Best Satnav for 2D / Map mode

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

As I am developing my multi-drop skills I am finding that I am using 2D mode on my sat nav more.

For example, sometimes if a place is in an 7.5tonne except for access area, the sat nav will do crazy things to try go around it. So it’s handy to have it in 2D mode so you can get an aerial view of where you are going and find the most direct way in as there is often an exception for loading/access when you get there. Sat nav always considers them no go roads.

Also, sometimes the sat nav will route down non A or B roads and it’s pot luck whether you can go down them, so sometimes I like to use it in 2D mode zoomed out a bit, like a live map, so it’s easier to see how the main roads connect if the sat nav wants to send you down some single track.

So what’s the best sat nav in 2D mode and which sat nav has the easiest to operate zoom function.

Also visually, which sat navs have better labelling for road names, B roads, A roads, which is easier to look at and has the most intuitive zoom.

i.e. Which sat nav is best for using as a live map?

Any thoughts about this?

2

Try the free Google Maps/Apple Maps or HERE Maps which can also do offline map downloads on your phone if you’re wanting to ignore weight limits etc. I’ve not used a dedicated Satnav for years.

3

Sounds like the biggest screen you can get is what you want, so can you position a tablet so that it doesn’t block the windscreen?

4

I’ve ways found Google maps helps . Like you can see it tells me to take a turning if I see i can’t make it I can easily see on Google maps where next roads go
Plus I’ve found if you do decide not to take a turning it quickly reroutes you. Where as my sat nav always tells me to preform a u turn .
Plus it has live traffic as well.
But all depends on size of your phone screen. Or buy a tablet and use WiFi via your phone do it that way

5

To add to my comment.

I’m using a tomtom expert currently, which comes in 6in or 7in.

I know Garmin do 10in.

So with the tomtom, if you switch to 2D using voice command, it zooms out way too far and won’t let you zoom in. I tried turning autozoom off but then it zooms in and out in small increments which is not quick enough.

I think it is short sighted of tomtom to presume a trucker will use it the way you would when driving a car.

The other annoying thing with the tomtom is that if it comes up with 3 routes say and they cross over, there is no way to say I want to follow that one to here and then that one from there but that isn’t the main issue I’m talking about really.

I could afford the Garmin but if it has a similar problem then it would be a waste of money really.

So I want one that works better in 2D mode but I don’t want to resort to google because I still want to see the weight limits and dimension limits.

So if anybody has tried that Garmin one, let me know.

Thanks.

6

I’ve never actually used satnavs in 3D mode and for final decade of my driving career I used Google Maps on my phone 95% of time.

7

Driver101:
To add to my comment.

I’m using a tomtom expert currently, which comes in 6in or 7in.

I know Garmin do 10in.

So with the tomtom, if you switch to 2D using voice command, it zooms out way too far and won’t let you zoom in. I tried turning autozoom off but then it zooms in and out in small increments which is not quick enough.

I think it is short sighted of tomtom to presume a trucker will use it the way you would when driving a car.

The other annoying thing with the tomtom is that if it comes up with 3 routes say and they cross over, there is no way to say I want to follow that one to here and then that one from there but that isn’t the main issue I’m talking about really.

I could afford the Garmin but if it has a similar problem then it would be a waste of money really.

So I want one that works better in 2D mode but I don’t want to resort to google because I still want to see the weight limits and dimension limits.

So if anybody has tried that Garmin one, let me know.

Thanks.

I have the Garmin LGV700 and often use the 2d to see the routing, it does have a + and - at the top of the screen to zoom in and out.

The 2d will cover the whole route you have inputed, showing all routing options that you can click on to choose the preferred one, the only issue is when zooming in, it goes to the middle of the route and you have to physically move it to where you want it and then zoom in!!

It will also route you through tiny lanes to avoid a 7.5t restriction, this is when I use the 2d, it will flag the restriction and you either ok it or cancel the route!!