ATV Florida Forum

I'm newer to this whole ATV thing and will be getting a quad hopefully in the beginning of January.  But anyways I live about 20minutes from Croom and I was wondering is it mandatory to have a GPS.  I dont mean rule wise I mean if you dont have one is it an almost definite you will get lost.  Or do you think we should invest in one?  Do the Honda GPScape models do any good or are they just basically a compass  ???

Thanks,
Brendan

its nice to have a gps but as long as you fallow the fence you will find your way back. ocala is way better then croom though and you do need a gps for ocala

Never been to Croom but I know I'm glad I have my Geko out at ONF. The Honda gps I have been told is basically a waypoint device. In other words you mark your start and it will guide you back to that location. My Geko allows you to program a coordinate and it will tell you how far you have to go. It is good to have a gps in an emergency for sure because you can give 911 a location instead of a "I think we're here".

A fence?  Is it a fence that wraps around the whole area like on the outside? 

Oh, the GPScape sounds a little stupid.  I looked at the GeKo and it looks simple enough for me to operate ::).  But then I found a GPS called the Rino 530 which is also a two-way radio.  Think it would be a good investment to get 2 of them for when me and my dad go riding out there so we can stay in contact because im more of a fast paced rider and hes a little slower  :D

yes, there is a hog wire type fence that goes around the entire property, so if u ever get lost u just head in one way and it will lead u back to either the campground or the front pit

Thats convinient.  But hearing the size of Croom that would be confusing to do because you could be close to the fence then head in the opposite direction and go in circles basically.  Maybe we will invest in those two-way GPS's just in case.

well it all depends on how u ride, me i can go from one side of croom in no time, but if u ride slow(ie most utilities) then it could take a lil while especially if your on a trail of whoops, a gps is always handy but following the fence works also if u cant afford a gps or dont feel like using it

Well for out first quads I plan on getting a Z400 and my dad will probably go utility with a kingquad or vinson.  I like to go fast but he likes to go at his own slower pace. I think we are going to invest in the GPS's that have two-way radios built in.  So we each have one to stay in touch and find our way back if I got a little ahead of him.  I think when we go to Croom for the first time were just going to explore and get to know the riding area and rules so we dont upset anyone that has ridden there for a long time.

ya...you would probably want one......when I went there everytime I would go riding ..I got lost...so If I was you then I would get one.

ive been lost at croom once or twice but its easy to find your way out if you head in one direction till you find a fence  or road and follow that back, once youve ridden there a few times you basically get the layout and its not bad...i dont think you need a gps for croom but if your gonna goto ocala you might i havent been there but i hear everyone that has says you need a gps

I was looking at the Croom section here on the site and I take it that the below picture is part of the fence and it has a trail going around all of it.  I get the layout of it now but out of anything I think it would be best to get a GPS because we do plan on going to ONF and everyone says you need a GPS for that place.

(http://www.atvflorida.com/croom/croom2.jpg)

It never hurts to watch the sun either, it rises in the east and sets in the west.

Go to the top of this section and print the google Earth map. It will help you a lot.

Very true...

yeah ill do that.  When we get out quads I think someone from here should be our first-time guide  :D

I have been to croom one time and could go back and navigate just fine again, not to hard to get around I don't think gps is needed there, but just to have a gps for other rides is always a plus

ya thats true....once you go there once or twice you get used to it

You really don't need a GPS at Croom, but I would take one to Ocala.