Spotted one of these on eBay and was going to purchase until I saw your video. I have settled on Hammer phone-based routing and it seems to work well and is free. It takes into account weight and height restrictions and so far all routes have been logical. A local RV enthusiast suggested I purchase a Garmin but after seeing your video and reading reviews of Garmin vs some of the phone-based apps, I think I'll save my money. Thanks again for an unbiased review.
Thank you for this honest review! We have a Garman trucker GPS that we bought when we first hit the road about five years ago. We have found that the Garman does have a lot of the same issues you talked about in your video like routing us the long way around, or routing us through more challenging areas to toe, or taking us on the wrong path. In fact, the first time we used our GPS in Fargo North Dakota, it did the same thing to us. It tried to send us down a farmers access road. We still use our GPS because we didn’t want to invest more money in a different product, but we always double check our route with other resources.
I’m glad you did a good unbiased review, we were going to get one, but not now. Towing a RV is stressful enough without being put into a precarious situation! I’ll be looking forward to your review on another product…
Definitely, I saw a comparison RUclips video between this Garmin and the Rand McNally. The Garmin was definitely better. I'm so glad I watched this video and now really hope someone can tell us which one he finally got and is very happy with. Hope he's made a video on it . I'm hoping for a good RV gps that shows us several alternative routes, so we're not forced to struggle to create a route we'd prefer. I always prefer to avoid big cities and known contested areas. Thanks
Thank you for your time in creating the video. We’ve had this one since March 2021 and have found it to be very reliable with the caveat that no GPS system is perfect. We really like that it lets us add stops along the way and let’s us know what options are up ahead.
I am glad to hear it is working out well for you. It seems people either love it or hate it when it comes to this GPS. I guess we were just disappointed considering the amount of money we spent on it. This Sundays video I will be showing what we are now using.
I am a long haul truck driver. I drive a tractor-trailer long nose truck with a 53' trailer. I use the Garmin dezl OTR710 to ASSIST me with my routing. This unit as never led me to going over a bridge, under a bridge or anything too small or with a weight issue. Maybe try this model for your RV travels. Make sure you update the device out of the box.
Our Garmin RV GPS works like most other GPSs. I always research a route before I head out. I have heard to many horror stories about GPSs send driver's across railroad tracks were there was no real road. I biggest complaint about Garmin is they have not updated their maps for the new exit numbers in MA and RI. It has been a couple years now. Waze does show proper numbering. My positive with our Garmin GPS is when traveling in Gettysburg, PA and Charlottesville, VA it did route us down RV friendly local roads. Waze would have sent us down alleys fit for just cars. My conclusion is you need to be aware of your route no matter what method you are using. Thank you for your review. Your comments were right on the mark. Stay off the GW bridge.
We tow an 18 foot TAB 400 and at tat time pulled by a Jeep GC 6 banger, now we have the V8 Hemi after the Monitor pass experience. the garmin sent us over the 8000 foot Monitor pass out of Tahoe and from Hwy 395 to the Coast HWY along a route famous for motorcycling due to its winding route AND NARROW hairpins tat made us quite nervous as they and the road were frequently just one lane and frankly the entire route too narrow for a trailer much longer. Frequently there would be no room for opposing traffic. As well it sent us down dead end roads two times in the dead of night. The Delaney critique is spot on.
Thank you Patrick for this review. You were being very honest. It makes me say no to using it. I knew if someone else who was using it and it didn’t work for them either. Thank you again Patrick. Have a great night and weekend.
I appreciate the video and understand what you are going thru. I have the experience with my Tundra and Apple apps. Road Tripper seem to work best for me, but you also have to know where you are going.
I use the Rand McNally RV GPS. The screens are a bit difference but it does well at routing and underpass avoidance with the height of our rig qued in the GPS. Nice review
The two were compared in a RUclips video and the Rand McNally definitely didn't produce nearly as good sound. The screen display wasn't as nice as the Garmin either. Do you know which new one this man got that he's so happy with? Thanks
I love mine a lot, but sometimes it comes up with really weird routes. I loved that it displays the speed in a very legible manner that is way better than the tachometer of my car.
We have a 2014 Tundra and 2019 Lance 2375. We got the RV780 Garmin a few years. It does basically what I expect but you do need to apply local knowledge to your route. It only knows where you CAN go not where you SHOULD go. I have a 2022 F150 arriving soon and supposedly the factory gps has trailering options similar to the Garmin. It uses TomTom maps but I don't know if you still have them off line. We go a lot of remote places and having the gps work in those areas is a must. I'll post some information once I've had a chance to test it out.
Patrick, completely understand. We use the unit towing our Lance, however, are always on the lookout for bad routing and use Google maps as a backup. You can also plan your route ahead of time, review it and make any changes before you head out on the road. Thanks for the insight on this device.
I agree. I have learned to plan each leg of the trip separately, turning on and off features for each leg as needed and then reviewing the route on google maps. I also use a paper map as we go. This may be more labor intensive but gives me peace of mind that we won’t be routed over the George Washington bridge! I do like the extra features to find gas stations, rest areas, etc. And you can edit the route to go the way you want, not just the way it routes you. The map is only as good as the mapping system. Google also tries to send you down discontinued roads.
Question: did you ever do firmware updates during the time you used it? I have the older Garmin Overlander and ALWAYS do a firmware/map update before heading out. They have VERY frequent updates, so much so that I do it weekly when doing long trips.
@@TravelswithDelaney was it just when you first got it or each time you headed out on a trip? The reason I ask is because that is what I do with my Garmin Overlander to make sure it has the most current firmware & map information. As a software developer I know there are always improvements to the software to fix those little bugs, and roads are always changing, which is why I update it so often. I was just wondering if you updated it, too? Do you still have it, if so interested in selling it?
I have owned a couple of Garmin GPS units, one of them was an earlier RV unit. They both from time to time select some very strange routes, even in the local area where I live. I have gotten in the habit of going over the days drive with a map and comparing it to the route the Garmin wants to take just to be sure it is not going on some tangent. I do like the fact that the Garmins put up pictures of freeway exits and intersections before you get there so you have an idea of what you are approaching. That way you can get yourself in the correct lane early, which is a godsend when you are towing. I would be interested to see which system you end up with.
I'm curious to know if Garmin updated its GPS logic to help reduce the issues presented in this video. From this review, I was going to get a Garmin, but I'm not now until I can see something was changed and it works all the time to eliminate difficult routes.
Totally agree with you. I have one we have used for a year and I never trust the routing, and traffic information. It has told me interstates are closed when they are not, and their traffic information is almost always off. I always cross check with Waze or Google Maps. Also the address data base is very limited and out dated. I do like the display and the amount of info available on the route such as gas stations restaurants, etc. Also the elevation profile for the route is very useful. But, you are right, for $500+ I expected more. I even corresponded with Garmin and they just said update the data base, which I had.
You Nailed it! I can't stop laughing .... WHY? WE named our 890 Lying Lizzy. I routed us around Alanta GA First, last min was the lane NAV and I fowled it to DOWNTOWN and Construction in the Narrowest Roads i have ever seen and got to drive through the HOOD! MY Wife says I've missed my Calling! This was our first cross Country trip (TEXAS to GA.) and I'm a Biker from CA. that didn't get a Car License until I was 30 ... Other note is when GAS stop pops up and you click on it, now its shows 20+ more to choose from ... if there a chance to advertise anything --Look Out or Duck! Thank you for your Review, I know it was an Honest Review
Our Garmin Camper has let us down badly too in the UK and Europe. We have a lot of narrow roads in the Uk and our unit would often send us down single track roads despite being programmed with our units size. With a 40 foot long combination it it's no joke.
I saw another review where the unit warns you that the routes it prompts you may not be desirable, and you have to accept that disclaimer to use the GPS.
Hello from the UK, Ive always found it hilarious how the damn thing insist on loops and such stuff, once in NORMANDY, Nr Pegasus Bridge in France on a history trip to be exact it tried to route us down some old Sherman tracks across a field TWICE and once at night! On the motorbike it's not really an issue, but have a camper and looking to upgrade now and watching yours and others stories with interest..
Thanks for the update. We won't be buying this now, but in all honesty, we don't rely on one device or app anyway. There have been too many times we have been routed through cities - off the interstate using surface streets - or told to do a U-turn when not needed, or turn down a single lane road as a short cut to somewhere when the obvious route was the two-lane we were on. Anyway, not sure there is a grail GPS (unless you're a pilot), but we'll look out for the new unit you mentioned.
We have an older Garmin 770. On setting up, did you put trailer length or overall combined length of rig. Did you update maps out of box? All GPS units have issues to some point. You can't just blindly follow. We like our RV 770
You know - all nav apps are error prone - going to take you into a corn field, drive off a pier into the ocean, etc. But for how much the garmin $ costs? It better not do either and be perfect. Thanks for the review!
Wow, That was a brutal review! I had a car Garmin take me with RV in tow across the GW in New York even though we had set a route to avoid it! For reasons unknown it automatically recalculated the nefarious route. To be so smart these things sure are dumb! However if you think about it the GW does not violate the software rules for routing. It considers bridge clearance and weight limits and possibly propane tunnel restrictions. The GW does not violate any of those rules. The only way I know to avoid this is to set way points on your route that force it to go around a insane path like the GW bridge. With that said you can't avoid the problems that you don't know about because you have never been there. Google maps does not even consider clearance and weight restrictions and most people think that is the best. If you loose cell coverage then google maps does not work at all. So what is the answer?
Did you call or email Garmin and discuss the problems you've had with the RV890 routing to an area not recommended for Rvs? If you did, what was the Garmin response?
Our rv last trip we were on I-4 heading south, and the Garmin kept wanting to take us off I-4. It kept announcing every upcoming exit. Very annoying. This was an expensive purchase. Wonder if users have returned it and gotten their money back.
Thank you for the review. I am a retired trucker and for me, i would never trust an electronic gismo for direction. I own a 40 motorhome and we travel a lot. For around 50 bucks i still use a trucker atlas. If the road is gray, i never get on it. Nothing like an, in hands map.. my map has never put me on a bad road. Way too much trust is being put into electronic intelligence at a very high cost to your unit when it goes bad. A hand held literal map will never do that. So how convenient is a gps? For me, these dysfunctions make it totally useless.
I hate to say it but I totally agree with your assessment of the Garmin 890. I feel like I was robbed when I bought this GPS unit. I was looking at reviews to see if anyone had been able to make use of it. Nice build but awful software. Did better with Google maps, even with the trailer.
We just use our Apple Play and run off Apple Maps or Google Maps. We also have the TOGO App with the RV navigation that I will use from time to time especially in areas I am not familiar with.
Great review!! Thanks so much! I'm shopping for an RV specific gps right now. Which new and better gps did you get? I installed a Truck & RV app called Copilot. It'll send our rig down to the GW bridge also,( from Ridgefield CT, ) which we definitely want to avoid. I'm trying to change my route to take us over the Tapan Zee instead and then continue from there down to our destination near Baltimore MD. So, i tap on the road during the create a route mode, and it takes us over the Tapan Zee and southwards from there the smartest way. So far this CoPilot app seems to let us work in a route change the best i know of. I think any good RV gps device (or app) should give us easily accessible alternative RV safe routes. CoPilot app costs about $35 dollars a year. I'd rather go with a top quality dedicated RV gps device though. Which one did you finally purchase and how do you like it? I'll check your recent videos to see if you posted information on it. I watched a video comparing the Garmin RV 890 with the Rand McNally and the Garmin really seemed better. I like it's size and the voice is better than the Rand McNally. I'd also think that with all the technology available in these new trucks the navigation systems would already have an RV mode built into the settings. I'm pretty happy with the navigation system my 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie already has but I'm just a little bit disappointed it doesn't have an RV mode already installed. Seems a bit odd since big vehicles like this Ram truck often sooner or later will be used for towing. And i got my Ram truck with the towing package. Thanks for caring and sharing. Hope to hear from you soon. Happy and safe RVing 🙏🌲🕯️
We have a Garmin but an older model. We like it most of the time. However, we were going to Hungry Mother State Park in Marion, VA and for some reason it routed us onto a road called Dragon’s Tail (I think) with a fifth wheel. It was terrifying!! Thank God it didn’t last long. The next day, we decided to drive around to see where we had gone wrong and found an easy and direct way to get there. We laughed at how stupid we were. I blamed us because we should have pulled over somewhere and looked for other options or at least looked at Google Maps to see what the road looked like. I will never trust that bugger again. However, there’s always raised voices when I (the navigator) get a gut instinct that we should go a different way than the Garmin and the driver disagrees. 😁
My son just got his CDL and asked for a truck specific Garmin which we got him for Xmas. Half the price of the RV one by the way. His trainer that he is currently riding with says they are pretty good but do you think he will have the same issues?
Yes one of the down side of a true GPS unit is it will take you down dirt roads. I go off roading with mine regularly. You have to go through the entire set up to get the routing the way you want it.
I appreciate your analysis, but I'll keep my Garmin. It's the best travel tool I use. I've used a gps since 2000 when I bought a Garmin StreetPilot. I've learned to never blindly follow technology. I use TripWizard and the Garmin to plan my route. First TripWizard on the PC, and then Garmin to confirm. I review all the roads and if I see something questionable, I'll use Google maps satellite view. And lastly I'll use Google StreetView, particularly for the entrance to the RV park. Saved my bacon with this one more then once. Requiring a cell signal is too big a problem for me. I'll say it again, the Garmin is one of my required tools for any trip.
Glad to hear it works well for you. We’ve been having much better success with the RV Navigation on the TOGO RV app. Each person has to find what works best for their needs.
I've owned and used a bunch of different GPS's and all had issues of some type. EG: One told me to make a right turn while driving over a bridge, told me to make a right turn where there was just a cliff, a railroad track, then a river. In NH it tried to tell me to turn on to an old over grown logging road, and down a road that I know for a fact is a dead end, that ends at a cliff then just a river. There has never been a road there. The funnest one was in a brand new Ford Edge that my girl friend owned. We where making a trip to NC to visit her brother that lives within ear shot of Rt. 95. She insisted on programing the trip using voice commands, that did not work, so she used the touch pad. I knew something was wrong as soon as she punched it in. I made the mistake of mentioning that and had to hear for 1/2 hour about how I think I know everything. It sent us down Rt. 85, instead of 95, then down every back road in VA and NC. A simple 2 hour trip turned into over 5 hours. The default was set to avoid all major highways. :)
We are using my iPad Pro with cellular service and the TOGO RV App with the annual RoadPass Plus membership for RV specific navigation. I did a video on that about a month ago
@@TravelswithDelaney ohh, interesting. I'll watch your video on this Togo RV RoadPass Plus gps app. Hopefully it's designed for easy to find/create alternative routes, so we can go over the Tapan Zee instead of the GW. I'm having the exact same route issues. I guess you think it's worthwhile paying the annual fee instead of the one time purchase for owning a gps unit? I see the Togo app in my android play store, but it only got 2.9 star rating. Gee, $50 bucks per year isn't cheap. Maybe that rating is for the basic free Togo plan? Thanks 👍
I get what you're saying. I have the 785 RV and I keep it for 3 reasons. I like it's low clearance avoidance....or at least I think I do. I also like that it tells be about upcoming rest stops and it is a dash cam. It's traffic avoidance sucks. Garmin should really be ashamed. I always preprogram our route by using rv trip wizard and Google maps. It's a damn shame Google won't add low clearance avoidance to Google maps/navigation.
Hi Casey - Like you, we also use the RV Trip Wizard (RVTW) that includes the routing preferences that also includes our RV specs. When we download the RVTW based trip into the Google Maps' GPX readable format all the stops, waypoints, and our RV routing preferences managed by RVTW are exported. I believe this includes height - at least to date we have not "bumped" into a problem. We then use Android Auto on our connected cell to retrieve the saved "map." This has worked near-flawlessly, but on those occasions when we veer off the RVTW path, we have a backup Garmin that we use to keep us from getting into trouble - especially if all we really want to do is wander off the beaten path ;)
I bought their RV model sold several years ago. I had the very same problems. Additionally, when after 3 years I asked for a map update there was none. Then I was told they stopped supporting this unit. It was the current model at time of purchase . Don’t necessarily believe map update promises they may give you.
My experience with GPS is that if there's a rural road with no traffic and high speed limits and an urban alternative with bumper to bumper traffic and low speed limits... the GPS will choose the urban path every time.
Seems to me you didn't double check the route and you can change it on the fly. Having a atlas on board wouldn't hurt. As far as the corn field maybe it wanted you to turn around. But sounds more human check before you go might help more. But i have one and had no issues. I go from NH to Florida and check the route and then i just retrack my steps. But anyway thats my experience.
@@TravelswithDelaney well I have not seen a GPS work perfect yet but also did not realize you would turn a mile further down the road. I find that a minor glitch. But your the only video I saw on utube that would not recommend. There were and I counted 5 other videos that said they would recommend it. One video was a couple that had the Rand McNally GPS Vs the Garmin 890 and he picked the 890. But there was so many positives about this GPS that I was wondering what you did different. Just curious.
Thank you. I have a question. We live in New York and we're heading out West for 2 and a 1/2 months for our biggest trip yet. We are only RVing for one year.. We have a class C and flat tow our Jeep. We have beeb using Google maps and RV Life so far and it worjs good for us so far. There has only been one time where we lost our signal and and got a little jammed up but nothing too serious. Going out West is another story. So we're thinking we need a Garmin. I just looked on my dashboard and windshield and there really is no room for that huge 8" screen. Do you think I should just get one that's made for a car? Or is there a small one that I could put in the height of my RV? I think 1 that's much smaller would fit ok. I don't need a big screen I just need something that uses satellites so I don't get jammed up out West. Just asking for some advice. Thank you.
I think you would be fine with the smaller car version and you could supplement that with RV Life App or the TOGO RV App navigation to double check the route with our ahead of time. The great thing out west is there are not as many worries for RV travel like low bridges out east.
@@TravelswithDelaney Thank you so much for your response. So the main reason for getting it would be so I don't lose a signal because it works off of satellite, correct? And by the way I'm very happy with Google maps. The only problem is I can't put in the height and there are times you will lose a signal.
@@yobabybubba Yes....it you just use Google Maps or TOGO RV Navigation (which does take into account your RV dimensions when mapping), those work off cell signal so if you loose signal, you loose the pinpoint mapping until you get back to a signal. A GPS like a Garmin or Tom Tom uses satellites which does not rely on cell service.
Unfortunately going across the GW Bridge and Cross Island beats the crap of truck and RV it is the best was to get to Long Island Just need to know what times to do it 10 PM to 4 AM DO NOT GO ANY OTHER TIME. Also Saturday and especially Sunday.
Well you can always sell it on eBay and get some of your money back. Personally I fill out my route with pencil and paper for the day drive. It's a lot cheaper and my cat the navigator : )
No it should not. The application of grammar is the old school rule of use “a” before words that begin with consonants. Use “an” for words that begin with vowels. However, the proper use of the rule is based on how the word is pronounced. In the case of the word “unbiased” it not only begins with a vowel but it also is pronounced in such a way that the “u” is heard. Therefore, using “an” is appropriate.
3 minutes into this actual video I actually got the actual feeling that I would actually not actually enjoy the rest of the actual content so I actually decided to go to another actual video.
Have had the same Garmin 890 for 18 months, we have over 29 thousand miles towing a 42' 5th wheel with it in last 18 months. Never had any of these experiences that your talking about. Sounds like you just took it out the box and ran with it in stead of following the directions and setting it up the way Garmin tells you too. You sounds like high tech was put in the hands of a no branier being.
Dang it….you figured it out! LOL. Seriously though…I am glad it worked out for you. We have had many more people tell us they had our experience but am glad it did right by you. As for the name calling….why? Does it really make you feel better to do that? Honestly….you can make your point in a non bully way
Well , I bought the garmin 785 two years ago. Put it through its paces and after 4 3 week trips in our class C I smashed it with a mallet. Garmin is junk. I use google maps and a big buck truckers atlas. Life is good. I do not subscribe to rv life or any others that “cater” to rv folks. As far as I’m concerned they are no better. And as a side note I started driving semi’s full time in 1982 full time and got by just fine for forty years with a map and a cell phone when they came out. Why change now. Hmmm.
First of all, it's never a good time to pull a trailer through NYC or DC. No GPS is perfect, one must use the GPS between the ears and never follow a black box blindly, it's a tool. Perhaps you should have watched the tutorials and learned about the route shaping function
Spotted one of these on eBay and was going to purchase until I saw your video. I have settled on Hammer phone-based routing and it seems to work well and is free. It takes into account weight and height restrictions and so far all routes have been logical. A local RV enthusiast suggested I purchase a Garmin but after seeing your video and reading reviews of Garmin vs some of the phone-based apps, I think I'll save my money. Thanks again for an unbiased review.
Thank you for this honest review! We have a Garman trucker GPS that we bought when we first hit the road about five years ago. We have found that the Garman does have a lot of the same issues you talked about in your video like routing us the long way around, or routing us through more challenging areas to toe, or taking us on the wrong path. In fact, the first time we used our GPS in Fargo North Dakota, it did the same thing to us. It tried to send us down a farmers access road. We still use our GPS because we didn’t want to invest more money in a different product, but we always double check our route with other resources.
I’m glad you did a good unbiased review, we were going to get one, but not now. Towing a RV is stressful enough without being put into a precarious situation! I’ll be looking forward to your review on another product…
Definitely, I saw a comparison RUclips video between this Garmin and the Rand McNally. The Garmin was definitely better. I'm so glad I watched this video and now really hope someone can tell us which one he finally got and is very happy with. Hope he's made a video on it . I'm hoping for a good RV gps that shows us several alternative routes, so we're not forced to struggle to create a route we'd prefer. I always prefer to avoid big cities and known contested areas. Thanks
This is valuable info! Can’t wait to hear about the system you switched to.
Thank you for your time in creating the video. We’ve had this one since March 2021 and have found it to be very reliable with the caveat that no GPS system is perfect. We really like that it lets us add stops along the way and let’s us know what options are up ahead.
I am glad to hear it is working out well for you. It seems people either love it or hate it when it comes to this GPS. I guess we were just disappointed considering the amount of money we spent on it. This Sundays video I will be showing what we are now using.
Many thanks! I was going to buy this literally tomorrow. Your review (and your review of the better alternative) changed my mind.
Thank you for the review! We were going to purchase this model (because of the larger size). So glad that we didn't!!!
I am a long haul truck driver. I drive a tractor-trailer long nose truck with a 53' trailer. I use the Garmin dezl OTR710 to ASSIST me with my routing. This unit as never led me to going over a bridge, under a bridge or anything too small or with a weight issue. Maybe try this model for your RV travels.
Make sure you update the device out of the box.
Awesome thanks for letting us know. I was thinking about getting that device for our trips. Will keep on looking
Our Garmin RV GPS works like most other GPSs. I always research a route before I head out. I have heard to many horror stories about GPSs send driver's across railroad tracks were there was no real road.
I biggest complaint about Garmin is they have not updated their maps for the new exit numbers in MA and RI. It has been a couple years now. Waze does show proper numbering.
My positive with our Garmin GPS is when traveling in Gettysburg, PA and Charlottesville, VA it did route us down RV friendly local roads. Waze would have sent us down alleys fit for just cars.
My conclusion is you need to be aware of your route no matter what method you are using.
Thank you for your review. Your comments were right on the mark. Stay off the GW bridge.
We tow an 18 foot TAB 400 and at tat time pulled by a Jeep GC 6 banger, now we have the V8 Hemi after the Monitor pass experience. the garmin sent us over the 8000 foot Monitor pass out of Tahoe and from Hwy 395 to the Coast HWY along a route famous for motorcycling due to its winding route AND NARROW hairpins tat made us quite nervous as they and the road were frequently just one lane and frankly the entire route too narrow for a trailer much longer. Frequently there would be no room for opposing traffic. As well it sent us down dead end roads two times in the dead of night. The Delaney critique is spot on.
Thanks so much for this review. You saved me a bum investment .👍 I am looking forward to seeing what you use now.
Thank you so much for this video Patrick! I almost jumped and bought one because they are on sale. Driving through a cornfield doesn’t work for me. 😁
Thank you Patrick for this review. You were being very honest. It makes me say no to using it. I knew if someone else who was using it and it didn’t work for them either. Thank you again Patrick. Have a great night and weekend.
Thank you Sherri!
Thank you for your honest review of this product. 👍
Thank you Jeff!
I appreciate the video and understand what you are going thru. I have the experience with my Tundra and Apple apps. Road Tripper seem to work best for me, but you also have to know where you are going.
I used mine for over 3,000 miles last year and it works great
I use the Rand McNally RV GPS. The screens are a bit difference but it does well at routing and underpass avoidance with the height of our rig qued in the GPS. Nice review
The two were compared in a RUclips video and the Rand McNally definitely didn't produce nearly as good sound. The screen display wasn't as nice as the Garmin either. Do you know which new one this man got that he's so happy with? Thanks
@@Hundert1 not sure
@@BikesBoatsBivouacs 👌🏻
We agree! We are currently traveling and the 890 has let us down. Put us in a dangerous situation!
I love mine a lot, but sometimes it comes up with really weird routes. I loved that it displays the speed in a very legible manner that is way better than the tachometer of my car.
Great review. Unbiased reviews are the best!
We have a 2014 Tundra and 2019 Lance 2375. We got the RV780 Garmin a few years. It does basically what I expect but you do need to apply local knowledge to your route. It only knows where you CAN go not where you SHOULD go. I have a 2022 F150 arriving soon and supposedly the factory gps has trailering options similar to the Garmin. It uses TomTom maps but I don't know if you still have them off line. We go a lot of remote places and having the gps work in those areas is a must. I'll post some information once I've had a chance to test it out.
Thank you for the honesty
Always!
Patrick, completely understand. We use the unit towing our Lance, however, are always on the lookout for bad routing and use Google maps as a backup. You can also plan your route ahead of time, review it and make any changes before you head out on the road. Thanks for the insight on this device.
I agree. I have learned to plan each leg of the trip separately, turning on and off features for each leg as needed and then reviewing the route on google maps. I also use a paper map as we go. This may be more labor intensive but gives me peace of mind that we won’t be routed over the George Washington bridge! I do like the extra features to find gas stations, rest areas, etc. And you can edit the route to go the way you want, not just the way it routes you.
The map is only as good as the mapping system. Google also tries to send you down discontinued roads.
Question: did you ever do firmware updates during the time you used it? I have the older Garmin Overlander and ALWAYS do a firmware/map update before heading out. They have VERY frequent updates, so much so that I do it weekly when doing long trips.
Yes….the first thing we did when we received it was do all updates.
@@TravelswithDelaney was it just when you first got it or each time you headed out on a trip? The reason I ask is because that is what I do with my Garmin Overlander to make sure it has the most current firmware & map information. As a software developer I know there are always improvements to the software to fix those little bugs, and roads are always changing, which is why I update it so often. I was just wondering if you updated it, too?
Do you still have it, if so interested in selling it?
We weren’t happy with the Garmin either. Can’t wait to see the new recommendation.
I have owned a couple of Garmin GPS units, one of them was an earlier RV unit. They both from time to time select some very strange routes, even in the local area where I live. I have gotten in the habit of going over the days drive with a map and comparing it to the route the Garmin wants to take just to be sure it is not going on some tangent. I do like the fact that the Garmins put up pictures of freeway exits and intersections before you get there so you have an idea of what you are approaching. That way you can get yourself in the correct lane early, which is a godsend when you are towing. I would be interested to see which system you end up with.
I'm curious to know if Garmin updated its GPS logic to help reduce the issues presented in this video. From this review, I was going to get a Garmin, but I'm not now until I can see something was changed and it works all the time to eliminate difficult routes.
Thanks. You just saved me money!
we have the same unit, works good over here in Oz. even took us around the block to our friends house so we would be on the right side of the road...
Totally agree with you. I have one we have used for a year and I never trust the routing, and traffic information. It has told me interstates are closed when they are not, and their traffic information is almost always off. I always cross check with Waze or Google Maps. Also the address data base is very limited and out dated. I do like the display and the amount of info available on the route such as gas stations restaurants, etc. Also the elevation profile for the route is very useful. But, you are right, for $500+ I expected more. I even corresponded with Garmin and they just said update the data base, which I had.
You Nailed it! I can't stop laughing .... WHY? WE named our 890 Lying Lizzy. I routed us around Alanta GA First, last min was the lane NAV and I fowled it to DOWNTOWN and Construction in the Narrowest Roads i have ever seen and got to drive through the HOOD! MY Wife says I've missed my Calling! This was our first cross Country trip (TEXAS to GA.) and I'm a Biker from CA. that didn't get a Car License until I was 30 ... Other note is when GAS stop pops up and you click on it, now its shows 20+ more to choose from ... if there a chance to advertise anything --Look Out or Duck! Thank you for your Review, I know it was an Honest Review
Our Garmin Camper has let us down badly too in the UK and Europe. We have a lot of narrow roads in the Uk and our unit would often send us down single track roads despite being programmed with our units size. With a 40 foot long combination it it's no joke.
I saw another review where the unit warns you that the routes it prompts you may not be desirable, and you have to accept that disclaimer to use the GPS.
Hello from the UK, Ive always found it hilarious how the damn thing insist on loops and such stuff, once in NORMANDY, Nr Pegasus Bridge in France on a history trip to be exact it tried to route us down some old Sherman tracks across a field TWICE and once at night! On the motorbike it's not really an issue, but have a camper and looking to upgrade now and watching yours and others stories with interest..
Question, when you had you navigation issues in NY and DC, was your GPS connected with your phone via Bluetooth for traffic updates, etc?
Yes…we we’re connect to my iPhone
We've have an older version of the same RV GPS which we are still using.. We;;ve had some problems with its routing but over all it's a good unit.
Thanks for the update. We won't be buying this now, but in all honesty, we don't rely on one device or app anyway. There have been too many times we have been routed through cities - off the interstate using surface streets - or told to do a U-turn when not needed, or turn down a single lane road as a short cut to somewhere when the obvious route was the two-lane we were on. Anyway, not sure there is a grail GPS (unless you're a pilot), but we'll look out for the new unit you mentioned.
Well-done Patrick!
Thank You
Wondering where my comment went. Oh well it seems your next video is about using the RV Trip Wizard navigation app.
I'm curious if you are willing to update the software and maps and see if there has been any improvement after 2 years.
We have an older Garmin 770.
On setting up, did you put trailer length or overall combined length of rig.
Did you update maps out of box?
All GPS units have issues to some point.
You can't just blindly follow.
We like our RV 770
At 6:07, he said he entered his trailer’s specs.
Really useful video. I’d love to know which GPS you replaced the Garmin with? Thanks, John
You know - all nav apps are error prone - going to take you into a corn field, drive off a pier into the ocean, etc. But for how much the garmin $ costs? It better not do either and be perfect. Thanks for the review!
Have you been to Canada with the 890 rv
Wandering if it will tell you what you need crossing the line
We have not been to Canada with it.
Thanks for video
Wow, That was a brutal review! I had a car Garmin take me with RV in tow across the GW in New York even though we had set a route to avoid it! For reasons unknown it automatically recalculated the nefarious route. To be so smart these things sure are dumb! However if you think about it the GW does not violate the software rules for routing. It considers bridge clearance and weight limits and possibly propane tunnel restrictions. The GW does not violate any of those rules. The only way I know to avoid this is to set way points on your route that force it to go around a insane path like the GW bridge. With that said you can't avoid the problems that you don't know about because you have never been there. Google maps does not even consider clearance and weight restrictions and most people think that is the best. If you loose cell coverage then google maps does not work at all. So what is the answer?
Did you call or email Garmin and discuss the problems you've had with the RV890 routing to an area not recommended for Rvs? If you did, what was the Garmin response?
I love mine, you just have to tell things like no U-turns, which is the same that I had with my commercial GPS when I was a truck driver
i had friends that had that trouble until they did a firmware update and map update you didn't mention if you updated it or not
Yes....we had done all the available updates per the manufacture.
Our rv last trip we were on I-4 heading south, and the Garmin kept wanting to take us off I-4. It kept announcing every upcoming exit. Very annoying. This was an expensive purchase. Wonder if users have returned it and gotten their money back.
Thank you for the review. I am a retired trucker and for me, i would never trust an electronic gismo for direction. I own a 40 motorhome and we travel a lot. For around 50 bucks i still use a trucker atlas. If the road is gray, i never get on it. Nothing like an, in hands map.. my map has never put me on a bad road. Way too much trust is being put into electronic intelligence at a very high cost to your unit when it goes bad. A hand held literal map will never do that. So how convenient is a gps? For me, these dysfunctions make it totally useless.
Where do you find a truckers atlas?
Does this have a map mode that looks like a road atlas? Or does it only have a "bird's eye" view?
I hate to say it but I totally agree with your assessment of the Garmin 890. I feel like I was robbed when I bought this GPS unit. I was looking at reviews to see if anyone had been able to make use of it. Nice build but awful software. Did better with Google maps, even with the trailer.
We just use our Apple Play and run off Apple Maps or Google Maps. We also have the TOGO App with the RV navigation that I will use from time to time especially in areas I am not familiar with.
Great review!! Thanks so much! I'm shopping for an RV specific gps right now. Which new and better gps did you get? I installed a Truck & RV app called Copilot. It'll send our rig down to the GW bridge also,( from Ridgefield CT, ) which we definitely want to avoid. I'm trying to change my route to take us over the Tapan Zee instead and then continue from there down to our destination near Baltimore MD. So, i tap on the road during the create a route mode, and it takes us over the Tapan Zee and southwards from there the smartest way. So far this CoPilot app seems to let us work in a route change the best i know of. I think any good RV gps device (or app) should give us easily accessible alternative RV safe routes. CoPilot app costs about $35 dollars a year. I'd rather go with a top quality dedicated RV gps device though. Which one did you finally purchase and how do you like it? I'll check your recent videos to see if you posted information on it. I watched a video comparing the Garmin RV 890 with the Rand McNally and the Garmin really seemed better. I like it's size and the voice is better than the Rand McNally. I'd also think that with all the technology available in these new trucks the navigation systems would already have an RV mode built into the settings. I'm pretty happy with the navigation system my 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie already has but I'm just a little bit disappointed it doesn't have an RV mode already installed. Seems a bit odd since big vehicles like this Ram truck often sooner or later will be used for towing. And i got my Ram truck with the towing package. Thanks for caring and sharing. Hope to hear from you soon. Happy and safe RVing 🙏🌲🕯️
We have a Garmin but an older model. We like it most of the time. However, we were going to Hungry Mother State Park in Marion, VA and for some reason it routed us onto a road called Dragon’s Tail (I think) with a fifth wheel. It was terrifying!! Thank God it didn’t last long. The next day, we decided to drive around to see where we had gone wrong and found an easy and direct way to get there. We laughed at how stupid we were. I blamed us because we should have pulled over somewhere and looked for other options or at least looked at Google Maps to see what the road looked like. I will never trust that bugger again. However, there’s always raised voices when I (the navigator) get a gut instinct that we should go a different way than the Garmin and the driver disagrees. 😁
The good old paper map is still the best!
My son just got his CDL and asked for a truck specific Garmin which we got him for Xmas. Half the price of the RV one by the way. His trainer that he is currently riding with says they are pretty good but do you think he will have the same issues?
Inner loop... ouch. Thanks for review.
Yes one of the down side of a true GPS unit is it will take you down dirt roads. I go off roading with mine regularly. You have to go through the entire set up to get the routing the way you want it.
I appreciate your analysis, but I'll keep my Garmin. It's the best travel tool I use.
I've used a gps since 2000 when I bought a Garmin StreetPilot. I've learned to never blindly follow technology.
I use TripWizard and the Garmin to plan my route. First TripWizard on the PC, and then Garmin to confirm.
I review all the roads and if I see something questionable, I'll use Google maps satellite view.
And lastly I'll use Google StreetView, particularly for the entrance to the RV park. Saved my bacon with this one more then once.
Requiring a cell signal is too big a problem for me. I'll say it again, the Garmin is one of my required tools for any trip.
Glad to hear it works well for you. We’ve been having much better success with the RV Navigation on the TOGO RV app. Each person has to find what works best for their needs.
I've owned and used a bunch of different GPS's and all had issues of some type. EG: One told me to make a right turn while driving over a bridge, told me to make a right turn where there was just a cliff, a railroad track, then a river. In NH it tried to tell me to turn on to an old over grown logging road, and down a road that I know for a fact is a dead end, that ends at a cliff then just a river. There has never been a road there. The funnest one was in a brand new Ford Edge that my girl friend owned. We where making a trip to NC to visit her brother that lives within ear shot of Rt. 95. She insisted on programing the trip using voice commands, that did not work, so she used the touch pad. I knew something was wrong as soon as she punched it in. I made the mistake of mentioning that and had to hear for 1/2 hour about how I think I know everything. It sent us down Rt. 85, instead of 95, then down every back road in VA and NC. A simple 2 hour trip turned into over 5 hours. The default was set to avoid all major highways. :)
Thank you
Which one do you use?
We use the TOGO App with their RV Navigation Service on our iPhone or iPad now. Been working well for us the past 2 years
This may have been addressed already, but was the map updated? Also, curious to know if this Garmin has free lifetime map updates?
Yes…it was updated
Does anyone know which gps he finally got and is very happy with? I'd like to see his video on that one too. Thanks
We are using my iPad Pro with cellular service and the TOGO RV App with the annual RoadPass Plus membership for RV specific navigation. I did a video on that about a month ago
@@TravelswithDelaney ohh, interesting. I'll watch your video on this Togo RV RoadPass Plus gps app. Hopefully it's designed for easy to find/create alternative routes, so we can go over the Tapan Zee instead of the GW. I'm having the exact same route issues. I guess you think it's worthwhile paying the annual fee instead of the one time purchase for owning a gps unit? I see the Togo app in my android play store, but it only got 2.9 star rating. Gee, $50 bucks per year isn't cheap. Maybe that rating is for the basic free Togo plan? Thanks 👍
Thank you! I am not getting one now!
I get what you're saying. I have the 785 RV and I keep it for 3 reasons. I like it's low clearance avoidance....or at least I think I do. I also like that it tells be about upcoming rest stops and it is a dash cam. It's traffic avoidance sucks. Garmin should really be ashamed. I always preprogram our route by using rv trip wizard and Google maps. It's a damn shame Google won't add low clearance avoidance to Google maps/navigation.
Hi Casey - Like you, we also use the RV Trip Wizard (RVTW) that includes the routing preferences that also includes our RV specs. When we download the RVTW based trip into the Google Maps' GPX readable format all the stops, waypoints, and our RV routing preferences managed by RVTW are exported. I believe this includes height - at least to date we have not "bumped" into a problem. We then use Android Auto on our connected cell to retrieve the saved "map." This has worked near-flawlessly, but on those occasions when we veer off the RVTW path, we have a backup Garmin that we use to keep us from getting into trouble - especially if all we really want to do is wander off the beaten path ;)
I bought their RV model sold several years ago. I had the very same problems. Additionally, when after 3 years I asked for a map update there was none. Then I was told they stopped supporting this unit. It was the current model at time of purchase . Don’t necessarily believe map update promises they may give you.
My experience with GPS is that if there's a rural road with no traffic and high speed limits and an urban alternative with bumper to bumper traffic and low speed limits... the GPS will choose the urban path every time.
Seems to me you didn't double check the route and you can change it on the fly. Having a atlas on board wouldn't hurt. As far as the corn field maybe it wanted you to turn around. But sounds more human check before you go might help more. But i have one and had no issues. I go from NH to Florida and check the route and then i just retrack my steps. But anyway thats my experience.
Why would I turn around in a corn field when the road I needed to turn on was 1 mile ahead? I am glad it works for you but it didn’t for us.
@@TravelswithDelaney well I have not seen a GPS work perfect yet but also did not realize you would turn a mile further down the road. I find that a minor glitch. But your the only video I saw on utube that would not recommend. There were and I counted 5 other videos that said they would recommend it. One video was a couple that had the Rand McNally GPS Vs the Garmin 890 and he picked the 890. But there was so many positives about this GPS that I was wondering what you did different. Just curious.
Have you down loaded any updates?
We did all of the updates as soon as we got it. We ended up selling it a few months after this video came out.
Has anyone used Copilot RV GPS and if so, how do you like it?
Thank you. I have a question. We live in New York and we're heading out West for 2 and a 1/2 months for our biggest trip yet. We are only RVing for one year.. We have a class C and flat tow our Jeep. We have beeb using Google maps and RV Life so far and it worjs good for us so far. There has only been one time where we lost our signal and and got a little jammed up but nothing too serious. Going out West is another story. So we're thinking we need a Garmin. I just looked on my dashboard and windshield and there really is no room for that huge 8" screen. Do you think I should just get one that's made for a car? Or is there a small one that I could put in the height of my RV? I think 1 that's much smaller would fit ok. I don't need a big screen I just need something that uses satellites so I don't get jammed up out West. Just asking for some advice. Thank you.
I think you would be fine with the smaller car version and you could supplement that with RV Life App or the TOGO RV App navigation to double check the route with our ahead of time. The great thing out west is there are not as many worries for RV travel like low bridges out east.
@@TravelswithDelaney Thank you so much for your response. So the main reason for getting it would be so I don't lose a signal because it works off of satellite, correct? And by the way I'm very happy with Google maps. The only problem is I can't put in the height and there are times you will lose a signal.
@@yobabybubba Yes....it you just use Google Maps or TOGO RV Navigation (which does take into account your RV dimensions when mapping), those work off cell signal so if you loose signal, you loose the pinpoint mapping until you get back to a signal. A GPS like a Garmin or Tom Tom uses satellites which does not rely on cell service.
@@TravelswithDelaney thank you so much
@@yobabybubba You are welcome! Hope that helps some.
Unfortunately going across the GW Bridge and Cross Island beats the crap of truck and RV it is the best was to get to Long Island Just need to know what times to do it 10 PM to 4 AM DO NOT GO ANY OTHER TIME. Also Saturday and especially Sunday.
my garmin told my to drive through a ski hill once
i was driving a 4x4 and did consider it (for fun) but decided not to
Thx … saved me $500.00
i had the same experience
i will do an up date and try again - it definitely is glitchy
We sold ours so I didn't return it. I would take it back to where you bought it.
So, you towed a RV through NYC. It was stressful. And it was the GPS’s fault? Really?
Well you can always sell it on eBay and get some of your money back. Personally I fill out my route with pencil and paper for the day drive. It's a lot cheaper and my cat the navigator : )
Shouldn’t the the title say A not an? It just read weird haha. Good video
Thought the same thing when I saw it. I know it's nitpicky but, it's one of those things that will make me nuts. My little corner of the OCD world! 😁
No it should not. The application of grammar is the old school rule of use “a” before words that begin with consonants. Use “an” for words that begin with vowels.
However, the proper use of the rule is based on how the word is pronounced. In the case of the word “unbiased” it not only begins with a vowel but it also is pronounced in such a way that the “u” is heard.
Therefore, using “an” is appropriate.
Thanks for the review. If you want to avoid this with your Lance, I would certainly steers away with my 39ft long 12ft tall motorhome.
3 minutes into this actual video I actually got the actual feeling that I would actually not actually enjoy the rest of the actual content so I actually decided to go to another actual video.
Thank you for taking time to leave a comment. Have a Happy Thanksgiving and god bless.
Have had the same Garmin 890 for 18 months, we have over 29 thousand miles towing a 42' 5th wheel with it in last 18 months. Never had any of these experiences that your talking about. Sounds like you just took it out the box and ran with it in stead of following the directions and setting it up the way Garmin tells you too. You sounds like high tech was put in the hands of a no branier being.
Dang it….you figured it out! LOL. Seriously though…I am glad it worked out for you. We have had many more people tell us they had our experience but am glad it did right by you. As for the name calling….why? Does it really make you feel better to do that? Honestly….you can make your point in a non bully way
Well , I bought the garmin 785 two years ago. Put it through its paces and after 4 3 week trips in our class C I smashed it with a mallet. Garmin is junk. I use google maps and a big buck truckers atlas. Life is good. I do not subscribe to rv life or any others that “cater” to rv folks. As far as I’m concerned they are no better. And as a side note I started driving semi’s full time in 1982 full time and got by just fine for forty years with a map and a cell phone when they came out. Why change now. Hmmm.
First of all, it's never a good time to pull a trailer through NYC or DC. No GPS is perfect, one must use the GPS between the ears and never follow a black box blindly, it's a tool. Perhaps you should have watched the tutorials and learned about the route shaping function
I'll give 200 for it.
Thank you for the offer but I currently have a buyer for it.
I also bout the RV890 and am completely disappointed. For the money it is a total POS!