Garmin RVCAM 795
While your mobile phone can direct you to where you want to go, a dedicated navigator is a more reliable way to get you there reliably and safely. A phone handling background tasks isn't always focused on navigation, and a call at the wrong time can leave you lost in an unfamiliar city. A temporary signal dropout can take you down a path that might be difficult to correct.
While a phone relies on a signal from a tower, Garmin a navigator uses satellite signals for its data. Matched to preloaded maps, it knows exactly where you are, even in the remotest locations.
Plan Your Trip
We recently got our hands on the latest Garmin RVCAM 795, which includes a built-in HD dash camera and lane-departure and forward-collision warnings. Pretty cool. But the biggest advantage of a Garmin over a phone for caravanners is custom routing, where you set the Garmin to recognise your van's height, weight and length. With the van's specs loaded, the 795 checks your rig’s profile against bridge heights, narrow lanes, weight-restricted roads and even sharp curves and steep grades. The unit allows you to save multiple vehicles and trailers. You can also set it to warn you about speed zones and trigger an alarm if you exceed the limit. Your phone doesn't know you’re towing anything. The Garmin does.
The Garmin RV 795 is designed for mounting on the windshield and offers a wide, easily seen view of where you are and what's ahead. You can see the planned route clearly, and you get visual and audible prompts ahead of time. The seven-inch display is crisp and readable even in direct sunlight, and you can set the map to auto-zoom to intersections or turns. When connected to a phone, it provides live traffic updates and lets you play music or make voice-activated phone calls. It is legal to touch the Garmin, whereas touching your phone might not be.
Built-in Dash Camera
Including the dash camera in the unit is inspired thinking. It continually records your drive with a 140-degree field of view and automatically saves location- and time-stamped footage if it detects sudden movement. You can also manually save a recorded video.
Hema Connectivity
The navigator can display selected Hema points of interest and quickly navigate to the chosen spot. Also included are Hema Topographical maps, and you can download satellite images of the destination area to give a clear idea of the lay of the land.
The Verdict
Garmin's RVCAM 795 is a step forward in vehicle navigators and adds smart tech like driver warnings for older vehicles. It's easy to use and an accurate aid to finding your way.
Getway Gear: Garmin RVCAM 795 Full Review