GPS recommendations?

[gartonhl]

Could someone please recommend to me a good, moderately priced ($200-250) GPS unit that I could move between my motorhome and Jeep? and, what your experience has been using a GPS.

Preparing to leave for Colorado to go jeeping this Friday and would like to purchase before I leave.

I would appreciate any and all input.

Thanks,
Pete

[nowait]

We have a Garmin 265WT that has free traffic(when the power cable is plugged in) and does a reasonable job of text to speech. It allows you to import your own Points of interest (POI). I have downloaded from the internet POI files that list all the state parks. Pretty cool.

[MrT]

Originally Posted by nowait

We have a Garmin 265WT that has free traffic(when the power cable is plugged in) and does a reasonable job of text to speech. It allows you to import your own Points of interest (POI). I have downloaded from the internet POI files that list all the state parks. Pretty cool.

x2 on the Garmin nuvi models with the traffic receiver ("T" suffix). We have two nuvis, the newest being a 765T. A friend just bought the 1390T, which is a newer design, and very s*xy if you are a gadget afficionado.

In my experience, Garmin produces the best "routing engine" in their software.

You have alternative choices from TomTom, Magellan & others. Do a little online research, and make your decision. I chose Garmin.

Keep in mind that none of these technological marvels is foolproof, so bring along alternate sources of information, such as mapping functions in your cell phone, hard copies of routes from Google, Bing, AAA, Coach-Net, etc.

[pondlady]

I do like my Garmin except when she talks back. All in all, she does a great job.

[MrT]

Originally Posted by pondlady

I do like my Garmin except when she talks back. All in all, she does a great job.

So switch to a male voice!

[Bayouownbeer]

I have the new model Garmin Nuvi 1390T has 5" screen with the free traffic. So good so far have about 3500 miles on it LOL.

[wayne1]

Garmin 1490T, with lifetime traffic, 5 inch screen

Amazon has refurbished units, at $60 cheaper than brand new units

Refurbished because the software had bugs when initially came out, now re-flashed...

Just remember, those super thin units has a battery that is integrated, will make it almost impossible to replace, for do it your self-ers, like myself, in a few years...

[doctort44]

We have the Garmin 265WT. Love it.

[windrider]

Got a laptop? I use Streets and Trips from Microsoft. Never drive with it, but find it nice to plan routes before I leave. Can always just follow the directions that you can print out.

In reality, I fly an airplane for recreation, and if I can find an airport 200 miles away with only an aerial map and a compass, I don't use a a GPS much. I do like being able to get a map of the roads where I'm going, and once I get there. I understand JEEPING and wanting to follow a trail and come back home sometime.

[Hokiehall]

We have a Garmin 205 which they don't make anymore but they do give me updates. I bought my brother a 265 for Christmas last year and he likes it.

There are several brands that are all pretty decent but I strongly suggest you still look at an old fashioned paper map before blindly following the GPS. I usually enter the directions for several places that I already know the way to and it will route me through roads I know I don't want to follow. When we go to Chicago, it wants to route me through the middle of Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Chicago, which is fine at 3 a.m. but not at a normal time.

For Myrtle Beach, it routes me through every pig path in North Carolina instead of the nice route I always follow. The mileage difference between the GPS and mine is less than 5 miles but the time difference is over an hour. And I have it set for fastest, not shortest.