GPS Maps for ORV Trails...

[lgottler]

http://www.vvmapping.com/orvtrailGPS.html

Any comments on this map product?

Lucas

[Ridgerunner]

Looks like it could be worthwhile to get if it covers as much as they say it does. I have the latest topo maps from garmin, and it doent show many of the trails Ive been on. This might be worth it will lay over my current set up. I guess the only way to know is to get out in the woods and see if its accurate.

[300Grand]

Jeramay Valley the owner of VVmapping is one of the VERY few that has personaly riden every mile of every ORV trail/route in Michigan. His GPS and printed maps are second to none! He is also one heck of a guy, if you have any questions about any of the maps don't hesatate to give him a call or and e-mail. He is also a great source of knowlage of our ORV system.

[Jarhead]

I am impressed with the detail. The DNR is working to update all the Trail Maps currently available in addition to making them available for downloading into a GPS Unit (Don't ask me when this will be completed, I don't know).

[WhiteRhino]

Is there a better sample than the couple small maps shown on the link? Looks like it might be good.

[phittie1100]

Bummer - Garmin only

[lgottler]

Paul, what are you worried about?? All the mall parking lots have enough signs you shouldn't get lost.....:poke:

I suppose if I had a quad it would be worth it, but until the DNR gives us "our" trails, I'll hold off on map purchases....especially if the DNR is going to do it....eventually....

Lucas

[phittie1100]

Hey, my mall crawler is "Trail Rated" - it doesn't get lost (unless making a detour through Starbucks counts) :bootyshake:

[joe_jeep]

if you can still afford starbucks you must have moved out of michigan!:poke:

[GreyBeard]

I ordered it, it was delivered promptly, and I am very impressed.
I haven't loaded it to my Garmin yet. I've just been digging through it with MapSource on a couple of different computers.

A couple of things really stand out.
1 - All the ORV Routes are clearly identified and you can see the whole thing. Routes are the ones that full size vehicle are allowed on. On all of the DNR's PDF files you can't follow a route when it is coincident with an ORV trail. One is on top of the other and the route disappears. Jeramey has corrected this gross flaw in the DNR presentation.
2 - The info seems to be more up to date and corrected from previous mapping products I have from both Garmin and DeLorme. A case in point is the area up past Copper Harbor. All of the other maps I have are wrong in the area East of Copper Harbor heading out to the rocket launch site. This one is correct and even labels the "Rocket Range" road properly.

There may not be GPX files provided, but the detail when you drill way down is really terrific.

The documentation does warn against running it with the latest software upgrades from Garmin. I have not tested that yet. But with the recommended release it seems to work great.

By the way, he offers a full satisfaction money back guarantee.

[Jarhead]

I ordered it, it was delivered promptly, and I am very impressed.
I haven't loaded it to my Garmin yet. I've just been digging through it with MapSource on a couple of different computers.

A couple of things really stand out.
1 - All the ORV Routes are clearly identified and you can see the whole thing. Routes are the ones that full size vehicle are allowed on. On all of the DNR's PDF files you can't follow a route when it is coincident with an ORV trail. One is on top of the other and the route disappears. Jeramey has corrected this gross flaw in the DNR presentation.
2 - The info seems to be more up to date and corrected from previous mapping products I have from both Garmin and DeLorme. A case in point is the area up past Copper Harbor. All of the other maps I have are wrong in the area East of Copper Harbor heading out to the rocket launch site. This one is correct and even labels the "Rocket Range" road properly.

There may not be GPX files provided, but the detail when you drill way down is really terrific.

The documentation does warn against running it with the latest software upgrades from Garmin. I have not tested that yet. But with the recommended release it seems to work great.

By the way, he offers a full satisfaction money back guarantee.
Bruce,

Keep us posted on your findings.

Question: "The documentation does warn against running it with the latest software upgrades from Garmin." This statement concerns me as I just recently updated my mapping on both my computer and GPS Unit (GPSMap 478).

[GreyBeard]

I've been doing a bit of testing and exploring on the computer, but none with the GPS unit. I'm embarrased to say I have misplaced my Garmin 12MAP GPS unit. When I lose my cell phone, I can call it and it tells me right where it is. How to I tell my GPS unit to navigate itself back to me?

The information is right. It does not look as nice on the very latest Garmin MapSource updates on the computer. It doesn't look as nice, but it does work and I have had no crashes or lock ups.

After I tried it with the latest patches on the computer, I decided to go back to the recommended version of 6.13.6. I tried to use the same executable from Garmin that moves it forward to 6.13.6. When I got done, MapSource didn't work at all. I had to totally uninstall MapSource, reinstall all of it (I have Topo and Roads & Rec), and then do the upgrade to 6.13.6. Garmin only has the upgrade to the very latest version available on their web site, but VV Mapping has very conveniently included the code on their CD. It is in a "Program Updates" folder within the "Bonus Files" folder. The file is MapSource_6136.exe.

It was a pain, but it was fully recoverable and it is working now. I would not be so sure about firmware updates.