I'm starting to look into some Offroad Navigation, either a device but more preferably a phone app. Any recommendations and what makes some better than others?

 

May want to check this out. I bookmarked it when it came out https://www.adventure-journal.com/20...ure+journal%29

I basically use a 7" refurbished (super cheap) Dell tablet attached to a RAM mount. I plan my offroad trip at home, export it to KML, copy it to tablet and then use it in Jeep. I like this approach because I can color code my routes. For example, my main approach may be pink, then blue for main trips and orange to connect one 4wheeling trip to another. I may use pink for side excursions...

Reason I color-code and plan in advance is because no matter how large the device, maps are detailed enough to confuse me on the little screens.

 

I have used GAIA gps for a while now and really like it. You can download sections of a map to your phone with whatever overlays you want (satellite, usgs, county lines, topo, etc...). Choose how big of a map you want to download and the map is available when you don’t have cell service. You can create a route on the computer or on your phone and it will automatically embed in the map you downloaded.

It’s a paid thing though but for me it’s well worth it. My head unit does Apple car play so I can use Gaia on my stereo as well which eliminates the need to mount a large tablet.

 

The person that needs to reply to Rednroll would be @Mark Doiron . He knows all the tricks for offroad navigation. I switch back and forth between Gaia and Backcountry Navigator Pro.

 

I doubt I know all of the tricks, but if Rednroll hasn't watched my videos on the subject, here are a few that may provide some useful info. They are studio chats after my TransAmerica series videos for each section of that trip. The info is a bit dated. There is a new version of Backcountry Pro, I believe it's available now for Apple devices, and Gaia is now available for Android tablets. I recommend either one of those.

Start at 13:36. Mapping, the products we use in the field, and what we use to process routes and maps before a trip.

You Tube

Start at 13:25. Route planning – How to create a route in Google Maps and make it suitable for use in Backcountry Navigator.

You Tube

 

This always seems to work well

 

But I do better with paper than computers, it took me all morning to get this one picture on here

 

This:

https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad-app?...hoCfgMQAvD_BwE

 

Went camping with couple buddies this weekend and one of them said they'd started using that app as well and really liked it.

 

Oh man. I actually did LOL