Offroad Navigation Integration for Scouts

[CanyonlandsCruiser]

Offroad and Gaia GPS have become essential for planning and navigating trips, and I believe the Scout could take this to the next level with the right approach. Whether it’s integrating directly with OnX or supporting CarPlay/Android Auto, there’s a huge opportunity here to deliver a seamless offroad experience.

Here’s my experience to illustrate why this matters:

1. Trip Planning: Before any multi-day trip, I spend weeks researching routes, destinations, and campsites using tools like Google Earth, OnX Offroad, TrailsOffroad, and US Forest Service resources. Once everything is finalized, I consolidate the data in OnX Offroad and download all maps to my phone and iPad. This process ensures I’m prepared, especially in remote areas.
2. During the Trip: OnX becomes my go-to navigation tool. It provides critical information like miles traveled, elevation stats, waypoints, tracks, and map layers. If the Scout could integrate these features into its system, or leverage its satellite capabilities to include radar and weather, it would be a huge leap forward.
3. Challenges Without Integration: Relying on my phone or tablet for navigation is less than ideal. Battery management is a constant headache, and taking my phone off the mount to snap a photo means I have to reset everything. A built-in integration that saves state when the vehicle is off and resumes seamlessly would eliminate these frustrations.

From my perspective as a product manager in the tech world, building a proprietary offroad navigation system from scratch would be an enormous challenge, especially with apps like OnX Offroad and Gaia GPS already setting the standard. Users expect features like offline maps, waypoint management, and real-time stats—and replicating all of that would be a major undertaking. Instead, Scout should:

• Integrate with OnX or Gaia GPS: Imagine seeing your trail route, waypoints, and stats displayed on the dashboard. It would make the Scout an offroad powerhouse.
• Support CarPlay/Android Auto: If direct integration isn’t feasible, CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility would still provide immediate access to these trusted apps.
• Prioritize Offline Map Support: Even with satellite connectivity as a potential option, offline maps are essential for reliability in areas far from cell service.

This kind of solution would cater directly to Overlanders, enhancing the Scout experience without reinventing the wheel. With the right integrations, Scout could lead the way in offroad navigation tech.

 

[ohvrider]

Sounds really good, I'd like to save my trip and share with friends too. Nice if can load into an app, and add pictures at points of interest etc to make a trip report etc.

 

[CDJOHNS5]

Sounds really good, I'd like to save my trip and share with friends too. Nice if can load into an app, and add pictures at points of interest etc to make a trip report etc.

I agree - would be great when exploring and accessing remote campsites, etc. I'm a boater and use similar features on the water. Before I do a big trip, especially somewhere I have been before, I like to research and plot everything out on my laptop, develop a route and way points, and then load it into my plotter. When I get back I then export the data and make notes in case I need to make adjustments the next time I take that trip.

 

[ohvrider]

For pre-trip it might be nice if we can plan the trip on PC/Mac etc. and then load it to Scout and have meal, gas and charging stops planned. if Scout thinks you need to charge sooner or finds a similar food stop what is higher rated, more convenient for gas/charge it can suggest those and reroute if accepted.

Tech should make our life's easier!!

 

[twoods6711]

That would great.

 

[04Ram2500Hemi]

Scout released a video a couple of days ago, and in that video they mentioned a satellite intergrated into the roof rack (see pics and YouTube linked below). This with Apple Car Play and onX Maps solves a lot of the issues when headed into areas where cell service doesn’t exist.