Garmin RV 780

raffaelli · 09-28-2019, 12:51 PM

We bought the Garmin RV 780. It arrived last night. Messing with it today, it is routing me to parkways which is a no-no for RVs. We assumed this unit would route us to acceptable roads. What am I missing?

Bob Denman · 09-28-2019, 01:18 PM

My guess is that you can choose the type of routes you'd like in some sort of "Preferences" Section.
Keep and eye out for it, and good luck!

paulwadley · 09-28-2019, 01:25 PM

You should be able to select the size, length, height and weight of your coach to put into the preferences so that when it locates a route it takes those into consideration for a route. You should also be able to list if you do or do not want toll roads.

Bob Denman · 09-28-2019, 01:30 PM

I've never really needed a GPS...

My Missus is an expert at telling me where to go!

And what to do when I get there!

**16ACE27** · 09-28-2019, 01:39 PM

Have you setup your vehicle information (weight, height, etc)?

That "should" help.

But I will tell you that the algorithm the Garmin has been using this last few years for trip routing has some serious flaws: not just in routing your RV where it shouldn't go, but just in routing altogether.

Since Lowrance gave up on the auto GPS market I have used Garmin GPS in all my vehicles and have been very happy with them, even more so after I bought a Magellan combo GPS/dashcam unit on sale and discovered what a piece of crap that was.

So when I got our MH I purchased a Garmin RV660 GPS. It continually routes me out of the way unnecessarily extending my travel time for no reason. It seems to get worse every time it's updated.

This year I needed a new GPS for my daily driver as the old Garmin in it refused to auto zoom correctly anymore: If you were traveling fast it zoomed in to street level and if you were traveling slow it would zoom out so you couldn't even see the road you were traveling on. So I got a new Garmin Drive 5" LM EX GPS. It suffers from the same poor routing problem.

To give you a simple example:

This is the Clearwater/Largo area near Tampa. Driving east on Ulmerton road the GPS will take you off the main road at the intersection onto the ramp and then back onto Ulmerton road instead on just going straight on Ulmerton road.

How crazy is that?

Bottom line is: The GPS is just one input into your route planning, don't follow it blindly.

raffaelli · 09-28-2019, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

I've never really needed a GPS...

My Missus is an expert at telling me where to go!

And what to do when I get there!

Hahahaha

Same.

Bob Denman · 09-28-2019, 01:47 PM

I agree: It's just one arrow in the quiver!

raffaelli · 09-28-2019, 01:54 PM

Thanks. It seems that garmin does not recognize thebparkways around here, which there are a lot of.

I am going to call them and find out how to eliminate the parkways as an option. It jot, infortutley, this is not the unit for me. It I'd not that I will follow it blindly but I dont want to waste time om. Route or be kut in a weird position it I dont identify non rv roads when I am planning the route.

The Gritz Carlton · 09-28-2019, 02:11 PM

You have to have a pretty good idea where you're going before turning on any GPS. I have the 770 and it works flawlessly. It's routed me around a steep RR Crossing (bottom out) and several low bridges. As indicated in Post# 3, make sure you scroll through all the menus and select the correct profile for your RV and your driving preferences. Not much difference in the tow models but did you get the RV model or the LMS (trucker) model? Preference options are very similar but the RV model has a lot more RV specific data, like campgrounds, etc.

raffaelli · 09-28-2019, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

You have to have a pretty good idea where you're going before turning on any GPS. I have the 770 and it works flawlessly. It's routed me around a steep RR Crossing (bottom out) and several low bridges. As indicated in Post# 3, make sure you scroll through all the menus and select the correct profile for your RV and your driving preferences. Not much difference in the tow models but did you get the RV model or the LMS (trucker) model? Preference options are very similar but the RV model has a lot more RV specific data, like campgrounds, etc.

Yes it is the RV model. My rv profile is set at 33 feet long, 11 feet tall, 8 feet wide, 14000 lbs, 40lbs of propane

jbwilli1 · 09-28-2019, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Have you setup your vehicle information (weight, height, etc)?

That "should" help.

But I will tell you that the algorithm the Garmin has been using this last few years for trip routing has some serious flaws: not just in routing your RV where it shouldn't go, but just in routing altogether.

Since Lowrance gave up on the auto GPS market I have used Garmin GPS in all my vehicles and have been very happy with them, even more so after I bought a Magellan combo GPS/dashcam unit on sale and discovered what a piece of crap that was.

So when I got our MH I purchased a Garmin RV660 GPS. It continually routes me out of the way unnecessarily extending my travel time for no reason. It seems to get worse every time it's updated.

This year I needed a new GPS for my daily driver as the old Garmin in it refused to auto zoom correctly anymore: If you were traveling fast it zoomed in to street level and if you were traveling slow it would zoom out so you couldn't even see the road you were traveling on. So I got a new Garmin Drive 5" LM EX GPS. It suffers from the same poor routing problem.

To give you a simple example:

This is the Clearwater/Largo area near Tampa. Driving east on Ulmerton road the GPS will take you off the main road at the intersection onto the ramp and then back onto Ulmerton road instead on just going straight on Ulmerton road.

How crazy is that?

Bottom line is: The GPS is just one input into your route planning, don't follow it blindly.

My new Garmin 785 does the same thing, off the main road/freeway int town & back out to the road I was on.

It also routed me on a very steep street a block from my house instead of staying on my street. I don't know the % grade, but my gas golf cart groans getting to the top.

Bob Denman · 09-28-2019, 05:40 PM

Maybe it was taking you along the scenic route...

jbwilli1 · 09-28-2019, 06:03 PM

Enuf Garmin induced scenic routes, DW checks Google maps to confirm.

Bob Denman · 09-28-2019, 06:56 PM

We always start out with some printed-out Google Maps, and then see how much arguing the GPS wants to do...

**16ACE27** · 09-28-2019, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

We always start out with some printed-out Google Maps, and then see how much arguing the GPS wants to do...

It's pretty funny when the Garmin tells you to go one way but you go the way you know is better and after "recalculating" the Garmin now agrees with your chosen route and admits it will save you 15 minute on a 90 minute drive.

Bob Denman · 09-28-2019, 07:34 PM

Those are the only arguments that I ever win...

ducksface · 09-28-2019, 07:52 PM

75 bucks and a 10.1" $99 onn tablet gets you a full android 9 unit AND Sygic rv maps.
Or
For $16 you can buy the forever Sygic map of the entire civilized world with traffic and traffic cameras all all the toys, but no rv routing.

I would NEVER buy a stand alone gps. Too many people complain about them and they are singular in their use.

The tablet has everything a tablet does, PLUS Sygic, waze, Google maps, national trails, topo maps, and torque maps, ALL AT ONCE.

Op,
Send that unit back as under performing.
You just purchased the equivalent of a 1999 Nokia mini brick phone. I loved mine, but I progressed.

(or, $16 and an unused android phone works just as well, and STILL has waze and weather et al.)

The_Breeze · 09-28-2019, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raffaelli

We bought the Garmin RV 780. It arrived last night. Messing with it today, it is routing me to parkways which is a no-no for RVs. We assumed this unit would route us to acceptable roads. What am I missing?

I've had the 770 take me down some cow paths. Only combine google maps for interstates. Most google routes assume a traditional automobile and don't account for length, height, width and weight. Those that have used it that way might have just been lucky? There's also satellite and that can help but when you have 6-7hrs of driving in front of you, it's tough to evaluate the route in satellite view in the usual 'campground' connection.

Set preferences. It does help.

**16ACE27** · 09-28-2019, 11:13 PM

"onn tablets" are no longer available and why would I waste my money on a 2 star tablet?

gmc · 09-28-2019, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raffaelli

Yes it is the RV model. My rv profile is set at 33 feet long, 11 feet tall, 8 feet wide, 14000 lbs, 40lbs of propane

So seems the garmin may keep you away from bridges too low based on your settings but not accounting for the NY laws of no parkways for RVs isn’t helpful...

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