Garmin Overlander

[MossJenks]

The ideas here for using an iPad or android pad and a GPS ap sound great. What about using an iPad2 with these same aps? Has anyone tried an iPad? I have an iPad 2 sitting around.

I'm not really clear on if Backcountry Nav is available for iPad. There is a new version that I think is? It's a bit confusing. But Gaia works on iOS and there are other apps available too.

The main attribute you need on your tablet is GPS. You can add it, but it's certainly cleaner if it's built in.

I don't use a tablet myself - I just use my phone. I suppose a bigger display is always better but I have a fairly beefy phone (Galaxy S9) and it's more than adequate. I have all of Colorado cached in Google Maps, and in Backcountry Nav I have several maps that cover all of Colorado plus a bit of New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

 

[DesertCanyons]

I'm not really clear on if Backcountry Nav is available for iPad. There is a new version that I think is? It's a bit confusing. But Gaia works on iOS and there are other apps available too.

The main attribute you need on your tablet is GPS. You can add it, but it's certainly cleaner if it's built in.

I don't use a tablet myself - I just use my phone. I suppose a bigger display is always better but I have a fairly beefy phone (Galaxy S9) and it's more than adequate. I have all of Colorado cached in Google Maps, and in Backcountry Nav I have several maps that cover all of Colorado plus a bit of New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

Thanks MossJenks,

Yes, if an android does GPS and NAV easier than that's the way to go. There's an android similar to the one you linked above with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB of SSD storage for about $320 on Amazon. See the same link you posted and select the 4GB/64GB 10" model.

 

[bring_it_on]

Here's a link the Garmin Overlander, sells for $700:
Garmin Overlander™ | Navigation for Overlanding

What about using an iPad2 with these same aps? Has anyone tried an iPad? I have an iPad 2 sitting around.

I currently use my iPad for navigation when on trips. Gaia is available on iOS as are HEMA and many others. If you don't have a Wifi only iPad you would need to download your routes over Wifi and use a Bluetooth GPS puck. It works great..For a couple of hundred $$ you can probably pick up a used Android flagship tablet (late 2017 or 2018) with external storage and with GPS so that is probably cheaper if you are going for something that is only for the car/trips.

 

[chuffaluffigus]

The discussion happening here is 95% of the reason why I bit the bullet and bought the T8. I run offline cached google maps on it for street nav and Gaia with downloaded offline maps for offroad nav. This past weekend on Death Valley back roads it worked flawlessly. I mapped out our route ahead of time and it turned out to be perfect in the park. Downloaded the Gaia topo, NPS visitor map, and satellite with labels and the 3 combined gave me 100% of the info that I needed for the trip on a screen larger than an iPad Mini, and no RAM mounts to mess with or take up space. The GPS has also proven to be extremely accurate over the last couple of months that I've used it.

It has its quirks and I know it's a somewhat controversial topic, but for this type of thing - which is the reason I bought it - I've been 100% happy so far. Since it's pretty much just an Android tablet dressed up to look like a head unit it also obviously works fine with iOverlander, InReach messaging, and anything else I may want to install and it's much cheaper than this Garmin thing.

Edit: Oh, and no worries having or potentially leaving LiPo batteries in a potentially very hot car. That's something I'm always concerned about here in the desert. It's a great way to have a vehicle fire in the summer.

 

[JeremyB]

How does this compare to the Garmin Oregon 750t GPS for $500 ?

Or the Garmin inReach Explorer+ 2-Way Satellite Communicator, typically $450 can be found on sale for $400 ?

Or the Oregon 700 for $400:
Garmin Oregon(R) 700 | Hiking GPS

The Oregon/inReach are not in the same class and not comparable to the Overlander.

The Oregon is a 3", 240x400 pixel screen. Tiny compared to the 7" of the Overlander, which has >5 times the screen area of the Oregon 3 (4 in^2 vs 21 in^2).

Oregon can give you turn-by-turn. But it doesn't have voice prompts, tell you what lane to be in, give you a picture of the intersection, etc. Also, you have to buy the $60 map for turn-by-turn - doesn't do it out of the box.

The 750 adds a camera and 2GB of internal memory. Both useless features in my book (it has an SD card slot). The 750t adds a 100k topo basemap. You can get maps just as detailed for free.

The inReach Explorer+ has an even smaller screen, at 2.31" 265x200 pixels (2.6 in^2). It doesn't do turn-by-turn directions. The Explorer+ gives you basic mapping/tracking capabilities and ability to communicate by satellite - it is not an automotive style GPS or even a good hiking GPS.

 

[Whippersnapper02]

I've used a tablet with View Ranger and it's just meh. You have to download the detailed maps of the area before going and you are limited in how much you can download. The one trip I used it for was to Ocotillo. I just barely got the whole area in only to find out we were really going to Fish Creek Canyon which I did not download. The GPS was spotty even in open areas.

I guess I could just go Lowrance.

 

[jhguth]

I've used a tablet with View Ranger and it's just meh. You have to download the detailed maps of the area before going and you are limited in how much you can download. The one trip I used it for was to Ocotillo. I just barely got the whole area in only to find out we were really going to Fish Creek Canyon which I did not download. The GPS was spotty even in open areas.

I guess I could just go Lowrance.

just FYI the Garmin Overlander also requires downloading those maps in advance via wifi

how did you run out of space on your tablet, 256GB micro SD cards are like $50

 

[Whippersnapper02]

just FYI the Garmin Overlander also requires downloading those maps in advance via wifi

Thanks for the heads up. I just started looking into it but I agree that they are just looking to cash into the overderping crowd.

how did you run out of space on your tablet, 256GB micro SD cards are like $50

I believe it was the limitation of the app, not the tablet because I had a large capacity SD card in it.

 

[bring_it_on]

just FYI the Garmin Overlander also requires downloading those maps in advance via wifi

how did you run out of space on your tablet, 256GB micro SD cards are like $50

Are you sure that the Overlander requires 100% of the topographic map data to be downloaded and not just the extra features?

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

Funny timing. I just ordered the newly released Galaxy Tab A yesterday, for this exact purpose. 1900x1200 10 inch display, 3GB RAM and 64GB storage expandable to 512GB. It can run 2 apps side by side, so I am hoping to have Gaia (or Wayze) and Torque going at the same time. Not to mention I can bring all of the music, movies and game I (or the wife) could ever need. For $280 it seems like a good value, and when you consider the uses outside the 4Runner, the value goes up even more. I also like the idea of having all of the same apps on my phone as a backup in case of a failure. Coming up with a mounting solution will probably be the worst part. The Overlander seems like a cool concept, but for $700, I just can see the value when you consider all the other options available. I mean my Dobinsons 2" suspension was $810 lol.

 

[bring_it_on]

Coming up with a mounting solution will probably be the worst part..

My brother uses this for hi iPad and absolutely loves it. I'll be borrowing it for a trip later in June but this seems like a pretty good solution as long as it is stable enough. I don't like cluttering the dash or windscreen so this sounds really attractive to me..

RAM(R) Tab-Tite™ with RAM(R) Tough-Wedge™ Mount for 10" Tablets

 

[jhguth]

Are you sure that the Overlander requires 100% of the topographic map data to be downloaded and not just the extra features?

the offroad part of it is an app called garmin explore, this is what the owners manual says:

Downloading Garmin Explore™ Maps
Before you can download Garmin Explore maps, you must connect to a wireless network (Connecting to a Wireless Network).

From the Explore app, select > Maps > Download Maps.
A list of maps for your location appears.

Select Show More Map Types to view additional map types (optional).
Select a map type, and select .
If necessary, select Select Region or Select Waypoint to download maps for a different region or waypoint location.

 

[MossJenks]

I believe it was the limitation of the app, not the tablet because I had a large capacity SD card in it.

It had to have been - map data takes up hardly any space. I have all of Colorado and some of the surrounding states including trail info, etc. on my phone and between Google Maps and Backcountry Navigator I'm using only 3GB. edit: scratch that. I'm not sure now. My phone is doing something funny. I think it's more than that....at any rate, 256GB is huge for map data.

 

[Whippersnapper02]

It had to have been - map data takes up hardly any space. I have all of Colorado and some of the surrounding states including trail info, etc. on my phone and between Google Maps and Backcountry Navigator I'm using only 3GB. edit: scratch that. I'm not sure now. My phone is doing something funny. I think it's more than that....at any rate, 256GB is huge for map data.

I don't remember if I had paid for a week for whatever but they of course want to charge you a subscription fee.

 

[jhguth]

i'm still seeing this in my social media from various affiliates and it's annoying me that they'll probably trick people into buying such an overpriced product

 

[Diesel13]

Meh, I paid that much for my Garmin watch and it's worth it considering the other 4 less expensive ones I bought that were subpar.

Which tablet are y'all buying that's $400 that provides topo information, off grid boundries information, satellite messaging and pitch and roll information?

Crickets