Up to now I really haven’t needed a GPS for my truck but found that I need one and am going to borrow one from a friend for the trip. After playing around with it before I leave, found that I wouldn’t mind having one. Any suggestions as to brand/model? The one I am using is a Garmin but have also seen Tom Tom’s. Thanks.
I have a Garmin and really like it. Haven’t used any other portable units though, so my opinion is one sided.
Jami
I have a Garmin Nuvi 403w and it works great. I would spend the extra money a by the wide screen 4.3 inch. If you can wait I am sure you will see them for under $100 on the Black Friday sales. If you plan to use it off road you may want to look at the Lowrance unit but I don’t think that comes in wide screen? Good luck, it’s one of those things you can live without but once you have it you can’t live without it!
I have a Garmin Nuvi255W. I believe Jolly Ann has some great deals on these things. The screen on mine isn’t huge, but I rarely look at it… I just listen to it 
When we were heading to Lynn Lake ,MB a couple of weeks ago, north of Winnipeg, it says “Turn left…drive 348 miles…..” 
big G 
The garmin 255w, it speaks street names and show what side of the street your address is on. $149 at best buy I got mine for 4 months ago.
You can also get a Lakemaster chip for Garmin GPS’s.
I have a Navigon and love it. I’ve used some of the smaller Garmin NUVI’s and while they acquire signal very fast I didn’t care for the map, speed of spoken directions, or the voice. I had my Navigon for awhile prior to using the Garmins if that makes a difference. Any of them ought to get you where your going without a lot of fuss. Hardest thing is actually listening to them when your instincts are telling you something different.
I have had a Lowrance XOG for a year now. It uses a Lakemaster chip, and it is WATERPROOF. Also it can take you off road and it still shows you where you are to the degree. Its a great street navigator as well. Says street names, allows you to plot trails and waypoints and is sweet for looking locations up. 
My question is, “Who do you listen to? The GPS or the wife?”
Having owned a Garmin Nuvi250W for 2-years now, I would suggest checking out a few models/brands.
I haven’t checked any out for a while, but if they have an option to add new roads to the map, would be very useful.
If you can find a unit to run in both truck and boat, might be most cost effective.
For me, a new section of freeway (T.H. 212) opened through my city (Chaska) in the last 2-years. Most convenient and effcient route to get into Mpls/St.Paul yet everytime I drive it I mute the nuvi as it keeps telling me all the local streets not knowing about this freeway and repeating recalculating.
New basemaps cost almost what the unit did.
Does a great job and easy to set and find points. Accurate for estimated drive time. 
Tom Toms are junk imho…
I have used Garmins and Tom Tom’s and for what I do and where I go for work and pleasure they both work just fine. I currently have a mid-range Tom Tom and with updates it works just fine. I don’t use mine as much as I should or could but I am still stuck in the paper map era and written directions.
Quote:
My question is, “Who do you listen to? The GPS or the wife?”
I love that!
Wayne! My FW reads this!
Here’s what I did.
Phone ringing noise….
WADE:Hello?
Brian:Wade?
WADE:Well BrianK, how are you?
Brian:Good, but I’m in a hurry Wade…what’s a good GPS for my Ford? Best value ect?
WADE:I think Garmin has a special on one…and I think it’s the 250w. (he told me the sale price, but I recall the it)
Brian:Send it out Sir!
WADE:Will do, but hey, if your trying to get a hold of me best off using my email. You were just lucky I had my phone with me and could answer it today.
Brian:Sure thing Wade, I’ll pay for it using your PayPal system on your site.
WADE:Gotta run BK.
Brian:Say Hi to the fishermen in the family for me! Almost forgot! Don’t park in front of my camper when you come up to Everts this fall!
WADE:Loud Click
Two days later the Garmin was in my truck without any taxes or shipping. Wade’s Cool.
AND with the volume turned up, I can hardly hear the FW. 
just a clarification, it’s Wade with Jolly Ann not me…lol 
Bought a Garmin for my wife who is very challenged when it comes to directions. Best $$ ever spent. The only problem was my son (then 4) couldn’t understand why it was a lady talking and giving us directions. From what I understand the lower end model I bought I cannot change the voice. Next time I spend a few more $$ so he can have the robot voice.
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