Height restricted bridges are not a challenge, they are a warning!
If you’re a motorhome enthusiast like us, you know how important it is to have a reliable navigation system. You don’t want to end up on a narrow road with no turning space, or at a low bridge that can scrape off your roof. That’s why we tested two apps for navigation on this trip: Google Maps and Road Lords.
GOOGLE MAPS is a free app that everyone knows and uses. It has a lot of features, such as traffic information, satellite view, street view, and offline maps. However, it is not designed for motorhomes. It does not take into account the size and weight of your vehicle, or the restrictions on certain roads.
ROAD LORDS is a free online navigation app with a paid version that offers offline maps of more than 40 countries in Europe and more (no internet connection necessary for the paid version). This sat nav is designed to choose the best route for your truck, van or other type of large vehicle, like a motorhome by allowing you you customise your vehicle profile. During navigation it also recommends the appropriate speed on roads with hairpin bends.
So, which app do I recommend for motorhome navigation?
For me the answer is: Road Lords.
We learned this the hard way, when we followed a Google Maps route out of Chalais town centre, straight into a height restricted bridge. Trish can testify how painful this was, as she was trying to stop two lanes of traffic on a bend, whilst I was reversing out. It was not a fun experience! #lessonlearned
It is worth installing if you want to avoid the stress and hassle on the road (and sending your co-pilot to stand in the middle of the road to stop the traffic). Google Maps is fine for cars and bikes (I use it for both these vehicle types), but certainly not for motorhomes.
From now on it will be Road Lords all the way.
Comments
Debbie Stokes
This happened to us. Luckily we managed to turn into a trading estate at the last minute. They don’t give you any prior warning do they 😳
Kevin
No, and this one was round a corner so could not be seen until last minute.
