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When you are towing a new fifth wheel or Driving a class A, knowing exactly where you are going can be important. It can be difficult at times to be spontaneous with a forty foot RV. In recent years trip planning got a whole lot easier with computerized street atlases and GPS devices. The spontaneity was back if you were willing to part with a few hundred dollars.
Now prices begin much lower. Most GPS manufacturers have low end models beginning at around $200-300. Despite the low price, most of these models still manage to have many of the most useful features. Every vehicle gps that I looked at had spoken directions. Although the low end models use generic terms like turn right in 500 feet, instead of turn right on elm st. Almost all have features like rerouting while the higher price choices add other options such as bluetooth capabilities and traffic reports. The big item for many RVers is a POI database that includes RV Parks and Campgrounds and other RV services.
Although improving, vehicle GPS devices are still a disappointment in this area. One of the biggest names in Vehicle GPS is Garmin. I looked at every GPS they offered and none had any categories related to RV Parks or Campgrounds. I was unable to get my hands on a Cobra Nav One GPS, but according to an email I received from them, their 4500 model does have categories for camping, propane and RV services. The low end models from Cobra do not appear to have these categories.
Basic GPS units from Magellan lack a campground category and listings which was present in their more advanced models. I tried the Magellan 4240 and though it had campground listings they were incomplete, missing several campgrounds in my area. Tom Tom units had by far the most complete line of units with campground databases already installed. From the Tom Tom one 3rd edition ($149) to their more advanced units, all had campgrounds as a POI category and listed all the campgrounds in my area.
There is another option for many GPS owners -- Update your POI database. Most GPS manufacturers have software available for free on their website that will allow you to do this. This software will allow you to keep your POI database up to date as well as add new POI data. There are many type of databases available. Traffic cameras, school zones, your favorite stores and restaurants, etc.. For example there is a database of all the Starbucks in the US! With this software you can load a campground database. There are a couple campground databases available ($35-$45) at GPS POI US. |
