RV Trip Planners

[wpaultaylor]

Looking for recommendations for RV trip planning tools. I’m particularly interested in tools that consider roadway and campground height clearances and significant changes in elevation. Oh, and “free” would be awesome, but willing to shell out some dough for the right tool/product. What do you use/recommend and which ones should I avoid? Thanks!
V/R,
Paul Taylor

 

[Papa-T-XRD]

We basically just use our Garmin and our iPhone for backup. I know they have specific gps for Rv use. I’ve never used one so I don’t know if it references height clearances. Maybe someone else will jump in later.

 

[stormseeker]

I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for but Google Mamaps on your phone is awesome, showing about anything you want to know about like attractions, fuel, camping, etc. and now even shows the speed limit and warns of construction and speed traps. On newer vehicles it will work on the vehicle touch screen. There are also various campground/rv park apps like Rvparky. All of them have good and bad points and IMO tend to accentuate the negative somewhat. There are apps for attractions as well.

Other than Google Maps, I just search the internet for whatever I need on any topic and get several sources to avoid bad info.

 

[Scotty B]

it's a great question...and I don't know the answer....

We use google, but be warned it is not RV friendly. It will take you down(or up) roads that are not suited for an RV and will not take into consideration bridge heights.

A great trick we learned is if Google says go one way, and you see a posted sign that says "Truck Route" pointing in another direction, follow the "Truck Route" sign...

Vaya con Dios!

 

[MooManChu]

We use RV Parky, All Stays, Google Maps, and ios Maps.

For clearances, you might want to check out this app. Its for iPhone but are also available for Android

https://www.smartrvroute.com/smartrvhome/


SmartTruck Route
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/smarttruckroute/id580967260?mt=8

SmartRVRoute
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/smartrvroute/id606236753

 

[st.rodder2]

When traveling to new places I use the Magellan RV model. I can program the length and height of the trailer. It helps avoid roads and bridges that I won't fit on. Otherwise I use the factory nav unit.

 

[markandkim]

learn Google Maps.

You'll love it.

 

[wpaultaylor]

Thank you all for the tips. I've seen a couple of YouTubers suggest RV Trip Wizard, but it costs something like $35 a year. Not a huge amount... unless it offers the same thing I can get for free from Google Maps. The thing I haven't been able to find that I'd like to have is a way to know how steep a route is. We're still relatively new to RVing and this summer we're doing a big cross country trip which include a stretch between Durango, CO and Denver. Google Maps suggests three different routes. All three feature state roads, so I wonder which one is going to have the smoothest inclines and declines. I'm probably worrying too much about it, but I grew up in Kansas and live in Virginia; the most significant elevation changes I'm used to can be measured in hundreds of feet, not thousands. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your tips with me. Safe and happy travels to you all!

 

[660catman]

I have not used google maps a whole lot but I’m watching this thread as I’m planning a trip from the prairie region of Canada to Yellowstone Park in June. I’ve been using Google Earth for routes and you can see the elevation changes at the bottom right of screen as you follow route with your cursor.

 

[MartyG]

For a few years we used Good Sam Trip Planner on line, and imported trips to the Good Sam (Rand McNally) GPS. Worked in a limited capacity for a while. Trip Planner on line is still good, however, GS has dropped R/McNally, and support is only on weekdays. (when do you travel?) Still, I build trips on Trip Planner, but on the GPS, on only use destination one day at a time. Multi-stop trips are very hard for the system to understand.

 

[stormseeker]

When I had my dually truck and huge 5er I would do Google earth and spot check the route from above in sat mode and street view to see the lay of the land. I still do occasionally since I am goosey about two lane roads with epic drop offs and/or endless hairpin curves. In street view you can look at a section of road in 360 degrees like you were standing there.

 

[mdbeck1]

... We're still relatively new to RVing and this summer we're doing a big cross country trip which include a stretch between Durango, CO and Denver. Google Maps suggests three different routes. All three feature state roads, so I wonder which one is going to have the smoothest inclines and declines. I'm probably worrying too much about it, but I grew up in Kansas and live in Virginia; the most significant elevation changes I'm used to can be measured in hundreds of feet, not thousands. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your tips with me. Safe and happy travels to you all!

I'm from Oklahoma and went to Durango, Denver and points north several years ago. I found out that there are a LOT of differences in an RV.
1. Your tire tread has to be much better than in OK. If you're in a wreck they check it and it's below their enhanced level you're at fault.
2. Use your gears when going up/down hill. Uphill it helps to get torque to climb. Downhill it will slow your truck down without burning your brakes out.
3. Don't ride your brakes on the way down the hills. You'll burn them out easily.
4. Make sure that you have plenty of truck to pull. We were using a Chevy 1500 with an 18 ft travel trailer. We were probably overloaded and it really did make a BIG difference. We're going back on a similar route this year but I've got a 2500 RAM Diesel and pulling a 28 ft fifth wheel. I'm NOWHERE near Max Tow Weight.