I know, we've talked about these before, but they do evolve. What are we using? I'm going to test Copilot set as for a camper van as there isn't a caravan option. I'm really fed up with tom tom and Google maps is risky without Internet access.

Is this the one you mean? CoPilot.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

No it's the ordinary free Copilot, just putting the vehicle as a camper van.

I think that navigating is part science, part art. To that end I use a combination of Tomtom, an AA Road Atlas, Google Earth (the satellite aerial view) and the site access details in the Caravan and Motorhome Club Site directory handbook. That handbook gives vital directions to sites, particular
Y tricky entry ones. I plan the route before I go because obviously using that lot on the move is dangerously impossible. If there’s likely to be ‘ananmolies’ en route I write (in note form) with a felt tip on a bit of paper taped to the dash, like I’d navigate pre satnav days. A note on Tomtom. I rather feel these devices are like different models of laptops. They take a while to figure out and get used to what the display is telling you. As with all technology own it, learn it, love it. Good luck.

Deeps, have you tried the caravan specific one? The ordinary one is pants to say the least. We have great roads in Brittany as well as some tiny ones and even after telling it that I was a campervan , only wanted main roads etc, it went out of its way to divert me from dual carriageways and send me down rural d roads sigh. Back to Google maps.

No, can't say that I have and only stumbled across it whilst investigating your post.

Me - I'm a Garmin fan lol. Type in address at which time 3 routes are thrown up and after investigation choose one. That of course is the method used when not planning ahead which for the best part, especially when towing, is usually the case. Using Garmin Basecamp software I put in points A and B (more if touring) and let the software plan the route. If there is something I don't particularly like about the automatic route (seldom happens) I adjust the route to my liking before sending it to the GPS device as a gpx file and call up that when setting off.

I mentioned the software seldom getting it wrong and that is as a result of setting up both the Basecamp software as well as the GPS device so that they are optimized for caravan towing. And yes, when in the planning stages I always refer/check to paper maps and Google Earth (especially street view) for confirmation.

Edit - I note that you are using Tom Tom and that reminded me of something. Whilst respecting that each makes his/her own choice etc I recall walking around a UK carpark in the days that I was considering purchasing a Mazda car when the owner of just such a vehicle returned to his car. Upon questioning him as to his satisfaction with the car his reply was 'absolutely great, but if I could tear out the darn inbuilt TomTom navigator then he would.

Using Garmin Basecamp software I put in points A and B (more if touring) and let the software plan the route. If there is something I don't particularly like about the automatic route (seldom happens) I adjust the route to my liking before sending it to the GPS device as a gpx file and call up that when setting off.
That sounds great ! I did not know that was possible, not being too 'techie. I need to get a handle on how this is accomplished. I too use a Garmin and whilst I have pretty much always 'arrived there' it has not been without some scary side roads with grass growing in the centre... thanks Garmin

Here's a useful video on the basics of planning a route in Basecamp, how to modify it if the software chosen option isn't too your liking and finally sending it to your Garmin device. The beauty of this method is that you have full control over the route that you want to travel and can see it before actually starting off.

Tip 1: the more Waypoints (A,B,C's etc) that you place into the route the more options you have for altering it. In Bascamp user terms this is referred to as 'rubber banding'.

Tip 2: Most of the time all the Waypoints that you set will be announced on the journey. From time to time these announcements are not really necessary because you've only placed the Waypoints in order to shape the route. So, once the route has been created and named (shown in the left pane) double-click on it and another window will open displaying the list of points in running order. If you don't want any particular one to announce then right-click on it and from the options choose 'don't announce'. Sounds complicated but if you experiment by creating a very simple route as in the video and follow these tips as well everything will fall into place.

Tip 3: Often overlooked is the GPS ability to also plan a route. Most users simply choose the enter an address option from the Home Screen followed by Go. With this method you are really in the lap of the God's so in most cases, especially when towing, it's best left alone. Instead choose the built-in Garmin App - Route Planning - available from the Apps menu. This allows you to enter all the address of a route (stops) and place them in running order. This method might come in handy if after arrival at a campsite (with the availability of Basecamp) you want to do a day trip visiting several places. So if you plan the route say the evening before it's simply a case of choosing the saved route in the GPS, selecting the first place you want to visit and then Go. You can of course select the last place and the GPS will route you through the other places as well but they won't announce and perhaps you'll pass them by without realising lol. One advantage of doing it this way is that depending upon what model of GPS you have (I own a DriveSmart 61), before setting off the GPS will throw up 3 alternative routes and invite you to choose the one you want.

Tip 4: Most important is to set up identical profiles in both Basecamp and the GPS as it doesn't really help if you plan one route in Basecamp and then sent it to the GPS that has different profiles set. In Basecamp choose File > Options and by pressing the green plus button add a new profile; in this case obviously 'caravanning'. Follow this by entering requested details e.g. speed limits for types of roads and avoidance's e.g U-turns. Ensure the GPS is set up the same way.

What a lot of users don't realise is that the GPS mapping software is programmed with the speed allowances/restrictions of the mapped roads. When this is looked at in simple terms, if you set up the GPS to always choose 'Fastest Route' which is usually the default setting the GPS will select an appropriate route by calculating the shortest time between the options available based on road speed limits. Of course the GPS can't take into consideration such things as heavy traffic or red stop lights as it considers all lights to be green i.e. only speed limits are taken into consideration. What this means of course is that if you are going from A to B and from a mapping point of view there are a number of different routes available in getting you to point B then the quickest route in terms of time will be chosen by the GPS which is obviously based on road speed limits. The consequence is that the GPS might just route you down a narrow country lane in order to what you might consider be chopping off the corner. The mapping programme will indicate this country lane as having a speed limit of say 60mph but without taking into consideration that realistically this speed isn't maintainable over the entire length. This might be a nuisance when driving a car but totally unpractical when towing a caravan behind.

Here's a little game for you to play when trapped inside the van one night because it's raining lol which pretty much highlights the quandary that the GPS has although unlike you, the device can't think.

You are person A sitting quietly on the beach in your deckchair when you hear a cry of help from a drowning person B out in the sea. As the sketch shows you (Person A) are 50m from the shore line whilst Person B is the same distance - 50m - out in the sea. You can run at a maximum and constant speed of 10mph and can swim at a maximum and constant speed of 2mph (i.e. no consideration is giving for time getting up to speed etc).
The question is (please show by illustration) the route you would take to get to Person B in the quickest possible time in order to render help before he/she drowns.

Maths question.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

With Google maps you enter stops and you can move them in order of choice. So you can avoid certain routes and go via others. It works very well but I'm always, worried that I'll lose the route and not get an Internet connection. You an download the routes but....... Nothing is perfect. Lol

I run a 2012 Skoda Superb with a built in Satnav which was using 2010 software/ maps when I bought it. When it was at the local Skoda garage for a service in September I enquired what the Skoda price would be to update the system with current maps, and was advised it was £200.00 plus VAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I had a dig about on the net and found this site satnavdvd.co.uk and after reading some revues I bit the bullet and bought a 2017 update for £24.99.which included a full update to all European maps.

I received a dvd and put it into the satnav and clicked update and 90 minutes later it was done.I use my car most days selling all over the south of England
with occasional trips over the channel to France Belgium and Spain.So far everything has worked and to date have had no situations where the sat nav thought
it was offroad or "elsewhere".

A result for almost 10% percent of the cost.

We have had a few moments with street furniture and redesigned French town centres where it was a bit tight, but our 'vans are small and can generally go
where a truck can go. I think half the battle is learning all the various choices you can make, turning toll road choices on and off,using way points etc etc.

Occasionally this summer in Italy we were confronted in a narrow situation with a head on confrontation, but the vehicle we met was never towing so we came out on top with a little amiable smiling and gesticulating, all part of the fun of towing, as my better half sits grinding her teeth next to me!!

I bought a 2nd hand Snooper Ventura S6000 sat nav from a friend in which I can enter my Troll details, the latest map update cost me £89.99p no problems with any routes it has sent me on and I can also set it for car only