01422 396 748 
quoteHelping you find your way on your caravan and motorhome holidays
This month we take a look at the various accessories you can use to help you get to your caravan or motorhome holiday destination. From sat navs to apps and good old fashioned maps, we look at them all!
Whether you tow a caravan or drive a motorhome, do consider getting a sat nav suitable for a leisure vehicle user. It means you can input data such as your vehicle’s dimensions, speed limits and more. Plus, it’s easy to get a unit that also has a campsites database, although it’s worth researching where such data is sourced from.
So, is it to be an app, a dedicated satnav or an atlas? Or a combination of any of them?
What is a sat nav?
Short for satellite navigation (technically, GPS – for Global Positioning System), it’s the use of global satellites to pinpoint your exact location, even when you move, that lends sat nav its name. Typically, a satnav is a unit you can plug into your vehicle – car, car and caravan, or motorhome – for detailed information on a selected route to a destination of your choice.
Not only are sat nav’s getting ever more sophisticated, they face massive rivals in terms of apps used in conjunction with your smartphone (or computer tablet).
But, all this started with what is now the humble road atlas. And, believe it or not, it’s something we still suggest you take with you on your travels. Why? Because if all else fails, the trusted printed map will salvage a situation. Think of it as your common-sense get-out clause.
Top tips
- It’s advisable not to put your proper address in any “home” setting, as it gives away where you live, should a sat nav unit and/or device be stolen, along with your vehicle.
- Consider screen size. A 7inch screen doesn’t look out of place in a motorhome cab, but might seem too big in a car. If you’re using a mobile phone, you might find the screen too small.
- Towing with a sat nav? Make sure you put in the overall length of your outfit (i.e. towing vehicle and caravan combined). Typically, apps make no provision to put in motorhome or car/caravan info. Technology moves fast, though, so don’t be surprised if something comes along.
Take care and know the law
Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart reckons programming a sat nav is the deadliest behind-the-wheel distraction for drivers. It carried out tests with car magazine Auto Express, finding entering a postcode into a sat nav app the worst offender when it came to driving distractions, followed by sending a text message. Other tasks carried out included eating, drinking, and making a phone call, with talking to a passenger coming out as the least distractive action.
You can use hands-free or voice command phones and sat-navs when driving, but you can’t pick up the device and you must be in full control of your motorhome or tow car. If you’re involved in an accident or the police think you’re not in control of your vehicle then you could be prosecuted for this or even careless, or dangerous driving.
If you’re using your phone as a sat nav then it must be mounted in a hands-free holder. It’s illegal to hold your phone and use it as a map for directions.
Google Maps
Got a smartphone or tablet? You’ll find the Google Maps app is already on there just waiting to be used. You can also access Google Maps via the internet with any device. And you can download routes that you use regularly – saving on data usage.
Best of all, it’s free (well, covered by the cost of your device and any contract), although you’ll need to invest in a suitable dashboard-mounted holder so that you can safely see any screen and use it legally.
Experts claims the app will use about 5mb of data per hour of driving (that’s 0.005gb), so it won’t eat all your mobile allowance. You can even download a destination area over WIFI so you can then use the app without using any data while travelling.
So, why bother with a sat nav or an atlas? Screen size is dictated by your device (pretty small, if you’re relying on your phone). And traffic warnings still tend to be more up-to-date via a conventional sat nav. You probably won’t get as good sound quality, either. Plus, apps like this tend to use a lot of battery power.
Alternatives include Apple Maps, HERE WeGo, ViaMichelin and Waze.
Key features Automatic updates, available for iOS and Android devices, needs constant mobile data connection
Expect to pay Nothing
AA Big Road Atlas Britain
This atlas comes in A3 format, with a choice of two bindings – softback or spiral-bound.
The 2019 edition – the 28th – was announced on July 1, 2018. As with recent editions, it includes symbols for campsites. Also, there are indicators for roads less than 4m wide.
Also detailed are National Trust, World Heritage and English Heritage sites.
Dimensions are 295mm x 388m x 7mm and it weighs 830g.
AA Publishing says it’s the UK’s largest travel publisher.
Downsides? You can’t (shouldn’t) drive and read a map…
Positives? It won’t run out of power or lose connection…
Key features 160 pages, environmentally sustainable paper, 67 city/town and port plans
Expect to pay from £4.99
TomTom Go Camper
From one of the big players in the sat nav market, TomTom announced its caravan and motorhome specific model, Go Camper, this May (2018). It uses wi-fi, so maps and points of interest – as well as software – are updated seamlessly.
It will also read out messages left on your smartphone, as well as offering hands-free calling, and integrates with TomTom’s own Road Trips, Siri and Google Now.
All kinds of campsites are also stored, courtesy of German and Dutch touring organisations respectively, ADAC and ANWB. The device lets you enter the dimensions of your motorhome or car/caravan outfit so you can enjoy a stress free journey.
Key features Car charger, USB cable, updates via wi-fi, magnetic mount and adhesive disk, lifetime world maps, camping and caravanning POIs (points of information), built-in SIM for TomTom information.
Screen size 6in
Expect to pay £379.99
Ventura SC5900DVR
Specially designed for motorhome and caravan use, not only does this provide full sat nav facilities, but also continuous loop video recording of your journey. It offers a choice of routes (depending on economy and/or any particular feature you want to avoid, such as tolls), also listing campsites from ACSI (leading European campsites specialist), BordAtlas, Camperstop and The Camping and Caravanning Club among a total of over two million POIs. It does allow you to enter your motorhome or towcar and caravan outfit dimensions.
It has a 5in widescreen LCD display, which switches to a more focused display when you are approaching tricky junctions. It will also navigate you around LEZs (Low Emissions Zones).
Bluetooth means you can hook-up to your phone, too, to take calls while driving. Plus, there’s a video input, so you can connect to a rear-view camera.
Key features Free lifetime European map updates (although a drawback is that you will need to connect to your computer to run the updates unlike the TomTom and Garmin which update over Wi-Fi), Bluetooth hands-free, touch screen, junction view and lane guidance displays.
Screen size 5inch
Expect to pay £279.99
Garmin Camper 770LMT-D
A big 7inch screen and extensive specification are the key attractions for this flagship caravan/motorhome sat nav. You can enter your motorhome or caravan and towcar dimensions to make sure it plans a suitable route. Built-in wi-fi enables instant updating, with features ranging from Active Lane Guidance (for trickier junctions) to a Smartphone Link App whose Live Track feature allows vehicles in convoy to share the same route, to live parking information.
There’s also Bluetooth connectivity, for hands-free phone use, voice-activated navigation and smartphone notifications.
Campsite data is from ACSI, NKC (Netherlands auto-camping club) and MotorhomeFacts, with European mapping across some 45 countries.
Key features Wi-fi, free lifetime map updates, DAB live traffic information, reversing camera compatibility.
Screen size 7inch
Expect to pay £359.99
Over to you…
Got any advice on sat navs, apps or maps you’d like to recommend to other caravan or motorhome owners? Please feel free to add a comment below.
I’ve got the Garmin 660 LMT-D. Quite frankly it’s awful.
It’s been close many a time being thrown out the window.
Wish Google would update Maps I’d be happy then.
I use CoPilot for Caravan (it’s version is known as Car, Truck and Caravan), and it has never took me down any silly roads. I have full confidence in it when we travel with the caravan anywhere, knowing it will not take me down an unsuitable road. I have used it for years. I think it’s about £25. The only extra payment is if you want traffic updates, which you have to buy each year for about £7. I don’t bother with this unless it comes up on special offer sometimes. You can select car for when you are normally driving and change it to caravan for when you are towing.
I use CoPilot’s app on my Samsung tablet 10.1. Perfect and only one of payment of £49.99. And comes with traffic updates.
I got the Aguri RV 720 Deluxe with in built dash cam all updates through WiFi and over 30000 campsites built in. You can input vehicles size and weight plus LEZ nice bit of kit.
Thanks for sharing Patrick
I agree with you Norman. I recently bought a 7 inch trucker’s satnav for £60. It’s a fabulous kit and has better reviews than the overpriced tomtom and garmin products.
Oh Satnavs. I have had a portable TomTom Satnav since they were first introduced, both reached the end of their working lives according to TomTom because their memories were insufficient to have their maps updated. I have a built in Satnav in my four year old car and one in my five year old Motorhome. None of them route the same way they all have their quirks. The one in the car and it’s not a large car only wants to use motorway and A roads & some B roads except where it’s forced, this would be great in the motorhome but not in the car. The onboard Motorhome Satnav which is designed for the motorhomes size would be great except that once it’s route is accepted it won’t let you deviate from it en route in other words once you leave its allocated route you are on your own until you come back on to it, it can drive you mad if you meet a diversion or want to take part of the route differently, it won’t re route. Neither the car’s nor the motorhome has a way marker facility useful if you want call in somewhere on the way. Now to my current (reached the end of its life) TomTom, it does or it did all that I could ask of it except it’s not really suitable for the motorhome great for the car. When I use the TomTom for the Motorhome we have to consult a Truckers Map against its route due to the motorhomes height, width and weight, oh and I didn’t mention, having accepted its route as ok it has a habit of altering its route en route so much for AI (artificial intelegence) you constantly have to have your wits about you when in strange parts. I don’t have any experience of the latest for motorhome Satnavs except to say that my next door neighbour who is an HGV Articulated Truck driver lent me his trucks Satnav to try, it is great for a truck it tells you everything about the road route selected but literally takes you around the house so to speak resulting in much longer rather than a realistic route, still he doesn’t pay for his diesel. It bothers me also that the latest Satnavs with all their traffic AI’s may re route as and when it feels the need great maybe for cars a nightmare for the larger motorhome . I do look forward to other Satnav users comments. BC, E&OE.
Even with size dimensions of your Motorhome don’t trust any sat nav . Be careful we have been nearly been caught out several times .Even the garmin camper that has caravan -Motorhome sites logged in . It still tries to take you done too small a roads . Some of these roads have been sign posted 6ft 6 and have been for years . Common sense needed
spot on.
When are Google going to have the facility to enter unit dimensions into the filters?
My previous (Snooper) satnav was motorhome specific, but having put in the dimensions of my small van conversion it used to take me miles out of the way to avoid minor roads, as though I was driving an articulated lorry.. My current TomTom unit is only designed for cars, but tries to take me down tracks that I wouldn’t even attempt with a bicycle. There must be a sensible option out there’s somewhere, but I haven’t found it yet, and it’s an expensive way to keep trying.
I have used TomTom since it was just software on a PDA. Then dedicated units which had the facility to write your own itiniary which was useful to follow a recommended scenic route. Then they eliminated itiniary planning so I stopped using TomTom and changed to a Garmin which still offers the opportunity to plan your own route. I have always used the facility in conjunction with a paper map, it eliminates all the diversions through a housing estate in order to cut the corner on a main road route.
No mention of Aguri sat navs. Based on an android tablet with a dash cam built in. Excellent map coverage and free updates. Also lots of campsites and other points of interest.
Recent trip through Baltic states to Russia worked really well.
Also excellent support from English based support.
I use an old phone (with no sim) with Nokia’s excellent Here We Go app, I’ve downloaded almost all the world’s maps over wifi and they haven’t filled my 16gb memory. It’s totally free, gives you turn by turn directions etc. I’ve used it all over the world, New Zealand, Hawaii, Europe, UK. It’s quite basic so no way to add vehicle dimensions, no traffic alerts but it works well for £0.
From many years experience I personally recommend the “TomTom Truck” GPS for use with a motorhome. You can change from car, to van and to truck easily. I select “truck” with the pre-selected dimensions of my motorhome and the unit avoids low bridges, narrow lanes, etc.
We have been to France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal on different occasions with an ordinary Garmin Sat Nav with European Maps and haven’t had any problems, and at the time when I bought it I paid about £120, it is regularly updated never had any problem at all finding site etc with post codes in any of the countries. Why spend a lot of money on something that is no better really.
I do not use a smart phone, so which of the Satnavs under review do not need a smart phone connection for free continuous updates ?
Hi Bill, as far as we’re aware you can download updates via your home computer.
Don’t bother with Tomtom I am on my second. The first one gave ten second warnings and then would just turn itself off at crucial moments. I now have a via 53 which is supposed to virtually everything the gocamper does including vehicle size programming. Unfortunately it refuses to believe it has reached its destination and two days after I get home it is still refusing to let my phone receive notifications!
Always keep a map handy as the satnav can take you on roads that will take a crazy out of the way route even though there is a good strait road directly to your destination.
Several times got me lost,so do not depend on it.
We use Mapfactor’s Navigator on our mobile and choose Truck for our vehicle description ( we have a motorhome) The default length is 12 metres so works for caravans too. You can subscribe to Tom Tom maps (cheaply) or use the free version. Works very well avoiding narrow roads. Lots of options in set up.
How does the Aguri sat nav compare
Sorry Kim, we didn’t look at the Aguri sat nav. You can find more information here: https://aguriworld.co.uk/index.php/motorhome-caravan.html
What did we do before sat Navs ,? Used our eyes ,looked up the route we were going and read the sign on the road as they came up in front of you ,try turning the radio off and drive as you was told to when learning ,keep your eye on the road watch the car in front and focus you have a powerful machine under your control it does what you say ,so fix your eyes on the road not on a sat nav and you will see tomorrow’s dawn
I agree. My Garmin cost me £119 several years ago and is complete with Western Europe and 4 updates per year for free. What more do I really need?
eye watering exspensive so will give them a miss rip off
We bought the garmin camper but it has seriuosly let us down several times. Including telling us to go through a 2.6 m tunnel even thou we have put 3m height into the satnav. We just noticed at the last minute and swerved into another lane. We now dont trust it. We feel we have wasted our money. Not happy!
I agree 100% with Norman, but it would help if caravan sites were better signed. So many times the site signs are a couple of hundred yards from the gate and not from the nearest main road. The cost is on power with motorcycle Sat Nav’s not cheap but little different to normal car device.
Cannot understand why Motorhome satnav are so hideously expensive compared to others. Is it because they are meant for the luxury market? What do HGV drivers use?
I personally am content with any satnav that has Western Europe in its memory, all you need in addition is good eyesight and a bit of common sense.