Considering a hardware satnav (rather than an app).

daventess

daventess

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CoPilot has finally become more unreliable than reliable. It's taken me some bats**t crazy routes through Europe on this trip, and Google Maps has actually been better at avoiding unsuitable roads (though still bloody awful!)

So I'm considering a hardware satnav (eg tomtom or similar).

Anyone swear by any particular make & model?

Wandering Bird recommends this one : https://www.amazon.co.uk/TomTom-Campervan-Caravan-profiles-accessories/dp/B0CPLX6YRW?tag=mhf04-21

Any others hardware satnavs you chaps would stand by (having used them)? I'm not looking for another app (I have tried most of them and CoPilot was the best in my opinion).
 
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daventess said:
CoPilot has finally become more unreliable than reliable. It's taken me some bats**t crazy routes through Europe on this trip, and Google Maps has actually been better at avoiding unsuitable roads (though still bloody awful!)

So I'm considering a hardware satnav (eg tomtom or similar).

Anyone swear by any particular make & model?

Wandering Bird recommends this one : https://www.amazon.co.uk/TomTom-Campervan-Caravan-profiles-accessories/dp/B0CPLX6YRW?tag=mhf04-21

Any others hardware satnavs you chaps would stand by (having used them)? I'm not looking for another app (I have tried most of them and CoPilot was the best in my opinion).
Click to expand...
You will get the usual answer from the forum here, Tom Tom garmin/avtec/ cheap Chinese ones.

Garmin one for us but still combine it with an app, usually navigator or a tomtom one. Copilot was really meant for multi drop, stopped using it years ago when they changed their algorithm
 
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Upvote 0
A TomTom dedicated unit is effectively the same software on a tablet that's been locked down.

Getting a dedicated unit will not make it provide any better routing decisions. Routing decisions are provided by the software. If the software is the same on the phone app as the dedicated unit, it won't help.

The only real outlier is Garmin because they don't do a standalone app.

Personally, I rated CoPilot pretty low. I wasn't that impressed by TomTom either. I'm running Sygic Truck on a tablet as my backup device. But 99% of the time, I just use Google Maps. Most of the time, Google provides a better experience. It's rare that Sygic provides a better route choice, even through it's size aware.
 
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Co pilot is still working well for me for the most part, the only issue i've had is trying to get to Stratford racecourse, when it tried to take me down a road that hadn't been completed yet ,Sygic caravan which is not as good in my opinion because road preferences is not as comprehensive, I stopped using dedicated devices when they stopped doing updates for them.
 
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daventess said:
Any others hardware satnavs you chaps would stand by (having used them)? I'm not looking for another app (I have tried most of them and CoPilot was the best in my opinion).
Click to expand...
It's got to be an Xgody X4 or or the new X5 9" Truck Sat Nav for me, as I've been using an Xgody unit for some years now.

xgody.com

XGODY X4 BT/F 9'' Navigator GPS Sat Nav FM Bluetooth

This handy GPS has a 9" inch screen that also works as a Rearview camera. It supports Bluetooth and it's a perfect choice for your driving experience. XGODY X4 BT/F is 9inch Truck GPS Navigation for Car/truck with Big Touchscreen GPS Navigator, which have Bluetooth AV and 8GB ROM SAT NAV System...
xgody.com xgody.com

xgody.com

XGODY X5 BT/F 9'' GPS Navigation Bluetooth Camera

XGODY X5 is aGPS SatNav with a 9" Screen and optional 3D/2D Maps, full Bluetooth support that also works as a Rearview camera.
xgody.com xgody.com

Before you splash out on the likes of Garmin or TomTom, try the Euro Wag App, and choose your vehicle, then enter the weight, number of axles, and dimensions. I have used it and found it to be quite accurate for the type of vehicle I was driving at the time, ie, a 44 x Tonne Artic. (y)

Good luck with your choice. (y)

Jock. :)
 
Upvote 0
I’ve used Aguri for the last 5 years with very little trouble. Yes the odd hiccup and some strange routes when you look back but the benefits far outweigh those occasions.

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Upvote 0
I use Garmin CMHC version and Waze. Journey on Garmin, arrival on Waze. Waze is great for taking you into the facility you are travelling to, I find but can use minor roads en route so avoid. Both on silent otherwise I have four inputs, two satnav, one SWMBO and my own!

Tony
 
Upvote 0
JockandRita said:
It's got to be an Xgody X4 or or the new X5 9" Truck Sat Nav for me, as I've been using an Xgody unit for some years now.

xgody.com

XGODY X4 BT/F 9'' Navigator GPS Sat Nav FM Bluetooth

This handy GPS has a 9" inch screen that also works as a Rearview camera. It supports Bluetooth and it's a perfect choice for your driving experience. XGODY X4 BT/F is 9inch Truck GPS Navigation for Car/truck with Big Touchscreen GPS Navigator, which have Bluetooth AV and 8GB ROM SAT NAV System...
xgody.com xgody.com

xgody.com

XGODY X5 BT/F 9'' GPS Navigation Bluetooth Camera

XGODY X5 is aGPS SatNav with a 9" Screen and optional 3D/2D Maps, full Bluetooth support that also works as a Rearview camera.
xgody.com xgody.com

Before you splash out on the likes of Garmin or TomTom, try the Euro Wag App, and choose your vehicle, then enter the weight, number of axles, and dimensions. I have used it and found it to be quite accurate for the type of vehicle I was driving at the time, ie, a 44 x Tonne Artic. (y)

Good luck with your choice. (y)

Jock. :)
Click to expand...
I use the Eurowag Jock, I keep upping the weight on the settings due to narrow roads I’m currently 16 tonne

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Save you money their is insufficient road width data available for and satnav to provide directions based on vehicle size.
The so called camper satnavs may allow you to enter vehicle dimensions but this will not be used to plot a route suitable as the source mapping info is lacking the road width info to use this.
Use a free app in conjunction with a road atlas and some checks usung strret view on google maps.
Youtubers just spam rubbish to earn a living.
 
Upvote 0
JockandRita said:
It's got to be an Xgody X4 or or the new X5 9" Truck Sat Nav for me, as I've been using an Xgody unit for some years now.

xgody.com

XGODY X4 BT/F 9'' Navigator GPS Sat Nav FM Bluetooth

This handy GPS has a 9" inch screen that also works as a Rearview camera. It supports Bluetooth and it's a perfect choice for your driving experience. XGODY X4 BT/F is 9inch Truck GPS Navigation for Car/truck with Big Touchscreen GPS Navigator, which have Bluetooth AV and 8GB ROM SAT NAV System...
xgody.com xgody.com

xgody.com

XGODY X5 BT/F 9'' GPS Navigation Bluetooth Camera

XGODY X5 is aGPS SatNav with a 9" Screen and optional 3D/2D Maps, full Bluetooth support that also works as a Rearview camera.
xgody.com xgody.com

Before you splash out on the likes of Garmin or TomTom, try the Euro Wag App, and choose your vehicle, then enter the weight, number of axles, and dimensions. I have used it and found it to be quite accurate for the type of vehicle I was driving at the time, ie, a 44 x Tonne Artic. (y)

Good luck with your choice. (y)

Jock. :)
Click to expand...
I've tried all the apps but not this one. Just tried it, unfortunately it still fails several obvious test roads that I know of. which are 15%, thin single track , blue sign marked no HGV. Is there anything that can reliably do this at a satnav level? I tend now to look ahead on google maps as far as the obvious "end of trunk road" then once its gone small I look on google streetview for the blue signs at each junction. which obviously only works in advance not when driving.
 
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Nikwilko said:
Save you money their is insufficient road width data available for and satnav to provide directions based on vehicle size.
The so called camper satnavs may allow you to enter vehicle dimensions but this will not be used to plot a route suitable as the source mapping info is lacking the road width info to use this.
Use a free app in conjunction with a road atlas and some checks usung strret view on google maps.
Youtubers just spam rubbish to earn a living.
Click to expand...
The satnavs may have limited width information but I find the Xgody truck satnav will route you on the main roads until there is no alternative to use smaller roads to get to your destination. Unlike the Garmin I use in the car many a time it has said "take the ally on the R/L" once it wanted me to drive over a central reservation to go up a private road that was blocked by a gate 🤪 and when I had it in the van it took me down a narrow road in Luxembourg that got narrower and narrower until I couldn't go any further 🙄
 
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I really really tried to get to like the TomTom that came built in to the van, and it's fine for certain things, but despite me not wanting to have yet another screen in the cab I do now use my Garmin Camper for longer trips as it just has much better map detail and general route info than the TomTom.

I've had garmin since the very early ones that were the size of a house brick and I've hated the terrible user experience for Mac, but the products are really good so I put up with it. Much easier now that updates can be done via WiFi and don't need to be interfaced through a computer.

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fishplug said:
I really really tried to get to like the TomTom that came built in to the van, and it's fine for certain things, but despite me not wanting to have yet another screen in the cab I do now use my Garmin Camper for longer trips as it just has much better map detail and general route info than the TomTom.

I've had garmin since the very early ones that were the size of a house brick and I've hated the terrible user experience for Mac, but the products are really good so I put up with it. Much easier now that updates can be done via WiFi and don't need to be interfaced through a computer.
Click to expand...
Be very careful while doing that, i had one that failed during updates and bricked the unit.
 
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1967bowesj said:
Be very careful while doing that, i had one that failed during updates and bricked the unit.
Click to expand...
Mine went the same in Spain earlier this year after trying a wifi update, it sorted itself when we got home and connected it to my imac using Garmin Express (y)
 
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Al n Val said:
Mine went the same in Spain earlier this year after trying a wifi update, it sorted itself when we got home and connected it to my imac using Garmin Express (y)
Click to expand...
Mine hadvto go to Garmin, no matter what I did I couldnt save it. The scree was very very faint image so could just about click what bits I needed but screen would not brighten up.
Never updatrd again via wifi, old school connect to lappy and leave it
 
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I used to be be a TomTom fan but fed up with them making maps so large that needs updates become impossible!

Garmin Camper 2nd hand is what I use now.

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Is there a difference between a trucker's satnav and a campervan satnav?
 
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I've used the Garmin camper 660 for a few years now, which allows you to input vehicle weight, height length and width. We've had some laughs when using the voice commands trying to get it to understand some place names. I also have a 4" to the mile UK road atlas and always check routes on paper as well.
 
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