Tablets for off-road use

[jcruse64]

It's nice to see that there are now a few options for maps, trails, and GPS nav apps for going off-road in our Jeeps. I've noticed many of you using your phones through the Jeep's Apple and Android connections, but have also noticed many also using a tablet for this, to give a bigger display. I'm about to replace a pretty old Samsung tablet, and there are so many more options available now. I'd like to ask the group what tablets they are using in their Jeeps to off-road with. Not just brand/model, but especially how the tablet is spec'd out. Would 64GB of storage suffice for map apps, especially if downloading several map sets for offline use? Does the tablet really need cell connectivity? If so, would it work just as well if you used your phone as a hot-spot? Are the better trail/GPS apps available on both android and apple? I'm assuming Kindle Fire is out, as they have a pretty limited base of apps that can be used. Is there an advantage of apple tablets over android tablets as far as "internal" GPS goes (I'm assuming cell phone connectivity has to be there on GPS, but I have no idea)?

Thank you,

Joe

Sponsored

 

[Buzz11]

For what it's worth, I use a Samsung Tab S7. I don't know the specs of my tablet, but 64GB should be enough disk space for you.

I can say that you do NOT need cell service for the GPS to work, but you need to download maps.

I use GAIA for off-road navigation. I tried OnX and didn't like it as much. I don't know if GAIA/OnX are available on Apple or not, but I suspect they are. Anyhow, I hook up the tablet to my wi-fi, and download the maps I want/need as well as trails/tracks from GAIA. I have a topo of all the Colorado mountains to Moab loaded and still have no disk storage issues. I then turn off the wi-fi while I'm on the trail. As you pointed out, it gives much more screen area than a cell phone.

Being a "normal" (not fire) tablet, the full spectrum of apps can be installed ... but if an app needs the internet, you won't be able to use it without wi-fi.

Hope this helps.

 

[JeepinAZ]

I use Gaia on an Apple Mini iPad. When you purchase the iPad you must get the one that has the cell phone chip in it. Reason for this is the cell phone chip also includes the GPS chip. The WiFi only iPad does not have GPS. However, you do not need to connect to cell phone service for the GPS to function. I like the larger screen that the iPad provides versus your phone. As far as downloading maps go, 64 Gb is ok for simpler maps such as topo maps. However, satellite image maps take up much more space. If you're going to be a heavy user or want to download a bunch of satellite maps I'd then get the 256 Gb option.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I used an old Android tablet but oNx works on the new 12" screen in the Rubicon and on the 12" screen in my TRX so I just use the screen now.

I also have Gaia but I am not smart enough to use it.

 

[rcadden]

I watched a TrailRecon video recently where he highlighted using an iPad Mini, but stressed that you have to buy the cellular one, not the WiFi one, to get GPS. You don't need to actually *activate* the cellular part, it just needs to be there.

On Android, I have a FIre 8 HD Plus and was disappointed to discover that it doesn't seem to have a GPS receiver. Otherwise, it's stupid easy to install the Google Play Store on a Fire tablet and have full access to everything - was able to install OnX, GAIA, etc and download maps using my phone as a hotspot.

If you're going the Android tablet route, I would just double check if it has WiFi or not.

As far as software goes, I've never been able to get on with either GAIA or OnX, personally. Not smart enough to figure out the interfaces, apparently.

 

[AFD]

Not just brand/model, but especially how the tablet is spec'd out. Would 64GB of storage suffice for map apps, especially if downloading several map sets for offline use?

Just make sure you get one with a MicroSD card slot, that way you can add a card for more storage fairly cheap (1TB is available now for under $100 and 512GB is under $40). Not sure about Gaia and OnX specifically, but I've used other Android mapping apps that allow for the maps to be installed on the card instead of internal memory. With a large enough card, you should be able to download the entire US and North America for offline use.

Really like my Lenovo M10 Plus with 64GB storage, 4GB RAM and a really nice-looking full HD IPS display. Battery life is great. Got it on sale a couple years ago for $140. Their newer version is on sale today for $150..

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TPY1PZZ/

 

[GATORB8]

We run a combo of Iphone and carplay. We run Trails Off Road on the phone since it will run turn by turn in follow mode. TOR's carplay interface is still very lacking so we run OnX through carplay. Both can run from the same device concurrently.

OnX offline maps are .5-1 GB each download. TOR offline are by state, doesn't show size in the app.

 

[Eddiechi]

What are good sources for good mounts for Tablets? I use Bulletpoint for my phone but now trying to find something for a Samsung tablet this week

 

[Bronson90]

I run onX offroad on a the current generation iPad Air cellular. Ram mounts makes a hard framed case that it securely clips the iPad into and has a place on the back for a ram ball mount. I run a cmm off road ram ball on the left side grab handle bolt and it positions perfectly for use on the driver side and it’s out of the way of the passenger. I’ll find a picture and post it.

 

[wanderer]

You can use a iPad without cellular but you have to buy a separate WiFi antenna that plugs into the iPad. That is what I ran worked flawlessly

 

[jcruse64]

Some decent deals on iPads right now, including the9 and 10 versions at Amazon. These are the 64Gig, no cell chip versions. Up the gigs and add cell chip, and the good deal is no longer. I like Apple stuff, but you also can't add more memory in a card slot. Samsung's Galaxy S, and maybe the A series, are GPS-enabled even with no cell service, and have a slot for memory cards. I still have a 9 year old Galaxy tab, and have liked it just fine, but it's now pretty limited on what apps, including mapping/trail, can be added with its version of Android. Starting to lean heavily in a S8 or S9 Samsung, now.

There is some really good discussion in this thread about trail apps, and how to run them on mobile devices in your Jeep, with some interesting info from @ecoBLVE. I haven't done it, but I still have a free trial period on in-vehicle wifi/internet from ATT, and he had some interesting things to say about how much better the Jeep antenna is for cell reception, versus your phone or tablet's, and making use of the Jeep's systems that already have GPS ability that can be tapped in to.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/whats-your-tools-and-methods-for-navigation.119821/

 

[Eddiechi]

Some decent deals on iPads right now, including the9 and 10 versions at Amazon. These are the 64Gig, no cell chip versions. Up the gigs and add cell chip, and the good deal is no longer. I like Apple stuff, but you also can't add more memory in a card slot. Samsung's Galaxy S, and maybe the A series, are GPS-enabled even with no cell service, and have a slot for memory cards. I still have a 9 year old Galaxy tab, and have liked it just fine, but it's now pretty limited on what apps, including mapping/trail, can be added with its version of Android. Starting to lean heavily in a S8 or S9 Samsung, now.

There is some really good discussion in this thread about trail apps, and how to run them on mobile devices in your Jeep, with some interesting info from @ecoBLVE. I haven't done it, but I still have a free trial period on in-vehicle wifi/internet from ATT, and he had some interesting things to say about how much better the Jeep antenna is for cell reception, versus your phone or tablet's, and making use of the Jeep's systems that already have GPS ability that can be tapped in to.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/whats-your-tools-and-methods-for-navigation.119821/

You were able to activate the free wifi trial? In my 2023 it keeps telling me "wifi not available for this vehicle" after I enable it and try to connect.... I had no issues activating it in my 2020, not sure how to get this working, it was advertised with free wifi trial as was the 2020.

I have read that there were some issues with ATT and their provisioning for Jeep but have seen various posts of some people not being able to activate and now seeing more posts of it being activated, curious what the technicality is now

 

[jcruse64]

No i haven't yet.

 

[TealOxAdv]

We use Apple CarPlay and an Apple iPad mini mounted in a Bullet Point tablet mount. As others have noted, make sure to use a cellular capable iPad. I have found that having the iPad running allows for dynamic zooming to get better map detail while keeping the primary map up on the CarPlay screen. This is especially beneficial when traveling in an area with crisscrossing trails.

 

[ArmyRN]

You can use a iPad without cellular but you have to buy a separate WiFi antenna that plugs into the iPad. That is what I ran worked flawlessly

I had to get a separate GPS antenna for my iPad as it didn't have that capability. It connects via Bluetooth. I run GAIA, and a Ram mount in my TJ, haven't decided how I want to do the Ram mount in my JLU yet.

Sponsored