Portable Navigation for Jeep Wranglershttp://off-roadweb.com/tech/0512or_guide/Owners of '97-'06 Jeep Wranglers can now navigate both on the highway and off-road - even outside their vehicles when hiking or biking - with the new Trail Guide by Mopar. With the versatility of both handheld and dash-mounted units built into a single component, the new Trail Guide offers the high-end features usually found on only expensive navigation units, but at an affordable price.
Developed in collaboration with Garmin International, a well-known GPS and navigation systems provider, the new Trail Guide provides full mapping of the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Automatic routing, turn-by-turn directions, and voice prompts are featured as well as automatic off-route and detour recalculations. In addition, Wrangler owners searching for a place to eat or catch some rest between activities can navigate to any of Trail Guide's more than 6 million points of interest, including gas stations, hotels, restaurants, scenic routes, and attractions. It also provides 140 MB of supplemental map storage for downloading additional MapSource cartography, such as U.S. Recreational Lakes, Fishing Hot Spots, and Blue Chart.
When used inside the Wrangler, the unit rests comfortably in a Jeep docking station that seamlessly integrates with the existing vehicle dash. Designed exclusively for the Jeep Wrangler, the docking station features dual speakers for voice-prompt routing instructions. It also powers the unit when the vehicle's ignition is turned on and serves as a convenient recharging station for the handheld unit. The unit's built-in trip computer displays speed, odometer, total time, maximum speed, and more. The docking station closes up and securely covers the Trail Guide when not in use.
A unique feature of the Trail Guide is its portability - the ability to be removed from its docking station and taken outside the vehicle and used while hiking, camping, fishing, or riding a bike or ATV. When removed from the vehicle, the Trail Guide provides all the same features as when mounted inside the vehicle (with the exception of voice prompts). With a battery life of as long as 20 hours between charges, the Trail Guide is a great foot companion, especially with its 10,000-point automatic track log (breadcrumbs), which enables you to retrace your path.
Weighing in at a mere 5.5 ounces and measuring just 4.5 x2.2x0.9 inches (WxHxD), the Trail Guide module features a 2.2x 1.5-inch (WxH), 256 full-color, high-resolution reflective TFT screen. The module is also waterproof in accordance with IEC 60529 IPX7, which means it can withstand accidental immersion in 1 meter of water for as long as 30 minutes. No need to worry about the rain that hit while your Wrangler's top was off!
The Trail Guide by Mopar is available for all '97 to '06 Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited models. With an MSRP of $795.00 plus installation (see your dealer for details), the Trail Guide is the affordable alternative to more expensive high-end systems. When installed on a DaimlerChrysler Corporation vehicle that is within the New Vehicle Limited Warranty period, the Trail Guide, like all Jeep accessories by Mopar, is covered by either the three-year/36,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty or the 12-month/12,000-mile Mopar Basic Limited Warranty, whichever is more favorable to the customer.
We told the people at Mopar Parts that they should work on a universal-mount docking station so that the Trail Guide could be mounted in any vehicle. It's a revolutionary concept that really works. Once you start using a navigation/GPS system in your off-road vehicle, it's hard to go without. The Trail Guide lets you go a step further (pun intended), by allowing you to remove the unit for use in the field.
