GPS unit advice needed !

[mjkaliszak]

Need a recommendation for a GPS unit that I can give my wife for her birthday ( so the lady can talk to the lady )BUT.... something I can take on the trails and load trail maps into. I just want to keep it simple and in the $500 range.I read some threads last year on these but did not pay close attention. I'm down to 3 days left.
Any input is appreciated.

 

[jebjk1]

Lowrance XOG. I use it in the car and on the sled. I have a SD card that has trail maps on it for the sled, and have no complaints. It has the voice directions too (for in the car).

 

[g_eich]

I have a Garmin Nuvi 500 (the waterproof unit) that my wife uses more than I do. She really likes it for getting around. We have not used it much on the trails (use an old unit for that) but it does have topo if you want to see it. Have been very happy with the unit soo far for what we use it for. A friend just bought one for around $300 on ebay.

 

[mjkaliszak]

What about those small" marked by # " roads in the "UP" that intersect the main trails but are considered ( summer usage only )will they show up. I guy last year had a unit that had them on there. He helped us find our way to a main road . The sled was smashed up with 1 ski dangling. It was a tough tow to the road. As usual we were not where we thought we were. He really saved our butts. Anything special I need ?
Forget about the price thing, I dont care about that. What is a " SD " card. Special display ?
Sorry, but I'm too old school , I just get pressured by the family. If ... or should I say WHEN I get lost ... I just go back the in the other direction FASTER !
Thanks for any help.

 

[uncle_ed]

If you are going to use it on your sled also then you will want a waterproof unit. The SD card is a memory card that stores the trail or map data that you download to add to what is already pre-loaded on the gps. My garmin 478 has a preloaded map that does include numbered roads in the u.p. Topo may give you more but this has everything but skidder trails. The garmin 500 would be a good all around fit imho
Ed

 

[polarisrider1]

Lowrance XOG, love it! I have the Michigan trail maps in it as an overlay. (son set it up) Works without the SD card. Also have the Togwotee area topo maps loaded into it. I us it for work, locating customers every day. I turned off the talking lady feature. It is a must have for "off trail riding". and it's water resistant more than the other models I've looked at. Go on Ebay. Got mine new for $118.00

 

[Hoosier]

I bought the Garmin 60 csx this year. Haven't used it on the trail yet. I bought the city navigator and use it in the car. I'm planning on purchasing the trail maps from gpssledmaps.com.

The 60 csx seems to be the most recommended unit for the sled. Although it seems more expensive than it needs to be, considering that you need to buy the City Navigator for it to be useful in the car. If I did it over, I would probably also look at the XOG (its much cheaper).

This unit works well in the car, but it's definitely not as intuitive to use as the car-based systems. The software seems to be about 20 years old.

 

[rmk600]

Put a garmin zumo on last year,with a greatlakes trailmaps gps snowmobile map card in it. It's waterproof and the maps are great, a must for off trailing, you can always locate a trail to get back to. No more worring about running out of gas, maps are extremly accurate. even rolled the sled on a couple of side hill climbs and rode all day in sleet one day, no issues with the cold or water. I put a battery in the sled and ran for 4 days without charging battery. Let it snow!!!!

 

[skidoodragon]

Does any one have pics of them on there sled or are you keeping them in your coat?
Lowrance or Garmin.

 

[polarisrider1]

I installed a waterproof cigarette lighter on my sled and plug it in when the battery goes dead. I bought a mount on Ebay with cords, etc. Found the Lowrance XOG on Ebay. best deal around. Its an excellent unit. Has an SD port and enough memory to download directly over exsisting mapping as an overlay. Very detailed. Shows un named roads, streams that are a foot wide. wet lands, state lands, etc. very happy with it. I don't have any pictures of it installed. On my Togwotee topo map I marked waypoints and certain favorite areas on it. Makes it esay to find the good stuff. Don't think that a GPS can totally replace a compass. Everyone who travels off trail should know how to use a compass with a map/chart. Kinda like math without a calculator. Wow!

 

[local897]

Here is my nuvi 500 ram mount on my renegade!

 

[booondocker]

If you have a budget of $500, I suggest you look hard at the nuvi 855 for the road (her) and buy another for the sled.

The 855 is voice activated with toch of remote switch (steering wheel mounted) and you can tell it to find addresses, cities, and then navigate to them directly, as it talks to you. It costs $240 and she will love it. Of course you can still do the touch screen stuff, but the voice directions given to the unit is good enough reason to buy it. It is clear and works great.

But you better hurry...you are running out of time.

 

[uncle_ed]

Whatever you choose you will find it to be be a handy & fun tool. I got as big a screen as I could afford and I still need to get the glasses out to read some of the info. Here is my set up on my sled. I did end up hard wiring it though!

 

[mjkaliszak]

Thanks for the reply's. I did pick up a Nuvi 500. I do like the way you guy's mounted these. I will also look at the 855 ( Thanks for the scoop Boondocker ) that way when I have fully loaded it with maps and made it part of the " sledding program " I can get her that for X-mas. Nothing as satisfying as buying your wife something for yourself ( LOL ).The GPS sled maps site also seemed very beneficial.

 

[booondocker]

"...Nothing as satisfying as buying your wife something for yourself ( LOL ).

Truer words were never spoken....can you believe an aniversary present in the form of a duck hunting coat....ah, the days of true love!!! So long ago, but seems just like yesterday.

Still have and wear that coat...ah...well she could wear it if she wanted to....so it still counts. Every now and again, she reminds me of that one...still to this day.