When The Gps Leads You Astray....., What scrapes have you gotten into from "obeying" your GPS? Options

[Ingsky]

When we were scouting out the cg where we are staying for the winter, we initally phoned, got the address and did a Yahoo map. I'm glad we didn't have the fifth wheel behind us as we were on dirt roads in the desert. (We'd parked the fiver at another rv park in order to do our scouting for a better place.) We got so lost, so we phoned and were told to park at a cross street, he'd find us and lead us to the park. He did and we discovered a wonderful place. He told us that maps that use gps always mess people up. He said folks have this problem all the time. This is the first time a Yahoo map has mislead us.

[mastercraft]

We were leaving Campus RV park outside of Kansas City heading towards Nebraska. The GPS sent us a different way out since we were heading in a different direction. About 3 miles into our trip we encountered a bridge with only 12 feet of clearance. I was in my truck with a 38 foot 5th wheel and my dad was following in his motorhome. We were in the process of turning around in a 4 lane road when a nice gentleman stopped and gave us another route. He was driving a dually with a 5th wheel hitch. GPS was set with truck/bus setting.

[DXSMac]

I took a short trip this last weekend, and my GPS led me to a "dead end" street and expected me to continue through! I had to back out of it. I hate backing up in an RV!

JJ

[Cap'n Easy]

I've had my Garmin for two years and always have it with me, whether in the motorhome or the car. I consider it indispensible in the RV, especially for the text-to-voice directions. BUT I quickly learned to study my route options on a good ol' map first and to NOT rely solely on Garmin's ability to make the best selection. So far it hasn't lead me into any hair-raising surprises as others here have mentioned. Regardless, I've unhooked/rehooked my toad on more than one occassion so I could turn around to get out of a bind. All in all, I love GPS technology and use mine a lot.

[joez]

I have used gps systems since car manufacturers started to offer them as ridiculously priced options and, for the most part, have had great success with them. Most of the time when I second guess the machine I am wrong. One time, though, I wish I had paid attention. I had called a campground in Tennessee for a reservation and the clerk had mentioned that I should take the 2nd turn onto ***** road (don't remember the name). GPS told me to turn at the 1st turn and I took it. I was in a 35 foot mh with a towd - just me and the two dogs. Wife was to join us the next day. By taking the first turn I ended up on a very narrow Tennessee road barely wide enough to travel and came across a series of turns that I could not make with the towd attached. Well, the dogs do not drive worth a darn and I did not want to back the towd up and then walk back and back the mh up. I ended up disconnecting the towd, driving the mh forward, walking back for the car, etc, etc, etc. Had three turns to navigate over about 3 miles. Took me most of the afternoon but finally got to a point (where the campground had told me to turn) where I could hook the towd back up and continue. I still depend on the GPS - I just double check, especially where local roads are involved.BTW, dogs never told on me and DW still has no idea what I did.

[DXSMac]

Joez, ok, your experience just topped mine (which was going up a steep dead end road, and having to back all the way down and go around a curve...)

JJ

[Galli]

ha, ha, ha and I thought I was the inept one not being able to use the GPS; off course I learned the basic at my own expense.
the modern GPS provide certain facilities and handicap at the same time, I have a Magellan Crossover that gives me the option in a trip to take the shortest road or the fastest road or the one with no pay toll or the one with mainly highways.
these options cannot be used in combination, therefore, you have to choose what you consider most appropriate for your trip, namely, if you are travelling with a Motor Home or a 5th W., you better chose the highway.
I wish to warn you about the shortest rout, please, please, DO NOT choose this option UNLESS you know the route in advance because the GPS will take you on the shortest way between the points regardless of type terrene.
I had this experience once and fortunately I was travel with the truck only and I saved most likely 10 - 15 miles of road but I had to go through paths in bushes and at the end of it I had to cut down a lock since the access to the main road was barred by a gate and I did not have the option to turn around since the path was barely the size of my truck.

[DXSMac]

Galli, BEEN THERE! "shortest" sometimes is the shortest mileage wise, but takes you another half hour longer to get there.

JJ

[Galli]

ha, ha, ha and I thought I was the inept one not being able to use the GPS; off course I learned the basic at my own expense.
the modern GPS provide certain facilities and handicap at the same time, I have a Magellan Crossover that gives me the option in a trip to take the shortest road or the fastest road or the one with no pay toll or the one with mainly highways.
these options cannot be used in combination, therefore, you have to choose what you consider most appropriate for your trip, namely, if you are travelling with a Motor Home or a 5th W., you better chose the highway.
I wish to warn you about the shortest rout, please, please, DO NOT choose this option UNLESS you know the route in advance because the GPS will take you on the shortest way between the points regardless of type terrene.
I had this experience once and fortunately I was travel with the truck only and I saved most likely 10 - 15 miles of road but I had to go through paths in bushes and at the end of it I had to cut down a lock since the access to the main road was barred by a gate and I did not have the option to turn around since the path was barely the size of my truck.

I still remember the good time when we had to look at the map and use our brain to decide where to go and how to get there.
Ta, ta Galli

[DXSMac]

Had another GPS issue a couple days ago. I was driving through Gallup, New Mexico and wanted to get back on the freeway. Magellan said, "freeway entrance on the right." Normally, those kinds of "on ramps" are on the right. So, I moved to the right lane. WRONG! Entrance ramp was on the left and it was a cloverleaf! Oops, too late, can't move over. Had to go around the block, and the block I went around had very narrow roads. Yikes.

JJ

[Galli]

Had another GPS issue a couple days ago. I was driving through Gallup, New Mexico and wanted to get back on the freeway. Magellan said, "freeway entrance on the right." Normally, those kinds of "on ramps" are on the right. So, I moved to the right lane. WRONG! Entrance ramp was on the left and it was a cloverleaf! Oops, too late, can't move over. Had to go around the block, and the block I went around had very narrow roads. Yikes.

JJ

Yes I know, life is difficult, you complain because the GPS is goofing off, I have a GPS telling me what to do and my wife insisting in giving me different directions , she is always focusing on the map and when the GPS tells me to turn left or right, she immediately ask me WHY ? How do I know, I am only ther driver and would like to follow the GPS indication, after all I spent about $ 400 for it and I would like to believe in what it says, but, for a good living in the family at the time I am following her direction and naturally, as soon as I obey my wife the GPS starts screaming and telling me that I am to a wrong direction , to take the first road on the left/right and ....naturally my wife insist that the GPS is stupid, or, who programmed it didn't know what he/she was doing and this goes on and on with the result that people tells me why I look so old when I am only 70 and I cannot say the truth :lol

[HappiestCamper]

Just had a fun one - put me in the middle of a horse pasture! Fortunately, was able to to get it turned around.

[Jerry S.]

I'm kinda glad this topic got revived. There were 2 stories in the news just before Christmas about people out northwest. As remember, both stories were about people using GPS getting lost in Oregon because the GPS sent them onto unplowed, secondary mountain roads. The story on which I heard the most information, talked of an older couple going from Reno to Portland to visit family for the holidays. The GPS routed them on to a forrest service road and they we stranded for almost 3 days before they were found. This story wasn't about people in an RV but it is certainly a pertinent example of how a little old-fashioned planning with a map would have prevented this almost tragic situation.

[John Blue]

Jerry S,

Some people have no common sense and need a GPS to return back home from a trip to local store. The write up also said the GPS saved the couple as well. One cell phone was GPS equipped and the local law office used that information to find the couple on a road no one used in winter months. If we see a deal like this we stop and look at paper maps and ask do we wish to do this. GPS are good in lots of cases. We tour in places like Chicago or Philadelphia and found it is time to have lunch. Now we turn on GPS and find a place close by, saves you time and mileage looking for some place.

We have people here in town that have lived close by 40 plus years and can not find the local Home Depot yet. As I ride with some people at every turn you need to tell them right here or move over to the left.

The couple had two cell phones and full tank of gas in car plus stuff to eat and stuff to stay warm. They got that part right. One cell phone would not pick up cell tower and other only at imes and very weak. Good luck the one with GPS did work at last.

[dalsgal]

If you put the address of our CG in it will take you some place miles away. I always tell campers to put the town in and we are 1 1/2 miles south of town. In a few weeks we are going to have a bus conversion rally here. For those that want it we will have the actual co-ordinance for them to put in. Can you image 2 dozen 35-40 foot bus conversions, most with toads, in a line driving down the dusty, twisty, narrow dirt road that the GPS says they should take? Of course, I do think it would make a funny picture. (yes, my sense of humor is warped).