I'd like to get a dedicated GPS in my truck. Not too big and something I could mount/wire permanently. Id love to avoid drilling holes in my dash. It's in really nice shape. Suggestions?

 

Insane Audio - Features

I'd put it in mine, but my $8 iPhone app does all the topo stuff i need, with military precision.

(iHikeGPS - USA Topo Maps on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch)

 

yup, go mobile. pick up a used android tablet and toss it in somewhere.

 

Too big. Looking to have it mounted and not look like I'm watching TV. My S5 has awesome GPS. I just don't want to deal w cords and taking it in and out. I want a dedicated permanent mounted small unit.

Plus a tablet etc I'd have to have a data plan to it. I'd rather just have a dedicated GPS

 

What's your intended use? Directions? Route planning/travelling? Backcountry use?
-For turn by turn street and highway use I still use my Garmin Nuvi with lifetime maps most of the time.
Pros: Its small, requires no internet/cell connection, can find POI on my route not ONLY in my immediate area(if I search for a Wendy's I don't need to know if there's one 10 miles behind me; the Garmin will show what's ahead of me)
Cons: Touch screen is clunky and not sensitive, takes forever to do a POI search by name, difficult to browse the map, hit or miss on addresses.

-Around town or in my basic home area I'll often use my Android phone with a suction cup holder.
Pros: Small, easy to search for a business name or partial name with Google, satellite view.
Cons: Requires cell/internet coverage, hard to play on FaceBook while driving(not that I would do that anyway )

-For route navigating or backcountry use I use a Samsung Tab3 8"(Wi-Fi only) in a RAM suction cup mount. The mount is VERY stable. I run the AlpineQuest app. You can cache maps for offline use and its very easy to upload GPX tracks and create your own route. I did a good run with this set up last month. I ran 300 miles of the Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail. Download the GPX track and follow the line. The built in GPS in the tablet worked great.
Last May I ran a good portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Something cool is you can get an app called PDF MAPS by Avenza. It will open and display any pdf map. The cool part is if the pdf map is geocoded the app will display your location and heading on the pdf map. I was able use the NPS map that had all the mile markings and POI's on it with the app and know exactly where I was and what was ahead.

 

that latter bitis what the iHike does, only it allows tracking on the downloaded maps, irregardless of signal (GPS chip is on all the time). Marking waypoints, saving routes, exporting to earth... Until I find a din and a half head unit that is Apple native enough I can run that app ( PIoneer App Radio, doesn't, I tried).. I'll just run my Excelon H.U. and the iPhone for topo and juke box dutiies. Retired it from Camera duty, and now carry a stand alone camera,.

 

After researching more I'm still no closer to getting one. The phone/tablet idea is good but requires data plan. 20-30 a month extra. No good.

I wanted to use it for a few functions. Speedo. Compass. Route/street directory and hoping off road /topography would be in there if I paid enough for a good unit. Grrr

 

My tablet is WiFi only. I cache maps for offline use. Works great.

 

I have a Magellan Roadmate that I bought reman for like $80 that has a video input. I have it hooked to my back-up camera. I mounted it to the windshield in the center of the dash and ran the wires up through the vent over the head unit. I moved the wires for the factory cigarette lighter to a socket behind the dash and plugged it into that so it shuts off when I turn off the truck. I replaced the cigarette lighter with one that is always powered while I was at it.

 

I have a mounted compass ( and handheld ) and a map on the seat. Been doing that for years, until I bought the LR4, which has on board street GPS. Still have compass (handheld ) and maps and phone while in line with tower or satellite.