travels.
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RRUGG
Newaygo, MI,USA
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Joined: 08/08/2003
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Both. Without the GPS we NEVER would have found out of the way places in big cities with just a street address. I even set the GPS for places I know how to get to just because it shows how many miles are left to destination. I was a holdout for years but now I'm a believer. Sometimes there's no time to consult a map. If you make a mistake the GPS will recalculate a new route to your destination quite quickly. I have the lowest price Tomtom and we're very satisfied.
RRUGG
2008 Dodge 2500 QC 4x4 SB Cummins 6 speed auto 3.73
1997 Holiday Rambler 29FK travel trailer
2006 Summit 22RB travel trailer
2003 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport
Bob & Grace professional retirees
Good Sam life members
Camped in 49 states. Missing Hawaii.
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david_42
Oregon
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Joined: 04/08/2005
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BOTH: maps for planning, GPS while driving. I travel by myself & checking a map at speed isn't an option. There have been times when the GPS was wrong, but too many times maps have failed me around cities. An example, in Oakland, CA often the interchange you use to exit a highway does NOT let you back on. You leave the road for fuel & waste 30 minutes trying to find an on-ramp. Or try to get on I5 south from SE Portland with a map, good luck! The GPS gave me a route that took 5 miles of city streets, but that turned out to be the ONLY route that worked.
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Joined: 12/01/2005
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Vulcaneer wrote:A good full featured GPS can be had for the $200 range. If you are travelling in areas that are unfamiliar, it is well worth the money. And can save a lot of hassle if a mistake is made by map reading. Like said previously, turning around to get corrected is not easy with a large RV. The GPS will help you make the right turn at the right time.
The GPS can help you with routing for the quickest route, or the scenic route, or the shortest route. Also if an emergency call is needed, you can identify your position accurately by advising your coordinates and the road you are on. So emergency help can find you. Depending on the critical nature of the emergency, it could be a lifesaver.
yes, when that thing screams at you to make a U turn, that is quite easy in a large RV with toad. as far as routing, one trip I am quite familiar with I have rarely taken it's designated route. I certainly would not trust one blindly, without mapping it out before I set out, on my computer. and a friend who has a built in one, cannot get travel information from it unless he is stopped. And one of mine conveniently sez things like rest area 2 miles ahead, and when I get there unfortunately it is on the other side of the interstate. 
Now I certainly agree that they are nice to have and sort of fun, but to justify one as saving time and money, hogwash.
bumpy
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Comshaw
NE MI.
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Joined: 11/01/2004
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I still use the map along with GPS (TT 720). Much less stress in unfamiliar areas, especially in con jested traffic conditions. Directs you in which lanes to be in when you need to exit from converging multiply highway routes.
Late one night while traveling, dark, raining, we left the motel to find a restaurant. We got so messed up on emerging freeways etc. the map was little help. Stopped and got directions, which was confusing. Turned on the GPS, put in the closest intersection of the motel. Got us back, didn't really care how, at that point.
I don't find most of routes GPS proposes to my likening so I input a designation and travel via map route selection. The GPS will re-program as I travel and give me the necessary info as I go.
I won't travel without it now, on long trips.
06 Ram 2500 Laramie 4x4, TDC, Auto, 3.73 Anti-spin
01 Sandpiper 30ft w/slide
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