I was wanting to know how many people use a GPS when atving? What kind, likes and dislikes? I am getting one very soon and I have read alot about them and I just wanted to hear from people who use them. I am leaning towards the Garmin GPS III+. Is there a better choice for just atving use?

Thanks for any input,

Steve

 

I'm afraid I'm not much help. After 1 1/2 years I still havent figured out how to use my GPS.

Chris

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Altho I'm not familiar with the Garmin model you mention, I do have a Garmin GPS12 which I use on my Warrior in a tank mount & also on my KQ in a bar mount. I find it most helpful when riding in unfamiliar territory of course, but with it's ability to record max spd. avg spd, distance traveled from the start, travel time back to start, etc.,it is a useful tool any time. Altho my model is more or less a basic model, it has more bells & whistles than I'll ever use since I'm not a pilot or a boater.
I also have a Magellan GPS, but I find that the Garmin to be much faster in acquiring a fix, usually under 5 minutes, depending on surroundings. It is also more compact than the Magellan & tech support is available via e-mail.
If you decide to get a GPS, regardless of make or model, you may want to save my e-mail address for info on an inherant tendency of them to shut off under agressive riding , skiing , etc



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THE AZ HARD PACKER, calmiller@kachina.net

save the public land FOR you, not FROM you..join the Blue Ribbon Coalition online @ www.sharetrails.org

 

I use my Garmin 111 on a handle bar mount, it works great, I also use in on my boat and in my car.

 

I have an old Magellean Trailblazer that I keep in my quad. I've had it for years. It's been a lot of fun (and sometimes necessary lol) to use.
The problem is it's hard to get a fix in hilly, or wooded territory.
I'm curious to know how much better the new generation GPS's are at aquiring satellites than the older models.

Brian Brenner 425 Xpedition

 

I've been using a Garmin GPS 12 for a couple years now and definitely recommend it. Compact, more features than the average guy can comprehend, and at $150 it's worth every penny. It may seem confusing to use at first.
The key is to play with it. Read the manual. (but not too in depth, it's loaded with info)
Just "peruse" it. When ATVing, hunting, or ice fishing I put it in a zip-lock bag. keep in mind that when shopping for one, the more satellites it can connect with, the more acurate it will be.

[This message has been edited by scavanau (edited 10-27-1999).]

 

I have the Garmin III+ it is great, the internal map is a nice feature when you become disoriented. I have a case that hooks on to my belt because I have heard horror stories about mounting them to handlebars and breaking them. It was a life saver up in the Copper Harbor area of Michigan this summer. We took off and didn't care about where we were going. The trails up there are so numerous it doesn't take long to get lost (we did). In an hour we were back at the campsite with the help of the gps.

Flipper
98 Grizzly

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hot_shoe_cv, The mounts you have on both of your quads, are they home made or did you but them? I have a tank bag on my wolverine and keep my Garmin GPS 12 in the bag. I hate stopping and taking it out of the bag everytime I want to see it, and I cringh and the thought of paying $60.00 for a flimsy plastic unit. I read some where here in the fourm's an guy had an idea of useing a wide strip of HD velcro and putting it the gas tank to where he could just look down at the unit. Any Idea's?...Herbert C...AZ rocks!

http://www.angelfire.com/in2/quadzilla (under constuction)


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Herbert~~99Wolverine & 89LT520

 

I think many GPS receivers are adequate for ATVing.

My personal experience: My Garming GPSII+ appears throughly adequate for my ATV missions; however, using the factory handlebar mount, I knocked the display cuckoo from the G-loads experienced there!

The symptom: lines across the face of the display with no data (fragmentary data appears elswhere on the screen).

The factory-trained service technicians at Garmin will have an opportunity to diagnose and repair this unit; I'll be reluctant to hard-mount it to the bars again. Actually, I find a bar mount of little advantage, since I cannot read conveniently the screen while under way anyway.

The GPS 12 has many GPSII+ features at a lower price.

Tree Farmer

 

I have a Magellan Blazer that I take riding. I think I paid $130 for it. Works great, has more features than I ever use. I bought it as cheap life insurance. Getting lost at Glamis in 100 degree heat doesn't sound fun to me.
Brandon

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