Nope, no issues and I don't NEED any of this
...let's walk through this...Backup camera...essential for driving an H3
Also, when I'm pulling my M416 offroad, and get into an off-camber situation (have done this many times exploring new areas), I want to be able to keep my eyes forward, while still having a sense of what the trailer is doing. It's also great for jackknifing the trailer on a narrow dead-end trail while trying to turn around. Given the poor rear-view mirror visibility, I can easily glance over and see what the trailer is doing without taking my eyes off the trailer. Also, when pulling on the highway (this or a dump trailer) I can easily see what's going on back there (flapping tarps, barkdusting flying all over the freeway, etc).OBD diagnostics...certainly a luxury. But on more than one occasion, I've been towing in extremely hot weather (think offroad, Nevada, 120 degrees)...knowing what my transmission is doing long before an idiot light comes on is invaluable. During regular off-road towing, I can easily see engine temperature, engine load, and gas mileage. Why does the gas mileage matter? Well, when you are hours from the nearest gas station, changing your driving style slightly to get an extra couple mpgs makes a difference
Also, Torque allows you to read any CE lights (and clear them) - I once had a MAF sensor come loose in the middle of nowhere. When I went to start the truck the next morning, it went into 'limp-home' mode...something I would have never been able to resolve/fix without knowing the code and then being able to reset the computer. Also, Torque tracks my location and a number of sensors, so I can come back later and see what the truck was doing given a particular environment (outside temp, angle of approach, engine RPMs, etc). Again, a total luxury, but one that is almost a necessity on modern vehicles beat to crap in the middle of nowhere.Android tablet...Google Maps...use primarily as a 'macro-level' view of where I'm at, plus to find any local on-road POIs (brewpubs mostly
). Backcountry navigator has a number of different maps, including Accuterra, and I have loaded their off-road POIs, so I can easily see interesting things near me without having to stop and look them up in a book. BCN also has a 'tracking' feature so when I come back home after exploring I know exactly where I was. I can also easily mark important points if I ever want to go back later. I can also load C:Geo if I want to Geonerd and find some caches.Windows tablet...NatGeo Topo...have loaded all NFS/BLM GIS data, including waterfalls, campgrounds, historical sites, etc. Makes it easy to see there's a waterfall 3 miles due north of where I'm at right now. Also provides tracking + breadcrumbs so I can find out where I went the next summer when I can't remember if I turn right or left at the burned out tree stump. Delorme TOPO...has a good 3D feature that allows me to visualize slopes, angles, and sightlines. Slightly different map structure, so some things show up on Delorme you can't find elsewhere. MS Mappoint is a fantastic on-road POI database, along with fairly accurate maps. Also provide tracking for later reference. Mappoint is my go-to when I'm on-road but without cell service (google is best within cell range).
I also have a Garmin Montata...mostly for Geocaching, but also for any outta the rig explorations. I also keep a voice recorder so I can quickly make a note "Beautiful view from GPS point 47 overlooking a valley looking towards Mt Adams" - without ever having to fiddle around or mess with the computers.
I spend more time looking out the window than I do at the screens...if I only had a single screen I'd certainly be 'tinkering' and switching apps, etc. By having more screens, it's less work and I can spend more time actually paying attention to what's outside the truck. They are only distractions when necessary.
And I also keep a full compliment of bother Gazeteers + I stop at all local FS and BLM headquarters for their maps, including MVUMs (which I also have on the laptop so I don't have to stop and dig through a 1" thick book of maps wondering if this narrow road off the to the left is legal to explore).
I guess my point in all of this (other than I don't feel like working at work today) is that technology can certainly be a crutch, but it can also be a great help if you use it correctly.
Cheers :beer:
