Comparison Table
RV GPS FAQ
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1. What Is An RV GPS?
2. What Does An RV GPS Do?
3. How Does An RV GPS Work?
4. Where Can You Buy An RV GPS Unit?
How We Reviewed
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The products below were reviewed based on the following parameters: Features, Pros & Cons, Price, and Availability. Our team of experts hand picked these units based on years of experience and research into state-of-the-art RV GPS units to present the best options for you as you make your decision about what RV GPS to buy.
Overall Price Range Of RV GPS And Similar Units
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The lower end units may be suitable for regular sized automobiles or small RVs, but aren’t likely to have the extras that larger RV drivers will want to invest in, like information on routes with height limitations or safe, spacious turnarounds.
What We Reviewed:
- Garmin RV 770 LMT-S GPS
- UGC-102-BL Dual 12V Car Charger for GPS
- PocketPro XL Hardshell Case
- Bamboo Stylus Mini
- Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, LCD Screen Protector 3-Pack
Features
This RV GPS unit offers advanced navigation for RVers who intend to take their rig camping and provides RV routing and road warnings to better enable you to guide your RV and any towable trailer or equipment you might drag along behind.
It comes with the ability to link to a smartphone application to provide live traffic and weather information, and includes a hands-free, Bluetooth enabled calling mode, smart notifications and voice control if you want to change your destination on-the-fly.
This bundle also includes a dual twelve-volt charger for the GPS, a bamboo mini stylus for touch-screen precision, a cloth sleeve for proper storage, a microfiber cleaning cloth, and three LCD screen protectors to keep your screen looking new and operating perfectly for years to come.
Where to Buy
Amazon
PROS
CONS
Features
The TND 530 isn’t an RV GPS per se, but rather a unit designed and intended for overland truckers. It may pack more of a punch that the average RVer needs, but you can customize the GPS route based on the dimensions of your RV, which is a fantastic feature. It also provides the ability to set warnings for steep graded hills and sharp curves or winding roads.
It allows you to navigate complex cloverleaf and other junctions with its specialized “junction view” and view important navigational details like the current mile marker of the highway you happened to be traveling down.
Where to Buy
Amazon
PROS
CONS
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Features
This unit has an integrated dash cam and provides acceptable RV GPS service, but is without some of the bells and whistles other models we review here contain. It has a five-inch high-resolution touchscreen that’s easily readable in daylight and the built-in dash cam records in HD video automatically should any fender benders occur. It has a built-in “G Shock” feature that will lock the video for later review upon any detected collision.
Where to Buy
Amazon
PROS
CONS
- Premium Maps of the United States, Canada and Mexico
- 6-inch touchscreen
- Always drive with the latest map. Get to your destination faster with free Lifetime Maps.
- Passenger and Camper Car Options - switch between profiles to suit your needs
- Custom Points of Interest for Campers and Campgrounds
Features
This RV GPS model features a large six-inch screen with free lifetime map updates of the US, Mexico, and Canada. The large screen boasts an additional feature—the ability to present information in split-screen format, such as the built-on points of interest features that will guide you to landmarks, tourist attractions, or other sights the intrepid explorer may wish to see.
Where to Buy
Amazon
PROS
CONS
- Truck and Trailer Services Directory - Search and filter truck stops by brand name or preferred amenities. Find points of interest highly-rated by truckers, including hotels, restaurants and parking
- Foursquare - Search millions of additional new and popular restaurants, shops and more with Foursquare
- LOGGING - Track maintenance, hours of service, fuel use And more
- TRUCK ROUTING - Customized routing for the size and weight of your truck3
Features
The Garmin dēzl (pronounced diesel) is another GPS unit that is less an RV GPS and more intended for professional truck drivers, but comes with great perks that many RV owners would be glad to have, including a directory of truck and trailer services that could come in handy, a list of truck stops filterable by brand name or preferred amenities, and a list of attractions that long-distance travels may find come in handy.
It also allows you to find points of interest that have received high ratings by truckers, like restaurants, hotels, and parking locations.
Where to Buy
Amazon
PROS
CONS
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Features
This unit is a dedicated RV GPS unit in that was designed specifically for RVs. You can enter the dimensions and weight of your vehicle and ideally the RoadMate will direct you to roadways that are large enough to accommodate the size of your rig. Unfortunately, many users report that the RoadMate will occasionally direct them down a narrow surface street or suggest a turnaround spot that is far too small to maneuver easily into.
It is also reportedly plagued with software and update issues with no clear or easy workable solution, causing many to return this unit to the place of purchase. Because of this, and because of several other users reporting software issues, we cannot recommend the RoadMate at this time.
Where to Buy
Amazon
PROS
CONS
- 8" Widescreen Display
- Advanced Truck GPS with Android tablet
- Truck-Specific Routing
- On-board Dash Cam
- Preloaded Trucking Apps
Features
This RV GPS features an Android-driven eight-inch tablet dedicated to GPS functions. It has a built-in dash cam, and features truck and RV-specific navigation, tip planning, and logging tools.
Though most RVers won’t use these functions, it also has pre-loaded applications to track fuel cost, trip logging, accounting and load board—all features more suited for professional truckers than for the average RV driver. Still, for a tablet this size, it’s a bargain.
Where to Buy
Amazon
PROS
CONS
- Large 7" high-resolution touchscreen display: 800 x 480 pixels; WVGA TFT color display with white backlight
- Specialized RV routing based on customizable restrictions including height, weight, width and length
- Cautions and advisories include risk of grounding, lateral wind, narrow road, sharp curve, steep hill, tree overhand and state borders
- Voice-activated navigation means RV 760LMT responds intelligently to your verbal commands. Just talk to it. Compatible with Garmin BC 20 wireless back up camera
- Large 7" high-resolution touchscreen display: 800 x 480 pixels; WVGA TFT color display with white backlight
Features
This GPS RV was designed specifically for RV drivers and is easy to understand and use. It was engineered specifically for larger RVs, and can be customized to choose routes and plot courses based on the height, length, width, and weight of your RV. You will never have to worry about encountering a bridge with insufficient clearance, or being stuck on a road too narrow to maneuver.
It also features lifetime traffic and map updates, and will highlight RV-friendly stops like rest areas or truck stops along your route. The map includes data on campgrounds, state parks, even restaurants and laundromats for doing laundry on the road. It features built-in alerts for narrow roads that can’t be avoided, and will even alert you to low-hanging branches or high winds to ensure your safety and that of your vehicle.
Where to Buy
Amazon
PROS
CONS
The Verdict
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While most of these units would function well in providing an RV GPS, except for the Magellan unit which we caution against, some of them have features that may not make sense for RV users, but are intended for long-distance truckers. We recommend against the units that don’t provide the ability to specify the height and weight of your RV and wish to give a nod to those units that will also let you specify your vehicles width.
Though some of the trucking data may be useful to the average RVer, the same sort of functionality is available in the Garmin RV 760, which wins our recommendation for best all-round RV GPS unit. Happy travels!
Featured Image: Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels
