Cumberland Gal: Navigation Systems and Tools for Four Wheeling

Navigation Systems for Four-Wheeling

I have been getting ever increasing requests for info on navigation systems to use when four wheeling.

We use several. Lifetime Maps is one that I bought for Kenny a couple years back for Christmas. Another we use is Orux maps. Lastly and most of all is the TCM tracks file. I'll attempt to explain here the pros and cons of each. I will also explain how to get and use all of them.

Lifetime Maps

One of the primary navigation systems we use is Lifetime Maps. I have included a clickable link here to their website. It is a one time paid program. It costs around $260 as a one time fee.

You have to have a tablet to run it on which costs varying amounts depending on where you get it and what size. You can purchase the tablet already to go with the program installed for as little as $490 to as much as $990. I bought it for Kenny for Christmas a couple years ago. I bought a separate tablet on Amazon for $250 and paid $250 for the download so I have $500 in it total.
Once you buy it and get it set up and running you get updates for free. You can pay an additional fee to get monthly updates wirelessly, but it costs $50 per year. It is also wise to buy a mount for it to put it in the machine. It cost $40-50 at the time.

Installation onto the tablet is easy, but you need wifi access to do it. You need to be careful purchasing the tablet yourself like I did. The tablet needs to be adequately sized to be readable and functional. It needs to be a durable product for hard use. It also has system requirements of at least 32 GB of storage space, and a functional GPS chip in the device.

Once you get Lifetime Maps and are running it out on the trails it is independent of cell phone signal or wifi. It is within the device and will function as long as the battery is charged. It works great for navigating the trails where you are. It shows the trails and they are color coded for difficulty level. The track you are covering in real time shows in purple. If you get off the trail you will see a purple line on a blank white background. This is how you know you are off trail and making your own way.

It is updated so the trail systems are pretty accurate and will get you where you want to go.

It will help prevent you from getting lost. It is NOT great for trying to simply explore an area before you go on a trip. It zeroes in on the area where you are by linking up with navigation satellites. Part of the problem is we haven't used it a lot to get completely comfortable and skilled at knowing how to use all the features of it. It is very cluttered with info making it tough to examine what you want to focus in on.

Orux

Orux maps is another app we use to navigate. It works with the TCM tracks file that is free and downloadable. It is inexpensive costing $4.49, but I am not sure how long that lasts. It may be indefinite, but something tells me it isn't. Kenny had downloaded it for $4.49 and used it only to have it stop working for some unknown reason. You can find and download it from the Google Play store. It works on PC which doesn't help you on trails, but does if you are scouting or route planning ahead of time. It works on tablets and cell phones making it portable and versatile.

It works independent of cell phone signal. You get it set to where you need and you're good to go even if you lose signal. If you happen to hit the back button on the tablet or phone you can get it back. You can pay extra and get additional features included in your subscription.

There is an OruxSOS app that can send a distress signal or alert if you are on an outing and have an emergency. That feature may depend on having a cell phone signal which stands to reason. You can save your routes, and mark up routes ahead of time. You can use features to help exclude certain areas. It has many features you can change the view. Like all things there are those who love it, hate it and everywhere in between.

Google Earth and TCM Tracks

Last, but not least is Google Earth coupled together with Tackett Creek Mafia (TCM) Tracks file. It is the creation of Mike Smiddy who also created the Facebook group Tackett Creek Mafia.

It is a good group and a great tool. It is free. You join Tackett Creek Mafia on Facebook.

Download Google Earth for free on your tablet or cell phone or both. You go to the FILES section on the TCM group and find the free download. It is the second one from the top in the files section. It reads

TCM SXS MAIN TRAIL MAP 120224.kmz

Download it to your cell phone or tablet. Once you have successfully installed Google Earth and downloaded the file.. open Google Earth. It will open the file and bring up the map of all the trails. You need to go to the bottom of the web page on Google Earth once the file is open. Click Save as Project in order to keep it. If you don't you'll have to download it again.

It is the most up to date, most complete mapping tool out there for our area.

It is easy to use. It will bring you to where you are on the trails at the time. It points out difficulty levels of trails. It points out private property boundaries. It indicates lots of scenic, historic and other points of interest in plain language. It is easy to understand.

It has a few down sides. It is dependent on having a cell phone signal. If you load it to your desired area ahead of time on your tablet or phone it will continue to function even without cell signal. However if you hit the back button or lose it you won't be able to get it back. Be careful to avoid doing this if it is your primary navigation tool.

The other downside is that because it is so in depth regarding trails and points of interest it is rather cluttered. It's the price of doing business in my opinion. It is better than Lifetime Maps for exploring a given area ahead of time. It is certainly easier to use. It is only good for our area. It is user sourced so it doesn't take it all in. It changes every time a user saves and submits tracks and trail conditions.

The Tackett Creek Mafia group is a very popular, large Facebook group. Not everyone likes Facebook. I love the group and Smiddy, but like all large groups you are going to encounter a wide variety of users on there. Right now the fee increase for riders is a political hot button issue with lots of fussing about it on the group. You just have to try to overlook it and don't engage.

Fussing about stuff like that on social media isn't going to change anything. Write to your congressional representatives, vote, and make phone calls if you want to make changes.

The TWRA has done this to raise funds to cover the costs associated with trail maintenance from HIGH IMPACT use which four wheeling most definitely is. I don't agree with every aspect of the TWRA, but I see their point. We enjoy it enough we will pay the fees. Stay legal and continue to go. It is unbelievable to me how many folks are raising hell about the TWRA cracking down on alcohol use by riders. We are not allowed to drink and drive on roads with cars and trucks. Neither should folks think they are okay to get out there and drink and drive while four wheeling. Unreal that anyone would 1. get upset about it and 2. try to defend what is unconscionable behavior.

I hope this article is useful and helps fellow riders select the tools out there to make their riding more fun, safer, and simpler. No one wants to get lost out there. It isn't a good feeling.

Below is a photo of Town Rock it is one of the neat places we have visited while four wheeling in Royal Blue. It is a prime example of why these trail maps matter. No good, current map exists for Royal Blue. It is a maze of trails of varying difficulty levels. It would be tricky to find this place without help.

Below: another example of why a navigation system... This photo is at Brimstone. We rode from Gobey to Brimstone. Gobey is free wheeling... Brimstone is a private riding venue and they charge a fee.

Gobey is a big area and we found lots more great stuff by using the maps. TCM maps was the most useful on this trip. It helped us know where one trail system began and ended. Kept us honest.