Riding off-road with a tablet

The iPad and other tablets, is going to be growing up with 4x4 enthusiasts thanks to its ease of use and versatility road.

Going on adventures in unfamiliar terrain requires a good orientation tool. There are many devices available on the market, most of which offer similar functionality, with navigation systems adapted to the road or path, and sometimes weather forecasts.

In recent years, smartphones and digital tablets have joined this sector as well. With applications like iPhiGéNie, TwoNav or ViewRanger, an iPad can provide the same information as  specialized GPS. You can download all IGN maps, view at any time your location on the screen, record your journey with different statistics (Duration, distance, speed ...) and plan a route with alarms when you're away from your path. Moreover, these applications often offer additional features, such as aerial views area, very useful in anticipating obstacles.

However, digital tablets stand out from conventional GPS units due to their ergonomics and the size and quality of their screen. On these points, tablets are undeniably ahead: the use of the screen is more intuitive, the reaction to touch on the screen is better and the display is incomparable. All this makes for better readability and more comfortable access to map details, especially since the screen size is generally larger.

As far as on-board mounting is concerned, a solid installation is obviously required that is resistant to jolts and obstructs visibility as little as possible, both on the road and on the dashboard. In this respect, the size of the standard iPad can be a problem, in which case the iPad Mini is recommended, as it still offers a high level of reading comfort despite its smaller screen.

Moreover, it must be easy to remove it, so that you can take your tablet with you, if only to avoid tempting potential robbers. From this point of view, a suction cup mount system is ideal, as it can be easily repositioned to adapt to the use of the vehicle (consulting data while stationary, slow crossing, driving at high speed on the track...). You will find different fastening solutions on our website.

Furthermore, it is essential to protect the device from dust and dirt: it must be possible to handle it without fear with dirty hands after having pulled your vehicle out of a rut. Dust is everywhere when you drive off the pavement, so it's best to provide effective protection for your iPad, otherwise it could be damaged. Here you can see the different solutions we offer, such as aiShell, which is perfectly compatible with all available mountings.

Useful links

- Recommended applications

- Forum 4X4earth about using an iPad in 4x4