GPS for Model T travel?

[Steve Jelf]

I just wasted over an hour shopping online. I was looking for an inexpensive device with a 7" or 9" screen with two basic functions. 1 Speedometer. 2 Odometer. Ideally the odometer would show mileage cumulatively and by the trip. Many of the ads brag on wonderful features I would be unlikely ever to use, but none of them show or mention any odometer function at all. At this point I'm ready to give up the online search and try to fix the odometer that has quit working on my 1916 Stewart speedometer. It worked for a few miles then quit. It occurs to me that maybe somebody here has found a GPS device under $150 (preferably under $100) that serves as both speedometer and odometer. After several years struggling with bicycle speedometers that never failed to fail, I'm not going down that road again. With my old phone, apps are not an option either.

[aDave]

Sorry for your waste if time. You have lots to do.
I wanted what you are looking fir, and had to compromise. Years ago I purchased a refurbished Garmin....something like this:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077PW3F3R/re ... rd_plhdr=t
but years ago, it was less expensive. Only 5" screen, but I do like the map, and directions.
Odometer can be accessed by changing screens. The speedometer (AND SPeed LImit) is displayed always on the map screen.
I like it.
Online store...maybe one of the brick and mortar" places out your way have sales on "open box" items.
Good Luck, Steve.

PS...the larger the screen...the heavier the device...hot sun expands the little air within the suction cup ring and may cause the device to fall off the windshield.

[TXGOAT2]

I use a Garmin device with a 3X5 screen that has speedometer, odometer, trip A, Trip B, clock, spede, average speed, time stopped, overall average speed, and various map and navigation features. I stick it on the windshield and it works just fine. It cost about $110 about year ago. The lighted screen works well in day or night driving. It's 12 volt. It has an internal battery that I found to be near useless. I hook it to a small 12 volt battery via a cigarette lighter plug so that the screen stays up all the time it is on.

I don't use the navigation features, so it takes me about 5 seconds to plug it in and turn it on and reset "Trip A" .
My car has a stock generator, functioning magneto, and stock ignition.
The drain on the small 12 volt battery is negligible.

[Joe Reid]

I use my iPhone. It does all that plus it’s a camera and a phone.

[TRDxB2]

Have you looked into putting a GPS/Speedometer/odometer app on your phone. There are many some have ads TomTon Go looks promising since the have been in the GPS business for some time. Some apps relay on GPS data for speedometer calculations, others can use a phones internal software /hardware to measure distance & time.

https://www.tomtom.com/en_us/navigation ... ation-app/
TomTom Go Navigation App provides extremely reliable and impressive offline map usage. You can downtime 3D offline maps to your phone to minimize data usage and save battery. This is particularly useful if you're driving in areas with poor network connectivity.

There is also Roadtrippers app that you may like since you journey in you T
https://roadtrippers.com/plus/?utm_sour ... gKxqPD_BwE

TOP Navigation Apps
https://jensenmobile.com/navigation-apps/

[walber]

I use a Garmin 52 and am very pleased. Sure there are several features you won't use (at first anyway) but it's a stable easy to use GPS. You don't need to enter route info if you don't want to. Just go to Display Map and in addition to the map you will see your speed (and the speed limit in urban areas). Trip distance will be tracked and is easy to reset if desired. These things are real easy to get spoiled by. I use one in all of my vehicles whether I'm on a planned route or just out driving around or following other directions or roads the GPS might not find intuitive. New, under 150, refurbed under 75. Does require 12 volt but as previous poster noted a small 12 volt battery should be easy to hide and will go a long time on a charge.

[A Whiteman]

Why not look for an old phone, you know the young folk throw them away real fast when new models come out, so you can find them real cheap.
Then install a speedo and map app and buy a cheap holder for it from 'that Chinese place' on the internet. It may be cheaper than a GPS unit and will give you the same features plus you could get one holder for each car and just move it along car to car as needed.
Best thing is that it is not your 'own' phone so no biggie if it gets lost or pinched.
I am pretty sure they work fine without a 'sim' card installed, so no need to get multiple phone bills
Cheers, Adrian

[Ed Fuller]

Take Adrian’s advice. Find an older model smart phone that someone no longer uses. If you ask around you can probably find someone that would just give you one.

You don’t need a SIM card or to activate it with a cell phone provider, it will just need a wifi signal to download whichever app you want to use. A smart phone can still work off of a GPS signal for the speed and map features without being activated.

[CudaMan]

Ed, that's great info, I had no idea that old smartphones would still do some functions without a SIM card.

I inherit all my smartphones from my sister in law, she gets a new phone when they come out and I get the hand-me-downs.

Steve, if you want my prior hand-me-down sitting in one of my desk drawers, I'd be happy to send it to you. I think it is an Iphone 3. I had to replace it with a later model when AT&T stopped supporting 3G.

[TXGOAT2]

An advantage of the Garmin device is that it easily attached to the car and can be read at a glance, night or day, just as if it was built-in. Mine is the smaller screen version, which works great in the limited confines of the T cabin. The screen has a night mode which prevents any glare or interference with driving vision, yet the screen remains fully readable.

I place mine on the right hand side of the windshield and I can easily read it without any fumbling.

It can be detached for use in another vehicle or put away for safekeeping in about 10 seconds.

If needed, navigation functions are easily accessed. I let the map function run sometimes just to see how it reacts to roads in this rural area. It knows where it is at all times, and a glance at the screen will tell me exacty where I am. Even my driveway shows up. I have not used the urban navigation functions, and they probably need updating, but would still be handy to have if needed.

[TXGOAT2]

I'm pretty sure the Garmin device does not report my location or other information to anyone.

[Steve Jelf]

As a non-fan of touch pads and touch screens, I still resist getting a smart phone. Eventually I may be dragged kicking and screaming into the contemporary world, but thus far my old phone is just a phone. No apps.

Since my original post I've done more browsing based on some of the suggestions. Fortunately most of the ads include user reviews. I'm especially appreciative of the ones that reveal the shortcomings of a particular product. That has helped me eliminate some candidates. What I have ended up with is a GPS speedometer/odometer that is just that. It is uncomplicated by a swarm of superfluous functions I will never use. One feature praised in several reviews is its daytime visibility, even when you happen to drive at an angle that lets the sun shine on it directly. It's $40, with free shipping. There are a couple under $30, but the user reviews warned me off. I'll try this $40 unit, and if I don't like it I'll get something else.

[Jim11787]

Steve could you share some specifics on what you picked?

[Steve Jelf]

This is it.

[TRDxB2]

Just so there is no confusion - The Kingneed truck "speedometer GPS" has no map functions. Its just an odometer using satellite references to calculate speed & distance traveled etc

[A Whiteman]

Right price, right function = a good buy
I might have a look at getting one of those myself..

[babychadwick]

Just so there is no confusion - The Kingneed truck "speedometer GPS" has no map functions. Its just an odometer using satellite references to calculate speed & distance traveled etc

I wonder if the overspend alarm is your own preset or it is calculating based on an internal map it isn't showing. Just pondering

[Oldav8tor]

I buy used garmins on ebay. Get the ones that offer lifetime updates. You can have a current map view or a speedometer with the ability to record mileage for a particular trip. So what if it's ten years old.... If it fails, a replacement is cheap. Note: Garmin's run on 5 volts - You'll need a Garmin power cord or a USB power jack to run it.

If your car lacks a battery you can buy a small battery pack designed to run cell phones that will power it for a long time. My wife has a Garmin attached to her "navigator's clipboard" so she can see what road is coming up next. It's battery pack will last for a multi-day tour without needing recharging --- then it only requires plugging it into a USB charger.

[Steve Jelf]

If your car lacks a battery you can buy a small battery pack designed to run cell phones that will power it for a long time.

I carry a battery for easy starting. It's 12 volts for the tail/brake/signal lights I installed. It also charges my phone and powers the GPS device.

[BobD]

Steve, keep us updated on the device's performance after you have it installed and with some miles on it. Looks like the perfect solution to those who only want basic easy to read speed and mileage information without all the clutter functions one would never use.

[Art M]

I use a Garmin connected to the 6 volt car system. It works very well. Another member in our club has his Garmin xonnected the same way. Both of us have stop lights and turn signals.

The Garmin draws about .8 Amp at 6 volts and about .5 Amp at 12 volts.

Art Mirtes

[SurfCityGene]

Yes, you can't get any better than the simple Garmin for an unclutter display at a cheap price.
The accuracy is unmatched and the maps are a Plus in case you get lost or want to find the next donut or ice cream stop before everyone else has already left for lunch.