Garmin OTR 800, The Worst GPS

[e-mail]

[@aviatortrucker6285]

I used the Garmin diesel 700 which is the 7 inch screen and now I use the Garmin 500 diesel 5 inch screen because I don’t need to have a TV screen in front of me. I mainly use Atlas is which allow you to see roots better than relying on a GPS. GPS is are as good as the mapping that is put in them. I use Ren McNally GPS, but I thought it was very cluttered. What may be in that GPS is the route that you’re trying to go may be restricted for, as Parkways, namely, do not allow large commercial vehicles. There may be low overpasses, etc. Remember you use common sense when you use a GPS and the best way is if it routes you incorrectly, you just start driving the way you know you should and it will automatically reroute for you. I get some pretty crappy roots using Google maps but once I start using the road, I want to go on it will correct itself. Today’s truckers don’t know how to read, compasses or any other device that you have to check its programming. The old-fashioned way of using an atlas and a truckstop guide is a lot more fun because it allows you to think and make your own choices. 90% of the time you will never go down and incorrect road or wind up in a residential area with a $7000 ticket because the GPS told you to go that way.

[@blackmagic6]

I've had multiple problems with my otr800, ranging from it not being recognised by my Mac and therefore not being about to synch with the Garmin express to it randomly shutting down because I can't switch it out of sleep mode. By the way, I live in the `Uk and I bought my Gamin off of Amazon about three years ago. Little did I know when it arrived that it was being shipped from North America with only the North American maps installed. I had to go back and forth with Garmin Uk to fight my case because I had to buy a memory stick with the Uk maps installed on it before I could use the device. SMDH. Like you said this Garmin makes many non intuitive routing decisions that if you do not check you'll end up either breaking traffic laws or/and spending a hell of a lot on fuel. SMDH.

[@dandicke6548]

Hey Randy, maybe you should check your settings before ripping apart a good product 🤔

[@cubatime72]

There's a preference section in settings, try using it

[@jond7754]

Trucks are not allowed on parkways in in NYC. Garmin needs to realize not everywhere is that restrictive

[@billsturgeon6722]

Still using copilot on an iPad. I purchased it years ago, $150 for a lifetime subscription. It isn’t the most full features gps, but the routing is really good. I back that up with another iPad running truckers path. I find truckers path to be helpful in finding the actual entrance to a shipper, and I like that on the iPad it shows me the road for @2 miles out ahead of me. I like seeing the layout of and interchanges before I enter it, on/off ramp configs, etc. I find truckers path’s routing to be almost unusable, not reliable, not user friendly.

[@BigRigPC]

Just as a tip for someone wanting to create content, you may want to annotate or tag the video somehow at the start to show that it was solved by changing weight settings. Watched the whole video and wouldn’t of caught it that it’s just a settings issue if I hadn’t come to read the comments. Thanks for the review! Drive safe

[@yaboywiz]

It’s funny because I left rand McNally overdrive because it did the same thing 😂 I now have this GPS but make sure you update your maps every few months

[@thealltrucker]

Yes sir, and I had to leave Rand simply because it was sooooo horrible

[@clutchpaully]

The otr800 is an awesome truck gps. You just have to know how to use it and make sure your settings are right. I've had no issues

[@thealltrucker]

Was a learning process, all better now

[@yaboywiz]

I agree! I set this GPS up thoroughly from top to Bottom with the settings

[@theravensofodin]

The OTR 800 is the best GPS I have ever had and I do heavy haul over 200,000 lb and permitted loads are easy to program in there

[@dee-mitch1114]

How do you get the gain otr800 to recognize truck stops? I recently updated maps and system settings after 2 years of this gps sitting in a closet. It worked great when I first got it no luck so far since I’ve tried to use it again. Any help would be much appreciated. I have mot been able to find anything helpful. I’m specifically talking about trucks stop along my route. Thank you.

[@MichelCastonguay]

I've been using OTR700 Canada-USA for almost 2yrs. Planning sometimes suck big time, extending proposed route for 100's of miles. The OTR series will shut down main highways in your face constantly, "i95 is closed, switching for a new route". It gets u out of the hwy for no reason. I don't rely on these crazy closures anymore. All my settings are set below normal, Gross weight 72000lbs, 13'6" etc. It feels like someone is messing with the road status. False alerts on sharp curves on straight roads. Ignoring existence of long time established truck stops nearby. I always use google maps along as a second tool. I have called Garmin and took note of my complaints but didn't change a thing.

[@thealltrucker]

Yeah, it does that but I keep it moving

[@jond7754]

Had the Dezl 770 for years. Still t was in my bag and something broke the screen 😭. Got the otr610 and regretted it. I’m now trying to get a new screen for my old gps

[@christopherpearce]

These trucking GPS's have issues with the weight you input into the settings. Drop it down really low to like 10 thousand and you will get better routes.

[@pjwatts209]

I have Garmin 780, 700, 800, and Rand Mcnally 750. I don't have those types of issues because I use my pea brain in sync with my GPS being an experienced otr driver. I don't expect the GPS to think nor do my job for me but they all help out. (Side note) I've had some issues with Rand Mcnally updating in the middle of me trying to make it to an assignment and it takes between 1and 4 hours to update if you're not connected to decent wifi!

[@nick_1022]

Do you have your settings set to avoid parkways. Or maybe it came set like that

[@thealltrucker]

No, it shows that the parkways has a weight restriction

[@nick_1022]

@@thealltrucker ahh no kidding. Yea that’s no good.

[@jodyevans7118]

You probably have your weights set at 80,000 lbs and garmin told me to set it at 79,000 lbs and it fixed the problem. I guarantee you mine wouldn’t do it. The way mine is set up.

[@thealltrucker]

@@jodyevans7118 thanks bro, that worked

[@jodyevans7118]

@@thealltrucker it’s the best gps out there as far as I’m concerned. I’ve tried the Rand McNally wasn’t that impressive it’s okay they all have their problems

[@SofiaisSunshine]

Sounds like your settings are off. I love my old dezl 785. Almost 600,000 miles on it. The battery is long dead so thinking I will upgrade it in the next year or so.

[@ULTRAMAGAlodon]

I just bought the otr810 after having had nothing but rand McNally before. I hated RM for sending me on BS routes, thinking maybe garmin has better routing. This garmin will tell you everything you could want to know about your route except what city and state you're in!!!

[@thealltrucker]

Yep, that's why I gave up on RM Set your GPS to 79,000 lbs for the Garmin, and it should route you better.

[@tennesseetaz4485]

I have used the OTR 800 your 1 and a half years never had a problem.. like others have said the settings there maybe weight limit bridges on that road or no trucks allowed.. did you switch the settings to car and see if it would go the straight route? don't smash it give it to one of your subscribers and let them enjoy not getting a ticket for being on the wrong road

[@imyourhuckleberry4706]

Mostly trucks aren't aloud to be on parkways, just my guess

[@codyholcomb92]

How do you have your weight in there I had to swap mine from lbs to tons and it doesn’t reroute like it did didn’t think it would change anything but luckily it did some of the features are a little much and some are not enough

[@thealltrucker]

I'll try it

[@otta_beck]

@@thealltrucker have you tried?!

[@thakiid2925]

It's because of weight restriction

[@TRUMP.2025]

First, before review and bashing product you need learn how to use it …

[@thealltrucker]

I did k ow how to use it, so before coming here with a presumption, you should have asked if I knew. Anyway, it was a setting in the weight. Something not very apparent.

[@Brsrafal]

I got a old 570 I wanna upgrade to otr 500 610 or 700. Mostly because of better traffic thru phone connection. I'm in NJ ny PA MD area. I'm shocked it does that to you really am hopefully your settings are good and you dint get faulty unit. Is it connected to your phone?

[@thealltrucker]

That's why proper trip planning is vital. You cannot put all your trust into a GPS

[@chrisp556]

My 570 crapped out and bought the otr610. I absolutely hate this mfer. Going to the "up ahead" requires extra steps, only show 20 fuel stops instead of fuel stops for the whole trip. I'm looking for a dezel 580.

[@Lukas72878]

I have the new Garmin 810 OTR, you have problems with your GPS shutting off all the time?

[@thealltrucker]

Nope, I was getting wrong navigation

[@blackmagic6]

I have the otr800 and it shuts off all the time. I noticed that there are sleep mode settings but I can't disable them. Where you able to solve your shutting down issue? If so, how did you do it?

[@anonymouscitizen9630]

All GPS suck, I use mine in conjunction with my phone. I trust my phone more than my GPS. For knowing the speed limit on roads and knowing where there are scales & truck stops I suppose is all all use my Truck GPS.

[@nick_1022]

Are you still with Xxii century

[@thealltrucker]

Yep. If you have questions you can ask thru my email [e-mail]

[@abrahamwang7410]

Agreed!

[@DasMoose9001]

Out of the dozen or so I know who are running these, one of them had issues but got around them easily and now loves the unit. Was this a defective unit you got or? I'm not giving you shit, I'm just saying there's a lot that goes into getting used to these particular units.

[@thealltrucker]

Due to some of the advise I've received here I switched a couple things and it seems to be routing better

[@DasMoose9001]

@@thealltrucker Shiny side up, driver. Thank you very much for your input and time!!

[@sijonda]

@@thealltrucker I just started driving this month and I'm looking for a gps (company supplied one doesn't take toll roads and the contract I'm with wants me taking them and pays for it). What settings did you end up changing that resolved the issue?

[@ericbotos1308]

Just a tool. Got to be smarter than the gps🤣