I recently bought a boat to pull behind my 7.3L. I was far from home, and while waiting for the brokerage to open - I wanted to get some breakfast and a 2 5/16" ball for the new trailer. I knew where I wanted to go before I left the house, but I never planned on where we would go other than the hotel and the brokerage. My wife talks to her phone "OK Google" and pulls up mapping for the auto parts store and the restaurant. With a trailerable boat to take to new destinations, this will not be the last time something like this happens. Wandering about town with 30' and 8,000 pounds behind me while in search of ice cream is not on my bucket list.

I'm looking at a new head unit eventually (not today), and while the GPS can be handy in certain situations - I don't relish the idea of my GPS in the dash being outdated in 5 years. I'm thinking the phone thing did just fine, or I might do a Bluetooth GPS thing on my OBDII tablet at some point, since it's logging my engine data anyway.

To give an example of why my mind is drifting this way, the Pioneer AVH 4201NEX without GPS is $200 cheaper than the next model above it - Pioneer AVIC 6201NEX. $200 for adding GPS that's going to be outdated in 5 years? I take issue with that - particularly when there are so many other options included in smart phones and tablets. One other thing - if you like to get the trail-behind aerial view of your position and path, this works better when the screen is oriented in portrait (like portable devices can do), not landscape (stuck with this in a head unit).

Your thoughts?

 

What about one of the Android head units (i.e. Joying)? Is that on your options list? Their prices are not nearly as high as the Pioneer route, and if I recall, I think there is a potential for running TorquePro or Forscan as an additional layer of gauges you can use in conjunction with your 7" tablet.

 

I am not sure on the amount of road construction that goes on around you, but if it anything like here then in a year it is out of date. My wife has GPS on her enclave (pretty much useless now, and I refuse to pay for the update!), but we still tend to use the Waze app on our phone, turn by turn coming through the car audio, works out pretty good.....

 

That's what I was thinking, too. If you use an Android head unit, you keep your GPS info up-to-date automatically. The only vehicle I have with built-in navigation is my 2010 Lexus RX450h, and I REFUSE to pay $400 for Lexus to update the hard drive... it's not a simple download.

 

I have owned GPS units since they first came out and were just a screen with dots on it and bought newer technology as it came out. I am also a Garmin stock holder since it hit our market. But I do not plan on buying any new equipment soon. My favorite Garmin unit is no longer supported and got thrown in the trash. I'm almost a hoarder and it killed me to toss my well accessorized, expensive toy in the trash and it really pissed me off. I find that my phone provides all that I need in highway guidance and amenities. It shows traffic information (I don't know how they get that), businesses complete with phone numbers, hours of operation, links to Yelp reviews and more. And it's all kept up to date at no cost to me. No, it's not quite as convenient as my Cessna's in dash unit but for what it provides I'll sacrifice that convenience. Additionally, since our phones are all GPS enabled today you can buy GPS software for it in the event that you live in an area where cell tower access is limited. However, if you must buy an in dash unit I do recommend Garmin (if they have it).

 

I have the Joying, while it's a nifty unit, the radio reception is nearly non-existent. I wouldn't buy it again.

 

Good to know, Dan_V. If available, perhaps you could run a radio station-specific app?

 

I can't see spending money on a GPS when it's already on my phone and tablet. Waze is great when I'm towing over the California speed limit and there's a smokey ahead. As for areas with no cell reception, google maps allows you to download regions for offline use. I have most of the west coast on my wifi only tablet.

 

I use WAZE exclusively for traffic avoidance and navigation. I have a Garmin Nuvi that is about 8 years old that Garmin won't even update, it has all my honey holes for hunting and fishing.

About three years ago I installed an Alpine CDE-HD148BT. Blue tooth, Sirius XM, HD and Pandora I like it better than the set up in my daily driver. Most Double DIN require some extensive trimming to the dash, IIRC.

The Joying and Pumpkin units are obsolete at the first Android update.

 

Waze will also work with no cell reception, provided that the route is already in progress / downloaded before you start. I have ran a good hour plus with no coverage and the route and directions have still been there. Obviously the road and traffic reports don't work without cell signal either. I believe Google has / will be buying Waze, so we may see some kind of hybrid between the two in the future?

 

I have an in-dash GPS for my truck and do use it.

Although, as mentioned above it is already out of date, but it still gets me by. I use it mainly for trips longer than an hour or so. Closer than that, I will usually use my phone.

I prefer the ability to see the map at a glance and hear the directions over the speakers to the vehicle. Yes, I know I can have a mount for my phone and link it bluetooth to the stereo, but prefer them to be separate devices, especially for long trips.

When driving across the country last year with our travel trailer (GA to Seattle and back) the in-dash GPS kept our main destination mapped and on track. When we wanted to stop for fuel, my wife would use an app called All-Stays which lets you filter stores, fuel stations, stops and just about anything. We would divert from the in-dash map to accomplish our short term goal and then right back on the in-dash map for our journey to continue.

We have a Subaru that is a 2008 and the maps in the GPS are wildly outdated. Although, we still use it and it generally gets us to where we are going. Sometimes we have to pull over near the destination in order to look it up, but not often.

Also, I like to look at the destination on a laptop or something prior to setting out toward it. This also enables me to get the coordinates for the destination, which is critical information when dealing with an outdated GPS.

 

So I have burn cell data to listen to the radio? If that is indeed true....I don't think so.

 

Just setup an extra phone you have laying around with HERE.

It uses the built in phone GPS, and you can update the APP whenever you are connected to WiFi. Have been using it for years.

 

The things I appreciate about the Pioneer over the Joying approach:

• Android Auto is not the same as Android - AA is specifically engineered to be safe to operate while driving.
• Supertuner has always treated me well for reception.
• Sound quality - it's not an Android modified for a car, it's a sound system with bells and whistles.

Dash Command works in Android Auto today, and I'm pretty sure Ian will get Torque Pro to work in there - it will be too big of a market to ignore.

 

Google has owned Waze for over two years now, and it remains a true competitor for Google Maps. I've seen a few updated tweaks on Waze since the Google buyout, but not many. I'm honestly surprised that both options still exist at this point.

As for using cell data with the app, I honestly had not thought about that. I use the app when I'm working in my garage, but the phone is tolling off my WiFi data at that point, and not hitting my cell data plan at all. You're completely right, Dan, I wouldn't do it either while on the road!