Which Preferred Route Type is the best for a car / and or hitched to a caravan

[Saxo Appeal]

Hi folks,

We have our route type set as ‘Fast’ which we have used mostly all the years having a Tomtom

But we seem to be seeing the device (without caravan) take us down roads which will divert away from a main road, which would no doubt would have been better than the back windy roads.

What setting does everyone have on here, we’re thinking maybe try short but could this be worse?

 

[Hutch]

Yes, the shortest route can take you down some totally inappropriate roads, I always tend to set it fastest route,
Another setting I have on the Cars "Stupid" inbuilt SatNav, is Most economical route.

 

[Dustydog]

Saxo,
I’ve used various sat nav’s, Tom Toms. Whatever you try and programme in can still end in tears.
Now the first port of call is the good old road atlas, a decent detailed one. Double checked on sites like AA Route planner. And finally , purely for rough guidance , eta etc the Mr VAG on board system. Always wrong and dangerous to follow!

 

[Saxo Appeal]

We have just looked at the Tomtom route planner, and I think this is actually pretty good. You log in on the iPad or desktop, type in destination and current and click on the roads you want to travel and it adjusts.

You can change routes to your needs then click transfer and it automatically sends the named route to your Tomtom…. not bad actually.

 

[RogerL]

Who's in charge - you or the satnav?

One problem with using satnav is that traffic conditions can change during a journey, triggering the satnav to re-route you - which may involve unsuitable roads for towing and you may meet oncoming traffic which has been re-routed to avoid the same incident.

In my ideal world I'd always have a competent map-readerin the passenger seat, with access to a good road atlas - but despite all her many other wonderful attributes, Mrs L is useless with maps!

I use a mixture - Google Maps and site instructions to pre-plan a route and then Waze for the journey with the car's built-in navigation just used to identify where we are now - oh, and I keep my eye on traffic signs for restrictions like height, width or length.

 

[Kevin M]

When towing, I follow the instructions my wife calls out whilst consulting a good old fashioned map.
Solo, whichever way google maps takes me

Kev

 

[birdman101]

When towing don’t use the cars Satnav but use the Aguri with car and caravans dimensions . This usually shows two routes suitable for towing,so gives me the choice which I select to use. Had it a few years now and it has always calculated easy routes.

 

[Hutch]

When towing don’t use the cars Satnav but use the Aguri with car and caravans dimensions . This usually shows two routes suitable for towing,so gives me the choice which I select to use. Had it a few years now and it has always calculated easy routes.

My Snooper 2000 was great, but the upgrade was rubbish.
The Aguri seems to have good reviews.

 

[GUMPY]

I use Google maps, no settings to be changed. However I put the route in and check it before I leave, any doubtful bits I run through on Streetview just to see if there are any nasties.
During the journey if it changes the route I just have to trust my judgement 😲

 

[otherclive]

It will route you down inappropriate roads that may have the same speed limit as bigger roads and if the route along smaller roads is shorter then that’s the way it will take you. The fact that you may not feel comfortable driving at speed down a country lane with a 60 mph limit is irrelevant as it’s the shortest and fastest route according to the box of electronics in front of you.

I have always had mine set to Fastest whether towing or solo, otherwise Shortest takes you through towns and villages that have bypasses but which aren’t the Shortest distance. When I first had a satnav I opted for Shortest and recall seeing some of the narrow backlanes of Burford, Blaby etc. Never again.

 

[Jcloughie]

I use Google maps, no settings to be changed. However I put the route in and check it before I leave, any doubtful bits I run through on Streetview just to see if there are any nasties.
During the journey if it changes the route I just have to trust my judgement 😲

I like and use Google maps. But then I no longer tow. Just yesterday it diverted me due to road problems with the planned route. The time and distance were similar to the original, but it involved about 10 miles of roads not ideal for towing. Just like said already in #5.

John

 

[Jcloughie]

When towing don’t use the cars Satnav but use the Aguri with car and caravans dimensions . This usually shows two routes suitable for towing,so gives me the choice which I select to use. Had it a few years now and it has always calculated easy routes.

I don’t know of Aguri. But I can recommend the Co_Pilot app, caravan edition for towing. When I used to have it I think it was £26 per year.

John

 

[GUMPY]

I like and use Google maps. But then I no longer tow. Just yesterday it diverted me due to road problems with the planned route. The time and distance were similar to the original, but it involved about 10 miles of roads not ideal for towing. Just like said already in #5.

John

I have had similar in Sussex and Kent this week, luckily the caravan was parked up🫣
As I said it's a judgement call when it changes.

 

[Saxo Appeal]

Ok will also try using ‘Fastest’ on the Tomtom and see how fairs, thanks

 

[Buckman]

When towing we set the TomTom to "car and caravan" and it avoids the shortest or fastest route.

 

[birdman101]

I don’t know of Aguri. But I can recommend the Co_Pilot app, caravan edition for towing. When I used to have it I think it was £26 per year.

John

The Aguri is made for Caravans and Motorhomes and is Advertised in the C&CC magazine and is loaded with European maps

 

[RogerL]

I use ordinary car satnavs, route planners and atlases - never had a problem with an unsuitable route with the caravan - the only difference is a mental adjustment to the journey time estimate to reflect the lower speed limits applicable to trailers.

So is it really worth spending money on a caravan-specific satnav - or just use whatever you prefer solo?

 

[Jcloughie]

The Aguri is made for Caravans and Motorhomes and is Advertised in the C&CC magazine and is loaded with European maps

Just had a quick look and it looks very good, but they do not seem to do an app. Co-Pilot do, which means it will work on many newish cars with Android or car play.

John

 

[Buckman]

Just had a quick look and it looks very good, but they do not seem to do an app. Co-Pilot do, which means it will work on many newish cars with Android or car play.

John

Does the Co-pilot app take into account towing a caravan and speed restrictions when towing? As we no longer tow I have on occasion used Waze which seems to be quite good.

 

[birdman101]

If you want live traffic you can tether with smart phone

 

[Jcloughie]

Does the Co-pilot app take into account towing a caravan and speed restrictions when towing? As we no longer tow I have on occasion used Waze which seems to be quite good.

I used Co-Pilot for the year before we stoped towing. It allows for size restrictions. Not sure about speed restrictions. They do car, caravan and truck versions. To know which is best would need a scientific comparison. But I found it very good. At the time I got it, Tom Tom were taking far too long to bring out their app.

Caravan is now £29.99 per year. Apps are the way to go if the car can use them, why have two screens when one will do the job.

John

 

[RogerL]

I used Co-Pilot for the year before we stoped towing. It allows for size restrictions. Not sure about speed restrictions. They do car, caravan and truck versions. To know which is best would need a scientific comparison. But I found it very good. At the time I got it, Tom Tom were taking far too long to bring out their app.

Caravan is now £29.99 per year. Apps are the way to go if the car can use them, why have two screens when one will do the job.

John

There's just a few of us with older cars without Carplay or Android Auto - or in my case can't justify the £500ish to have it fitted.

I like to be able to do all my route planning on my PC - big screen, etc - and then just transfer the route to my phone - an increasing number of apps don't work under Windows.

 

[otherclive]

There's just a few of us with older cars without Carplay or Android Auto - or in my case can't justify the £500ish to have it fitted.

I like to be able to do all my route planning on my PC - big screen, etc - and then just transfer the route to my phone - an increasing number of apps don't work under Windows.

I always developed the route using my computer then transferred it to my Garmin. It was all done using MAC and Garmin proprietary software. That way I could select my own routing. I guess these days it would go to my phone which can then display it on to the cars infotainment screen.

 

[Beachball]

I also tried the shortest route from Wrexham yesterday on my car satnav and realise this was not great I was thinking why we are heading to Stockport and than signs for Sheffield and if I carried on I would have done a longer time, so cancelled that route and just followed signs for Leeds M62 my wife went with her Garmin and put fastest route and near to home I overtake her and arrived home first so from now on it will be fastest route.