Garmin Nuvi 40 with Red Pine Mapping

[dboe03]

I'm wondering if anyone else is using this GPS. I've been using it the past two seasons and can't get it to work at all. All it really does is search the whole time, and when I do get it actually guiding me it will tell me to take U-turns. I'm thinking of getting a different GPS that works better for Off-Trail. I have all the mounts ready and installed, just need a different GPS unit. I really don't need a GPS to tell me turn by turn, but atleast one that will show me the direction I'm heading and where my destination is. This past weekend in Houghton a few buddies where in the woods all day and had to use the maps and some logic to "guesstimate" where we actually were. Any body got any tips?

 

[Pykie]

Hey,

I've got a different Garmin, just checking that you are turning off roads and only using the updated maps? If that's even an option with yours?

It's very confusing if trails are crossing roads and it thinks it can find a different/quicker route via a road instead of trail.

 

[dboe03]

I'm pretty sure I had roads off, and using only the downloaded maps. I'm thinking the Nuvi 40 just isn't quite cut out for off-road use.

 

[rws]

I'm wondering if anyone else is using this GPS. I've been using it the past two seasons and can't get it to work at all. All it really does is search the whole time, and when I do get it actually guiding me it will tell me to take U-turns. I'm thinking of getting a different GPS that works better for Off-Trail. I have all the mounts ready and installed, just need a different GPS unit. I really don't need a GPS to tell me turn by turn, but atleast one that will show me the direction I'm heading and where my destination is. This past weekend in Houghton a few buddies where in the woods all day and had to use the maps and some logic to "guesstimate" where we actually were. Any body got any tips?

When you are navigating a route does it do it on the trails or is it trying to navigate on roads?

If you have the road map disabled in map setup it will only navigate trails.

You unit is evidently set up on a route that is not in the vicinity of where you are currently riding and is trying to navigate that route....hence it is searching and suggesting detours. To stop navigation press the u-shaped arrow and select Stop.

With navigation stopped the trail map will act normal and not give you turn by turn directions.

If you want to use trail navigation again set the route you want to take at the start of your ride....and then stop it when finished.

 

[Phazernut]

The Nuvis are more desigen for road type use. Get a GPS desigend for off road and you will be fine. Some are made for both. I have the Montana and it can be set for either type of use. Works great.

 

[biffdotorg]

I use a Nuvi 1350 with RedPine Mapping and it works great. When I start my sled, it fires up. I accept at the licensing screen and then click "show map"

If I dont' touch anything, it will go into that mode by default. I find that just watching the maps is helpful as it is without navigation.

That is using it here in MN, or our 450 in Michigan last week. Especially when showing the paper map guys were we are at on their big map. The combination work very well.

Good luck,

 

[dboe03]

Another weeked ride, and this thing just won't navigate right. I got it semi-figured out, but it's not nearly as good as it could be. I'm thinking I'm going to look into possibly one like the Montana that is designed for Off-Road use.

 

[Phazernut]

I could never figure out why people used the Nuvi's for sled use. Unless the trail maps are designed for turn by turn navigation it is useless. Here where I ride there are no such animals as turn by turn trail navigtion. Unless it has off-road capability and a compass setup forget it. I would not want my Nuvi to try to get me out of tthe woods. There is a reason why a Nuvi is less than $200.00 and a Montana is pushing 3 times that.

 

[biffdotorg]

I could never figure out why people used the Nuvi's for sled use. Unless the trail maps are designed for turn by turn navigation it is useless. Here where I ride there are no such animals as turn by turn trail navigtion. Unless it has off-road capability and a compass setup forget it. I would not want my Nuvi to try to get me out of tthe woods. There is a reason why a Nuvi is less than $200.00 and a Montana is pushing 3 times that.

Why would you be required to use the Nuvi for turn by turn navigation? What's wrong with just running it in "view map" mode like I do? It's a nice sized screen, the trails are laid out clearly, and it runs in cold weather better than I thought it would.

Unless someone is trying to do something this thing is not designed for, I don't see the drawback. For those trying to use this for Turn-by-Turn, maybe explain why you want turn-by-turn? Half the fun is running until half the tank of gas is gone and then trying to find your way back. The GPS is a safety net.

When we were on a run to hit a specific place by a specific time and follow a specific route, then I can see where turn-by-turn could be helpful. But I truly don't feel that it can replace paper map on the tank bag in conjunction with the GPS for location.

Just my opinion of course.

 

[biffdotorg]

These photos show the Garmin Nuvi attached to my handlebars. While in Michigan, it not only showed me where on the map I was, it showed accurate elevation, speed and what trail I was on by name or number.

 

[Phazernut]

Does the Nuvi have track log ability or back track ability if needed? I have only used it in my Car, Truck and Street Bike. Can it guide you a specific waypoint? Can you load topo maps on it? no dubt it will help you get home but will it do as good a job as a proper off road GPS?

I may go take it out of my car and start pushing buttons

 

[biffdotorg]

Does the Nuvi have track log ability or back track ability if needed? I have only used it in my Car, Truck and Street Bike. Can it guide you a specific waypoint? Can you load topo maps on it? no dubt it will help you get home but will it do as good a job as a proper off road GPS?

I may go take it out of my car and start pushing buttons

A GPS is only as good as the maps you load on it. The only thing that makes one "off road" more than another would be what it uses for guidance or base map.

In the winter, these trail maps can be used for guidance, although I have never had a need to use them that way. Yes, I can drop waypoints and also leave a "Bread crumb trail" to backtrack if needed. Again, I don't use it that way.

In the summer, I load lake maps on it to show depth charts and routes on lakes. We drop plenty of waypoints or hotspots. I usually use my Lowrance H2O as it is waterproof, but I like this screen better.

Honestly, I do think these units are somewhat generic and are only as smart as the software/maps loaded and the user.

Go press some buttons and report back. As I would love to know what else it can do. At this time, I am pretty darn happy with what it does already.

On a side note, my 11 year old was following me on the Apex with GPS while I was riding the phazer. Every intersection, I would look back at her and point the way I thought we should be heading to the resort. She would either nod or point in the other direction as she was watching the GPS. My god, if an 11 year old can do it, I think we should be able to. (I feel old just typing that)

 

[marq]

I could never figure out why people used the Nuvi's for sled use. Unless the trail maps are designed for turn by turn navigation it is useless. Here where I ride there are no such animals as turn by turn trail navigtion. Unless it has off-road capability and a compass setup forget it. I would not want my Nuvi to try to get me out of tthe woods. There is a reason why a Nuvi is less than $200.00 and a Montana is pushing 3 times that.

Why would you be required to use the Nuvi for turn by turn navigation? What's wrong with just running it in "view map" mode like I do? It's a nice sized screen, the trails are laid out clearly, and it runs in cold weather better than I thought it would.

Unless someone is trying to do something this thing is not designed for, I don't see the drawback. For those trying to use this for Turn-by-Turn, maybe explain why you want turn-by-turn? Half the fun is running until half the tank of gas is gone and then trying to find your way back. The GPS is a safety net.

When we were on a run to hit a specific place by a specific time and follow a specific route, then I can see where turn-by-turn could be helpful. But I truly don't feel that it can replace paper map on the tank bag in conjunction with the GPS for location.

Just my opinion of course.

I don't have a Nuvi, but I use my Lowrance XOG in the same manner. Trail map from RedPine Mapping is loaded on there and I occasionally use it as a reference. A couple of weeks ago I used it in the U.P. and saved a bunch of waypoints along a route I wanted to ride that was on county roads (I wanted to bypass a trail). Set it to follow the waypoints with turn by turn navigation. First time I've used that feature while on the sled and it worked out great.. wouldn't have been any different in my truck.

I think the XOG can be set to navigate a trail, but like I said I mainly use it as a reference / virtual trail map.

 

[dboe03]

Biffdotorg, I try using just the view map, and yes I can see the trails with occasionally it telling me what trail I'm on. When I was out in the roads in the U.P., I would see the trail ahead ahead of me on the map, head that way, then all the sudden the GPS will rotate and the trail is a different way. To me, it always seemed like it was getting lost. I don't know, time to buy a compass and map and do this the old school way.

 

[marq]

Biffdotorg, I try using just the view map, and yes I can see the trails with occasionally it telling me what trail I'm on. When I was out in the roads in the U.P., I would see the trail ahead ahead of me on the map, head that way, then all the sudden the GPS will rotate and the trail is a different way. To me, it always seemed like it was getting lost. I don't know, time to buy a compass and map and do this the old school way.

One thing I do when on the sled is set my GPS to always have north pointed up. I generally know what the trail map is supposed to look like so if I glance down while riding I can sort of figure out when I'm at in relation to trails without having to study the screen. It also helps in situations you describe.