Stuck in the Mud

[monik7]

If Mapquest uses GPS too, I'm surprised by the number of times the routes suggested are different from both. One time my GPS had a route almost double the mileage of the Mapquest route. In checking both, I could find no good reason to not use the Mapquest route. I was glad I did. I agree, you have to use common sense. When we start letting the machines run everything, we're in trouble.
Sandi

[JoanE]

Sandi, I have never had good luck with Mapquest. I always use Google. Mapquest was going to send my friends on a long arduous trip through a dangerous ghetto to meet me at a restaurant. The route should have been a straight shot down a major highway of about half the distance.

I have compared routes on my Google Maps app and my Rand McNally GPS. The non-RV app is likely to send you into dicey situations with a large rig. Just sayin.

[IrishIroamed]

My GPS is made for RVs and I have it set to warn me about dirt roads, low bridges, etc but it has tried to send me the wrong way on occasion.

Joan - can I ask what brand of GPS you have if it's for RV's? Besides the warnings you mentioned, what else makes it different.

I can't upgrade the maps on my current one anymore (it was one of the first ones out), and I've never seen any that say they are specifically for RVs.

On a lighter side of GPS & MapQuest problems, a few years ago on April 1st (April Fools!) MapQuest gave you directions from your location to London, England - - - at some point it said something about swimming 3,000+ miles.

Thanks

[JudyJB]

I always check out my route for the next day with Google maps. I love my Rand McNally GPS but it does do screwy things sometimes, like today it wanted me to turn the wrong way out of the repair facility to a nearby shopping center. It said it was 24 miles, but as soon as I ignored it and turned the right way, the distance dropped to the more accurate 13 miles!

I once had a GPS that kept trying to take me through the woods and down people's driveways. I discovered that in the several times it had fallen off the mount on the inside of my windshield it had reset itself to hiking paths!

Glad this elderly couple were able to call for help and had the wisdom to stay with their vehicle instead of getting out and trying to walk back.

[JoanE]

Cheryl, it is Rand McNally. Originally made for truckers but they now have one for RVers. Like Judy said, it sometimes does something screwy. Especially recently. I recently downloaded new info to it but my download stopped somewhere. Didn't have time to reboot the download, so that is probably what is causing my "interesting" instructions.

It has prevented me from going down a road without a turn around. I would have had to back all the way out. It warns me of dirt roads, tunnels, low bridges and construction. It also has all the rest areas such as Walmarts and Cracker Barrells that will let you park overnight for free plus myriad other applications that I find useful.

[IrishIroamed]

Thanks Joan - I'll check out the Rand McNally.

Guess I should have asked this before, but does anyone have a GPS for hiking? If so, what kind do you have?

[monik7]

I have the Rand McNally 7720. I still advocate using a combination of several like Mapquest, Google Maps, an old-fashioned map or atlas and the GPS and then making an informed choice as to which offers the best and safest route.
Sandi
Edited for spelling. Can't stand typos

[rvgrammy1953]

We use a combination of our Garmin (2nd one...bought a year ago.), Streets and Trips (or is it Streets & Maps ? It's The Sultan's gadget on his computer that he swears by...) and my favorite, the good old Rand/McNally map book from Walmart....

[IrishIroamed]

Thanks Ladies. I do have a Rand McNally atlas and double-check my (dying) GPS against Mapquest.