Two (simple?) Questions...

Two simple Answers:

1. Try a boating or sporting goods stores for a better compass.

1. Buy new tires. (47k > I'd like to get a regular compass for the dash but am skeptical about

Compass here:

I seriously doubt a marine compass will function in your Jeep - it was never intended to go in a steel box. Most boats have very little ferrous material other than the engines.

Here's a start:

You could buy an inexpensive handheld Suunto for around $10 and step away from the vehicle if you get lost ....sorry - disoriented momentarily. Then you would have a hiking compass in case you are that type.

John

John Davies TLCA 14732

Sorry that link is dead. Try

John

John Davies TLCA 14732

TW-

Yup, almost 48K on them and they'll probably go another 10K!! Unbelievable? I really have no complaints about them- good in snow but they do load up in mud quickly! (not that I've done any "serious" mud- 5 or 6 inches is about it). And yes, I'll be putting BFG AT's on it in October, in time for the slippery stuff.

As this is my daily driver, I'm wondering with that kind of mileage, could the sidewalls be getting weak, causing the "shimmy"? I rotate them every other oil change and there is no cupping, etc... I know everyone bashes the GSA's in here but they've been good to me.

John

I'll say they've been good to you. GSAs are the fastest wearing tires I've ever owned. I seriously doubt it's a sidewall issue, and if you've been rotating them that frequently, unless you have bad shocks or front end parts, you should be in good shape.

I had an issue where NTB could not balance my tires (read incompetence). Every time I took it in for a shimmy due to what I thought was tire balance, I'd come away with a shimmy and go through my entire front end again looking for a problem. I'd conclude that it _had_ to be tire balance and there the circle went.

Finally, I took it to Sears for a balance and it's rock solid.

There's a Topographic GPS out there by Garmin I think! IS that the Sportrac series?! Been a while. Looks kinda cool as I'd rather have it for camping/hiking/jeeping (back country stuff). But since I live in Canada it's a little expensive to buy the GPS WITH it's US topo's (comes installed) but then have to turn around and spend $200can on the Canadian set (which isn't even out yet!).

Anyhow, check that one out!

It keeps all the Palm Pilot features and so far as I could tell when I almost bought one, it has all the GPS features anyone could possibly want. I only chose the Garmin 60CS over it because the Ique's case isn't water or dustproof and it's a bit more delicate.

Jerry

Both Garmin and Magellan have topographic maps available to load on top of the included low-detail base maps. Neither is as detailed or accurate as a 15 minute USGS topo map. It's important to look for a unit with enough memory to hold the size maps you want. (8 MB ain't enough anymore.) The newest units have replaceble SD memory cards of up to 512 MB, so you can load detail maps for many regions and swap them out during your trip in a few seconds - very handy for a cross country road trip. The new color displays make reading and interpreting the many lines _much_ easier than the older "many shades of gray" screens.

John Davies TLCA 14732

Thanks to everyone for the ideas! I guess I'll bite the bullet and get a GPS before the "Christmas rush".... Now, which one?.... Time for research! I'd still like to get a simple compass and I'll be visiting a Marine store to see what they have and to see if there are issues about putting one of theirs in an auto (i.e. metal box).

I took a good look at my right front tire today and can clearly see where I lost a wheel weight. The shimmy did't feel like an out of balance issue but I guess it must be.

Thanks again for the input!

John

Be sure to look at Garmin's fairly new GPS60C or GPS60CS. I got a GPS 60CS for Christmas and it's really head and shoulders above everything else I looked at, especially the user interface if you compare it to anything made by Magellan. It's my 3rd GPS over the years and having come up from a first-generation Magellan GPS I flew with that was huge and then to a Garmin GPS90, this 60CS is just amazing.

Jerry

The better half as a Garmin iQue 3600 and it is really easy to use and handy to have! The battery doesn't last as long but if you keep in on the cradle at the house and plugged into the power port in the car you'll do fine...

Sometimes it will take up to 10 minutes to get a signal but that is rare and usually it will find a signal without a minute or two. Routing is very reliable... She likes her iQue over the built in navigation in her car.

-- Taylor

'89 Audi 200 '03 Audi S6 Avant '98 Jeep Cherokee Sport

Thanks Jerry! I looked at Garmins site and the GPSMAP76C and 76CS.... All I can say is "WOW"... Exactly what I'm looking for! A bit over my $500 target, but I believe you get what you pay for. Lots of extra goodies too! Nice.

John

Thanks for the reply, Taylor. Can you turn off the GPS to save battery and only use the GPS as needed? Or will that save juice? Most of the day I need a PALM, but enroute I'll need the GPS functions.

twaldron did pass the time by typing:

Car adapter. Then you don't have to worry about the battery.

Yes you can have the GPS function turned off (when the flip antenna is down.) You can also "simulate" your route without GPS however I never used it... never saw the point :)

Where the better half seems to have problems is with her alarms. The iQue will be in her purse and an appoint alarm will go off and she won't hear it and it remains on until the battery dies... However if she puts in its cradle at home and on the USB quick sync at work (powered) battery life is not a problem. Its the getting her to do it that is the problem!

Overall for the money I think you will be very happy with iQue. I have a Dell Axim X30 myself and I could add an optional GPS until but I also carry a notebook with me that has Street Atlas 2004 with a USB GPS unit. It works for me but it very bulky.

We paid a little less than $500 from Buy.Com last Christmas (2003) and that included an extra year service plan ($10 special so why not?) a car adapter and the travel USB sync for work. It works as advertised...

-- Taylor

'89 Audi 200 '03 Audi S6 Avant '98 Jeep Cherokee Sport

Which we have and works well... but like I told Twaldron, does not good if you leave it in your purse, let the alarm go off and don't turn it back off. Not that I'm saying you have a purse :)

-- Taylor

'89 Audi 200 '03 Audi S6 Avant '98 Jeep Cherokee Sport