TT5 and a Caravan

Is anybody towing a caravan and using GPS...if so, how do you sort of, stop being diverted down narrow and totally inappropriate roads when selecting 'fastest' or 'shortest' route. ?
(Or should I just stick with the club directions ?)

i have same problem when driving my lorry i don't think there is anything can be done as there are no options in tt asking what you are driving or towing in your case

Hi Mat,
I use gps when I'm caravaning. I have been using TomTom Navigator 3 with a Garmin wired gps and have had no problems whatsoever. If the program is left to finding the quickest route as opposed to the shortest route, I don't think you will have any problem either. It is always best to run through the route just to make sure that Navigator is taking you where you want to go. Having said all that, I recently tried the upgrade to 3 which is the new version 5. There is a problem with the new map. In my area, you can try it if you want. Try doing a route from Messingham (Lincolnshire) to Grimsby (Lincolnshire), this should take you onto the M180. Unfortunately the new map takes you onto the motorway via a farmers track and not the local Junction. Now if I were a stranger here and had a caravan on the back I would be not best pleased. I also know of someone on this forum having the same problem elsewhere in the country. This is not a problem just with TomTom software, as I have just tried MichelinVIA software which uses the same map and has the same problem. The map which comes with version 3 is fine in this respect and has never led me up the garden path so to speak.
One other problem I have had recently and would maybe affect caravaners, during my holls in Warwickshire, I forced the software to take a scenic route (shortest) to a destination, everything was going fine until we came to a road closed due to road works. (diversion) we carried on past the block and TomTom immediately re routed (good) but re routed to the quickest route and we ended up on motorway and A roads. I wish there was a feature where you can select the re route as well as the planning.
Despite this TomTom 3 is fantastic for caravaning.
Cheers and Good Luck if you are using 5

RichardG

Hi Richard...thanks. We took our van up to Kent recently and stayed on a Club site. All was going well, until it said turn left., or whatever, at the next junction. Too late when I realised that we were now on a narrow, very, country lane. Luckily, the Range Rover coming the other way was very accomodationg and backed up for some way...when I drew alongside, I briefly stopped to apologise. Looking at the map later, I could see what TT5 was trying to do....cut a chunk of the main road off by doing a divert...great idea, but not with the van on the back ! I note that there have been one or two comments in the Club magazine about this very thing...suggesting that members do take note of the written descriptions for directions, and not rely solely on GPS. Another example is Melrose House site Kimmeridge, in Dorset....do not, whatever you do, rely on GPS...you must follow the written instructions....shame, but I can't see anyway around it ! ps And think about some of the sites to get to in the Lake District...going over Honister Pass is fine in the car...if that's what the 'fastest' route says, but with a caravan ? I think not !

Hi Mat,
I understand what you mean, like I said in my earlier post, I always go through the route, especially the final stages, just to be sure that everything is ok. However, a diversion can soon throw a spanner in the works. There is another program, which I like to take on holiday with me, which runs on a pda and also a laptop, it is called memory map, it uses ordinance survey maps, (just like the paper ones) has fantastic detail. It can use gps input, but no auto route planning or voice prompts, but good for exploring area, once you get setup. Excellent program.

Regards
RichardG