Garmin GPS Upgrade right?... NO Left!?

As full time RVers, Ginny and I are usually in places we have never been before. A map of some sort is needed. In this modern age we have a Garmin GPS device. 

We also have a couple other GPS devices and two smart phones with GPS and a drawer full of paper maps. Our favorite set of maps is the 2015 Rand McNally Large Print, Spiral Bound Road Atlas that we just ordered from Amazon for $17.00. Our old 2013 Road Atlas was partially destroyed by our two year old Grandson, Sean. He is a traveler at heart and loves turning pages.

We use the Garmin GPS and always have. Others brands are probably just as good but once you get used to a certain interface it makes sense to upgrade to another unit of the same brand to make the learning curve easier.

Recently our Garmin started acting up, freezing, dropping the map off the screen etc. Ginny and I have admired the larger 7 inch RV GPS that Garmin makes.  We got to see it used first hand by our friends, Dave and Kathy, we decided to upgrade.

There are other benefits to this up-grade:

- The old screen is a 5 inch, the new screen is 7 inch.

- The new model has free lifetime maps and traffic subscription that provides current traffic          information.

- The new GPS screen updates faster after I input commands.

- The newer model responds faster and follows me better in the turns.

- Old eyes can read the much larger text easily

- "Lane Assist" tells you which lane to be in when approaching exits with many lanes

- The RV model has many RV specific tools like:

               - programming your height and width so low underpasses can be avoided.

               - RV campgrounds listings

The cost is quite a bit more, but that's no surprise.

Our first Garmin was the Garmin Nuvi 360.

Amazon site with description.           Garmins Webpage for this model.

Our second Garmin was the Garmin Nuvi 760.

Amazon site with description.           Garmins Webpage for this model.

Our third Garmin was the Garmin Montana 650t.

Amazon site with description.           Garmins Webpage for this model.

Our fourth and current new Garmin was the Garmin Nuvi 760 LMT.

Amazon site with description.           Garmins Webpage for this model.

Here are some screen shots Ginny took while we were driving.

The typical view while driving down the road. The local speed limit is also shown (70 mph) & your current
 speed (65mph). If you go over the speed limit the current speed starts to glow red to warn you..... 
or congratulate you..... depending on if you are 58 years old or 18 years old. 8-)

When approaching an exit this model shows you what it will look like so you can be in the correct lane.
Time to the exit & distance to the exit is also shown. This screen comes up at anytime if
you tap the top left image that shows the next turn.

Some businesses are shown on the screen..... Can you say paid add?  I'm not sure, but many
businesses are not listed on the screen. We think the companies may be paying 
Garmin to be featured, but we do not know if that's true.

Another typical upcoming turn. The "Distance" shown in the bottom right corner is optional.
You can also choose time of arrival, time to arrival countdown or one of a few other options.

I like that you can see way off in the distance what your turn will look like. The bottom left shows
 "Speed" & if you tap that it gives you more data like direction, elevation etc. 
The bottom center shows the road you are currently on.

 

Another upcoming exit view. Top left shows the next turn. In this example, it is an exit ramp
 to the right. The right side of the screen is a close up view of Exit 92, Route 11, Chesnee.
The exit ramp sign on the screen usually looks just like the actual highway sign.

We LOVE the new Garmin GPS!,  We've had no problems operating it. The controls are a bit different and some tools are in a slightly different place but if you have a Garmin now, it would be easy to learn the new controls. If you have another brand it will take longer but the commands are still pretty intuitive, so GO FOR IT!