Save $400 on the Mopar Trail Guide GPS unit!!!

[Gone&DoneIt]

So I thought I would pass this along. I have wanted this thing for months now.
http://www.garmin.com/products/trailguide/ ...

I haven't, though, wanted it enough to pony up the $800.00 they charge for it. The base is what I really dig. I called Garmin,... don't waste your time,... they are clueless about this product,... they sent me to Jeep,... I called 3 dealers,... equally clueless about this product,... sent me back to Garmin.

At this point I am a little beyond cranky...

I started digging and found spec sheets ont the Trail Guide,... ladies and gentlemen,... it is the Quest 2, plane and simple, with the Jeep name and Logo on it ( Look Familiar???) . However,... you can't buy the base from anyone other than Jeep,... and they were telling me it wasn't sold seperately. I knew this couldn't be the case,... what if yours fails,... or gets damaged,... there has to be a way to just replace the charging system or base. EUREKA!! I got some help from a member on another board,... the charging system base station is Jeep Part Number 5191114-AA MSRP $120.00. I got mine for $108.00.

So I compared the Quest and the Quest 2 and decided for what I want it for, (almost solely offroad driving) the Quest will work perfect. The only major difference I found was the memory, however I keep my laptop in the back seat pocket anyway,... so this is a non issue,... at least an issue not worth the extra $320.00 for the Quest 2. The price tag on the quest?? $329.99 so for a total investment of roughly $450.00 I have the Jeep Trail Guide. There ya have it,... Hope this helps.

 

[droopey]

Yep, You did the same digging I had to do 3 months ago. This seems like a good product, But since I already have a hand held unit I opted to by the in dash unit to replace my stock radio. Paid the same price as the quest and It Is not sitting on top of my dash to attract thieves, I know that the unit comes out of the cradle, but thieves wont know that it is not in there.

 

[calpher]

That's some great information....Thanks!

 

[TwistedCU]

Nice work!

 

[Jason4x4]

You just found my Christmas present to myself

 

[Gone&DoneIt]

after heaping pounds of dust on top of it, rain, dropping it, all sorts of abuse for two months, I can say I am thrilled with this setup. Especially for the price. I added a ram vehicle mount, and a Panasonic Toughbook for 3D mapping capabilities and it is amazing. Siskel and Ebert give it two thumbs up!!

 

[90Xjay]

Well, I was watching a Garmin Quest 1 yesterday on Ebay and I just couldn't resist.
I got one coming and I can't wait.
I have had the Etrex Legend for a little over a year now and this is a good upgrade. The voice guidance should be a hoot.

 

[Gone&DoneIt]

This thing Rocks!! Especially with the Mopar base. The mapping software mine came with was a joke though (city streets select or something like that). I complained about it and they immediately sent me the DVD for North American Navigator something.something. It was a free upgrade since they discontiued the city streets version of software. I didn't even install the highway maps. I bought Garmin 24k Topo and I was good to go. I love mine. Let me know if you have any questions.

Have Fun X-Jay!!!!

 

[calpher]

LOL!!! That's just too funny! I was also bidding on one last night on eBay as well. We were probably bidding against each other. I am now bigging on another one so I am keeing my fingers crossed that I can get one.

 

[90Xjay]

LOL!!! That's just too funny! I was also bidding on one last night on eBay as well. We were probably bidding against each other. I am now bigging on another one so I am keeing my fingers crossed that I can get one.

I bought mine around 2PM? was that really you?urple: urple:

 

[TwistedCU]

I don't miss the heated seats, the power package, or even the satellite radio from the JEtta, but I sure do miss that Nav system... I might look into the quest/Jeep base setup. Looks like a nice way around a few hundred bucks!

 

[90Xjay]

Gone&DoneIt,

What did you not like about the software preloaded onto your Quest?

I was checking out a site where Garmin had a demo of the map software and it seemed to have a lot of detail. I was even able to find the county roads up in the San Juans we were wheeling a few weeks back.
I guess coming from just knowing an Garmin Etrex, I would be impressed with a basic map. BUT if Garmin is willing to give it up on a free upgrade, I might hit them up as well..

 

[Gone&DoneIt]

All you do is run the new DVD and it installs over the previous maps and software. What I found was the City Select software was antiquated, our neighborhood wasn't even listed. If you are looking for a good city mapping software get the upgrade to City Navigator V8. If you want the off road mapping and trail resources look at the Topo 24k. (installs the same way) For the best of both worlds, go with the City Navigator on the Quest and put the National Geo maps on a laptop and link the two. Then you'll have the GPS keeping tracks on the maps loaded from City Navigator, and the real time routing on the Laptop. This will give you 3d imaging for elevations, a much more detailed selection of logging trails and washes, 4wd trails etc without having to sacrifice the functionality of the streets provided by Navigator.

That's all I can really offer. I have been real pleased with mine. I don't know which I would choose if I had to pick one or the other. Since I use the Jeep for primarily weekends and recreation I guess I would do the topo software. Unfortunately I haven't found a Garmin uploadable product that has the best of both worlds. You have to choose either street navigation and offroad functionality.

Hope this helps XJay

 

[90Xjay]

yeah, thanks.8)

I might look into the top stuff, but like you I sometimes use a laptop in sync with the gps.
I'll just have to wait till it comes and see what it can and can't do.

 

[calpher]

I picked up a Quest off of eBay and am waiting for it to get here! I will wait a few weeks to order the base station from Jeep. Have to keep the wife-unit happy!

 

[calpher]

I just called Jeep to see if the wiring kit came with the charging/base station and since it is a special order part they can't tell me if the wiring comes with it. Anyone else know? Much appreciated!

 

[calpher]

Just an FYI...The pricing has changed considerably on the base/charging station and wiring kits. Below are the part numbers and pricing.

5191114-AA (Base/Charging Station) - $208.00
5191115-AA (Wiring Kit) - $68.00

 

[dandoc]

Check out http://www.megagps.com for Garmin and other brands of GPS units. Some units are refurbished by Garmin (or the appropriate manufacturer) to factory-new condition, and at a significant price reduction.

I've been looking at the Quest 2 or the GPSMAP 76CSx for my setup.