GPS for the Truck
 

My wife wants to get me one for X-mas. Just found out today she has already bought it and I got to look at it today.

I had a few concerns---Where to mount it and if I will actually use it.

Mounting---- The unit has a real good suction cup that will mount on the metal of my dash by the gauges. I didn't want it on the windshield, I like to see everything in front of me that I can.

Will I use it and will it be helpful---I pretty much stay in Michigan and do allot of Home Depot, Lowe's and Menards deliveries and about 6 times a year I might take a longer trip to Fl,LA,MO,PA.

When I can I print myself maps, but when I get a load after I leave home that I didn't know about I have no maps.

And I read allot of reviews and most of them said that it takes from 2-20 minutes to aquire a satelite.

Are they a useful tool or just a gadget after the newness wears off. I am thinking about asking her to take it back. Her feelings won't be hurtLOL.

It is a Garmin Nuvi 750



Thanks Mike

I have Streets and Trips on my laptop and I use it alot.

But you cannot take the route it gives you because it thinks you're a car. You must check it against your atlas for low clearances and restricted routes. And then you should route yourself around cities and avoid bad corners and stuff. But when you get the route planned, it's awesome IMO.

I mounted mine on my dash. Took the rubber suction pad off and epoxy to the dash. I also wired the power inside my dash to the fuse box.

It does take 2 to 20 minutes sometimes to get a signal but once it's got them you are all set for the day.

I wouldn't take it back. Once you start to use it you will never be without one.

http://www.btiserver.com/steve/gps.jpg

we have Streets and Trips and delorme 2008+ we like delorme better but that's us.
9200IH what you need to do first is see ware you want to put it in the truck with the truck pointed north and see it will get a signal at all.
she did get you a good one but some will not work in trucks. windshields in trucks are not tilted enuff for some gps to SEE the satelites.
most laptop gps take less then 45sec. to get the signal. what ever way you go after you have used one you will love it.

Re: GPS for the Truck
 

I have a Garmin C330 and it gets the satellite signal within couple of minutes tops. Of course I have mounted it ON THE WINDOW, in the corner - to the left from. I've been using the gadget for a couple of months and I can't imagine driving without it. Naturally you have to take its recommendations with a grain of salt, but all in all it's a very useful thing. I hardly look into a paper map book anymore...

I have a Garmin 350 (after the 340 malfunctioned and Garmin upgraded me for free). I mounted mine on the gauge cluster which means you rotate it up 90* how you would on the dash. Its out of the way, but very visible, just below the dashline, so my eyes aren't off the road completely. It talks to you too, finds truckstops, bars, casinos, and post offices. I love it, and so does my Dad (32 yr road veteran).

I don't know how to print maps off it, but if you punch in the dest addy, it will tell you step by step how to get where you're going before you get rolling. This helps keep your focus on the road. It tells you approximate miles 2 ways- faster route and shorter route.

I liked the 340 over the 330 because it told you the street name you were to turn on audibly. The 330 is a good unit too, but for the money the 340 is worth it. The 350 has mp3 player, slot for digi cam memory card, and other features I'll probably never use. But, hey, like i said, it was a free upgrade :lol:

My 340 and 350 took a while to get satelite reception when you take it out of the box. It takes 10-15 sec to calculate the roate after the info is added. I was told by Garmin tech support the 350 has a different chip like the higher models (4-500 series) that is more sensitive than the 330/340.

Shop around, I've seen stores sell the 350 cheaper than stores selling the 340/330. Look for the rebates, I got mine at Best Buy with 100$ off. And, its tax deductible, even though you may take it in the car with you while off-duty 8) (has battery life)

I use the Nuvi 660, its mounted above the visor. hardwired w/remote ant., I have yet to wait more than 30 seconds for sat. signal. I don't really trust it for truck use,..its fun and all and I use the British girl's voice,....she sounds hot!!





It will work great for you. if all you do are major stores like Lowes,..it will work perfectly,...you'll love it.

Thanks everyone for all the info.

One more question: I also do allot of hay and straw deleveries out in the boonies. The directions I might get will not give the actual street number for the farm I am going to but I will get the town, road and something like the 4th driveway with the 3 silos.

If I enter the town and the road will the GPS at least get me to the road? So I don't pass it by.

What I would really like if I was to keep this unit is knowing where the next road is that I have to turn at.

I know I would still have to do the reseach for restricted routes and clearances.

I like gadgets but I am just having a hard time with the price.

Thanks Mike

YUP!!! Big time. That's one of the best features I like. You can zoom in real tight and see each street as you pass it and the one you need to turn on or use as a reference.

That's the best part. If the farmer says it's a mile down "Backwoods Rd" then you can create your destination exactly 1 mile down the road. And once you've been there once you can store that destination in the GPS and you will have it for next time....years later. At least that's what I so with Streets and Trips.

One more thing about Streets and Trips. If you already have a laptop, it is by far the cheapest of any GPS option out there. Under $150.

However, if you don't have a laptop, it's the most expensive (because you need to but the laptop).

Some of the basic Tom Tom GPS's are on sale for $150.

How many of you are using external antennas with your GPS? My wife just bought me a "brand-X" GPS with no jack for an external antenna (birthday surprise with no research done by her :? ) Do most of you get a signal without an external?

S&T uses an external antenna that plugs into the USB port on the laptop. Then the antenna sits on the dash or sticks to the windshield. Signals are no problem.

This is a stand-alone GPS unit, not on a laptop. Shoud have made myself clear.

Another good use for a GPS,....
Use it as a speedometer when the one in your truck decides to stop working :wink:,...like mine just did :roll:

I've had my Nuvi 660 for over a year now. No external antenna and it always grabs the satellite signals right away.

I do a lot of 30 - 60 drop loads, and it is an indespensible tool. I would not trade it for a brand new shiny blue eyed brunette gal. No way.

Gotta watch it in Chicago and out on the east coast, though. It does not seem to understand that 13' 6" trailer and 9' 4" bridge don't equal out very well.

Something that was not mentioned before about GPS and locking onto a signal is if your unit is enabled for WASS or not. My Garmin Nuvi 350 can be WASS enabled and my accuracy goes way up at a cost of having to wait minutes to acquire a signal. You can go into your system or navigation settings and enable it there if your unit has the capability.

I guess no want knows how to read a map anymore? I laugh seeing the GPS toters in the city sitting at all the intersections, because its wanting to route them down a narrow 12' clearance street.

I will stick to my Rand McNally. I think they are a distraction.

Oh boy here we go again,must be a dead horse around here somewhere.

Mine has built in antenna. (Garmin 350).

I say return brand x without her knowing and buy a super trucker GPS :lol:

I'm way ahead of you. :wink:

Ironically, she is the one who needs "directional help" more than my truck. Maybe she could benefit from the brand-X unit in her car.

I use Delorme and I hate it with a passion. I mean it's great when it works but it takes hours to get a signal sometimes and then it loses it.

On those mountable ones, how do you put in the info? I mean with Delorme or Microsoft S&T you type in the info on the laptop and I always wondered how the other ones worked. I'm thinking you can connect it to your laptop via USB or Bluetooth and type in the info on the laptop.

I'd like to buy a mountable one but I'm done with buying things for a long time.

Route yourself with a map then check for restrictions and clearances.
Route yourself with a GPS then check for restrictions and clearances.

How is it the GPS' fault if you hit a bridge?

Mine has a screen you can pull up that looks like a keyboard/letterpad. You just touch the letters on the screen to enter info. Most GPS units have very few external buttons, it's mostly touch-screen.

I don't understand this statement,didn't you get your own authority and start making a million dollars right off the bat? 8) 8)

Actually on my down time, I am kept pretty busy just trying to count the money I'm making it's so much :) .

But all kidding aside, I want to move ahead in life and as they say it's not how much you make it's how much you spend. And truth be told I'm not making much here but I'm not running like mad either. No business starts off (well at least most don't) highly profitable; I'm taking my time and just learning right now and tring to keep the mistakes as least costly as possible.

You know (ok now you get me going :) ) everyone I know is hurting financially. I was talking to a relative the other day who was telling me that he has income of over $200,000 a year but he is in debt and struggling. All these people I know in money troubles have fancy cars (fancy to me as I drive a 8 year old Huyndai) big screen tv's and all other types of things that I would never own.

There is someone on this board, I forget who, was saying they drive an old truck and have bought 8 homes since's they have been driving. That's what I'd like to do, maybe not the homes but the general idea. I won't get rich off of trucking but who knows what this leads to.

Ok that's it, actually I'm just stalling as I need to go shower and it's a blizzard out there and I don't want to leave the truck. I'm glad I got within 60 miles or so of my stop cause I see this is going to be a long 60 miles.

[quote="rank"]S&T uses an external antenna that plugs into the USB port on the laptop. Then the antenna sits on the dash or sticks to the windshield. Signals are no problem.[/qu


I have a garmin nuvi 350 i bought on [ MEGA GPS .COM ] it was refurbised i paid $340 and it comes right to the front door and it comes with a warranty just like a brand new one it also looks like a new unit and work perfectly if you u have any questions feel free to email me

hdlegg@yahoo GOOD LUCK ALL !

Well, I DID hit a bridge while following my GPS, but can't blame it on the GPS... it had something to do with the distracted fellow sitting in the drivers' seat paying more attention to the construction in the right lane than the clearance sign overhead! :oops:

I use Microsoft Street and Trips 2006 and have used it since day One on the road. I would not, and I MEAN this... leave home without it. It is THE most indispensable tool I carry with me while trucking.

I have been entertaining getting a second stand alone unit to put in the truck, more as a tax deductible Christmas present to myself than as a necessity. I was wondering what some of you who have done the in-depth research would recommend.

Maps are fine, and cross-checking with the trucker's atlas to make sure you are on a "truck-friendly" route is most definitely a good idea. But finding your way around IN TOWN is where the GPS really shines. It will take you to your drop and load points, and find you a nearby restaurant, bar, casino, library, rest area, theatre... the list goes on. Complete with their phone numbers. It is a FANTASTIC tool, and I cannot imagine being on the road without mine.

Merry Christmas, my driving friends...... 8)

delorme's antenna needs a good look at the sky to work well. when we had it on the dash or windshild it would take forever to lock in. we moved it to the skylite and it has a good signal by the time the loptop is up and running.

Hey that's a good idea. I just tried it though and I'll need a longer USB cord.

By the way I just tried Google Earth for the first time (in the truck anyway) and what a tool that is. I can't believe I haven't used it before. I reached my stop and backed into the door but I was sticking out on the street so I looked at the area in Google Earth and this space across from me that has snow all over it had trucks parked in it in the Google Earth image. I didn't know what was there under the snow.

i added a 4 port hub in the overhead so i can use my printer and a 6ft usb cord to get it down to the laptop and it work just fine

I have an in-dash GPS/DVD unit made by Panasonic. I always check with my road atlas to confirm that it a truck friendly route and most times its right on. Its pretty quick at pulling up the routes for you and it has multiple route options to choose from depending upon what kinds of roads youd like to travel on. It has a 7 inch screen with makes it easy to see and also plays movies. And like everyone else says, I cant imagine being without mine. Heres the link to the product. http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-e...00000000005702 I found cheap at www.sonicelectronix.com