Travel Apps

[Tree Top Turkeys]

Just made it to Flordia from Kentucky for our very first snow bird trip. Praise the Lord everything went great and we arrived without incident and safe. I was frustrated with the travel apps and how they worked. I used RV Life to plot the RV friendly route then used Google Maps to travel with because I don’t like the RV Life GPS Nav. We occasionally used Waze as well but all three took different routes. RV Life changed original course once we left I-65 and took us on a small two lane road for 40 miles instead of US 29 which is four lane all the way to I-10. Long story to ask what is best for RV safe travel? Wish I could combine the best features from these three apps to make one I liked 😊

[rames14]

We use a combination of three things - Ram GPS on the big screen, 7” Garmin RV (routes per rig dimensions, and Waze in the background. First, we live in the mountains and don’t have cell service. Waze, Google Maps and RV Life don’t work. I have used Garmin for over 30 years, before they started making vehicle GPS. Just what works for us. Also, in Alaska and Canada there are lots of places where there is no cell service. There are workarounds, but this has worked for us.

[Foldbak]

I've been happy with RV Life so far. I think it can be used off line.

[Daryles]

We try to stay on interstates and US routes. US routes are supposed to be 13'6" minimum. Not always true. There are a few exceptions.
IF we have to take a lesser route we check it against RV Parky to see if there are any alerts.
Then we look at it using Google maps Satellite view to look for anything obvious. Railroad crossings are where you normally find issues. Either a low bridge OR a hump backed crossing that you will bottom out on.
So far we have had only two bad experiences. One in NY on 63 outside Ballston Spa. This one did not even show up on the Truckers Atlas. The road had a sign 5 ton weight limit. Nothing about the low bridge 12' 11" until you got to the bridge. We were lucky there was a baseball field nearby with a parking lot big enough to turn around in.

The second one was on US 1 in Colchester Va. 13'4". We went under it at SLOW walking speed. Made it!!!

3rd picture. Low bridge can also mean
LOW WIRE!!!

[BB_TX]

Originally Posted by Tree Top Turkeys

…….
RV Life changed original course once we left I-65 and took us on a small two lane road for 40 miles instead of US 29 which is four lane all the way to I-10. Long story to ask what is best for RV safe travel? …….

Don’t know about RV life, but WAZE and google maps will change the route if they detect a significant traffic issue in the original route, without any notification. You will just suddenly notice it is different.

But it is good to research routes before you leave and not rely completely on any GPS. One time Streets and Trips led me to a low water crossing across an unpaved creek crossing, in the middle of a small town! Had to back up and reroute. And a Garmin tried to take me into a back entrance to Great Sand Dunes NP, unpaved 4 wheel drive road over a mountain pass. Fortunately I knew better and didn’t follow it.

[Joint Venture II]

I plan my trip using RV Life and find it works very well for planning purposes. During the traveling section I use both Google Maps and Maps for GPS use, but never rely 100% on them as I find they are not perfect. I had purchased a new double DIN Alpine stereo/GPS/Sirius radio system for traveling purposes but the GPS system is virtually a joke, gets lost, confuses us and we finally quit using it for anything but Sirius radio. Now giving consideration to a Garmin system.

[Ronpete730@gmail.com]

We’ve been using RV trip wizard for several years and have seen fixes and improvements during this time. Important for us that we input our 13’6-in height and are confident we won’t be surprised by low underpasses. Like that it displays on our big Ram screen thru Apple car play. You can avoid some issues by telling the app to follow planned route rather than make adjustments as well as download State maps ahead of your trip for use when loose cell coverage. Not perfect but works well for us.

[JABURKHOLDER]

I use Flying J trip planner and compare it to my Ford Sync Nav system. Only steered me wrong once in
7 1/2 years. Even that one time miscue was still doable.

[bcrvman]

Originally Posted by Ronpete730@gmail.com

We’ve been using RV trip wizard for several years and have seen fixes and improvements during this time. Important for us that we input our 13’6-in height and are confident we won’t be surprised by low underpasses. Like that it displays on our big Ram screen thru Apple car play. You can avoid some issues by telling the app to follow planned route rather than make adjustments as well as download State maps ahead of your trip for use when loose cell coverage. Not perfect but works well for us.

Can you provide detailed instructions how to download State maps in RV Trip Wizard? Also where is the setting for 'no adjustments'. I have used that app since day one, and neither of those sound familiar. AFAIK, RVTW is NOT usable with NO internet. I use it to plan for months of travel, but day to day is Garmin.

[Ronpete730@gmail.com]

You’ll find a “more” option at the bottom of the RV Life app screen. After selecting “more” you’ll see an “offline storage option. Select that and you can choose which states to download.
For your other question on routing - once you’ve selected you destination, you’re given a screen that allows you to route “ match planned trip route exactly”.

[bcrvman]

Originally Posted by Ronpete730@gmail.com

You’ll find a “more” option at the bottom of the RV Life app screen. After selecting “more” you’ll see an “offline storage option. Select that and you can choose which states to download.
For your other question on routing - once you’ve selected you destination, you’re given a screen that allows you to route “ match planned trip route exactly”.

I plan with RV Trip Wizard. I don't use RV Life app. On the road I use an RV specific Garmin GPS. I don't need internet for the Garmin, although if it's available it will use it for some extra functionality.
I just tried the app, and it is obvious it is only downloading campground info for it's affiliated sites. It isn't downloading map data which would more than fill my phone.
Destination? I have hundreds of destinations.
I think as a full timer I use these tools differently than a weekender. In order to plot safe RV routes you need a large company's resources like Garmin with thousands of employees constantly updating the map and routing data. the small handful at RVLife do not have a chance in hell of maintaining all the map and routing data. They most likely rely on a 3rd party for most if not all the data and those sources are a shadow of what Garmin does.

[jsb5717]

None of the systems are perfect and can all chase a wild goose now and again. We have done well with RV trip wizard and Garmin 770 RV GPS. There are other tools but these have worked for us.

[rames14]

In the RV life app, go to more, offline storage, then area and maps.

[bcrvman]

Originally Posted by rames14

In the RV life app, go to more, offline storage, then area and maps.

I use RV Trip Wizard, I don't use the RV Life app, can't get logged in.

[Joint Venture II]

Originally Posted by rames14

In the RV life app, go to more, offline storage, then area and maps.

I'm not seeing "more" anyplace.

[bcrvman]

Originally Posted by Joint Venture II

I'm not seeing "more" anyplace.

I don't use the app for a bunch of reasons, I use my laptop and RV Trip wizard for planning, then daily enter the start and end into the RV specific GPS. It would be nice if RVTW could work off line but I understand the issues. What you are talking about is just google maps with a different UI on it. I can and do use google maps with downloaded maps as a backup tool already, no need to use it again.

[wjg315]

When you open a trip on the app on your phone it will show a red button that says download maps + RV routing for trip. I do this on every trip so it has the latest maps.

[twindman]

Since 2010 I have used a $50 or so program called Trailer Life Directory Campground NAvigator. It had most campgrounds in USA (and Canada) with ratings. You put in how many miles per day, overshoot limits, restrictions like Interstates only, all roads, etc. It would map out everything.
Unfortunately Trailer Life (maybe now RV Life??) stopped sharing ratings. Next release had campgrounds with minimal info and no ratings. That was the end of the program.

I now still use it because I don't need no stinkin' internet!! LOL A lot of new parks missing, but I manage. I just create the route, then look on RV Life Reviews for a park with good ratings and needed features (50A, etc) near the stop offs that the program picked.

Often the internet is poor, etc and I have no way to look at the route while traveling with the newer programs, but with mine I can just open the laptop and see where I need to go.
I am still bummed out that they went out of business..


EDIT: With how busy parks are now, I map things out months in advance so I can boot months in advance. Now days, any park in a scenic area or Nat. Parks have to be booked 3-6 months in advancd. 2 years ago I wanted in to Teton Nat Park and tried 3-4 months out - No deal. Last year I booked in December for an August site and got it. Sure makes things harder.

[wed]

We use RV Life and Goodsam