Off Road GPS Unit

Ive decided I want to go with a actual GPS unit and not apps like Gaia etc , im pretty set on the Garmin Montana 700i but until i can find a good deal on one used etc, is there any GPS units that are cheap but can still have some off/back road capabilities?

 

700i has the InReach technology to allow satellite communication with people. Would be worth the price to have maps AND communication, my opinion.

 

Considering InReaches are 3-400 bucks standalone, that makes the incremental cost on the GPS only like $400 which is pretty killer for two capabilities.

 

You can pick up Garmin Trekkers, etc for pretty cheap still. But realistically, all you are doing is depleting your purchasing power away from the Montana you really want.

 

It's not for everyone, but if you can get past the learning curve, throw OSMand (that's the name of the software) on an old Android phone. No cost, no subscription, maps based on the OpenStreetMaps files (free/open source) which update often, and you can get files for just about anything - offroading, bicycling, fishing, hunting, etcetera.

I use it on my phone for hiking and on my in-dash unit for general navigation. It's nice having the same software for everything.

https://osmand.net/docs/versions/free-versions/

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/net.osmand.plus/

 

I already have a working Garmin GPS, I bought a Mini2 on sale at $300. I can download off-road maps to load on a microSD.

 

Does it download map for entire state or country that i can just use? I dont want to have to download certain area maps, plot courses etc... I actually have a Samsung tablet i could use that has gps etc

 

This is the way. Satcom aside, the Garmin units are all inferior to even the most mid-level smartphone now when it comes to CPU, screen resolution, and in some cases battery life.

If you get a proper rugged case like Otterbox, then the phone is just as rugged.

I would just opt for a slightly older flagship phone since it's going to have a nice bright screen which you'll want when outdoors.

 

I should add i do have a gps/ map software option with a Samsung A7 Lite tablet, has gps, compass etc..i just want a simple software download as in entire state or country ready to use at any time with no plotting/planning routes necessary, im not that hardcore of a off roader, just have tons of forest service and logging roads by where i live

 

Magic Earth is a GPS implementation that uses osmand:

https://www.magicearth.com/

They have apps for both android and apple

 

This looks interesting, maybe something like this on my tablet and phone, im thinking i should get this tablet involved, put some movies on it etc , now i need to look at good mounting options, bought some cheap Amazon one , did not last long but i dont want to spend crazy money either, what are some good affordable tablet/phone mounts

 

The RAM seat mount post with an X-grip has held up great in my truck, holds a tablet, and has handled many, many miles of baja-style offroad racing support in Utah on some RUGGED tracks.

 

You can select which areas and which levels of detail, and they update automatically.

 

Dumb question, i can put in starting point and destination but i cant see anything that actually starts the route direction

 

I'm quite happy with my Montana 680t. I bought the hunt view maps of the areas I like to explore. They are quite detailed. However, they do display roads that are no longer there (or won't show newer roads) or will show a road that's really a goat trail. Lots of active logging here in Maine with new forest roads being constructed often, so it's to be expected. The maps are only as good as the frequency in which they're being updated. Still well worth it imo.

 

As an aside ... someone posted once a video of the engineering that goes into a lumber/dirt road. The radius of the curve in the road, the maximum slope/angle of the road for entry/exit on either side of the curve ... takes more than 5 men and a bulldozer.