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Off-road / Trail GPS

Discussion in 'Recovery & Gear' started by GravityGear, Aug 20, 2019.

  1. Aug 20, 2019 at 7:57 PM
    #1
    GravityGear

    GravityGear [OP] Parking Lot Prerunner

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    What's everyone using now? I was going to save up for a Lowrance with a point antenna, but I figured that with the technology in phones/tablets, I should probably start looking there. I was planning on getting a Skypro receiver to supplement the stock receiver in a phone. There seems to be a lot of apps out there and I was specifically looking at Gaia. I don't mind the membership as it really inexpensive. I put this here because being able to get out of the wilderness is recovery.
     
  2. Aug 20, 2019 at 8:38 PM
    #2
    shellshock

    shellshock Guy who drives a lot

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    Pbear1454, Krezz and GravityGear[OP] like this.
  3. Aug 21, 2019 at 6:08 AM
    #3
    GravityGear

    GravityGear [OP] Parking Lot Prerunner

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  4. Aug 21, 2019 at 7:18 AM
    #4
    TXMiamiFan

    TXMiamiFan SSEM #3 and tractor extraordinaire

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  5. Aug 21, 2019 at 2:58 PM
    #5
    Grumpy Uncle

    Grumpy Uncle Pushing string down the hall SSEM #10

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    Funtreks.com has a couple of data cards and a pay app that I'm seriously thinking of getting. The fata card is Garmin friendly
    If you live in CO, UT and CA. It's great for us.
     
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2019
  6. Aug 21, 2019 at 3:40 PM
    #6
    DividedSky

    DividedSky New Member

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    Pbear1454 likes this.
  7. Aug 21, 2019 at 3:41 PM
    #7
    GravityGear

    GravityGear [OP] Parking Lot Prerunner

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    Aurora, CO
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    Transfer Flow tank, Pinstripe Suit
    Moving back to that area soon, so this is a great option. Thank you very much. That's super helpful. It's nice that they have proven routes. I've been booted before just exploring. Never even thought about putting cards in a Garmin. Since their files are in gpx format, they should be compatible with Gaia and other map software.

    Doesn't look like the Skypro is compatible with Garmin units due to the lack of interface for external antennas. I'd really like to take advantage of the GLONASS system to boost my accuracy. I've been out before and my phone lost gps. "GPS signal lost." Is not something you want to hear when you're out in the forest.
     
  8. Aug 21, 2019 at 3:54 PM
    #8
    GravityGear

    GravityGear [OP] Parking Lot Prerunner

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    Transfer Flow tank, Pinstripe Suit
    Been considering the Bad Elf as well. I am leaning towards the skypro as I can mount it outside the vehicle and increase visibility to the sky. I have heard a lot of good things about both though.
     
  9. Aug 21, 2019 at 3:55 PM
    #9
    Backslider

    Backslider Thirsty...

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    Tooele, UT
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    I use my smart phone and Gaia - with a paid membership it has all the maps I could ever want, you just need to be sure to download in advance. I also love that I can save routes and takes pictures along my route. I use this function to mark areas of interest that I'd like to explore but don't have the time/gas to do at the time.
     
    Flyinryank likes this.
  10. Aug 21, 2019 at 4:00 PM
    #10
    DividedSky

    DividedSky New Member

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    I've never had any issues with accuracy on my Bad-Elf, for what it is worth...
     
  11. Aug 21, 2019 at 6:13 PM
    #11
    GravityGear

    GravityGear [OP] Parking Lot Prerunner

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    Transfer Flow tank, Pinstripe Suit
    Good to know. I looked more at the Bad Elf stuff and I didn't realize that they made standalone wireless receivers. That's primarily what I'm looking for. I thought they only made small dongles to attach to phones and tablets. I will look more into mounting one outside the cab.
     
  12. Aug 22, 2019 at 10:42 AM
    #12
    DividedSky

    DividedSky New Member

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    ADS 2.5's (rear bypass) U748 Leaf Springs
    I have my Bad Elf receiver mounted on my dash and I'm always accurate to within about 15 feet.
     
  13. Aug 22, 2019 at 10:47 AM
    #13
    timsp8

    timsp8 Former Tundra owner for 13 years

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    Tim
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    I was looking at getting the Garmin overlander. I like garmins and it got some good reviews.
     
    fundra_goes_west likes this.
  14. Aug 22, 2019 at 10:59 AM
    #14
    fundra_goes_west

    fundra_goes_west I’m just a guy with a girl

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    Yeah eyeballing this one too
     
  15. Aug 22, 2019 at 11:05 AM
    #15
    GravityGear

    GravityGear [OP] Parking Lot Prerunner

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    2014 Black DC TSS Off Road 4x4 5.7
    Transfer Flow tank, Pinstripe Suit
    I'm not sold on the Garmin off-road stuff. I feel like it's overpriced. For not much more than the overlander, you can get a Lowrance Elite 7 WITH the Point 1 antenna. If you opt for no antenna, it's much more inexpensive.

    I might be missing the draw of the overlander though, if someone can enlighten me, I would be appreciative.
     
  16. Aug 24, 2019 at 2:37 PM
    #16
    timsp8

    timsp8 Former Tundra owner for 13 years

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    I’ve just always liked garmins and it got good reviews. I have no personal experience with any. I’ve heard a lot about an iPad mini with gps and Gaia. Also, unless I am missing something, is the lowrance elite 7 a fish finder?
     
  17. Sep 1, 2019 at 9:39 PM
    #17
    GravityGear

    GravityGear [OP] Parking Lot Prerunner

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    Transfer Flow tank, Pinstripe Suit
    It can be. You can also load topo maps. Nice thing about it is you can mark hazards and obstacles and create custom routes. You can then load these routes with the markers. This is what the desert racers use when prerunning. With a Point 1, you also get the use of the GLONASS satellite constellation. This doubles the number of satellites you can use to pinpoint your location. It's very handy and the lowrance can track your speed and position VERY accurately. You also get a huge screen.
     
  18. Oct 4, 2019 at 9:33 PM
    #18
    TheBeast

    TheBeast The Beach

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    Pinay likes this.
  19. Oct 5, 2019 at 1:24 AM
    #19
    trainracer

    trainracer New Member

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  20. Oct 5, 2019 at 6:09 AM
    #20
    gladecreekwy

    gladecreekwy Wyoming

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    Jackson Wyoming
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    GAIA. On my phone and iPad. No issues in very remote parts of Wyoming, Idaho & S Utah.
     
    badmotofing3r likes this.
  21. Oct 5, 2019 at 8:12 AM
    #21
    GravityGear

    GravityGear [OP] Parking Lot Prerunner

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    Transfer Flow tank, Pinstripe Suit
    I only have experience with the Dual SkyPro, but I have been researching receivers. Bad Elf is nice, I'm sure, but at $50 more for the bluetooth version, I'm not sure it's worth the extra features for me. GLO2 is also another good one. At $100, it's a bit more inexpensive than the SkyPro and it's a bit smaller and has more battery life. I am currently weighing the GLO 2 higher than the SkyPro at this point. I could not find any weather resistant cases for the Glo 2 though, so I would have to reconsider mounting a receiver on my roof.
     
  22. Oct 5, 2019 at 9:18 PM
    #22
    TheBeast

    TheBeast The Beach

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  23. Oct 6, 2019 at 12:01 PM
    #23
    GravityGear

    GravityGear [OP] Parking Lot Prerunner

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    Matt
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    Transfer Flow tank, Pinstripe Suit
    Cool. Let me know how it works out for you. Its a popular unit with the UTV crowd. If I end up with it, I'll be grabbing this (https://mobarmor.com/dual-skypro-160-gps-case/) then mounting it to a suction cup on the roof.
     
    TheBeast[QUOTED] likes this.
  24. Oct 7, 2019 at 4:04 AM
    #24
    KarmaKannon

    KarmaKannon Master of None

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    Some junk
    It is pretty crazy how inexpensive tablets have become. I used to run a Google tablet with Backcountry navigator for my off road gps. It worked pretty well until the tablet started running like junk. Searching around recently I found that you can grab an Android with about a 10" screen and an SD card slot for around $100-$120. Throw in a mount and you have a pretty sweet gps. I don't imagine these things would last long in a race truck, but should be great for the average off roader/ adventure/ prerunner/ whatever.

    Backcountry was an alright navigation app. The controls were a little clumsy and I will probably look into some of the options listed above as a replacement.
     
  25. Oct 20, 2019 at 7:58 PM
    #25
    mountainpanda

    mountainpanda New Member

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    What membership level of gaia are you running? I'm not doing anything super backcountry but I would like to know where I am when exploring national parks and other remote places with no cell service.
     
  26. Oct 20, 2019 at 9:24 PM
    #26
    TheBeast

    TheBeast The Beach

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    premium. it was $120 for 5 years.
     
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  27. Oct 20, 2019 at 10:07 PM
    #27
    mountainpanda

    mountainpanda New Member

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    Thanks, I just signed up for premium.
     
    Pinay and TheBeast[QUOTED] like this.
  28. Oct 20, 2019 at 10:51 PM
    #28
    JimboSlice413

    JimboSlice413 Super Nice Guy

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    I've been using the onX app for years on trails and to navigate BLM/Forest land for shooting spots. My uncle was a forest ranger and is now with the CA cannabis dept and they get to driving into the middle of nowhere to find these crops. Its what his dept uses and he got me using it. Its not free but is loaded with accurate boundaries. You can also download the maps to use in areas without cell service. You do not need cell service for the GPS to work on a cellphone so if you have your maps downloaded you can drive anywhere worry free
     
    TheBeast and Sunnier like this.
  29. Oct 21, 2019 at 5:39 AM
    #29
    Brown Bear

    Brown Bear New Member

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    I use my Lowrance. I made a portable box to take it between my two boats and my truck20190526_171405.jpg
     
    TheBeast likes this.
  30. Oct 21, 2019 at 6:08 AM
    #30
    tstieb

    tstieb New Member

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    I haven't used it much, but Avenza Maps is another GPS app that has some nice features. Believe you can import your own maps into the app.
     
    AxelsHumanDad likes this.

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