Really naive questing re Sat Navs

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Bramidan

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Right I am disappearing up my own ( you fill in the blank}
I have tried to do my own research but getting so much conflicting information.
New motorhome, obviously wide and long! We have travelled extensively in Europe and indeed Turkey with a FC but have now got our dream motorhome.
All I need is a reliable sat nav which allows me to put in the dimensions of my motorhome so I don’t get directed down country tracks.
In my car I I have a Garmin which has taken us to Southern Turkey and back without to many incidents.
A friend advised me to get an upgraded Sat Nav for the new Motorhome, a lot of our journeys will be in Europe.
So, a simple question, what one would you buy? I am not a rich man, my pockets are empty after purchasing the Motorhome but not worth scrimping, the resultant rows with my better half when it all goes wrong are not worth trying to save a few quid.
 
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Where is the edit button to correct fat fingers.
 
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Can't help but also buy a paper map.
You may be in the back end of nowhere and the satnav spits it's dummy out.
You're stuffed without a map
 
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The search button, (last one on the right) will bring up dozens of suggestions from this often asked question.

Personally, I use the Avtex Tourer 2. If anything it is over cautious and will happily take me miles out of my way to stay on major trunk roads, so maybe avoid that one.
 
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I only have experience over many years of Tom Tom. Any sat nav is only as good as the map information being updated and I don’t think any of them have the necessary detail to be safe relying on the dimensions being input.

I have always used without any dimensions or weights but double check the route on a paper map to make sure there are no dangers I can see on route, that the sat nav is taking me on the roads I want to use and amend if not and lastly we pay attention to the road signs.

Yes the sat nav has wanted to take me down roads that I didn’t think suitable, whether in the MH or car, but my common sense and planning has always prevailed.

I also like the ability to save lots of places on the stand alone machine and plan routes at leisure sat comfortably at home or in the van, not in the driving position.

Oh I also disable ‘intelligent routes’ on my sat nav so it doesn’t keep offering me options whilst driving. Im on holiday so no rush
 
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Hello Bramidan

I was in the same boat as you when we were caravanning. The car sat nav we the us down roads with grass growing up the middle.

When we got the motorhome I bought the CAMC Avtex sat nav which is powered by Garmin. You can build a profile for your motorhome (length, width, height and weight). You can still use it for you car by selecting the car profile. You can navigate via post code, map reference and multiple different ways. They come loaded with all the CAMC sites, ACSII sites and many many more. However they do date. I added a file whichever load LPG outlets. The maps from Garmin near on update daily. If there are roadworks they change the speed limit on the route.

Also, when you select the on screen options is does not clunk.

Not the cheapest, but is you get it from the Show they knock money off.
 
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No satnavs will insulate from narrow roads , height limits , weight limits , and to some degree length yes . Faster routes usually help. Plus not starting down a road if it doesnt look good is the best self preservation , the don't often get better :)
 
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I have a double DIN Android head unit with GPS, came with Google maps and Here we go already installed but I have installed Sygic Truck/Caravan navigation as it allows you to input MH dimensions

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Over the years I have tried the pemium ones (Tom Tom and Garmin), cheap chinese ones from ebay (OHREX and 2 others), and the apps like Co-pilot and sygic. None have proven perfect and some downright dangerous (Garmin, wanted me to take a tram only tunnel in Dieppe!).
The Tom Tom melted down when I was downloading an update, the company didn't want to know.
Most of the free apps require a premium to allow dimensions (if they do it, Google for instance don't, nor Waze).
Ever the optimist I have just downloaded a free app for truckeers called ROAD LORDS that wasn recomended on here recently. I have yet to try it though.
The problem with phone apps is you usually need to be online and they drain the battery fast.
Good luck, but also get a good atlas....
 
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Johnnygooner said:
I have a Garmin camper, and must say so far, it has been excellent.

John
Click to expand...
Same here, I've the larger screen one so at least I can see it while driving. I also can read the speedo display on it which is really handy - the Ducato speedo is horrible to read IMHO.
Only problem I have is that is sometimes reboots while driving. Just one of those things perhaps, but if it does it many more times I might return it for a replacement.

Cheers.
 
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I've got the Avtex Tourer 2, but have to admit I switched it back to 'Car' mode. With height length and weight settings it only ever routed me on motorways and major trunk roads, so now I take my chances and try to employ common sense. It's routing as a car satnav is pretty good!
 
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Look at the Aguri range of satnavs.
Ours also has an inbuilt dashcam.
Purpose built for Motorhomes and Caravans, with height, width, length and weight permutations input.
I like mine, oh , and it also has lane assist and doubles as a 9” tablet.
Mains and 12v charging and a very good suction mount for the windscreen, but can be permanently mounted.
Worth a look at under £250.
😊
 
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heliart said:
Same here, I've the larger screen one so at least I can see it while driving. I also can read the speedo display on it which is really handy - the Ducato speedo is horrible to read IMHO.
Only problem I have is that is sometimes reboots while driving. Just one of those things perhaps, but if it does it many more times I might return it for a replacement.

Cheers.
Click to expand...
Mine doesn't reboot.

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And another vote for the Garmin camper - we have the 770 model and it has served us well in UK and Europe - apart from the time it decided that it couldn't navigate in France, but that turned out to be operator error as I hadn't updated the Garmin Express app and it took against updating the French map data. It still showed us where we were and continued to operate as my preferred speedometer, its just that it wouldn't let us plan any routes to French destinations. Luckily we always travel with a road atlas and alternative software on the 'phones so no big deal.
 
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Bramidan said:
In my car I I have a Garmin which has taken us to Southern Turkey and back without to many incidents.
Click to expand...
If your current Garmin is portable and not built in, use this in your Motorhome.
Just remember to read road signs about bridges and do a little route checking at home to look for narrow sections.

Even with a lorry/Motorhome satnav you need to do that home route checking. 👍🏻
 
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Bottom line is they all rely on road data that is inaccurate.
They will all send you down roads that are blatantly unsuitable for anything other than a land rover
Never rely on SatNav routing for anything other than a guide.
On motorways they work fine most of the time
On main roads they tend to be OK (Although put yourself in as large vehicle and see if it will route you via the A39 at Porlock)
As soon as you get to B roads, at best they are a guide.
And back streets and C roads they are a menace

We live on a backstreet with 2.2m barrier and a one way exit.
The number of large vehicles (delivery vans mostly, but also the occasional HGV) we get PER HOUR! trying to navigate though going by their GPS is impressive.
 
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garmin camper for me,,and never leave home without a proper map.

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