I did another thing

[Frenchy]

So as some may already be aware of I did get a Garmin Overlander back in August. Well this last week I got myself a Garmin Tread Overland GPS.

Now I'm sure some of you have questions as to why(and how does this guy have that kind of money). We shall get to all that.

As for how I have that kind of money to toss around? Well that happens when you don't have vehicle payments anymore.

Now I won't argue that the Garmin Overlander is still a good GPS that is designed to help with OffRoad Navigation. That said there some things that got on my nerves like how the OffRoad Routing was simply a strait line like in this picture...... Don't ask me why but Garmin said it was normal.......

One other thing was me wanting to add a Backup Camera to the old Pathfinder and the Garmin BC 35 being discontinued and Garmin telling me to basically pound sand as they are in the process of phasing this GPS out(I suspect in the next year or two).

Something I was able to find out with the Tread Overland was the fact it actually has Adventure Routes and Trails as an option that you can adjust from 1 to 4(1 being all pavement and quickest route and 4 being as scenic as possible including OffRoad Trails). Of course you can still adjust routes to your liking.

I also got to mess with the Route Planner and it is a neat tool. As long as you set your little way points before the end point you will be able to have a route planned through many different Trails instead of the street if one wishes to do so.

One neat feature i do like is the weather forecast and radar in real time. You have to have your cellphone connected via Bluetooth with the Tread app in order to access this. You also have to have Cell Reception which can be a pain if you are remote and don't have a cellphone booster on the vehicle. That said if you have the InReach active you can still get a general Forecast for your location at that time especially if you plan to stay put for a few(or at least in the area for a bit).

The Tread Overland still has the Track Recorder like the Overlander. Still works in the same manor and is a great tool if you find a track you like and want the information saved.

There is the Group Ride Radio that can be added, but it is pricey and must be justified. For you to use it with other individuals, other individuals must have a Garmin Tread GPS with the Group Ride Radio as well. It operates using MURS and will give you realtime location of the individuals in the group. I have yet to use this feature as I have yet to justify the cost at this time.

And if you are wondering, yes you could use the phone in place for the Group Ride Radio, but the moment you lose Cell Reception it stops working. Not very useful OffRoad unfortunately in that particular manor.

Some other things to be noted, the Garmin Tread does not have automatic brightness control for the screen(a slight pain) and does not have voice control(I like it this way) like the Garmin Overlander.

Loading GPX Files is still possible, but a slight pain to figure out. You still have access to the Garmin Explore library on the Tread, but you cannot directly download the file to the GPS like you can with the Overlander. There are two ways to do this. Either be on the Home Computer and have Garmin Explore open and import through there or through the Tread App on the Phone you can import the GPX files through there. Both do work an can be synced with the Tread Overland GPS.

Overall I can say I do like the Tread Overland a little more than the Overlander a little bit. That said it is still a big purchase and something to think about before making the purchase. That said if you feel it is right for you and you can justify it then I say go for it especially since Garmin is pushing for the Tread Series GPS Units for OffRoad use.

EDIT: forgot to add that the Tread Series does have addon antennas available for the GPS and InReach. Both are external for better performance. Can't say if the GPS External Antenna is needed, but the InReach is something to consider due to the vehicle body and glass possibly causing some issues.

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[MountainGoat]

$700 navigator that draws a straight line between two points. ?

 

[GhostStrykre]

Reminds me a lot of the Garmin Zumo XT (which I have) that is made for motorcycles that goes for $400 when on sale. This Tread model has a bigger screen, I believe, and the group comms are an additional feature the Zumo doesn't have. Tho that's solved with some cheap walkie talkies. Otherwise these are quite similar.

The Zumo runs of an Android based operating system. That makes it a lot more stable than your typical Garmin device that likes to crash a bunch. People here complain about the lack of Ford's software development prowess, but they've never seen the bugs and peculiarities that a company like Garmin can throw down.

Garmin is slowly improving things. Their newer apps that they're adding like Explore are becoming an improvement over Basecamp. So to me this is a neat device, but like all Garmin products, you have to spend a lot of time waiting for them to work out the kinks. At least the software updates are free.

I know there are free(ish) options like an iPad and Gaia, but there is a layer of simplicity gained by a Garmin device that is designed to work with a satellite first.

Good luck with this thing! I'm not an enthusiastic fan of Garmin as they have flaws, but as an owner I understand why you'd have one for offroad!

 

[got3fords]

$700 navigator that draws a straight line between two points. ?

That would drive me crazy!

 

[got3fords]

Nice write up.

 

[Frenchy]

Reminds me a lot of the Garmin Zumo XT (which I have) that is made for motorcycles that goes for $400 when on sale. This Tread model has a bigger screen, I believe, and the group comms are an additional feature the Zumo doesn't have. Tho that's solved with some cheap walkie talkies. Otherwise these are quite similar.

The Zumo runs of an Android based operating system. That makes it a lot more stable than your typical Garmin device that likes to crash a bunch. People here complain about the lack of Ford's software development prowess, but they've never seen the bugs and peculiarities that a company like Garmin can throw down.

Garmin is slowly improving things. Their newer apps that they're adding like Explore are becoming an improvement over Basecamp. So to me this is a neat device, but like all Garmin products, you have to spend a lot of time waiting for them to work out the kinks. At least the software updates are free.

I know there are free(ish) options like an iPad and Gaia, but there is a layer of simplicity gained by a Garmin device that is designed to work with a satellite first.

Good luck with this thing! I'm not an enthusiastic fan of Garmin as they have flaws, but as an owner I understand why you'd have one for offroad!

Unless you have a much older Zumo XT, you should be able to add the Group Ride as well.

As for the issues of a Garmin Device crashing like you mentioned is something I have yet to experience. Both the Overlander and the Tread Series run on an Android base system and I can tell the Tread certainly has a bit better internal hardware as it runs a bit smoother.

 

[Frenchy]

$700 navigator that draws a straight line between two points. ?

Also note that it only happens when set to OffRoad Routes for calculating mode. Still a pain regardless.

 

[GhostStrykre]

Unless you have a much older Zumo XT, you should be able to add the Group Ride as well.

As for the issues of a Garmin Device crashing like you mentioned is something I have yet to experience. Both the Overlander and the Tread Series run on an Android base system and I can tell the Tread certainly has a bit better internal hardware as it runs a bit smoother.

ah good deal. i meant to ask if these bigger devices ran on an android OS, but my brain didn't remember to put that in the message.

one lesson i've learned with these garmins is that there's a massive difference between a beginner and someone who has used garmin's for years. so i'm in the beginning of the learning curve, and getting gpx files uploaded and whatnot is a pain. the folks i ride with don't even flinch getting their routes uploaded, and designing a new route is seemingly "fun" to them. so once you figure out garmin's bizarre way of doing things, the device becomes that much more powerful.

 

[Jason B]

Also note that it only happens when set to OffRoad Routes for calculating mode. Still a pain regardless.

Well. I guess following that straight line would qualify as off road.

 

[Msfitoy]

$700 navigator that draws a straight line between two points. ?

I'd still get lost...

 

[Frenchy]

I'd still get lost...

?

 

[mtbikernate]

one lesson i've learned with these garmin's is that there's a massive difference between a beginner and someone who has used garmin's for years. so i'm in the beginning of the learning curve, and getting gpx files uploaded and whatnot is a pain. the folks i ride with don't even flinch getting their routes uploaded, and designing a new route is seemingly "fun" to them. so what's you figure out garmin's bizarre way of doing things, the device becomes that much more powerful.

The learning curve is real.

Garmin's "method" of functioning really isn't bizarre. This is how dedicated GPS devices function. As a beginner user, this isn't exactly something you would be expected to know. Garmin devices bridge the gap between professional level equipment (want to talk about a learning curve? those things have a huge one) and the overly-dumbed down interfaces like most smartphone apps. Garmin devices tend to retain the capability to handle a lot of advanced functionality. If you strip down the interface too much to make it super easy to use, you start to lose those capabilities.

When Garmin began selling devices, they were never really intended for people with no navigation knowledge. That sort of thing began to come later and Garmin has dabbled with devices for that crowd. They never really hit well overall. Especially once smartphone nav apps hit. Those do easy-to-use better. But the result of easy-to-use also tends to be the loss of advanced functions.

 

[GhostStrykre]

The learning curve is real.

Garmin's "method" of functioning really isn't bizarre. This is how dedicated GPS devices function. As a beginner user, this isn't exactly something you would be expected to know. Garmin devices bridge the gap between professional level equipment (want to talk about a learning curve? those things have a huge one) and the overly-dumbed down interfaces like most smartphone apps. Garmin devices tend to retain the capability to handle a lot of advanced functionality. If you strip down the interface too much to make it super easy to use, you start to lose those capabilities.

When Garmin began selling devices, they were never really intended for people with no navigation knowledge. That sort of thing began to come later and Garmin has dabbled with devices for that crowd. They never really hit well overall. Especially once smartphone nav apps hit. Those do easy-to-use better. But the result of easy-to-use also tends to be the loss of advanced functions.

this is a great point i hadn't previously considered. garmin explore seems to be "missing" features from basecamp, but is easier to use. so this tracks.

 

[Frenchy]

The learning curve is real.

Garmin's "method" of functioning really isn't bizarre. This is how dedicated GPS devices function. As a beginner user, this isn't exactly something you would be expected to know. Garmin devices bridge the gap between professional level equipment (want to talk about a learning curve? those things have a huge one) and the overly-dumbed down interfaces like most smartphone apps. Garmin devices tend to retain the capability to handle a lot of advanced functionality. If you strip down the interface too much to make it super easy to use, you start to lose those capabilities.

When Garmin began selling devices, they were never really intended for people with no navigation knowledge. That sort of thing began to come later and Garmin has dabbled with devices for that crowd. They never really hit well overall. Especially once smartphone nav apps hit. Those do easy-to-use better. But the result of easy-to-use also tends to be the loss of advanced functions.

That actually makes quite a bit of sense. The simpler it is the less accurate to becomes. The more complex the more accurate it can be. That's sad I also know that sometimes the issue can be related to the maps and the fact that sometimes the GPS does like to route you in the wrong direction as many people have discovered over the years lol.

 

[Frenchy]

this is a great point i hadn't previously considered. garmin explore seems to be "missing" features from basecamp, but is easier to use. so this tracks.

I myself have never used Base camp but I can say explore can still be a neat tool.to.use once figured out

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