mbuckner 162 Posted September 18 Hello, Need to replace my 15+ year Garmin GPS. What would be a good GPS for overlanding and street navigation? Any and all recommendations welcomed. Regards Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theksmith 4,150 Posted September 18 are you already using your phone or a tablet as you primary nav/gps device and this would be a backup? or are you wanting to stay old-school and do everything with a dedicated unit? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mbuckner 162 Posted September 19 GPS for highway and backup for OHV. Using GaiaGPS as OHV primary. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SonoranWanderer 476 Posted September 19 (edited) I carry a Garmin Montana 700i. It comes with a lifetime update of Garmin City Navigator maps and a less frequently updated set of OpenStreetMaps. You can upload your own OSM maps if you are so inclined, and into masochism (it ain't for technophobes). My main reason for having the 700i is the inReach satellite communications, otherwise I'd point a person toward a tablet with Gaia or OnX strictly for offroad, and Google Maps or Waze for street routing. It is worth noting that you need to get a tablet with a cellular chip in it to guarantee you get an onboard GPS chip. Most WiFi only tablets do not have a native/onboard GPS components. You do not need to subscribe to cellular service, you just want the electronics. Because the Garmin really isn't that spectacular for offroad, I still rely primarily on the tablet and my phone. Even the Garmin Overlander is, blah. They just don't invest in trail map quality like Gaia and OnX or even street quality like Google. Now if you are driving a class A or pulling a large travel trailer or fifth wheel, a Garmin specialized for RVs does shine, as those can route based on street quality, width, and overhand clearance, something no free map system does yet. From a backup perspective, I carry Gaia on both my phone and tablet, both with downloaded maps of where I am going. Technically the Garmin does at least act as a nice backup "bread crumb trail" system since it is always recording where I have been. That is a self recovery situation I have had to use once before when I suffered a phone mapping failure, before I got a dedicated mapping tablet. Edited September 19 by SonoranWanderer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mbuckner 162 Posted September 22 Received a Garmin a Drive 86. That's the good news. I was reading the instructions and it said, to enjoy all the features to download Drive app to my smartphone. Went download and got a message that the app will not work on my Samsung phone. So I returned it. Next time I buy a GPS, I'll check for apps before I order. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SonoranWanderer 476 Posted September 28 (edited) On 9/22/2023 at 1:48 PM, mbuckner said: Received a Garmin a Drive 86. That's the good news. I was reading the instructions and it said, to enjoy all the features to download Drive app to my smartphone. Went download and got a message that the app will not work on my Samsung phone. So I returned it. Next time I buy a GPS, I'll check for apps before I order. At least on the iPhone you're better off using the Garmin SmartPhone Link app instead of Garmin Drive app (that's also an iPhone app). The former supports Drive model devices among others. It's what I used with my DriveAssist 51 until it died. Basically it adds Google Maps style traffic and rerouting. FWIW, with the Montana 700i, you use the Garmin Explore App which provides data sync, phone maps, and phone based inReach messaging, but no traffic support. Edited September 28 by SonoranWanderer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mbuckner 162 Posted September 28 Thanks for the info. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
