new to the gps world, tell me your thoughts!

natedawgedog · Jun 12, 2011

ive been shopping for gps units and it looks like im buying the garmin nuvi 500, i want one thats waterproof, topo maps, not too much of a need for street maps but I like the features for it. the thing I want to know is is there anything comparable to the nuvi 500 or 550 from other brands? any input would be nice! thanks nate

on another note i thought this was a cool thing you could buy different sounding voices for the garmin nuvi and the tom tom from http://www.navtones.com/
but I especially like this one http://www.navtones.com/garmin/kitt-voi ... n-gps.html
that would be pretty cool to get turn buy turn directions in the car from kitt himself!

bottlerocket · Jun 12, 2011

The garmin nuvi 500 is the best option. I have had mine on the sleds and vehicles for 175,000 miles with no issues. I bought a garmin GPS map640 last year for the bigger screen and it is very nice. Also go with the ram mount ~ there proven and well built. vvmapping or redpine for trail maps and the nuvi500 has a micro sd card and the 640 has a standard sd card. ;)!

Mooseman · Jun 12, 2011

I couldn't justify the expense of the Nuvi 500 that I wouldn't use "seriously" on the sled. I picked up a Nuvi 750 on sale for $70 and got a water resistant case and mount on fleabay like the one pictured. Granted it's not a real RAM mount and it can be a bit more difficult with the touch screen but was acceptable for me. And on my sled, mounted on the handle bar, I couldn't tilt it high enough to be perfectly angled. I might try to mount it on one of the windshield braces. But if money is no object or you need to use the GPS more actively, go with the 500 and a RAM mount.

Just one issue I did encounter, no matter the model or brand, is that the 12V adapter would wiggle out of the stock Yamaha accessory plug where it would lose contact and the GPS would shut off. I solved it by using a rubber band to tie the adapter to the round rubber plug cover.

natedawgedog · Jun 12, 2011

thanks for the input, were I live I just need topo maps, we dont have any designated trails out here in S.W. alaska, but there was one time this last winter that I wish I had a gps, whiteout conditions and I was 15 miles from home, so I had no sense of direction and had to hunker down till the snow lifted, it was like 3 hours of hell, with a gps that wouldnt of happened...
now with street mapping is a differnet story, when I go to the lower 48 I need it to get around some of the weird routes to get to a destination that Ive never been to before. anchorage I dont need one, its to small of a city to actually need a gps.

bottlerocket · Jun 12, 2011

After you get one you will never leave without it. You can explore and never get lost. My best powder riding is with help of the gps... There are a must in my book!

canadianhunter · Jun 12, 2011

With the nuvi 500 and topo maps can you make your own trails ? If so how many ?
Our province had thousand of miles of trails but not set up to transfer to topo ???
I have hundreds of miles on my hand held and would like to know if the same can be done with the nuvi .
Even when going cross country it is nice to look ahead to see how far it is to a trail.

Grimm · Jun 12, 2011

You have to make your own map with your trails. The Nuvi series doesn't have an option for "tracks" like the off-trail gps' do.

The Nuvi shows a history of the route you take, known as a "trip log", but after a while it will delete itself to conserve memory. You can however, save the trip log and create a map, with 3rd party software.

Regarding price, the Nuvi 500 has come down in price. No longer is it upwards of $400 (what I paid), it has come down to the low $200 range.

I love my Nuvi 500.

tmk50 · Jun 13, 2011

I picked up a 62s last year and did my own maps for the areas that we ride from the online jpegs. I also downloaded some of the free topo maps.

IMO you are better off with one of the trail/hunting models if you are riding Forest Service land.

The new Rinos are out too - nice if your riding buddies have them and you get separated.

Blue Dave · Sep 3, 2011

Hi guys,

Rather than start a new topic I am posting here for the best chance of a reply from someone watching this recent thread.

I have a Lowrance H2Oc that I use in my boat. Is this a good GPS to load trail maps onto and use on a sled?

It looks like Garmin might be better supported with available sled trail maps?

Apparently with the Garmin Nuvi you can have turn by turn directions with the map software from from Red Pine?

How well does the turn by turn work on the Nuvi?

Garmin vs Lowrance, pros and cons anyone?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Blue Dave · Sep 24, 2011

Nobody????

I sent an e-mail inquiry to Red Pine three weeks ago and I have not received a reply.

Has anybody done business with Red Pine lately?

Dave

lawmanbsi · Sep 25, 2011

Mooseman said:
Just one issue I did encounter, no matter the model or brand, is that the 12V adapter would wiggle out of the stock Yamaha accessory plug where it would lose contact and the GPS would shut off. I solved it by using a rubber band to tie the adapter to the round rubber plug cover.

Place a couple rounds of electrical tape around the base of the plug for a tight and waterproof fit.

sleddog66 · Sep 25, 2011

Regaurding the turn by turn directions...can you hear them on a sled? I guess that I have not checked in a number of years, but I have a handheald Garmin 60csx. Still works awsome, with a topo and red pine mapping overlaid.

sleddog66 · Sep 25, 2011

While we are on the subject, has anyone used the new set up from trailtech that has the built in gps in the computer set-up. Pros and cons? Does anyone recommend this? My brother is thinking about this, as it will be a gps, temp gauge, + a whole lot more in 1 package.

Blue Dave · Sep 25, 2011

I have a Lowrance H2Oc that I use in my boat. Is this a good GPS to load trail maps onto and use on a sled?

It looks like Garmin might be better supported with available sled trail maps?

Apparently with the Garmin Nuvi you can have turn by turn directions with the map software from from Red Pine?

How well does the turn by turn work on the Nuvi?

Garmin vs Lowrance, pros and cons anyone?

I sent an e-mail inquiry to Red Pine three weeks ago and I have not received a reply.

Has anybody done business with Red Pine lately?

Dave

SteelerJim · Oct 1, 2011

I just got Redpines 2 maps for $39.99 special plus the supplied micro sd card for an extra $10. I was overcharged by about $10 and never recieved the card. The order was placed on 9/12/11. When I emailed them the only reply I got was "shipped" with no mention of the overcharge or possible refund. With customer service like that and no phone # to call I won't be dealing with them again. I was able to download the maps from their site so I got those at least for $64. In my opinion they suck.

new to the gps world, tell me your thoughts!

natedawgedog

TY 4 Stroke Guru

bottlerocket

Lifetime Member

Mooseman

I'm not all knowing. Post your question in forum.

Attachments

natedawgedog

TY 4 Stroke Guru

bottlerocket

Lifetime Member

canadianhunter

TY 4 Stroke Junkie

Grimm

TY 4 Stroke God

tmk50

TY 4 Stroke Junkie

Blue Dave

Lifetime Member

Blue Dave

Lifetime Member

lawmanbsi

Expert

sleddog66

Lifetime Member

Attachments

sleddog66

Lifetime Member

Blue Dave

Lifetime Member

SteelerJim

Expert

Similar threads