[NMKawierider]

I have been using mu old Garmin GPSMAP60CS in mine but as I get older the screen seems to be getting smaller and smaller. What I wanted was in the 600-dollar range but have been talking with some other guys on another site about using an Android device with GPS and an app instead. Most were using smaller Samsun devises but I wanted something easier to see so..I got a 10.1" Dragon Touch tablet, some screen protectors, several silicone cases, a RAM mount setup and for an app went with BackCounty Navigation GPS Pro. For maps I went with a multi-layered Image with TOPO and Roads and trails. I downloaded these for areas I ride so I won't need to be on-line. to get them. All for under 200 bucks.  This is how it looks in the Z8:

My view first:







 

I know...it's a bit much, but it is nice to just glance down and see where you are..or see something you want to head to. Or play videos during lunch breaks!...lol


UPDATE 2/4/16:

Viewing in the sun was a problem and with the anti-glare screen protector it lost too much light to see so the next step was a shroud. With some modifications to the ram tablet mount and a 4-dollare Lowes black plastic trash can, we now have one. At least I can now see it in the sun.

Here's a quick vid:

UPDATE 3/2/16:

One more update: After all this and the shroud, out on the open desert I still can't see the screen most of the time. In the woods it might be different and I will try it but for now, this idea with this tablet has been shelved. I have found another tablet that is more suited for use outside with higher resolution, backlight, GPS, E-Compass, Bluetooth and still android-based. New it was over 400 bucks but I found a used one for under 100 so I thought I would give this one more shot. Let you know how it works out with a final update.

[mayor hal]

I have run a cheap GPS since I started 4wheelin. It is very helpful especially with the bread crumb feature turned on. When you have run around an area all morning, it is pretty easy to get turned around. All you do is try to find one of your past tracks and hopefully get back safely. All we have up here are old logging roads....they tend to wiggle all over the place.

[NMKawierider]

I have run a cheap GPS since I started 4wheelin. It is very helpful especially with the bread crumb feature turned on. When you have run around an area all morning, it is pretty easy to get turned around. All you do is try to find one of your past tracks and hopefully get back safely. All we have up here are old logging roads....they tend to wiggle all over the place.

Can't wait 'till I can try it out. I've been using a GPS for so may years now that I've become reliant on them maybe too much. This will be nice with the Arial maps to be able to look up canyons or around hills to see if there is anything I want to take a look at....and be able to zoom out enough to get an overall picture of where I actually am. 

[NMKawierider]

Well, this setup works OK in the wooded mountains but still not so great on the sunny desert. I was watching a vid the other day where a guy mounded his GPS up high near the roof to get it out of the sun...and water.. so I thought I would try that with mine. Here's the new .."view"...lol





And from my point of view:

[NL800]

Nice setup..

[chuddly]

I hadnt seen this thread before but i was going to suggest putting it up high also.  It keeps it out of sun light and normally out of the place where your plastics reflect light.  Water may not be an issue for you but with me it is so keeping it up high also keeps the water damage potential down to a minimum.  If you want to get real fancy and want to see behind you(since i know you also run 4 point harnesses and its hard to turn around while strapped in) You can hook a rear facing camera to it via USB and have the camera's power on a switch on your dash.  Then set the tablet (via coding if needed) to switch to that input when a signal is detected.  Then when you want to see behind yourself just flip the switch.  I had a set up like this in my rhino and it sure made it nice when we had a large group in the woods and you had to wait for someone at the next turn to make sure that they were following you.  I could see at least 500-700ft behind me and could tell they knew which way i was going. 

[BudgetBoyOffroad]

I know its been awhile since you installed this. I was wondering how the durability has been through the years and any problems you ran into throughout the years. I guess I am asking if it still works.
I would like something like this, and everything that ive found off the shelf is really expensive. I could easily swing 200 bucks.

[NMKawierider]

I know its been awhile since you installed this. I was wondering how the durability has been through the years and any problems you ran into throughout the years. I guess I am asking if it still works.
I would like something like this, and everything that ive found off the shelf is really expensive. I could easily swing 200 bucks.

Wow this was an old thread. Lets see..The unit worked fine except I only could see it if it was dark enough...the tablet just didn't have enough back lighting. I then bought a 500-dollar Magellan TRX7...and was also disappointed with that as well. Not enough features I needed and also not near bright enough. It now sits on a shelf in my closet because...a YT friend of mine, Mudcon, was using a tablet and program I could see in his videos and asked about it..it was the Samsung  Galaxy Tab S2 9.7". They are an older version so I bought a used one off ebay, installed my BackCountry Nav and what he uses-OruxMaps, bought a good full case for it and been very happy ever sense. Big, bright and no issues. I also control my GoPros with it as well as run both GPS applications- one for topo and the other aerial/sat views switching back and forth as needed...although mostly I use the Sat view. You can see it is some of my latest vids with the camera in the cab.   

[BudgetBoyOffroad]

Thanks so much for replying, I actually have an old Samsung tab. I will see if it has GPS built in.  Thanks again!

[NMKawierider]

Thanks so much for replying, I actually have an old Samsung tab. I will see if it has GPS built in.  Thanks again!

Needs the GPS, Compass and OLED back lighting.

[NMKawierider]

In Mudcon's last video you can see his..which is what I now have just mounted a hair lower.