When I was a kid riding in the backseat of my parents’ car on some back road in Montana, we passed an RV stuck under a low railroad bridge underpass. Part of the over-cab portion of the RV was crumpled but the rest was well wedged in there. The family stood nearby, the patriarch scratching his head in bewilderment. Because of that one instance so long ago, I find myself very conscious of bridge and tunnel heights, which aren’t all clearly marked, especially along the two-lane roads in the sticks.
Throw away your maps and save data usage on your smartphone searching for directions, points of interest, or local gas stations. The RoadMate offers a suite of amenities all at the touch of a button. The OneTouch™ Favorites Menu allows you to search the AAA Tour Guide, an exclusive RV dump location database, and the Good Sam Campground Directory. In addition, you can type in a location to pull up directions (including simple coordinates) to rest stops, food, or lodging located near upcoming highway exits.
The 7-inch diagonal touch screen is bright during the day and has an automatic dark-screen night mode. The unit powers up quickly and acquires the signals of a bevy of satellites in seconds. The main screen displays a map of your surroundings in either two- or three-dimensions. In the lower left, press the mph display to briefly roll up the time, direction of travel, and elevation. Above that is a traffic triangle. Push it and it announces any accidents within a 15-mile radius via real-time traffic alerts (no fee) and traffic-camera alerts, which warn you about red light and speed cameras (by PhantomALERT). On the right is a Bluetooth button to convert the RoadMate into a hands-free phone accessory.
From there, choose a OneTouch function for pre-saved destinations, routes, or amenities like nearby fuel stations. Or hit the Menu button to find a host of options, including restaurants, mechanics, coffee shops, emergency services, campgrounds, malls, airports, home-improvement stores, and nightclubs, all organized to show the closest first.
Based on your vehicle type, dimensions, and driving preferences, you can program the RoadMate to avoid low and narrow bridges and guide you around unimproved roads and roads not recommended for your size rig. The RoadMate provides realistic-looking images of freeway signs and arrows to guide you into the proper lane, making towing a long trailer or driving a big Class A safer and less stressful. The guidance system gives directions using landmarks as well as distances and nearby streets. For example, “In 300 feet, turn right at the Burger King,” giving the navigation a more boots-on-the-ground feel. Receive customizable alerts that audibly warn you if you exceed the speed limit along your route (which we turned off, as it seems we exceed the speed limit all too often). That’s a world of improvement over that placemat map you got from the Waffle House in Alabama in 1978, right?
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