TomTom Go Camper sat nav : review after two months use
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- Опубликовано: 9 окт 2018
- The TomTom Go Camper sat nav is specifically developed to help RVers and was introduced in May 2018. I acquired mine at the beginning of August 2018 and have been using it for two months have dong two particular journeys with it in different environments - the first partially on small country roads in northern Poland and the second using mainly motorways in Germany. Here I present my opinions after this time.
It costs around EUR400.
Features with the device include a 15cm screen and Wi-Fi which not only means that maps and places of interest can be updated without a computer but more useful than that is that it knows about actual driving conditions. It also reads aloud SMSes and I tried that out in three languages (English, Polish and German) all of which were understandable. Another feature is TomTom Road Trips which I have not learned how to use yet so I have not commented on it but will do so at a future date.
It also has campsite finder built in alongside the other points of interest.
I believe however that the main reason for getting a device such as this is the ability to programme it with the vehicle size and weight meaning that low bridges should not be a problem - and lets face it - all of us campers have had problems with this in the past!
Other useful features include speed camera warning (probably not available in Switzerland where I believe it is illegal to give warning).
I live in a motorhome full time and travel around Europe in it. I spend most of my time in Poland, Germany and Italy. Vanlife is my life.
In my RUclips channel, I present reviews of recreational vehicles. Here you will find campervans and motorhomes from the cheapest camper vans to the most expensive luxury liners, from various companies including Hobby, Hymer, Carthago, Westfalia, Wingamm, La Strada, Frankia, Wavecamper, Maurer, Dreamer, Itineo, Rapido, Clever Vans, Pössl, Bürstner, Niesmann Bischoff, Action Mobil, Reisemobil Manufaktur, Robeta, Trigano, Challenger, EuraMobil, Karmann Mobil, Laika, Forster, Mobilvetta Design, Affinity, Globe Traveller, Benimar, Roller Team, Adria, Bocklet, Woelcke,Tourne, Megamobil, VW, Mercedes, CS, Renault, Ford, Fiat, Carado, Sunlight, Baileys, Chausson, Balcamp, Knaus, Weinsberg, Murvi, Bliss, Mitsubishi, Woelcke, Reisemobile Bürow, Holzmobil, Giotti Line, Florium, Fleurette, Ahorn, Westfalia, Space Camper, Orange Work, Concorde, Womondo, Protec, Auto Sleeper, Dethleffs, Ilusion, Gehocab, Malibu, Pilote, Wild Ax, Vantage, Bresler, Tom's Fahrzeugtechnik, Morelo, Swift and others.
I do this by regularly attending trade events such as CMT Stuttgart, Abenteuer und Allrad, Caravan Salon Dusseldorf, Warsaw Caravan and Camping Show and sometimes others.
I cover equipment, including 12v electrical equipment and talk a lot about lithium batteries.
I also show some of the places I have visited in Europe in my own motorhome, as well as the places you can stay at! I try to give as much coverage as I can to official campsites and free places which I use for overnighting. Therefore you can find here the aire or stellplatz that you are possibly looking for.
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It is expensive for what it does. But after listening to your review and your explanations for it makes it possible.
Thanks for the review will definitely be on the shopping list, when we get the van!
Good review, you actually used it properly before reviewing. Good points on the difference between dedicated sat nav and mobile phone versions. I'm always getting asked why don't I use a mobile app.
I think one needs to try something out before doing a review of something of this nature! Maybe I will use the mobile phone app when I find myself in situations when I don't have this one, but I will never go back to using an app in my own van!
The morello suits you Alan !! Good review . may well have a look at that Tom Tom
Too big for me unfortunately! I have enough trouble getting this van into the drive!
Does it have a setting to
Keep the compass on ?
Had one for 3 years and it keeps letting me down. I have to keep checking that it has the right maps installed as if it changes back to uk maps it looses the my vehicle settings but just last week it froze twice while on my way to a campsite then when leaving to come home it stuck on the campsite view till I was home so not much use if it keeps doing that. Now going for the garmin 780
We have one of these and it’s hopeless, today it sent me through a 2m width restriction!
Sygic version for campers is fine too.
Do you know if it works wirh eircodes in Ireland🇮🇪
can i use it. for a normal car. ?
Another vote for a phone App; this time iGO navigation. We've been using it for over 15 years in two incarnations. First it was adopted by Pioneer for their fixed sat nav's (it was also available as a phone app), which we had in a Burstner for 9 years. Igo re-engineered their app about four? years ago, which rendered the old version redundant. This new version has superb graphics which are so much better than any Tomtom or Garmin (yes, I've had and used both) and takes vehicle weights and dimensions into account. The system is also used by lots of car manufacturers on their built in units, but of course, the iGO brand is not featured.
Currently we use it on a OnePlus 3T in our Frankia. iGO has helped us navigate well over 200,000 miles (mostly in Europe but also the UK) over the last 16 years . If you look at their reviews you will see a lot of negative reviews as well as some exceelent ones. The app does need a little time spent on it to get the best from it as it is highly personisable; i suspect some buyers don't do this. However it is well worth it.
So, I don't think you have explored the best options on phone Apps and so I disagree with your comparison between dedicated units and phone apps. Let's hope not everyone believes your words as the truth......
If you want me to explore this app then why don't you send me one?
@@VanlifewithAlan Thanks for reading my comment Alan. I don't necessarily want you to test the app as it would cost you around £50 for all the add ons (truck/camper dimensions, traffic etc). There are a few apps that cater for motorhomes - CoPilot, sygic for example - both cheaper than iGO Navigation but in my opinion not as good. So, really unless you do test some of the better ones then suggesting that £400 is a good buy is nothing more than your opinion based on very limited testing experience.
By the way I do enjoy some of your videos, particularly the historic/ travel related.
Ps I am not a geek; at 72 I don't dabble much with technology or social media....
I have used Sygic and I think it is awful. I got it as I liked the maps.
Good review Alan 👍😊
Thank you!
The current T Go Camper has to be one of the worst unfriendly Satnavs on the market. From day one we have had to reset the unit to get it to work. Recently it would not reset or work for quite awhile. We then got it working but it took us down a road unsuitable for caravans. The voice keeps disappearing and the banner for the speed limit etc does not always show up. We have requested refund and will be looking at the Garmin Camper 770LMT-D.
I think I would have asked for an exchange of unit!
Hi, I had the previous version, which covered weight of 3.5 tonne. My gross (5th wheel and truck) is 6.5 tonne, what gross weight does the new version cover?
Thanks
Off the top of my head, I think it is 7.5 tonnes.
Thanks Allan, I’m 6.5 gross, so that will do nicely.
Regards
Steve
I use an app called Co-Pilot that I can add vehicle dimensions and weight into. Worth trying before you spend 400 euro
I’ve been using co pilot today in Devon, it took me down some fairly tiny roads