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Best GPS unit for overlanding Africa? Best GPS unit for overlanding Africa?
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Photo by Ellen Delis, Lagunas Ojos del Campo, Antofalla, Catamarca

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Ellen Delis,
Lagunas Ojos del Campo,
Antofalla, Catamarca




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  #1  
Old 8 Mar 2013
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Best GPS unit for overlanding Africa?
I manage to find reviews about practically every bit of vehicle dependent overlanding. From rooftop tents to fridges, and tyres and rims to solar panel systems. After struggling for some time with my Garmin 2545 unit, one of the cheapest but imho absolute crap, I am trying to find out what the best GPS unit would be. But very little to nothing reviews its capability for use off the beaten track. Or am I missing something?

If you were to buy a new GPS unit for an extensive (> year) Africa round trip in a 4x4, what would be your choice?

Safe travels,

Gee
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  #2  
Old 8 Mar 2013
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Hi i used my Garmin Nüvi 255 with the maps of tracks4africa to ride around africa. It worked great even in crowdet citys like cairo, kapstad or brazzaville. In 200 meters please turn right I treated it very well. Not im selling it for 100 Euro + Shiping from germany. PN me if anyone wants it
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Old 9 Mar 2013
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1 - Maps, then 2 - GPS
Map Sets
What you need to do is chose the best map for Africa 1st. By that I mean that the map sets available for different areas of the world are ... well different .. meaning that one manufactures maps for say New York USA are better than another. So you should chose the best map set 1st.

Some chose Garmin because of the availability of 'free' maps.

================
Once you have chosen a manufacture then chose a model.
Do you only want to use it with the vehicle? Or take it walking too?
Chose the model to suit your needs.
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  #4  
Old 9 Mar 2013
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I used openstreetmaps in my garmin zumo and they were great, but my zumo is now finnished after 5 years of abuse and 3 new screens.
But I just discovered the maps work just as well in my garmin nuvi 265 so my advise would be, follow the instructions on Free worldwide Garmin maps from OpenStreetMap
or download my west africa map from my site: https://sites.google.com/site/gpsmapsforafrica/
and put it on the sd card. Then just put the sd card in the gps and you have detailled maps ( that are even better than T4A) , for free and it couldn't be easier.
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Old 9 Mar 2013
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The Montana is the best GPS for overlanding these days

Getting back specifically to your OP, if a good friend was buying a new GPS for a 12 month trip I would tell him to get a Montana 600.
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Old 11 Mar 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by colebatch View Post
The Montana is the best GPS for overlanding these days

Getting back specifically to your OP, if a good friend was buying a new GPS for a 12 month trip I would tell him to get a Montana 600.
Do you find it easy to obtain maps for this device for where you go in the Russian Far East. What would you recommend for a source?
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Old 13 Mar 2013
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Thanks for the replies and the PM's!

I've decided on the Montana 600. With a bit of luck I'll have it here in Morocco in a week, when my daughter is joining me from Holland, and can test it for the remaining 6 weeks.

Happy travels,

Gee
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Old 14 Mar 2013
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Originally Posted by Fastship View Post
Do you find it easy to obtain maps for this device for where you go in the Russian Far East. What would you recommend for a source?
The best maps for Russia (all of Russia) are the free OSM maps.

The level of detail can be checked out by visiting the source map website. http://www.openstreetmap.org/
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