When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Thought I'd post in C5 General because early models typically did not come with navigation:
What's your preference for add-on navigation? GPS or 4G? Which GPS brands (Garmin, Tom Tom, etc.) give most bang for buck? Best method for mounting?
A secondary interest might be models that can be loaded with international maps, e.g., South America, Europe, (parts of) Asia, etc.
So far, I've gotten along well enough (local and abroad) on my Android with pre-downloaded maps, but there's still a couple of times I've had to backtrack somewhere in Kansas or Oklahoma (just random example, no insult intended) during cell service glitches. Should I just stick with the phone till 4/5G equals or surpasses dedicated GPS devices?
I don't even know what I don't know about these things, so I'm not insulted by basic, elementary advice. And I thank you in advance.
My phone is more competent then my high dollar 2 year old Garmin GPS I use at work. Garmin also requires bloatware to update it's maps, and they only support the device for so long.
I think a GPS is waste of money at this point, phone all the way.
If you are a low tech guy like me (I still have a flip cell phone ) I have Garmin for my GPS when I need it. It is not mounted. I store it and only bring it out when needed.
The newer GPS units actually connect up to your cell phone for weather and traffic info and it can be displayed on the screen of the GPS unit. The larger screen is nice and it also displays texts and notifications from your phone. The phone connection makes them work like a built in GPS and bluetooth.
This was my solution to the GPS problem last year on a road trip. I has done a similar set up with a Moto unit. I have since relocated it to a stand just off to the right of the console. crf450x there are big gaps in this country where there isn't any phone data. Locally I do use the phone for quick directions.
Last edited by Moto One; May 21, 2019 at 10:46 AM.
I didn’t know people still bought standalone gps units. I can’t imagine anything working better than my phone with google maps.
It's not they they work better, but they're more efficient during long trips. At my last job, we would commonly have trips of 12+ hours(longest trip we made was Modesto, CA to Elkton, MA-left on a Sunday night and had to be there Wednesday morning to drop our trailer for a tournament--no one wanted to use their phone for GPS on that trip ) almost every week, as we went from retail events to tournaments. So, we would fire up the truck, throw in the destination, and start ripping down the road. Yes, for short trips around town, a phone is very convenient.
Last edited by Black_Z28; May 22, 2019 at 05:19 PM.
How so? I use my phone's GPS for 16+hour trips. Always accurate. What makes a standalone unit more efficient?
I never said either wasn't accurate, just more efficient.
Well, maybe it's subjective...but I personally did not like using my phone during long trips. It was more efficient for me to put it in the GPS, and leave it be for the course of the trip. Verses reentering it into my phone every so often if we stopped, or did something else, and didn't want my phone to be telling me where to turn. Plus, just being able to glance at the GPS from time to time to see where we're at, how far we have to go, ect was nice.
Then again, I have maybe used my phone as a actual GPS 2-3 times in my life. I used it quiet often to find places to eat, shop, ect. Just rarely used it as a turn by turn navigation. Something about it being on the windshield/dash is more comforting to me then wrangling out my phone to look at where I need to go.
What I mainly use my gps for is a moving map and saving track files so when getting home I can download to my computer to see where all I've been. I love wandering about with no destination. Is there a phone program that does that. I'm not very up today on phones non. Been a GPS guy for the last 25 or so years.
I went with a GARMIN DRIVE SMART 61LMT-S. Voice activate navigation, 6.95" touchscreen, Free Lifetime Maps and Traffic, Bluetooth, and wireless back-up cam compatible. Power the cam from your back-up lights and shifting into reverse gives you the cam.
Sorry for delayed response, but I think that's the last word on a dedicated GPS setup. Just depends on individual needs and preferences. Again, many thanks to everyone!
I went with a GARMIN DRIVE SMART 61LMT-S. Voice activate navigation, 6.95" touchscreen, Free Lifetime Maps and Traffic, Bluetooth, and wireless back-up cam compatible. Power the cam from your back-up lights and shifting into reverse gives you the cam.
Sorry for delayed response, but I think that's the last word on a dedicated GPS setup. Just depends on individual needs and preferences. Again, many thanks to everyone!
GPS v 4/5G
) I have Garmin for my GPS when I need it. It is not mounted. I store it and only bring it out when needed.
) almost every week, as we went from retail events to tournaments. So, we would fire up the truck, throw in the destination, and start ripping down the road. Yes, for short trips around town, a phone is very convenient.
