Anyone out there use Sat Nav when towing? What is the best one to get to avoid going down silly little lanes and low bridges??? Anyone recommend one. Thank you
Sat Nav
- Thread starter christine_374397535
- Start date
Hi, Pronav will do all that, you put in all your outfits size, and weight and it will do the rest or so it say's. Price
Damian
Moderator
Whilst Sat Nav is a very useful tool to have, it is not the complete answer to all drivig situations and no matter what one yo uget, how cheap or expensive, it WILL take you on unsuitable roads at some time.
Robert points to Pronav, but has he got one, has he used it extensively or is he relying on the sales hype?
It is always worth double checking sat nav routes against a good road map, and in a lot of cases follow the written instructions for site access in the clubs sites books.
Robert points to Pronav, but has he got one, has he used it extensively or is he relying on the sales hype?
It is always worth double checking sat nav routes against a good road map, and in a lot of cases follow the written instructions for site access in the clubs sites books.
Hi, Damian is quite correct none currently on the market will not take you down stupid routes so best use with a good road map always.
I have a Garmin Nuvi which (if you believed the sales hype) you could select car/lorry/bus etc - makes absolutely no difference to what route it takes you on effect is that it will calculate the travelling time differently.
There are only two base mapping packages Atlas & Navteq which all the satnav suppliers use. These 2 mapping companies are doing a lot of surveying work to improve their base mapping packages and "eventually" they will be able to improve routing in a couple of years time.
There is one product called TruckMate (probably another name for Pronav!) which apparently works in England but not in Europe.
I have a Garmin Nuvi which (if you believed the sales hype) you could select car/lorry/bus etc - makes absolutely no difference to what route it takes you on effect is that it will calculate the travelling time differently.
There are only two base mapping packages Atlas & Navteq which all the satnav suppliers use. These 2 mapping companies are doing a lot of surveying work to improve their base mapping packages and "eventually" they will be able to improve routing in a couple of years time.
There is one product called TruckMate (probably another name for Pronav!) which apparently works in England but not in Europe.
Yes Damien i was quoting from sales but also read about them from non sales and i have not got one as the old TOM TOM 700 i have had for some years now does me. Only last year up Derbyshire did i curse it as it was taking me to the CC site which according to the ETA was ten minuets away . Three people assisting me to turn the caravan around on its own ( on a steep hill) and hour later arrived on site nackered.
Christine,
I use a Navman S300T, one of its features is that you can preview the route selected, I do this as it gives a turn by turn account of the trip & I check it against a good old fashioned quaint thing called a road map! so I can check for any nasties hidden away.
The problem with any satnav is that they are so good at finding the shortes/quickest/most economical route that too many people blindly follow them & thats when they come unstuck!
I learnt my lesson in the Italian Alps......followed the route by my satnav & started to get seriously worried when in Early September people were ski-ing alongside the road!!!! stopped & got out the map & guess what....road marked "Not suitable for goods vehicles, coaches or vehicles towing trailer from Augus 1 to April 30th"! never made the same mistake again!
I use a Navman S300T, one of its features is that you can preview the route selected, I do this as it gives a turn by turn account of the trip & I check it against a good old fashioned quaint thing called a road map! so I can check for any nasties hidden away.
The problem with any satnav is that they are so good at finding the shortes/quickest/most economical route that too many people blindly follow them & thats when they come unstuck!
I learnt my lesson in the Italian Alps......followed the route by my satnav & started to get seriously worried when in Early September people were ski-ing alongside the road!!!! stopped & got out the map & guess what....road marked "Not suitable for goods vehicles, coaches or vehicles towing trailer from Augus 1 to April 30th"! never made the same mistake again!
Sat Nav is an aid for driving not a full replacem,ent for maps, If it tries to take you somewhere that you are unsure of then extra vigilance should be used. An example was last summer when we were heading for a CL not far from Scotch corner due to traffic hold ups it was about 11pm when we turned of the A1 onto country lanes in the pitch dark with 26 ft of caravan on my back.I had the sat nav set an had looked up on the map to see where we were going. After bout a mile the sat nav told me turn right which seemed strange as acording to the map I should turn right in a village and this was the middle of nowhere in the dark. Anyway stopped and checked and it was gouing to take me down a very narrow lane with over hanging trees almost a 180 degree turn to access it, needless to say i ignored the Sat nav and followed the map. Turned out it was a short cut which took about a mile of the jourrney, OK solo but not with the Van.
Great tool , but not to be relied on 100%
Great tool , but not to be relied on 100%
All the Sat-Nav's I have seen have a warning page that tells the driver that the rules of the road and conditions must take priority over any instructions the Sat-Nav supplies, or words to that effect.
The stories that we hear of drivers of lorries or other large vehicles including caravans finding themselves on unsuitable roads, and then they blame the Sat-Nav, are fooling themselves. The road signs and other tel-tale indicators give enough warning of unsuitable roads ahead before entering the road.
Fundamentally drivers who allow themselves to get into these predicaments have been driving without due car and attention or deliberately choosing to ignore the warnings.
This rarely happened when people read maps, because they looked out for the road signs etc.
The stories that we hear of drivers of lorries or other large vehicles including caravans finding themselves on unsuitable roads, and then they blame the Sat-Nav, are fooling themselves. The road signs and other tel-tale indicators give enough warning of unsuitable roads ahead before entering the road.
Fundamentally drivers who allow themselves to get into these predicaments have been driving without due car and attention or deliberately choosing to ignore the warnings.
This rarely happened when people read maps, because they looked out for the road signs etc.
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