It happened to me, as I am sure it has happened to many people, i took advice from my Sat Nav and found myself on an unamed single track road going into Stafford. I am a newb and did not consider this but it was an horrendous experince for several reasons. Main reason being i could only go forward and really driving into the unknown, secondly every corner brought intrepidation and you are wishing and praying that no vehicle comes from the opposite direction. Needless to say on our return journey it was a good old collins map that gave me all the A roads and motorway options. I will never use Sa Nav again. I am amazed that no one has developed a Sat Nav for caravanners, it would be a great seller as i would buy one.
I know my husband has this problem driving an artic HGV. If he is going to a new supplier he might take a route that on Sat Nav looks ok, then find it has a series of low bridges but he can't turn round! And if he happens to take a wrong turn and ends up on a minor road, I know he finds it very stressful. You have my sympathy :0)
------------- Kirsten :0)
May 14- The Plassey, North Wales
June 14- Lady Heyes, Frodsham
June 14- Plassey, North Wales
July 14 Tyn y Mur, Abersoch
Aug 14-Plassey North Wales
Aug 14- Loch Ken, Dumfries& Galloway
Nov 14- Plassey North Wales
Please forgive the intrusion, but am I right in thinking that neither sat navs (normal ones... no experience of truckers' or caravanners' ones!) nor road atlas' specifically show single track roads or low bridges and the like?
Not needing to tow, I have little experience of this, and can only imagine the stress if faced with the experience of the OP!
But aren't such obstacles always signposted, before you get into such a predicament? Be it low bridges, "unsuitable for large vehicles", "Single track road" etc?
I use satnav all the time solo, I don't know how I managed my job without it! However I always check the route on google maps and zoom to street level if unsure when towing.
Got a satnav but it spends most of its life in a drawer.only time it sees light of day is when my mate borrow it in the summer.
I like my trusty atlas and my seasoned nose for direction
------------- Who needs travel agents,we have our static
I bought the tomtom car and caravan satnav. Really good. You put your outfits size and weight before searching for the route. I still like to plan the route with a normal map as well though! Half the excitement of going away!!!
------------- Enjoy life while you can, none of us know what's round the corner!
Quote: Originally posted by millermicm on 05/5/2014
Sat Navs are an excellent tool and like all tools they rely on the user to use it correctly.
I would not be without my sat nav in an unknown location but I also would not be without a map and some pre-journey research to understand my route.
Sat navs should not be followed blindly even if specific to the size of vehicle.
Steve
That says it all. A Sat Nav really does need to be used in conjunction with a map. Routes on sat navs can be adjusted if you want to avoid certain roads.
Fortunately I don't tow any more but when I did I didn't have a satnav and used the AA road map. I later bought an old 'MyGuide' satnav off ebay for £25 and it never let me down once apart from telling me there were roundabouts where flyovers had been built etc; but that wasn't a problem as I just followed the road I was on until the satnav picked up again.
I now have a Nissan Micra with a built in satnav and it has already let me down several times. The worst being not picking up the signal when leaving a campsite and turning onto the main road, and it has often shown me driving across fields despite stopping and reloading the route etc. Nothing worse than being dumped in the middle of a rural area you don't know with no main route signs and a satnav that doesn't know where it is either
I always carry my trusty AA road map with me but that can sometimes be difficult to decipher if you don't know where you are in the first place.
Quote: Originally posted by andymarshall on 05/5/2014
It happened to me, as I am sure it has happened to many people, i took advice from my Sat Nav and found myself on an unamed single track road going into Stafford. I am a newb and did not consider this but it was an horrendous experince for several reasons. Main reason being i could only go forward and really driving into the unknown, secondly every corner brought intrepidation and you are wishing and praying that no vehicle comes from the opposite direction. Needless to say on our return journey it was a good old collins map that gave me all the A roads and motorway options. I will never use Sa Nav again. I am amazed that no one has developed a Sat Nav for caravanners, it would be a great seller as i would buy one.
TomTom do a camping and Caravan one and it is very good although a bit pricy. Always best to check the route first with a map or use Earth Google.
------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will bring you down to their level then beat you on experience.
Land Rover Freelander 2 & 2014 Lunar Quasar 554
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Forget Sat Nav
