Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by MikeJames on 03/6/2023

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I use a free one Android App called Magic Earth (was also on iPhone last time I looked.

You can download maps for countries before you go there so it doesn't need data connection.

They just added a feature for Trucks, so I put my vehicle dimensions in and will try it on my next caravan trip.

Might be worth a look.

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Quote: Originally posted by Mick S. on 04/6/2023

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Theres many actual camp sites on roads you wouldnt normally want to traverse with a caravan. So having a sat nav that avoids these roads is useless. A couple of sites we used last year in Devon and Dorset had me down roads - THE only roads to these sites, where i was practically rattling the trucks mirrors on the vegetation on both sides at the same time. Luckily no damage to the van sides. Meeting anyone also proved 'interesting' where passing places were concerned.

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Quote: Originally posted by SamP on 11/6/2023

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Can you get an app or a dedicated SatNav which will allow you to input the exact dimensions of your outfit?

Yes.

Will they do anything useful with all that information?

Mostly, no.

Those apps just use the same map data that all the others use, and most of the important stuff like:

Can you get round those really tight bends, and up that steep narrow hill with parked cars all over the place?

They can't answer.

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Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 11/6/2023

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Quote: Originally posted by SamP on 11/6/2023

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Can you get an app or a dedicated SatNav which will allow you to input the exact dimensions of your outfit?

Yes.

Will they do anything useful with all that information?

Mostly, no.

Those apps just use the same map data that all the others use, and most of the important stuff like:

Can you get round those really tight bends, and up that steep narrow hill with parked cars all over the place?

They can't answer.

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We have an 8' wide caravan and use the TomTom Go Camper and have never had an issue. If a driver cannot get around tight bends or up steep narrow hills maybe they should not be on the road? Out TT avoids all those sort of roads so no issue.

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Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 04/6/2023

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Quote: Originally posted by MikeJames on 03/6/2023

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I use a free one Android App called Magic Earth (was also on iPhone last time I looked.

You can download maps for countries before you go there so it doesn't need data connection.

They just added a feature for Trucks, so I put my vehicle dimensions in and will try it on my next caravan trip.

Might be worth a look.

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Not one I recall coming across before, or at least a long time ago and forgotten about as probably not impressed then!

But Magic Earth now loaded on my phone and I suspect to become my 'goto' navigation app!

IF it's reliable (not used in anger yet!) it ticks just about every box for me, even connects to my car screen and car speakers via AndoidAuto (an undocumented feature, although Carplay mentioned).

Tested it's routing (as a truck, with caravan dimensions inputted) on a few of the trickier routes I'm well familiar with and it didn't fail with recommending routes unsuitable for a caravan, unlike many a route planner regardless of the caravan route friendly claims! Only gripe is it took a typical shorter (and more difficult!) route across Exmoor, rather than the slightly longer but easier route I use, it was still a usable route to be fair.

Lots of nice features like starting route from a remote location rather than only your current physical one (great for working out journey times AFTER you've picked up caravan from storage), able to pop in a way point on a already planned route and it'll reroute to accommodate (great way of forcing routing via your preferred roads!). Option to input Lat/Long figure rather than post code or address (useful for those obscure places where post codes and addresses are too vague!). What 3 Words would be nice, but I'll bang in a recommendation to their helpful email address.

Someone seems to have actually put some original thought into this app, rather than blindly emulate all the others around, including their shortcomings!

And for the OP, it even gives a graph and numbers of the altitude profile on the route, never seen that before apart from on a walking/hiking GPS device!

Thanks Mike James, think I'm going to appreciate your tip off, even if OP doesn't pick up on it.

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Quote: Originally posted by Tracy+Charlie on 18/6/2023

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.......

I've just downloaded Magic Earth and it just gives pedestrian/bike/car options - how do you get the truck bit?

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