How do we get there?

[Sandy and Shirley]

We are having some issues with our GPS, so we are trying to get places the old fashion way using Google Maps or Map Quest. Seems as if those sites do not care at all that you are driving a 37 foot motor home towing a car behind you, and we can’t find an option to let the site know what we are driving.

Take a right on route 123 and go 10 miles, oops, it didn’t tell you that there was a 10’ clearance bridge along that route!

Does anyone know of an online driving map URL that will let you say that you are driving a truck or bus so that it doesn’t take you down back roads where the turns are difficult even for cars?

[doc73]

Probably nothing online that is free.. GoodSam has / had a trip planner on their web page for a while (used it one time just to see it) that allowed for me to avoid low passes and non RV friendly roads. We just use a RV GPS now.

There are also Trucker maps books in the truck stops that have heights and "approved" truck routes.

[clr]

A good GPS unit for big trucks or RV would be the ticket for what you are looking to accomplish. There are several on the market, Rand McNally, Good Sam, Garmin and may be others. A little on the pricey side about 300 to 350 depending upon the bells and whistles but they work great.

[cdangel0]

Garmin RV GPS

Allows you to put in the dimensions of your RV, length, width, height, etc. Will route you around low overhangs, avoid ferries, etc.

The only thing it won't do (at least that I found) is route you around Hazmat restricted tunnels.

[doc73]

Originally Posted by cdangel0

Garmin RV GPS

Allows you to put in the dimensions of your RV, length, width, height, etc. Will route you around low overhangs, avoid ferries, etc.

The only thing it won't do (at least that I found) is route you around Hazmat restricted tunnels.

I believe you are correct. The Dezl truck version apparently will re-route around tunnels with restrictions.

[ependydad]

I've yet to find an online site that includes low clearance issues.

I believe that Home of the Best RV Trip Planner Ever - Give it a try! (wasn't free the last time I looked) includes an overlay of the Low Clearances POI onto it, but doesn't necessarily route you around it. BUT- I won't pay for a trip planner, so it's out for me.

[Delco Bobby]

From personal experience do not put 100% trust in the good sam trip planner or the good sam GPS powered by Rand McNally. Both routed me to a tunnel that prohibited motorhomes. Good most of the time, but...

Also neither knows about low railroad underpasses in my neighborhood.

[WayneLee]

If you own/purchase a GPS that can upload POI's, like Garmin or TomTom, then the site to join is the POI-Factory at:
POI Factory | new & interesting places for your GPS

This site has hundreds of POI's (Points of Interest) that can be used by RV'ers including low clearances, rest stops, truck plazas, campgrounds, etc. Most of these POI's are maintained by site members and are fairly up to date.

Although the GPS will not route you, it will notify you of POI's in plenty of time to react to them.

[mike.t]

Noobie | Is there a GPS app for RV owners worried about low bridge heights? [ASK MR. NOOBIE] - Noobie

[Roger2650]

I have a Magellan Roadmate RV9145-LM and it even directed me to a center lane of a three lane overpass because the two outside were lower than 12 feet. That was a railroad overpass in Kansas City, Ks. I have nothing but respect for mine. It has lifetime maps, which I upgrade all the time.

[Ford Idaho]

Twice now when making reservations the host warned about low overpass's we would find IF we follower a GPS and then provided another route.

I used Google map last year for 2000 +/- miles without issue.

[hordok]

I found an app that does campgrounds, stores and low clearance but it doesn't do routing. Nice app for what it does. I'd be interested in hearing feedback on the campground reviews it has.

https://usparkadvisor.com

[rblattman]

I recently downloaded the CoPilot America app for my smartphone. Features include configuration for vehicle type (RV) and dimensions. Reviews stated that it will route according to height/weight restrictions and avoid taking you under a low overpass or tunnel based on yours. I also subscribed to their live traffic feed so that it will warn and route around jams. I've only tested it in my car so far but reviews were good and it is MUCH less expensive than a stand alone GPS unit.


Hope this helps.

[Flybob]

X2 Copilot USA Been using it for years. They just added Large RV planning. Best part is it dose not need cell coverage to work. Maps are resident on phone.

[camaraderie]

X3 copilot...10 bucks...NO DATA CONNECTION used...works on any phone OR tablet.

[carmex]

Looks like, for Android anyway, copilot USA premium doesn't include the RV features. They have a specific RV version which does, but it is $50:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ket.premium.rv

Here is the basic $10 version:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ket.premiumusa

I still like this option and may go with that over a standalone unit whose hardware will be out of date in a year or two.

[bend302]

We have been using the Garmin RV GPS and like it. It even routed me around a weight restricted road I had driven fo years unaware it was restricted.

However, I found a list of low overpasses in the Next Exit book.

Bill

[camaraderie]

CarMex...Sorry that is wrong. The $10 version includes rv settings. I am looking at them now!
You go into the Route section from the main menu., then tap vehicle routing preferences to find the RV choice and set your preferences.

[gectisme]

X4 Copilot as FlyBob stated it loads the maps onto the smartphone so you don't have to have internet, very cool feature. It does use a lot memory because of that, so if you only have a small amount of memory space, it could be a problem.

[gectisme]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

CarMex...Sorry that is wrong. The $10 version includes rv settings. I am looking at them now!
You go into the Route section from the main menu., then tap vehicle routing preferences to find the RV choice and set your preferences.

That is on the free version for the iPhone.