Google Maps is very familiar to every user of the internet, and for good reason – it’s a system that many of us use as a default for our navigation when driving. It was originally launched right back in 2005, and since then has evolved to become incredibly sophisticated in the services that it offers.
But if you’re the owner of a motorhome or campervan, you’ve probably been wondering “does Google Maps have a motorhome setting?” – after all, having leisure-vehicle specific routing when you own a large ‘van is very useful, because it can help you avoid narrow routes or those that might present height challenges (such as low bridges) along the way.
The short answer is that Google Maps does not have a dedicated leisure vehicle setting in the way that other sat-nav applications do. That is, you aren’t able to enter the dimensions of your motorhome or campervan into Google Maps, for it to take into consideration when plotting your route – for this you would need a different application, such as CoPilot (which is available for both Android and iOS).
CoPilot, for example, allows you to set the size of your vehicle (including its height and width) and the app will then direct you accordingly. This is very useful if you have a particular long or tall motorhome, or one that is significantly heavier than a car. However, unlike Google Maps (which is free to use), you will need to pay for CoPilot – a free trial is available, but after that, there is a cost for a subscription.
Using an app on your phone for navigation might also not be the best solution for you when it comes to sat-nav in your motorhome or campervan either; sometimes mobile screens can be a little bit tricky to see, particularly if they’re set in a mount some distance away.
In that case, you might prefer to use one of the best sat navs for a motorhome.
One that I can recommend is the Garmin Camper 1095 – I have one of these for use in my own campervan, and I have found it to be excellent, with a clear screen and simple-to-use features. If you do opt for one, don’t forget to make sure you know how to update a Garmin sat nav to keep it up-to-date and operating effectively.
However, motorhome-specific sat-navs aren’t particularly cheap, which is something to bear in mind if you are on a budget.
It goes without saying that, whichever type you use, sat-nav apps and units aren’t infallible, even if they offer dimension-specific routing – you should always pay full attention to your surroundings and be prepared to divert from suggested directions if required.
Lead image: Philip Barker
If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, why not get the latest news, reviews and features delivered direct to your door or inbox every month. Take advantage of our brilliant Practical Motorhome magazine SUBSCRIBERS’ OFFER and SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER for regular weekly updates on all things motorhome related.
