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I saw an earlier posting about this, but a lot of the information was a bit old.

I have a several year old Tom-Tom, which I like, but it is very expensive to update the maps and it has fallen off my dash so many times, it is not working 100% right. I thought I would treat myself to a new GPS specifically for RVs. I am looking at the Garmin and the Rand McNally.

Does anyone have one of these GPS devices that are specifically for RVs? Which is easier to use and most reliable? I'd like one with a screen that is easy to read and follow directions, and also one that will help me avoid getting stuck somewhere my motorhome is not intended to go.

Good campground info woould also be nice. I see Rand NcNally has Woodalls and Garmin has Good Sam. Not sure which is better.

Any suggestions, positive or negative??

I recently bought a Garmin 1490 with lifetime maps and traffic, did not get the bluetooth so it was less expensive. I haven't tried it yet but was easy to set up. I had borrowed a friends Garmin and it was wonderful!! It has good volume and of course adjustable I bought this holder that is like a bean bag and it is great. http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Portable-F ... _cp_e_1and has a non-glare screen. I bought mine on Amazon, no shipping cost & no tax. Lots of reviews on Amazon.

Here is a review of a couple of the bigger RV GPS units. I am still doing fine with our plain little old Garmin but the new ones are nice.

http://www.greatrvaccessories.com/2012/04/its-head-to-head-in-battle-of-made-for.html

Great article! Exactly what I needed.

Now why couldn't I have found that when I was searching the internet yesterday??

The backroads review section on the Rand McNally almost has me convinced that it'll be my next GPS. Don't know when that will be - but was impressed with that article - very.

I'm with Beth, when I'm ready for a GPS I'm saving up for the Rand. The article really hit on just enough differences between the two to make the Rand outshine it's competitor. For now though I cannot replace my navigator and map reader with a machine! It would break her heart.

oregonrambler1 wrote:I'm with Beth, when I'm ready for a GPS I'm saving up for the Rand. The article really hit on just enough differences between the two to make the Rand outshine it's competitor. For now though I cannot replace my navigator and map reader with a machine! It would break her heart.

I have a gps - old one - and it'll do. But I highly recommend if you don't have one and will be traveling - even getting one of the least expensive ones today is better than having none. While I still use and atlas, and my streets and trips on the computer, in cities, nothing beats having a GPS along. That said - if you have a smart phone, you can use the navigation on it in cities. It's great.

But next "major" GPS purchase, I want the Rand - although by then I'll probably have more choices to look at

The rand is awesome...worth every penny! I always had trust issues when using the garmin in the rv, as I knew it was okay for cars but never knew where it was going to try to take me in the rv. I can trust the rand to take me where it is okay for me to be in an rv...towing a jeep!

Jut my 2 cents worth!

Paulette wrote:The rand is awesome...worth every penny! I always had trust issues when using the garmin in the rv, as I knew it was okay for cars but never knew where it was going to try to take me in the rv. I can trust the rand to take me where it is okay for me to be in an rv...towing a jeep!

Jut my 2 cents worth!

I probably could have appreciated it last Friday when my Garmin wanted me to take the bridge connecting WA to OR in Astoria. That lengthy bridge is windy on an average day and it was a very windy drive along the coast so I knew I wasn't going to brave it! I ignored the Garmin and kept going and eventually hooked up with the route I wanted. Not sure why it returned me a different route from the one it had me take to get to the coast.

After my old GPS taking me through downtown Mansfield, Ohio, and under the ancient railroad bridge with only 6" of clearance, I have just ordered the Rand.

Reminds me that I also need to get new glasses because I could see the height sign on that bridge but couldn't read it until it would have been too late!!!

I have the Rand McNally and love it. Nothing to compare to as I hadn't owned a GPS before this one. I'm in upstate NY. Needed to move my rig this morning which required going through the small city. Called my nephew (who drives huge trucks) to get the cross street where I was headed. He said to use his directions. I put the intersection in my Rand and it sent me exactly the same way my nephew did without any problems.