Anyone used Garmin Topo maps?

[xlr8_87 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close xlr8_87]

Just looking throught the JB catalogue and noticed they have a Garmin for $388 which includes "Bonus Topo 4WD Off Road Maps Valued At $229"

Been thinking of upgrading my old GPS for a while, can claim the new one on tax, so might be worthwhile.

Question is though, has anyone used them and how do the compare to the likes of Hema/OziExplorer etc?

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

I was at Sandy Cape near Jurien at Easter. My mates Topo maps showed a lot more tracks than my Hema maps. We followed a few of the Topo tracks and it was hard to believe that they were on a map.

Off topic, thanks to the saltbush my shiny new Prado now looks like someone attacked it with sand paper.

[voyager4x4 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close voyager4x4]

Rob, at that price I reckon that is a great buy!!
I've had a Garmin Nuvi 760 using both standard maps as well as the Topo 4wd Off Road maps for nearly two years and love it! The Off Road Maps have served me well across the Simpson and other numerous outback tracks. They also allow you to use the auto route feature on smaller tracks which is very useful. In general I have found them to be very accurate and quite detailed. Being a Garmin you can also load Shonky Maps as a cross reference which is another useful feature. They also come with great planning software to help with trip preparation.
All in all a great product.

[xlr8_87 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close xlr8_87]

Beautiful exactly what I wanted to hear!
Might go pick one up in the next day or two. Will report back here if I do!

[Silver Rain Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Silver Rain]

I bought a set recently. My only criticism is that the topo lines are in feet and inches not metric. Other than that criticism - I am happy with them.

[xlr8_87 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close xlr8_87]

Ended up buying it. So far the unit is fantastic. It's a Garmin 1490T. 5" screen, bluetooth, lane guidance etc. Heaps better than my old 260W, faster processing, more features etc.

As for the topo maps, haven't used them but have browsed through them. Seem pretty good and detailed, and my topo lines are in metres not feet so that's a bonus. Will update on here when I've actually been out 4wding to test them

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

if you go onto the garmin website and register your product you can also download a few little features to enhance your gps as well. cheers samo

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Silver Rain..... go onto the Garmin website and update your gps. Mine is a 2009 model and the Oztopo maps were in feet. I rang Oztopo and they said it was a Garmin software problem fixed by an update.....and it was! Go to Garmin Aust.and find 'update software". Select what you want to update [most of it is irrelevant to Aust] and then... start,programs,garmin,webupdater. Have gps connected to computer with batteries fully charged. When I did this all of the map data showed up as metric eg. contours in metres rather than feet. Neil

[lockedup Member Find all posts View Profile Close lockedup]

i got the same package the other day... werent on special but bargained them down to $400 for the 1490t and topos... been really happy but since ive updated gps it shuts down every now and then... im surprised how good the detail of tracks is and it always finds signal... i dont like how the screen isnt very sensitive/responsive

[PeterB Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close PeterB]

very common fault with 1490T shutting down when useing Garmin topo maps

[MUMSRIG Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MUMSRIG]

Might be relevant in regards to the units shutting down? https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?t=3802

I have a brand new copy of the Topo Maps sitting here that I picked up from JBHIFI the other day when I purchased our new Toshiba Tablet... No good to me unfortunately as I don't have a Garmin GPS.

[lockedup Member Find all posts View Profile Close lockedup]

damn, just saw this thread - sorry i didnt get back to you mumsrig, i emailed around my mates and noone needs those maps you have. (if you still have them!)

I am about to take my 1490t back as it keeps shutting down... what a pain as everything else is great. the topo detail is good. the gops reception is awesome. it helps sooo much in the bush. but the prick keeps on shutting down!!!

might see if theyll upgrade me to the next model up or something... or get money back and grab a dig options dvd...

[lockedup Member Find all posts View Profile Close lockedup]

well i just took my 1490t back and replaced it for a new one - shut down in the bloody carpark! then shut down once more on way home... any ideas?

[lockedup Member Find all posts View Profile Close lockedup]

Just took my second 1490t back and replaced it with a 2460lt... Hopefully runs topos better now - will test tonight

[Boomslang Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Boomslang]

I've spend a lot of money on my Nuvi 500 and topo maps but since I've got Oziexplorer running on my new in dash GPS it realized it was a waste of money. Now I just used it for backup. Could have used a $150 GPS for the same purpose. Love Oziexplorer.