OTR driver GPS

 

I would like to hear opinion of other drivers as to which GPS system they think is the best, and why.

Depends?

cool

I have said many times and stand by my words... A truck specific unit is not needed as many are over-priced and some are non- custom POI such as the Garmin 465t!

I have being useing the 765t in my rig for years with no problems...

ALL of the info installed on these truck units can be custom added to the 765t or something like it, such as...

Weigh stations, Low clearance, Cat scales, Truck stops, repair centers, Rest areas, Walmart-Sams, RR Crossings, Mountain grades, Curves, Tunnels, Toll booths, bridges, School Zones, State lines, Time Zones, Company terminals and such!

All of the above are on my unit and much more.

If you decide on a truck unit, make sure it can handle custom POI's and know how often the data pre-installed is updated if it can not?

It all depends on what you want in a unit? and if a non truck only unit can offer you more? the 765t says YES for me and gives alot in function.

Check for customer reviews on any unit before you decide. Amazon, ebay and etc.

--
"Destination Eternity" Garmin 765T, & Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

Garmin 560LMT

This unit take custom POI's, comes with the NTTS database already installed, along with low clearances, truck routes, truck restrictions, etc.

Sure, you can manually put all that into an ETREX if you want, but that would be about like putting a V-8 in a Ford Pinto and claiming it was the equivalent of a Mustang or Road Runner.

--
KD5XB in DM84

465T

Dunno what you mean by "some are non- custom POI such as the Garmin 465t", but the 465T also accepts custom POI's just fine.

--
KD5XB in DM84

IMHO

I think he was referring to the NTTS database that comes on some units. It's "non-standard" as you have to buy the database and it can't be modified like the POI from here.

--
Illiterate? Write for free help.

set up

Microchip wrote:

cool

I have said many times and stand by my words... A truck specific unit is not needed as many are over-priced and some are non- custom POI such as the Garmin 465t!

I have being useing the 765t in my rig for years with no problems...

ALL of the info installed on these truck units can be custom added to the 765t or something like it, such as...

Weigh stations, Low clearance, Cat scales, Truck stops, repair centers, Rest areas, Walmart-Sams, RR Crossings, Mountain grades, Curves, Tunnels, Toll booths, bridges, School Zones, State lines, Time Zones, Company terminals and such!

All of the above are on my unit and much more.

If you decide on a truck unit, make sure it can handle custom POI's and know how often the data pre-installed is updated if it can not?

It all depends on what you want in a unit? and if a non truck only unit can offer you more? the 765t says YES for me and gives alot in function.

Check for customer reviews on any unit before you decide. Amazon, ebay and etc.

Microchip, I'm curious how you have your GPS set up. I run OTR in coach, truck and RV in western Canada. I have low clearance, weigh stations, etc on my GPS and I'm always experimenting to see how best to have them set to give me advance warning.

Are you setting your files as TourGuides, or some other alert?

Thanks

--
I drive, therefore I am happy. Rodeo, wildlife and nature photography rodeophoto.ca

StreetPilot 7200

Been using it for the past 5 years. I can't find any other GPS to do what this one does!
I drive a tall coach all over the eastern USA and Canada.

Best Setup...

Microchip, I'm curious how you have your GPS set up. I run OTR in coach, truck and RV in western Canada. I have low clearance, weigh stations, etc on my GPS and I'm always experimenting to see how best to have them set to give me advance warning.

Are you setting your files as TourGuides, or some other alert?

Thanks

[/quote]
cool
One of the main reasons I like the 765t is because it allows me to use a 16gb SD card, I have 2 days of music and books installed... the music and book will pause when the nav needs to speak and resume when done, my nav is linked into my truck speaker system and allows bluetooth phone calls as well, this is GREAT as MANY wreaks are caused from changing out the music or cell phone calls, again the 765t is packed with the features and functions I need.

I use TourGuide on the these:
Weigh Station 9500 ft
School Zone 1320 ft
Non-TourGuide:
Low Clearance 3965 ft
RRX 510 ft
Rest Area 6000 ft (I NEVER use them, to warn of trucks merging from rest area.)
Truck Stops and Cat Scales are set to 1 ft as I use these two files as a reference only, 19 years and I still can remember where most are.
Walmart-Sams 1320 ft
Tolls 3960 ft
Tunnels 5100 ft
State lines and Time Zones 1320 ft
Redlight cams 1320 ft and Speed cams 2000ft

Hopes this helps, if you need any further info let me know?

--
"Destination Eternity" Garmin 765T, & Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

Rand Mcnally

Rand Mc Nally is good for some thing like finding a flying J but I do not trust it on routing, had it to run me down some back roads in OK where I was way over on the weight on the bridges, scare the h@ll out of me, stick with the paper maps on routing.

@Microchip

Microchip wrote:

... Truck Stops and Cat Scales are set to 1 ft as I use these two files as a reference only, ...

I'm not a trucker but have been reading this post just for the info. I'm curious why you have the above set to a 1 foot alert distance?

--
Harley BOOM GTS, Zumo 665, (2) Nuvi 765Ts, 1450LMT, 1350LM & others | 2019 Harley Ultra Limited Shrine - Peace Officer Dark Blue

weight station

I found out the hard way but set the distance for weight station at 10 miles, gives you a chance to find a off ramp just in case

Why Walmart?

Microchip wrote:

--cut--

Walmart-Sams 1320 ft

--cut--

Hopes this helps, if you need any further info let me know?

A local driver for the last 27 years so I have to ask why Walmart? Is it because everyone ends up delivering to them or is it because when on the road you shop there?

Thanks

Icons

bear007 wrote:
Microchip wrote:

... Truck Stops and Cat Scales are set to 1 ft as I use these two files as a reference only, ...

I'm not a trucker but have been reading this post just for the info. I'm curious why you have the above set to a 1 foot alert distance?

My 885 is similar to the 765 in that if I have an alert distance for a location the icon will display on the screen. The 1 foot distance is enough to trigger the display.

--
Illiterate? Write for free help.

@Bear007

bear007 wrote:
Microchip wrote:

... Truck Stops and Cat Scales are set to 1 ft as I use these two files as a reference only, ...

I'm not a trucker but have been reading this post just for the info. I'm curious why you have the above set to a 1 foot alert distance?

cool
1 ft will put the file in the custom poi category but will not interupt me, Box car is right that the icon will still show. If a driver needed a alert than it should be a TourGuide set at 8000 ft. Remember that if you don't set a distance than the default will be 1320 ft. I don't need a alert as many years of experience has left me with a memory of most. Setting the weigh station file to 10 miles is over kill in my opinion. Log book not current is the most issued citation by DOT so a 1 mile radius is plenty.

--
"Destination Eternity" Garmin 765T, & Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

@skulldrinker

cool
If needed, one stop shopping. Or parking if all else is full.

--
"Destination Eternity" Garmin 765T, & Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

icon display

Box Car wrote:
bear007 wrote:
Microchip wrote:

... Truck Stops and Cat Scales are set to 1 ft as I use these two files as a reference only, ...

I'm not a trucker but have been reading this post just for the info. I'm curious why you have the above set to a 1 foot alert distance?

My 885 is similar to the 765 in that if I have an alert distance for a location the icon will display on the screen. The 1 foot distance is enough to trigger the display.

Box Car and Microchip,

I did not realize a 1 foot alert will make the icon display. I'm always learning new things on this site.

Thanks,

--
Harley BOOM GTS, Zumo 665, (2) Nuvi 765Ts, 1450LMT, 1350LM & others | 2019 Harley Ultra Limited Shrine - Peace Officer Dark Blue

walmart

Thanks for the explanation. I will remember that. If the old lady ever throws me out I got a place to park. lol

Did you check to see if you

Did you check to see if you have it set to fastest rout or on shortest distance? The shortest distance will put you on back roads.

--
We all come to a point in our lives where we see the signs, and are given a choice of where we want to go. We can make a choice to make things better or to f* things up. That’s the moment… between the warning and the war.

that should never be a issue

that should never be a issue if you just pay the 9.50 at a cat scale.

--
We all come to a point in our lives where we see the signs, and are given a choice of where we want to go. We can make a choice to make things better or to f* things up. That’s the moment… between the warning and the war.

Why Walmarts get listed a lot on trucker POIs

More specifically (to add to Microchip's commentary)--quite a number of Wal-Mart parking lots are explicitly friendly to RVers and truckers who may need to park for a few hours or overnight. (Specifically, it's not uncommon for "big rig" drivers to use the parking lots as a 'safe haven' for the mandated 8-hour rest stop if a truck stop or trucker-friendly rest area isn't available.)

Though I would say in THAT particular case, probably a list of Wal-Marts known to have "overnight parking" may be more useful, as not all stores in the chain allow overnight boondocking...

boondocking...

I've been woken and kicked out of some Wm parking lots, but in general I think that they're OK with it.