RVTrip Wizard or Something Else?

[CV66]

We're looking for a RV trip planner that can be used on a computer/tablet or phone. Do any of you use the RVTrip Wizard that is advertised on this forum? If so, is it worth the $30+? I've used AllStays in the past and it seems to work well. Just looking for other options. If you've got one you really like to use, please fill me in! Thanks

[rjsurfer]

I have Rv Trip Wizard running on my Android tablet and find it does a good job of trip planning but its inability to transfer turn by turn directions to Google Maps on my phone makes it useless.

Ron W.

[fatcatzzz]

RV Trip Wizard is a lot of planner for $40 a year. Is it perfect No, but they are putting new features in all the time. As for the turn-by turn to your phone, I just retrace the route in Google Maps then send to my phone. Hopefully this will be added soon so it can be done directly from the app.
Your mileage may vary.

[SummitPond]

<clip> I just retrace the route in Google Maps then send to my phone. <clip>

Is there something "special" you need to do to get your modified turn-by-turn directions transferred to the phone? When I try it I get a message indicating (something like) only the original Google route is sent, not anything that is modified.

Thanks.

[GeekSquadOfUn]

I agree, for $39 a year, it ain't bad.

I have yet to try the transfer options- Maps and GPS.

It works in any browser (Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox, etc) making it somewhat universal.

A pet peeve of mine is that it does not support the Metric system. I travel across all of North America...

[Twisties]

What I do is add multiple stops on the phone to try to direct the route. However, there are two primary reasons I own a standalone GPS, and one is that it's pretty impossible to get a complex route onto the phone with accuracy. The other is that the phone needs a data signal to plan a new route or change a route.

So, not having traveled in an RV yet, what I've done for our motorcycle trips is plan the route on Google Maps. Recreate it in Garmin (Basecamp), and transfer it to the GPS.

What I expect to happen now that we are moving to the RV is to use an RV travel app such as this thread is about, then Basecamp, then GPS.

Some of these apps allow you to put in your vehicle height and weight, then warn you of restrictions on a route?

[GeekSquadOfUn]

What I do is add multiple stops on the phone to try to direct the route. However, there are two primary reasons I own a standalone GPS, and one is that it's pretty impossible to get a complex route onto the phone with accuracy. The other is that the phone needs a data signal to plan a new route or change a route.

So, not having traveled in an RV yet, what I've done for our motorcycle trips is plan the route on Google Maps. Recreate it in Garmin (Basecamp), and transfer it to the GPS.

What I expect to happen now that we are moving to the RV is to use an RV travel app such as this thread is about, then Basecamp, then GPS.

Some of these apps allow you to put in your vehicle height and weight, then warn you of restrictions on a route?
I also toured with my motorcycle for years.

Biggest difference now is that you have an active co-pilot (assuming you have a travel companion...) who has access to a bunch to tools while you're driving.... phone, traffic info, iPad, books, etc. On my bike, she'd just say: Are we there yet?

Trust me, it ain't the same at all and you will get to test the strength of your couple :D

The best GPS is the one you use and both trust. In my case, it's a new head unit in my truck, essentially a tablet/radio combo that runs GPS apps.

[flybouy]

I don't get why some folks are so apposed to using the tool that was made specifically for the task. I put the truck's info, the trailer's info into the GPS once and never again unless there's a change in vehicle.

I put the destination the destination in and done! It takes me there, routes me around low bridges, tunnels with LP restrictions, and traffic jams or warns me of traffic ahead. It warns me of traffic/speed cameras, upcoming tolls, state borders, and I can upload "points of interests" so I can easily find fuel, restaurants, roadside attractions, etc.

No phone signal required. No need to plan a route, then copy it to another platform or any other steps. Seems simple enough for my simple mind.

JMHO YMMV

[Twisties]

Which GPS, Marshall? I'll have to look, but I don't think ours has that capacity.

[flybouy]

It's a Garmin. I think it's the Garmin RV 770 LMT-S RV GPS. It's been very reliable and has yet to take me on a "bad route".

I also subscribe to http://www.poi-factory.com for $20/yr to get updated red light and speed camera alerts. The site has a great deal of poi's (points of interests) waypoints that you can upload into the GPS.

[sonofcy]

I have Rv Trip Wizard running on my Android tablet and find it does a good job of trip planning but its inability to transfer turn by turn directions to Google Maps on my phone makes it useless.

Ron W.

Just open the Trip in a browser and click the Wrench then Transfer to GPS

[sonofcy]

We're looking for a RV trip planner that can be used on a computer/tablet or phone. Do any of you use the RVTrip Wizard that is advertised on this forum? If so, is it worth the $30+? I've used AllStays in the past and it seems to work well. Just looking for other options. If you've got one you really like to use, please fill me in! Thanks
Perhaps I am learning something. I use AllStays to look up all kinds of info, but I have never seen a trip planner by them.

[sonofcy]

What I do is add multiple stops on the phone to try to direct the route. However, there are two primary reasons I own a standalone GPS, and one is that it's pretty impossible to get a complex route onto the phone with accuracy. The other is that the phone needs a data signal to plan a new route or change a route.

So, not having traveled in an RV yet, what I've done for our motorcycle trips is plan the route on Google Maps. Recreate it in Garmin (Basecamp), and transfer it to the GPS.

What I expect to happen now that we are moving to the RV is to use an RV travel app such as this thread is about, then Basecamp, then GPS.

Some of these apps allow you to put in your vehicle height and weight, then warn you of restrictions on a route?
RVTripWizard allows for all the RV metrics, driving habits and send to GPS plus Clubs, road types etc. I think you can try it for free.

[sonofcy]

I don't get why some folks are so apposed to using the tool that was made specifically for the task. I put the truck's info, the trailer's info into the GPS once and never again unless there's a change in vehicle.

I put the destination the destination in and done! It takes me there, routes me around low bridges, tunnels with LP restrictions, and traffic jams or warns me of traffic ahead. It warns me of traffic/speed cameras, upcoming tolls, state borders, and I can upload "points of interests" so I can easily find fuel, restaurants, roadside attractions, etc.

No phone signal required. No need to plan a route, then copy it to another platform or any other steps. Seems simple enough for my simple mind.

JMHO YMMV
Yep, that's what an RV specific GPS will do. Use mune all the time. BUT for planning I use RV Trip Wizard and at times other tools. Different tools for different problems.

[Janet H]

RVTripWizard allows for all the RV metrics, driving habits and send to GPS plus Clubs, road types etc. I think you can try it for free.

Trip Wizard Has a 30 day refund policy. If you try it and dislike it, ask for a refund. Trip Wizard is part of the RV Life family (same as this forum) and has come a long way in the past year. You should be able to sync trips to your smart phone - either to google maps or via the RVLife app. Instructions here: http://docs.rvtripwizard.com/home :flowers:

[RickReichert]

For pre-trip planning I use an old version of Microsoft Streets and Trips on my laptop. This is pretty good for deciding where to stop for the night. During the trip I use a basic Garmin. I rarely travel east of the Mississippi River, so don't have to worry too much about low bridges, or overpasses. Garmin has routed me down side streets to dead ends adjacent to where I wanted to go, but only a couple of times. Now if I'm in a town I double-check Garmin with Google Maps.

[sonofcy]

We're looking for a RV trip planner that can be used on a computer/tablet or phone. Do any of you use the RVTrip Wizard that is advertised on this forum? If so, is it worth the $30+? I've used AllStays in the past and it seems to work well. Just looking for other options. If you've got one you really like to use, please fill me in! Thanks
I am not aware that AllStays is a trip planner, I use it to look up different things, they have several apps for several things to research. I use RV Trip planner as well as several other planning tools, I would never rely on just one. The obvious other one is google maps. I hate Basecamp so struggle to use my Garmin RV GPS for other than the RV features. I will probably fire up a Windows virtual machine on my Mac in order to run the predecessor to Basecamp cuz it worked well.

[sonofcy]

For pre-trip planning I use an old version of Microsoft Streets and Trips on my laptop. This is pretty good for deciding where to stop for the night. During the trip I use a basic Garmin. I rarely travel east of the Mississippi River, so don't have to worry too much about low bridges, or overpasses. Garmin has routed me down side streets to dead ends adjacent to where I wanted to go, but only a couple of times. Now if I'm in a town I double-check Garmin with Google Maps.
I wish I kept my Microsoft Streets and Trips. They discontinued it and now that I can run a virtual machine on my Mac I could run an older version of Windows Microsoft Streets and Trips on it. This was the best trip planner of all time. NOTHING does what it did, I have tried dozens of so called competitors. RV Trip planner is the 2nd best I have found so far.

[dsttexas]

It truly is the best trip PLANNER available. I used MS Streets and Trips for years until they stopped updating it. And then used GoodSam's planner which was definitely better with all the campground info included. However, after looking into RV Trip Wizard I have been with it ever since. I can't remember all the reasons why as this was quite a while ago, but since then it has even gotten better. It's interface takes a little getting used to, but many videos and great user manual make it all worthwhile.

After getting all my fuel and overnight stops and any others planned out, I just enter the next stop coming up on my Android Maps, plug it into truck USB and let Google Maps take me there. Also played with Waze some too, pretty good. I always have my PC with me in RV, so if any major route changes are needed, just bring it up and do it.

[flrtrader]

I don't get why some folks are so apposed to using the tool that was made specifically for the task. I put the truck's info, the trailer's info into the GPS once and never again unless there's a change in vehicle.

I put the destination the destination in and done! It takes me there, routes me around low bridges, tunnels with LP restrictions, and traffic jams or warns me of traffic ahead. It warns me of traffic/speed cameras, upcoming tolls, state borders, and I can upload "points of interests" so I can easily find fuel, restaurants, roadside attractions, etc.

No phone signal required. No need to plan a route, then copy it to another platform or any other steps. Seems simple enough for my simple mind.

JMHO YMMV
What program are you speaking of?

[sonofcy]

I don't get why some folks are so apposed to using the tool that was made specifically for the task. I put the truck's info, the trailer's info into the GPS once and never again unless there's a change in vehicle.

I put the destination the destination in and done! It takes me there, routes me around low bridges, tunnels with LP restrictions, and traffic jams or warns me of traffic ahead. It warns me of traffic/speed cameras, upcoming tolls, state borders, and I can upload "points of interests" so I can easily find fuel, restaurants, roadside attractions, etc.

No phone signal required. No need to plan a route, then copy it to another platform or any other steps. Seems simple enough for my simple mind.

JMHO YMMV

I think the problem is we aren't all using the same word for each tool. When I speak of trip planning, what I mean is:
I enter the destination that will take me several days to get to.
The software then tells me where to stop based on the configuration parameters I set.
My Garmin RV GPS does not do that.
When the planner tells me where to stop I locate a place to stay and put that in the GPS when I leave. Sometimes I enter all the stops at the beginning of the trip and sometimes I enter the next day stop the night before.
I call that exercise trip planning.
Right now I am planning a one year trip using RV Trip Wizard and google maps. I use google maps for quick investigations and google earth to 'look' at boondock sites. The general location I am looking in is determined by RVT and the configuration parameters like only drive 4 hours per day.
Does that help to understand that we are talking a different kind of planning than simply a single point in the gps.

[efrulla]

Try My RV Notes (https:\\www.MyRVNotes.com) to record your trip information, site reservations and Points of Interest Information among other things. There is a whole equipment section to track equipment associated information as well.

[sonofcy]

Try My RV Notes (https:\\www.MyRVNotes.com) to record your trip information, site reservations and Points of Interest Information among other things. There is a whole equipment section to track equipment associated information as well.

That's a web page therefore requires an internet connection. Why not just use the built in Notes app

[efrulla]

Take a trip out to the site and take the orientation. There is an iOS app and an Android app that you can install on your mobile devices and then synch the data from the web to any mobile device. You can also mod the data on the mobile device and synch those changes back up to the Web site. Since the data is stored on a database on the mobile device you do not need WIFI or a cellular connection to read the data.

I find it is superior to the standard Note apps in that it reminds me to capture data points that I might forget

[sonofcy]

Take a trip out to the site and take the orientation. There is an iOS app and an Android app that you can install on your mobile devices and then synch the data from the web to any mobile device. You can also mod the data on the mobile device and synch those changes back up to the Web site. Since the data is stored on a database on the mobile device you do not need WIFI or a cellular connection to read the data.

I find it is superior to the standard Note apps in that it reminds me to capture data points that I might forget
I don't see what it does. The equipment and clubs is built into RVT. Since I can't do a free trial I don't know what the Trips and Orientation do, but they don't sound useful to me.

[efrulla]

If you click on the Orientation Option it will explain the entire System for you and walk you through the various Notes that you can take on both the Web site and the Mobile devices.

[johnlewis]

We have used RV Trip Wizard to plan all our trips. When they joined up with Campground Reviews, it made it easy to look at reviews of campgrounds in the area we planned to stop. The combination makes it easy to determine where we will stay, and make reservations.

[sonofcy]

If you click on the Orientation Option it will explain the entire System for you and walk you through the various Notes that you can take on both the Web site and the Mobile devices.

Ok, I see the idea. My problem is in determining the value of transferring all that information from the several places like RVT, emails and websites into this new app.

While there is certainly an advantage to having a central repository for this information, that has to be weighed against copying the data from the native sources (emails for reservations, or my KOA account, or my GoodSam account etc.
I don't track expenses.
Site and reservation data is handled thru emails and campsite websites. I use Vivaldi and the sessions feature to organize the websites.
I don't do all that much re POI, I either look for google info, brochures at the checkin, visitor centers, state line visitor centers etc.
For $20 I will probably buy it because even if I never use it it's not a big deal. I have wasted a lot more than that on software over the years.
Keep in mind I am a full timer and boondock most of the time so my POI's are out my front door.
I am a retired software guy so if you want a beta tester (I have tested several products) let me know.

[sonofcy]

I sent you a private message

[Hideout Queen]

I downloaded on my iPhone RV Life. We are leaving today for a camping trip today, and I'm on my 7 day free trial, so I will review it after arriving. This ap is important to us since the last time we went camping my GPS took us down this rough road and to a one way bridge that had a metal guard at the top of bridge and tore our air conditioning unit and other things off our camper. Fortunately my insurance paid all of the $12,000 minus $200 deductible. This ap asked all information about my 5 wheeler and added the height, weight and width. Hopefully it won't be sending us down any rough scary roads or height restrictivei bridges!

[sonofcy]

I downloaded on my iPhone RV Life. We are leaving today for a camping trip today, and I'm on my 7 day free trial, so I will review it after arriving. This ap is important to us since the last time we went camping my GPS took us down this rough road and to a one way bridge that had a metal guard at the top of bridge and tore our air conditioning unit and other things off our camper. Fortunately my insurance paid all of the $12,000 minus $200 deductible. This ap asked all information about my 5 wheeler and added the height, weight and width. Hopefully it won't be sending us down any rough scary roads or height restrictivei bridges!

There are special RV GPS units that allow you to enter RV height etc. They will route you correctly. Of course the most common reason for GPS screw ups is the selection of 'shortest distance' instead of 'fastest time'.

Also whenever I am going some place new and off the interstate, I consult the truckers atlas and at the campgrounds I use google earth. Then I walk from the road to the campsite to check for low branches and tight turns.

[flybouy]

What program are you speaking of?

My Garmin GPS.

[flrtrader]

My Garmin GPS.
My Garmin,

I had seen this (I Believe) on a couple of youtube full timer sites. It is specific for RV's as I recall.

Thanks for the reply

[flybouy]

My Garmin,

I had seen this (I Believe) on a couple of youtube full timer sites. It is specific for RV's as I recall.

Thanks for the reply

Correct. Load in all the truck and trailer specs. You can add poi's that interest you, it comes with a lot from the factory but you can add things like lighthouses, covered bridges, as well as red light cameras, speed cameras, etc.

You can set it up to alert for poi's within a set distance of your route. I'm sure I'm leaving a bunch of stuff out but if you go to the Garmin,Tom Tom, Rand McNally or whatever brand's web sites you can get the full descriptions. There are also GPS forums with reviews as well. Let Google help you find the plethora of ionformation that's out there.

[Twisties]

My 30RLS specs at 11.75' high. But I suppose that when it's attached to the truck it's higher. Maybe 6"? That height my vary over time as fuel and other loads vary. How do you measure your height, and how do you account for variations?

[flrtrader]

I measure loaded all holding tanks empty. Normal Basement items on board. In other words where in the highest position your rig might be into when going down the road.