What apps / devices do you use in your 80 series?

[musthave]

We all use a variety of apps and devices in our 80 series, and perhaps with life in general. I’m interested in finding out which ones others are using while driving their Land Cruiser. Here are just a few that come to mind that I have/had. Hema, OnX, Osmand Maps, Apple Maps, Google maps, Wais. Then Scangauge, ultragauge, and maybe others? Life 360, or other similar apps?

 

[Dragos80]

I mostly use the steering wheel and on occasion the OEM clock it came with.

 

[cahill]

I use old school paper maps if I need them or draw out the map before a trip. I haven't gotten lost yet. I can see their utility, especially for identifying public vs private roads and for seeing where a dirt road leads before driving down it but it takes away some of the adventure/exploration. In answer to your question, the only app I use is one for my obd2 blue tooth diagnostics when I am doing maintenance or want to monitor coolant temps. It mostly stays unplugged though.

 

[tmxmotorsports]

I use old school paper maps if I need them or draw out the map before a trip. I haven't gotten lost yet. I can see their utility, especially for identifying public vs private roads and for seeing where a dirt road leads before driving down it but it takes away some of the adventure/exploration. In answer to your question, the only app I use is one for my obd2 blue tooth diagnostics when I am doing maintenance or want to monitor coolant temps. It mostly stays unplugged though.

I was brought up in the trucking industry I was taught at a young age you know are we there yet are we there yet.... to use a map to figure how long it was gonna take to get from one place to another so I prefer a map for long trips.

 

[Marvelicious]

I spent the first two thirds of my life navigating with paper maps, and you know what? I like not having to fold maps!

I'd love to go to away from the big G entirely, but it's hard to replace their traffic data and their database of businesses. I'm perfectly fine to navigate without a GPS telling me what to do, but I love having a map centered on my position (north at the top, thank you) within view. I should stress that Google Maps SUCKS for that since it seems to want to zoom too far in to be useful.

I've used Organic Maps in the past and I'm trying OsmAND. Organic Maps is great for having that centered map on my dashboard to glance at, but I'm starting to think OsmAND might do everything it does, plus a lot more.

OnX is pretty good at specifically what it's for (trails). I also got the "Pro" version of Torque at least 15 years ago and it's still pretty handy. They have totally earned that ten bucks.

 

[Shoredreamer]

I lean on my paper Map Bag if I’m out on a trip or traveling for planning or research, but I do use Gaia mainly if I need to see where I am in real time. Regular driving I reluctantly use Google maps to “help” in urban areas or to get an idea of travel times. I use google maps also if in convoy on the grid to share meeting locations and keep the group on the same page. Also use on occasion iOverlander, Caltrans Quick Map.

I prefer physical dash displays since you can easily access them and they don’t require me looking at my phone and dealing with opening up an app, but I do have a few apps with the gear and equipment installed like Redarc TVMS, my LiFePo4 battery app, fridge app, switch pros app, heater app. I hate pulling up these and only use them on a mandatory basis.

 

[george_tlc]

Torque pro for when I need to find an OBD2 issue (with the vehicles that have OBD2). Maybe once or twice a year.

Google maps, handy for traffic problems - until you escape the hordes.

Life360 is handy for a family (that trusts each other).

I run backcountry for navigation - downloaded sat/plane imagery and downloaded topos. Run it in the US and in Oz. Works good both places. I typically run it on an android tablet, but have it on the phone when on foot.

Use to run oziexplorer years ago, still have it on my laptop, but gets used rarely these days.

I grew up with petrol station maps and then discovered paper topo maps which opened up exploring the oz bush and mostly knowing where I was Then in 1989 bought my first GPS (Magellan single channel unit for just under $3k). The Magellan reported lat/long and you used that to figure out where you were on a paper map. GPS coverage was also spotty, you got a 2D fix for a few hours sprinkled across a 24Hr period, 3D was even more spotty. Selective Availability at that time (I think it was Clinton's adminstration that phased it out) meant that accuracy was +/- 100metres (or worse).

Sometimes having access to modern map technology means you no longer look to find stuff, and can drive past neat things because you "aren't there yet"....

Don't rely 100% on modern tech, a compass and navigation skills are still useful things when the tech fails - and if it fails at the wrong time you can be dead.

cheers,
george.

 

[musthave]

Thanks to everyone who shared, I am still hoping to get some more additions to the poll. Some great information to share soon.

 

[Fosters]

Garmin tread overland
Midland gmrs
Icom ic 7000
Garmin powerswitch
My radar weather app

 

[MUDZLLA]

Apps: Topo GPS, Canada Topos, UAV Forecast, Commander, Speedometer, Compass, Gas Buddy.
Devices: Turbo timer. Ram Mount for phone/ipad, Auxiliary tank with dual filler(?), Boost, EGT and Trans Temp gauges.

 

[Bigtoepfer]

I can tell this was made by BIG OnX to keep Gaia down.

My 80 doesn't even have OBD-II so none of that.

I have phone holder, I use Google Maps on the road and Gaia off the road. Kenwood TM-D710GA for comms. Been doing that for about 10 years in my various offroading vehicles. Only one of them has had an OBDII connection.

 

[Mark W]

The most important digital device that I "use in my '80" is a tablet that stays in the rig with the FSM downloaded onto it. Secondary use is being linked to my Inreach via Garmin Earthmate when/if I need the gps nav. I also have all the maps for the areas I commonly travel downloaded and of course all of my contacts are in there if I need to hit the sat system, for help. I seldom actually use the GPS nav or the downloaded maps, but it is a nice tool to have in the box so to speak.

The ONE TIME I really needed the FSM... I was dead lined in Central Alaska with a phantom wiring problem. And I DIDN'T HAVE IT WITH ME!!! Spent the day there figuring it out. Turned out to be the best day of that outing. Not that any other part of the outing was less than good. Central Alaska will always strike me as "Mayberry R.F.D." transplanted to MY WORLD after that day. Everyone in that tiny little flyspeck on the map was friendly and helpful. Almost over top so. We made a bunch of new friends that day. Everything turned out fine... but I will never forget that tablet again.

Mark...

 

[lumbee1]

From my Samsung S9FE tablet:

• Google maps for highway navigation.
• OnX for offroad navigation.
• Google earth occasionally.
• Victron for battery mgmt. and solar

From my phone:

• Phone
• Android Auto (Waze, Google Maps, Pandora, Podcasts, etc)
• Torque Pro
• Bluetti for power bank mgmt.

Scangauge2 monitor:

• Intake temp
• MPG (LOL)
• RPM
• Water Temp

Offline maps are downloaded and updated forGoogle Maps and OnX to manage location even without a cellular signal.

 

[Delta VS]

• apple Maps when on pavement
• gaia and currently checking out caltopo, these are only used when off pavement, usually to record where I've gone more so than see where I'm going, trying to figure out how to get an iPad situated nicely
• garmin Inreach but that is on thin ice with availability of sat texting now, and starlingus
• high power vhf/uhf along with the app "repeater book" that downloads a database of repeaters you can access offline
• edge CTS3 to monitor the cummins engine

victron for solar

 

[lexustruck]

I’ve been having fun with Avenza, I like to start a recording and have all my recorded drives shown on a map to look at later, it’s a nice visual to see the areas I haven’t wheeled the 80 through yet. Loading a USFM vehicle use map and seeing the blue dot overlaid is pretty cool too, maybe that’s a low bar lol

I don’t like subscriptions so I haven’t messed with the OnX-tier apps yet - but I’m open once I need the features. I’m blessed to have a group of public hills near me (5 hour “costco runs” basically every weekend ) so the familiarity with the area has kept me from needing a navigation super-app for now

 

[Irish Reiver]

I have an OBD2 Bluetooth thing which connects to my phone. I picked up a starlink earlier in the year which is a game changer. Camping for me over the past 10 years was always restricted to places that had cell phone coverage so i could let the know where we (kids) were. This summer has been glorious with unlimited camping spots.

 

[musthave]

I appreciate all the input and feedback people have had on this. There are 33 apps mentioned and it seems like Google and OnX are heavily used. I was surprised that other apps weren’t mentioned and that Google is still the go-to for so many users. Personally, I have grown tired of Google Maps for so many reasons that I won’t bore everyone with. OnX has a lot of plusses for sure but in my use of it, it seems limited. Perhaps if I was hunting more than I was driving I might use it more. I won’t ask the apple/android question, those stats are apparently all there. I don’t think there is a 3rd one.