Sat Navs. Any experience

[Samantha1239]

Hi all - about to go on a 3 month tour of Europe with our caravan going to France, Italy. Switzerland and Germany.

My 2nd question today is around caravan suitable satnavs. We want to be able to put in our caravans weight and dimensions so we can ensure we only go down suitable roads. Getting real time traffic updates would be important, although, we are concerned around having to link phone by Bluetooth to get it and eating up data allowance as a result!

We have seen the Ohrex N76 advertised which seems great value, although, seen some online reviews all sponsored which are great and some others which have been terrible. Also haven’t seen any reviews around the additional charger cable which picks up live traffic updates without data.

Has anyone had any long term experience with the Ohrex N76 particularly in Europe and with the real time traffic information through the additional charging cable?

Also does anyone have any other suggestions of suitable caravan satnavs? Prepared to pay if they are good although it seems all satnavs no matter the price or brand have mixed reviews!!

Many thanks
Samantha

 

[TDub49]

Hi all - about to go on a 3 month tour of Europe with our caravan going to France, Italy. Switzerland and Germany.

My 2nd question today is around caravan suitable satnavs. We want to be able to put in our caravans weight and dimensions so we can ensure we only go down suitable roads. Getting real time traffic updates would be important, although, we are concerned around having to link phone by Bluetooth to get it and eating up data allowance as a result!

We have seen the Ohrex N76 advertised which seems great value, although, seen some online reviews all sponsored which are great and some others which have been terrible. Also haven’t seen any reviews around the additional charger cable which picks up live traffic updates without data.

Has anyone had any long term experience with the Ohrex N76 particularly in Europe and with the real time traffic information through the additional charging cable?

Also does anyone have any other suggestions of suitable caravan satnavs? Prepared to pay if they are good although it seems all satnavs no matter the price or brand have mixed reviews!!

Many thanks
Samantha

Never heard of the make before but a quick look on Trust Pilot and I think I will be sticking with my Garmin Camper . . . . https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.ohrex.com

 

[LesW]

Hi all - about to go on a 3 month tour of Europe with our caravan going to France, Italy. Switzerland and Germany.

My 2nd question today is around caravan suitable satnavs. We want to be able to put in our caravans weight and dimensions so we can ensure we only go down suitable roads. Getting real time traffic updates would be important, although, we are concerned around having to link phone by Bluetooth to get it and eating up data allowance as a result!

We have seen the Ohrex N76 advertised which seems great value, although, seen some online reviews all sponsored which are great and some others which have been terrible. Also haven’t seen any reviews around the additional charger cable which picks up live traffic updates without data.

Has anyone had any long term experience with the Ohrex N76 particularly in Europe and with the real time traffic information through the additional charging cable?

Also does anyone have any other suggestions of suitable caravan satnavs? Prepared to pay if they are good although it seems all satnavs no matter the price or brand have mixed reviews!!

Many thanks
Samantha

Whatever you choose, make sure it's a well known product, never heard of 'Ohrex'.

Do a forum search, loads of information to be found.

 

[SpeedyDux]

No Satnav exists yet that will not try to send you down unsuitable shortcuts.

If the suggested turnoff from a main road doesn't look right, always ignore it and carry on until you get to a junction with another major route.

I've used my Garmin Camper 760 LMT-D for over 8 years now and it is a reliable sturdy piece of kit I wouldn't be without despite the occasional attempts to send me down narrow tracks without passing places. This is mainly a mapping database issue, coupled with algorythms that select the shortest / fastest route using inaccurate mapping data. Even though I use the FOC lifetime mapping updates using Garmin Express, such mapping problems persist.

Being a Camper version, it accepts a big range of outfit dimensions and weights. As do the Truck versions. With such outfit settings it gives appropriate warnings of hazards such as steep inclines, sharp bends and low bridges. For weight restricted roads it gives an advance warning and suggests an alternative route. In France that would typically be the signposted diversion for HGVs. Bearing in mind that there are lots of French towns that have 30kph zones with speed tables, choke points, slaloms etc. it's better to avoid trying to drive through the town centre even if that is the shortest route.

My Garmin Camper was a special bargain from Aldi at £150 or about 1/3 normal list price. It is worth looking out for deals like that. I wouldn't switch to a cheapo Chinese truck satnav of doubtful provenance. Some people are fans of these Chinese ones or fans of TomTom Camper alternatives. Plenty of choice depending on your budget. Happy travels!

 

[fishplug]

I'm another Garmin Camper user.

I've had Garmin since the early days when they were the size and thickness of a shoe! There wasn't much choice for motorbikes back then although there are a few more waterproof options these days.

That's really only to say that I don't have much to compare it to other than other Garmin models and the built in TomTom that came with my Citröen Relay stereo headunit.

I really did give the TomTom a go (because I don't like having too many screens when driving) but ultimately ended up using the Garmin Camper for my trip to Italy a few weeks ago.

It's just so much more sophisticated and feature rich. Lots of helpful data displayed and customisable to your own preferences.

I've been really happy with it, even if the software to update it on a Mac is absolutely pitiful. Think the Windows version is better supported.

That's really the only negative I have for it. Otherwise it's been a really reliable unit and I've been very happy with it.

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[Brains]

And another Garmin Camper user.

It permits you to put in your length/width/height/weight.
It has a database of campsites (a surprisingly useful feature)
It updates from traffic
It tries to send you down the logical route for larger vehicles
It passes my personal "Cornish route test" where the shortest route is not suitable for anything bigger than a Landrover and the Motorhome route is twice the distance.

The product is sold under different names, but it the same item
Avtex Tourer Three Sat Nav GPS - Caravan and Motorhome Club Edition
Garmin Tourer Three
RV Three

It is also sold as the Garmin Three Plus (or "+")
This is the version with the DashCam built in. available here

If you are a member of the C&MHC then you can get a discount here

And there is one on EBay here

More details here
And a video here

 

[SpeedyDux]

On the OP's other requirement - live Traffic reports tend to be a rather tricky problem, if you want to avoid having to pay for the info.

My Garmin was supposed to come with free "lifetime" Traffic reports via the antenna built into the charging cable. A few years ago Garmin's contract with the third party live traffic data provider was terminated. The charging lead stopped receiving the signals and became a dumb lead.

As a confirmed scrooge, I preferred not to use a live traffic App with a subscription. Eventually I found an alternative charging lead online, the price of which does include "lifetime" live traffic updates in the UK and Europe, and is Garmin-compatible with my model. It's OK, but not as good as (say) Waze. Obviously, you need a sizeable data allowance from your phone network if you use Waze a lot. Also there could be steep roaming charges when you cross the Channel. The network providers who still offer free roaming tend to cap data usage one way or another. Simply due to cost, Phone Apps are not an ideal alternative source for live Traffic reports even if they can link to your Satnav.

Just my 2d worth.

 

[Al n Val]

Garmin Camper 895 user

not perfect but very good imho

 

[Govman]

Hi all - about to go on a 3 month tour of Europe with our caravan going to France, Italy. Switzerland and Germany.

My 2nd question today is around caravan suitable satnavs. We want to be able to put in our caravans weight and dimensions so we can ensure we only go down suitable roads. Getting real time traffic updates would be important, although, we are concerned around having to link phone by Bluetooth to get it and eating up data allowance as a result!

We have seen the Ohrex N76 advertised which seems great value, although, seen some online reviews all sponsored which are great and some others which have been terrible. Also haven’t seen any reviews around the additional charger cable which picks up live traffic updates without data.

Has anyone had any long term experience with the Ohrex N76 particularly in Europe and with the real time traffic information through the additional charging cable?

Also does anyone have any other suggestions of suitable caravan satnavs? Prepared to pay if they are good although it seems all satnavs no matter the price or brand have mixed reviews!!

Many thanks
Samantha

I am too looking at the Ohrex N76 sat nav and wondered about reliability, i noticed no promo codes are available now since all the Youtube videos are dated 9 months ago roughly. i did wonder as the Ohrex site page has numerous currency options all 74.99, so by paying in USD 74.99 and on credit card even with foreign transaction 2.75% it works out at $77 so just under £60.

 

[scotzsue]

We have a garmin camper and also an old Tom tom, or 2. Garmin despite notification and updates, can't get us out of the storage yard, but tries tom direct us 1 into someones garden, 2 into a livery yard, the tom tom is fine. For that reason I don't trust it to keep me on sensible roads abroad. We used a tom tom ride, satnav for years.
Follow the advice from an ex lorry driver, follow the road signs to the place you are going, they have been built as the best route use sat nav for the last few miles. I do a bit of both, and look at a map before we set off too.
Friends just bought a new tomtom camper, we are going to the lakes with them in a couple of weeks will be interesting to see how we both fare. Have been known to have 2 satnavs one oin each corner, let them argue instead of us

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[Neilfg]

Friend who tows a big caravan with a large pickup has started using an app called Eurowag, free I think, he has used Tomtom but not any more but also uses Copilot.

 

[Govman]

I am too looking at the Ohrex N76 sat nav and wondered about reliability, i noticed no promo codes are available now since all the Youtube videos are dated 9 months ago roughly. i did wonder as the Ohrex site page has numerous currency options all 74.99, so by paying in USD 74.99 and on credit card even with foreign transaction 2.75% it works out at $77 so just under £60.

Having filled out the purchase form on the OHREX UK site in USD and card details but not actually committing to buy, i have now received email notification of my purchase! Will be interesting if in receive anything now.

 

[Govman]

Having filled out the purchase form on the OHREX UK site in USD and card details but not actually committing to buy, i have now received email notification of my purchase! Will be interesting if in receive anything now.

Nothing arrived so did go with Avtex Tourer Three in end off well known auction site, yet to go out with it but all MH details are installed and preferences.

 

[David and Sally]

Have three Garmins. One for the Moho - 795 Camper because I can enter vehicle dimensions, two for my motorbikes as different mountings.

Basecamp can be a bit clunky to use but I have gotten used to it.

I can’t compare with Tom Tom as I have never had one.

Our children all swear by Google maps.

 

[StillGoing]

I use a TomTom Camper satnav. I can enter vehicle details. It has worldwide maps (free updates) and free traffic. Sadly, no satnav can guarantee not to send you down an inappropriate road because not all roads have been surveyed in sufficient detail.

I’ve tried apps but I’m not a fan of using them as the primary navigation aid. The big limitation with any app is if you don’t have a phone signal the app becomes severely limited in functionality.

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[Jonno1103]

We have an Aguri Sat Nav which never put us wrong - it's can be sourced cheaper as a memenr of the CaMC. Now that all modern head units have Android Auto we use google maps and, so far, it hasn't sent us down any wierd dusty tracks.

 

[Littlewheels]

TomTom for me but have tried a couple of other leading brands but always come back to TomTom,as for Traffic it automatically diverts you and on the odd occasion l have followed it thinking where the heck is it taking me but! it always comes up trumps saving time and worry.

 

[kevino]

Aguri

 

[Montezuma]

Aeons ago, I purchased one of those Avtex derivatives, designed for Caravans and Motorhomes, it failed to function as described on the tin, and after weeks of ‘to-ing and fro-ing’, which failed to achieve anything, I obtained a refund.

I then purchased a TomTom 1005 camper, which sadly became obsolescent within a year or so of its purchase. I carried on using it for a few years until it became unable to manage the Western Europe map. I suspect that changes, and updates, made to the mapping at that time just made things ‘oversized’, and the 1005 device was just incapable of handling the changes.

I discussed the mapping issue, and others, with TomTom. The ongoing issues, including the 'Start-Up-Loop', were considerable, to the extent that their device was no more than an expensive paperweight, and they eventually offered me a 30% reduction, if I would purchase one of their latest camper models. I wouldn’t, and didn’t.

I went out and purchased a Garmin Camper 770, (in 2019), which has worked well since then,

Being a curious sort of chap, I ‘fiddled and farted’, around with various theories as to why the TomTom had developed this “Start-Up Loop” problem, and after much Googling, and other investigative nonsense, I managed to get the damn thing working again. I forget the actual details of the fix, but it involved the Zone 4 map at that time. I gave TomTom a heads-up, and they actually replied. Here is an extract from that response.

I personally want to thank you for getting this issue up and letting us know about the fix for the device.
I have taken the feedback and have forwarded to the relevant team and they will work on it.
We always keep improving our products as per the needs of our customers as you are the ones who can help us in this in a better way by expressing what you feel and what exactly you need more.
We value our customers and ask you to please feel free to continue to provide feedback about our services.
If you have any further questions or would like to discuss this matter further, please feel free to contact me anytime.
Many thanks for your time and consideration.
Please do let me know if you require any further help in future and I will be more than happy to help you.
Thank you for your time and for giving me an opportunity to assist you.
With Kind Regards,
Rhea M
TomTom Customer Care Team.

Complete barlux !

Anyway, I have had few problems with the Garmin unit, and use it in the motorhome. The old TomTom 1005 still functions, and I sometimes use it in the car.

One must remember, as with all battery-operated gizmos, when not in use, don’t just bung it in a drawer, and forget about it till ‘next time’, as leaving these expensive bits of kit lying around with a flattened battery does not do them any good.

I’m happy with the Garmin, but it may have been manufactured on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday rather than being a Monday morning or Friday afternoon model, which accounts for its decent functionality.

On the whole, one pays one’s money, and one takes one’s chance, caveat emptor, as somebody else remarked !

 

[DDJC]

CoPilot Caravan for me. Just set your length, height and preferred road types and go. Traffic is good.

It has come up with strange routes once or twice in the past, but overall not really had an issue. Like all GPS, they simply cannot cope with diversions or road closures, as they see the road as completely clear!

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[Govman]

i have found out recently that Garmin Sat navs really do update all older ones provided they have the micro sd slot for 4-32gb cards. When looking at trying to update my old Garmin sat navs i found in the back of the drawer (Nuvi 2548, 2595 and 2598), they all updated last week easily to the latest maps including europe, i just popped in sd cards. I really prefer Tomtom for visual map preference but lack of free updates now for the old one I have limits its use now. Having recently purchased an Avtex Tourer Three, because its a Garmin based device that also has numerous camp sites in its database and hopefully it will navigate us through our first MH trip into europe coming up soon.