Get revenge with Rand McNally here!
 

Seriously, is anyone else as angry as I am that you buy their atlases and they fall apart the first week?

Which one are you buying...I have the last 3 laminated ones from 2002, 2004, 2006 and they are ALL still in one piece and we used them ALOT!!

tootie

Ya, you gotta buy the big expensive laminated one.

'Big' is the main word, there. That's the main reason I haven't bought that one, it's just so thick and heavy.

I considered the regular one to be disposable, and they update it every year anyway. They didn't use to fall apart so quickly, but I think it's two or three in a row, the thing is practically brand new and yet the binding doesn't hold.

If you wait until the end of the year when the new ones come out, you can usually get a good discount. Last time I think I paid $10/each. A number of years ago I tried the cheaper ones, but like you say, they don't last. If you are going to have to replace the cheaper one, I figure it is less expensive in the long run to just buy the better one with lamination. I replace mine about every 2 years. There isn't really any need to buy a new one every year. There aren't going to be many, if any changes during that time.

Sounds like I am the last one to be told! Alright then, maybe I need to go laminated.

It will be cheaper in the long run. The new maps should be out so you may be able to find them in the truck stops at a discount.

That is what I did except I got the new one when it came out but kept it for 2yrs. If you wiat till they are on sale toward the end of the year they are cheaper and you could get one every year then.

I didnt get the GIANT print one though....Texas is like 9 pages long....I got the regular one with the laminated pages.... :wink:

tootie

We've had the laminated ones for the last two years, but used the regular ones prior to that and I always got them to last a year...just. The key is to keep them out of the sun, especially off the dash. The binding doesn't hold up to the heat. I have the same problem with the truck stop guide.

Since you have access to the net.....http://www.randmcnally.com/

No pages to lose...no extra weight to carry...and if you have a printer on-board...you can print your map for each trip. :P

I got mine at the 99 cent store for .99. At that price you can throw them at the pee bombers when they wear out.

Maybe it's just me, then. The one on my dash is about 2 weeks old and all the pages are falling out. The reason I bought it was because the one I had before...you guessed it...and on and on.

Could be the problem right there.

Something that I've been planning to do for the truckstop guide would probably work for that too. I'm going to drill 3 holes in the truckstop guide just like a hole punch in paper, then you can put it in a cheap plastic notebook binder.

The only problem I ever had with the cheaper version is when that 4 wheeler pulls out in front of you and that 52 oz Mug turns over and spills your drink all over your map...

Sam's Club also has a good price on them.
I got a Large Scale ring binder for $9.98

I buy the last years laminated deluxe Motor Carriers' Road Atlas, when the Truck Stops offer them on sale when the new year comes out. I think I paid $24 for my last one.

Amazon has good deals also. They have a new/used section you can browse.
You can buy a new '08 for $15
the '09 will run $24 and up.

maps? I don't need no stinking maps.....I haven't owned a paper map in 5 years 8)

Are you actually one of these guys who keeps his laptop out constantly sitting on a specialized stand?

that would be me.