hi as anyone ever been towing using sat nav and been sent down some narrow lanes it as happened to us ours you can`t put in that you are towing a caravan maybe ours needs updating smartish as the wife who sits and thinks oh my god where is it sending us my husband does`nt panic and to be fair it does`nt happen all the time thankgod
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sat nav
- Thread starter jane_374418335
- Start date
Hello Jane,
The majority of SAT NAvs do exactly the same, they don't have road size information yet, but a number of local authorities and are pushing the system manufactures to add more details so that large vehicles won't be directed down unsuitable roads.
It has to be said though, there are usually plenty of warning signs at the ends of narrow lanes etc, and the onus is still on the driver to read and follow the road signs over and above any direction from a Sat Nav or map reader.
Most sat navs do offer a choice of Shortest or fastest routes in the set up. Choosing the fastest usuaually uses the major roads, but it is not a guarantee.
There are some quite expensive commercial units which I believe do offer road size calculations, but these are quite expensive.
I am more confident that in the not to far distant future domestic SatNavs will have some form of vehicle size based routing, but in the mean time, I always check my basic long distance route on a map, and only rely on satNav in towns and cities where the calm and consistent issuing of direction information is pretty good.
having checked the over all route, If i spot a trouble some secttion , I will set up way points around it so the Sat Nav avoids the problem.
Sat Navs have a long way to go before they become a complete and reliable alternative to a map book.
The majority of SAT NAvs do exactly the same, they don't have road size information yet, but a number of local authorities and are pushing the system manufactures to add more details so that large vehicles won't be directed down unsuitable roads.
It has to be said though, there are usually plenty of warning signs at the ends of narrow lanes etc, and the onus is still on the driver to read and follow the road signs over and above any direction from a Sat Nav or map reader.
Most sat navs do offer a choice of Shortest or fastest routes in the set up. Choosing the fastest usuaually uses the major roads, but it is not a guarantee.
There are some quite expensive commercial units which I believe do offer road size calculations, but these are quite expensive.
I am more confident that in the not to far distant future domestic SatNavs will have some form of vehicle size based routing, but in the mean time, I always check my basic long distance route on a map, and only rely on satNav in towns and cities where the calm and consistent issuing of direction information is pretty good.
having checked the over all route, If i spot a trouble some secttion , I will set up way points around it so the Sat Nav avoids the problem.
Sat Navs have a long way to go before they become a complete and reliable alternative to a map book.
jane, i saw a sat nav advertised in a caravan magazine reccently which has the capability to take information about size, height weight etc , ideal for when you are towing!! i use a navman it is my second infact and they let you select if you want to use main road or smaller road and quicker or shorter routes. i will try and find the details of the other sat nav for you and post them on here if it helps.
G
Guest
John has got it a little misleading. Satnav all offer different routing options. 'fastest route' options mean higher speed limits. Which is fine most of the time as it mean it uses dual carriageways, A roads and motorway. But the problems occur when you are travelling along on a UK A road with the national limit towards a village with 30mph limit. If there is a lane that skirts around the village that has the national 60 mph limit, that to the satnav is the fastest route.
So fastest route is often not the most direct or widest road, It is the route with the highest speed limit that the satnav thinks will get you to your destination quicker. Most Satnavs do not see it as a single track lane that is not suitable for HGV or caravan use.
Snooper offer caravan, motorhome and HGV friendly Satnav
http://shop.snooperdirect.com/product1220186.html
So fastest route is often not the most direct or widest road, It is the route with the highest speed limit that the satnav thinks will get you to your destination quicker. Most Satnavs do not see it as a single track lane that is not suitable for HGV or caravan use.
Snooper offer caravan, motorhome and HGV friendly Satnav
http://shop.snooperdirect.com/product1220186.html
G
Guest
Roger P
The Garmin software only alters differences for computing average speeds re arrival times! Car, motorbike and truck settings do not make any difference to the routes used!
All Garmins and virtually all other satnavs offer the same options. Only specific routing software that takes in to account road widths and heights for trucks and caravans makes a difference.
I have Garmin software on my smartphone and it is no different to on Garmin units re vehicle type
The Garmin software only alters differences for computing average speeds re arrival times! Car, motorbike and truck settings do not make any difference to the routes used!
All Garmins and virtually all other satnavs offer the same options. Only specific routing software that takes in to account road widths and heights for trucks and caravans makes a difference.
I have Garmin software on my smartphone and it is no different to on Garmin units re vehicle type
The sat nav referred to by Stuart is the Snooper Ventura - cost about
http://shop.snooperdirect.com/product1220186.html[/quote
Euro,
I did qualify my statement by saying it was not guaranteed.
I am quite happy trust my sat nav for non towing journeys but will always check my route on a map beforehand when towing to make sure I'm happy that my route doesn't look like it's going anywhere unsuitable for towing.
As caravanners I think we have a responsibility to ourselves and other road users to make every effort not to tow on unsuitable roads. If we need to use a map and a bit of preparation to do that, then so be it.
I find the sat nav a really useful addition to the map when towing though, as it tells you how far to the next junction, if it's a roundabout and what exit to take. I think this is really helpful when towing as it allows you to "prepare" in advance for the junctions.
As caravanners I think we have a responsibility to ourselves and other road users to make every effort not to tow on unsuitable roads. If we need to use a map and a bit of preparation to do that, then so be it.
I find the sat nav a really useful addition to the map when towing though, as it tells you how far to the next junction, if it's a roundabout and what exit to take. I think this is really helpful when towing as it allows you to "prepare" in advance for the junctions.
I have yet to be convinced that any sat nav is totally reliable, even for routes solo.
My wife always checks the route suggested by the satnav, against the good old map book, that is when towing, and sometimes solo.
With the old xtrail we had one occasion when the sat nav sent us in a circle!, we were solo so no problem, the satnav map even showed we had done a circle, we found it funny at the time.
The 2nd occasion was not so funny, we ended up going down a tarmac road that reduced to a single road, then a dirt track, which then turned into a nightmare track with deep holes everywhere, i crawled over that road expecting the xtrail to bottom at anytime, my back was covered in sweat, the reason we kept going forwards was it was easier than going backwards, and the map showed it was shorter to go forwards!
Unfortunately the road never did connect to the "main" road, it was blocked of by a great pile of rubble and soil!
So i had to do a ten point turn. And go back the way we had come.
My wife always checks the route suggested by the satnav, against the good old map book, that is when towing, and sometimes solo.
With the old xtrail we had one occasion when the sat nav sent us in a circle!, we were solo so no problem, the satnav map even showed we had done a circle, we found it funny at the time.
The 2nd occasion was not so funny, we ended up going down a tarmac road that reduced to a single road, then a dirt track, which then turned into a nightmare track with deep holes everywhere, i crawled over that road expecting the xtrail to bottom at anytime, my back was covered in sweat, the reason we kept going forwards was it was easier than going backwards, and the map showed it was shorter to go forwards!
Unfortunately the road never did connect to the "main" road, it was blocked of by a great pile of rubble and soil!
So i had to do a ten point turn. And go back the way we had come.
i think like everything else you get what you pay for!! i am on my second Navman sat nav unit and find them very accurate!! I was in the Lakes a few weeks ago and it took me up roads i couldn't have found or followed if i wanted to but they were all suitable for cars and made my journey shorter and ver senic!! As stated though you still should cross refference when towing although i have never been caught out towing either, i do always update my map software when newer versions are available.
Just going back to the original question - we use Tomtom with a quarterly subscription so the maps are bang up to date.
On our last trip to Somerset we were heading for Broadway House. Even though their website said exit M5 at J22 the satnav told us to get off at 21. So we did.
I casually mention to DH that website said J22 but he muttered something about SatNav, technology, maps etc etc.
We drove through a partially built new housing estate and I giggled. We then went under a very low bridge and I asked the kids to watch the roof of the van.
We then proceeded down a narrowish lane and I started to get a bit worried. We had, oh I don't know, half the world behind us! The lane got narrower with passing points and then what do you know a van came the other way. DH pulled as far into the side as he could and the van stopped. I had to get out to guide us through the gap. People were beeping their horns because that was obviously going to help us move quicker.
I apologised to the van driver and he was sympathetic though he said we had another mile of very narrow lane with little room to pass. So I walked in front of our outfit, I felt like I was leading a funeral. At this point I would have happily cremated the van to get out of the situation.
We passed everything without a scratch and reached the campsite intact if a little embarrassed.
Later in the week we were heading out and programmed the SatNav to take us to J22, what do you know it was duel carriageway all the way. When we came home we went that way, lol!
On our last trip to Somerset we were heading for Broadway House. Even though their website said exit M5 at J22 the satnav told us to get off at 21. So we did.
I casually mention to DH that website said J22 but he muttered something about SatNav, technology, maps etc etc.
We drove through a partially built new housing estate and I giggled. We then went under a very low bridge and I asked the kids to watch the roof of the van.
We then proceeded down a narrowish lane and I started to get a bit worried. We had, oh I don't know, half the world behind us! The lane got narrower with passing points and then what do you know a van came the other way. DH pulled as far into the side as he could and the van stopped. I had to get out to guide us through the gap. People were beeping their horns because that was obviously going to help us move quicker.
I apologised to the van driver and he was sympathetic though he said we had another mile of very narrow lane with little room to pass. So I walked in front of our outfit, I felt like I was leading a funeral. At this point I would have happily cremated the van to get out of the situation.
We passed everything without a scratch and reached the campsite intact if a little embarrassed.
Later in the week we were heading out and programmed the SatNav to take us to J22, what do you know it was duel carriageway all the way. When we came home we went that way, lol!
Hiya
There are a few tricks that you can do:
1: Set your POI's along the route, ensuring that you only go along good roads.
2: Set the route VIA, againg only use good roads.
3: If you have a Tom Tom, set up on computer, set your route, then you can look on the computer your actual route, if you don't like it, change it.
All those are set before leaving home, no guess work, no shocks, you know where you are going. Peace of mind.....
There are a few tricks that you can do:
1: Set your POI's along the route, ensuring that you only go along good roads.
2: Set the route VIA, againg only use good roads.
3: If you have a Tom Tom, set up on computer, set your route, then you can look on the computer your actual route, if you don't like it, change it.
All those are set before leaving home, no guess work, no shocks, you know where you are going. Peace of mind.....
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