Garmin dezl OTR710 (Renewed) Review: Conditional Buy 7.8/10
A verified buyer on Amazon didn’t mince words: “this thing is junk”—then reversed course after support replaced a faulty power cord, saying the unit “works wonderfully as it should.” That swing captures the lived reality of the Garmin dezl OTR710 7 inch GPS Truck Navigator (Renewed): when it’s set up right and powered reliably, many drivers describe it as a legitimate co‑pilot—but when updates, routing, or power behavior go sideways, frustration hits fast. Verdict: Conditional buy — 7.8/10.
Quick Verdict
Yes/No/Conditional: Conditional — strong for truck-specific routing and planning, but don’t treat it as infallible and expect occasional routing/UI/update annoyances.
| What the data suggests | Evidence from user feedback | Who it impacts most |
|---|---|---|
| Truck routing is a major win | Best Buy reviewer antoinec said it “gives me good truck routes… avoids low clearance bridges… keeping me off hazmat restricted routes.” |
OTR drivers, hazmat, tall rigs |
| Setup matters (truck profile) | Best Buy reviewer jamesh said: “input your truck’s height, weight, etc… and it routes you past obstacles!” |
New buyers, fleets |
| Updates are valued but can be painful | Best Buy reviewer antoinec praised “ability to update with out using a computer,” while a Best Buy reviewer complained: “it needs an update… that takes a bit long time.” |
Drivers relying on hotspot/public Wi‑Fi |
| Some routing/address misses happen | A Best Buy reviewer miggz trucker said: “there was inaccurate roads on the map,” and another wrote: “twenty five percent of my addresses did not show up.” |
Multi‑stop/local delivery |
| Power/battery complaints exist | Best Buy’s review summary notes “issues with power and battery life,” and a reviewer said it “will not stay lit… it dims out on it’s own.” | Anyone who unplug/restarts often |
Claims vs Reality
Garmin marketing leans hard on “custom truck routing,” “arrival planning,” and easy updates. Digging deeper into user reports, the strongest theme is that the device can genuinely reduce stress—especially around restrictions—but it doesn’t remove the need for driver judgment. Best Buy reviewer antoinec called it “one of the best gps i ever used,” highlighting how it “avoids low clearance bridges” and “hazmat restricted routes.” That kind of praise reads like a driver who’s tired of consumer GPS shortcuts and wants something that at least tries to think like a trucker.
At the same time, the “custom truck routing” promise isn’t universally experienced as “always correct.” A verified buyer on Amazon warned: “don’t completely rely on this… there are times when it will attempt to take you under too low a bridge despite having input the correct height.” Another Amazon reviewer flagged inconsistencies: “voice doesn’t match turning direction… and doesn’t always match truck routes.” While the device is marketed as truck-first, multiple user stories show it can still serve up wrong or suboptimal guidance, pushing drivers to cross-check with road signs or a second map app.
Garmin also touts the “easy update” story via Wi‑Fi, and that is a real comfort point for some. Best Buy reviewer jamesh described updating “overnight at love’s,” and antoinec praised updating “with out using a computer.” But the update experience itself becomes a friction point when connections are weak or expectations were different. One Best Buy reviewer wrote: “twenty five percent of my addresses did not show up… i needed to update probably but not three hours,” and another complained it “needs an update… that takes a bit long time.” The gap here isn’t that updates don’t exist—it’s that they can be time-consuming, and some buyers expected “no updates” or fewer maintenance moments.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
“Easy to use” isn’t just a throwaway compliment in the feedback—it’s frequently tied to real work conditions: long shifts, unfamiliar terminals, and fast decisions. Best Buy’s customer summary says it’s “highly rated… for gps, ease of use, route planning,” and individual drivers echo that. Best Buy reviewer antoinec said they “love the ease of use,” and another reviewer blacksonvilf summed it up simply: “i like it, it easy to update i never have problem with this new one.” For drivers who don’t want another complicated in-cab system, those comments point to a device that generally feels approachable.
Truck-specific routing and restriction avoidance show up as the clearest “this paid for itself” moment. Best Buy reviewer jamesh wrote that if you “input your truck’s height, weight, etc… it routes you past obstacles!” and described it getting a semi “safely… across the conus.” That story is about confidence—especially when the alternative is phone GPS guessing. Another Best Buy reviewer, theb82project, framed updates without a computer as a “game-changer” for someone constantly on the move, crediting routing that avoids “restricted roads” and “low clearance bridges.”
Drivers also repeatedly value planning tools and truck stop data. Best Buy reviewer jesusb said it offered “various truck stop options which i liked,” and a verified buyer on Amazon praised it for deliveries: “detailed overhead satellite imagery… very helpful when i am doing store deliveries.” That kind of feedback suggests the benefit isn’t only the turn-by-turn; it’s the “what’s coming up” context—especially for docking, entrances, and choosing stops.
Finally, multiple reviews frame the unit as “worth spending” versus subscription apps. Best Buy reviewer treetop flyer 74 said it helped “soooo much driving semi… way better than an app on a phone with a monthly subscription… spend the money on the dezl!” Even when not perfect, the appeal is ownership and a truck-oriented database rather than paying forever for a generalist navigation app.
Praised themes (from user stories):
- Restriction-aware routing when truck profile is set: “input your truck’s height… it routes you past obstacles!” (Best Buy reviewer
jamesh) - Simple updates and operation: “ability to update with out using a computer” (Best Buy reviewer
antoinec) - Useful truck stop/POI planning: “various truck stop options” (Best Buy reviewer
jesusb) - Strong screen usability and general performance: “clear and responsive touchscreen” (Best Buy reviewer
kubany ch bekk)
Common Complaints
A recurring pattern emerged around routing accuracy—particularly for high-tempo work like local deliveries and multi-stop days. One Best Buy reviewer, miggz trucker, liked the “graphics” but said “even after the update, there was inaccurate roads on the map.” On another platform, a Best Buy review (page 3) complained: “the routing often sends you on non truck routes,” calling it “unreliable for it’s intended purpose.” For drivers whose day can’t afford detours, those misroutes become more than annoyance; they’re appointment risk and lost hours.
Address search and database completeness also comes up as a pain point. A Best Buy reviewer wrote: “twenty five percent of my addresses did not show up,” describing long update attempts. Another reviewer complained it “does not find address as easy as it should.” These aren’t abstract UI complaints—they read like dispatch-driven workflows where the device has to find a warehouse quickly, not “close enough.”
Power behavior is another repeatedly mentioned friction point. Best Buy’s own review summary flags “issues with power and battery life,” and one reviewer described display behavior: “will not stay lit… it dims out on it’s own.” On Amazon, a buyer described a startup annoyance: sometimes it “will not auto power back on” after shutting off the truck, requiring holding the button “for at least 20 seconds.” Another Amazon reviewer’s early “junk” experience was ultimately traced to a defective power cord, and the reviewer later said Garmin was “nice and prompt” once the cord was replaced—suggesting some “device” issues may actually be accessory or power-delivery problems.
Dash cam handling and mounting ergonomics show up more in the dēzlCam variant feedback than the plain OTR710, but the complaints still matter to buyers browsing renewed listings where bundles vary. One verified buyer on Amazon liked the “dash cam is very good” but said “uploading footage… is cumbersome.” Another criticized hardware layout: “worst positioning for the camera… thought putting the camera in the dead center was a better idea.” For anyone choosing the renewed unit expecting an easy dashcam workflow, those stories hint at a learning curve and potential mounting compromises.
Complaint themes (with user quotes):
- Inaccurate/undesired routing: “routing often sends you on non truck routes” (Best Buy review page 3)
- Missing addresses/weak search: “twenty five percent of my addresses did not show up” (Best Buy review page 3)
- Power/display quirks: “will not stay lit… it dims out” (Best Buy review page 3)
- Can still suggest unsafe routes: “attempt to take you under too low a bridge” (Amazon verified buyer)
Divisive Features
The same “truck-safe” routing logic that gives some drivers peace of mind can feel overly cautious to others. One Best Buy review page 3 said the device’s routes were “unnecessarily careful,” claiming they were “95% of the time worse than… my iphone,” and that for “12–20 stops a day” it was a “deal breaker.” That’s a fundamentally different use case than long-haul OTR—multi-stop work values speed and minimal detours, even if it increases risk tolerance.
Interface and “clunkiness” is another split. A Best Buy reviewer called it “best gps i’ve ever owned,” while a critical Best Buy review page 3 said: “the interface is difficult.” The same device can feel intuitive to a driver used to Garmin menus and frustrating to someone expecting phone-like search and lane-level confidence in every scenario.
Trust & Reliability
Some of the strongest reliability stories are actually “problem → support → resolution” arcs. A verified buyer on Amazon initially called it “junk,” describing a support rep who was “condescending,” but later updated the review after Garmin replaced the unit and diagnosed the real culprit: “the power cord… was defective… my unit works wonderfully as it should.” That suggests at least some catastrophic experiences may be rooted in accessory failures rather than the core navigator.
Long-term dependability is harder to pin down from the provided Reddit/community excerpt because it mostly contains product copy rather than driver threads. Still, cross-platform comments reflect a “trust, but verify” mindset. A Best Buy review page 3 advised using both Garmin and Google Maps “to ensure accuracy,” after reporting wrong addresses and time-zone confusion: “it stated… 7:44 central… then… 8:44 eastern… making me automatically late.” For a professional driver, that’s not a minor glitch—it’s appointment fallout.
Alternatives
Only a few direct alternatives appear in the user-provided data, and the most consistent “alternative” is simply the phone. One Best Buy review page 3 compared it unfavorably to “the gps on my iphone,” especially for multi-stop days. Another Best Buy review page 3 said they now use “both my garmin gps and google maps” to double-check, implying the phone remains the safety net even when a truck GPS is installed.
Within Garmin’s own ecosystem, an Amazon reviewer compared it to the prior model: “i have several garmin gps units including the otr700 and this one is better… more accurate… features… better.” That’s not an external competitor, but it is an in-family decision point for buyers upgrading from older Garmin trucking units.
Price & Value
The value story depends heavily on what “renewed” means in practice—especially accessories. The data shows mainstream retail pricing around the $449.99 MSRP for new units in some listings, while Best Buy had extreme clearance pricing at one point (“$96.99… clearance… sold out”), which may not reflect typical availability. On the resale side, eBay listings show used units commonly in the ~$200–$400 range, suggesting renewed pricing should be judged against that band.
User feedback frames value in terms of subscription avoidance and productivity. Best Buy reviewer treetop flyer 74 contrasted it directly against “an app on a phone with a monthly subscription,” urging drivers to “spend the money.” But there’s also a “price sting” theme: one review said, “didn’t like the price,” and another called it “way overpriced,” especially when routing didn’t meet expectations.
Buying tips emerging from complaints are practical: confirm the bundle includes the right power cable and mount, because one Amazon reviewer’s entire experience improved after replacing a defective cord. And if your workflow is heavy on multi-stop local routing, multiple users suggest you may still want a phone map as backup.
FAQ
Q: Does the Garmin dezl OTR710 actually avoid low bridges and restricted roads?
A: Many drivers say it helps a lot when the truck profile is set correctly. Best Buy reviewer antoinec said it “avoids low clearance bridges” and hazmat restrictions, and jamesh advised inputting “height, weight, etc.” Still, an Amazon verified buyer warned: “don’t completely rely on this.”
Q: Is it easy to update maps without a computer?
A: Several users praise Wi‑Fi updating. Best Buy reviewer antoinec liked updates “with out using a computer,” and jamesh said they update “overnight at love’s.” But others complain updates can take a long time, including one who said an update took “three hours.”
Q: How’s battery and power behavior in real use?
A: Power-related complaints appear across platforms. Best Buy’s summary mentions “issues with power and battery life,” and one Best Buy review said it “dims out on it’s own.” An Amazon reviewer also reported it sometimes won’t auto power back on and requires holding the power button “for at least 20 seconds.”
Q: Is it better than using Google Maps or an iPhone for truck driving?
A: It depends on your routes. Some praise it as “way better than an app on a phone” (Best Buy reviewer treetop flyer 74) due to truck routing and POIs. Others said it was “95% of the time worse than… my iphone” for fast multi-stop work and returned it.
Q: Any common “renewed” purchase risks mentioned in reviews?
A: Accessories and power delivery stand out. A verified buyer on Amazon said their problems were solved when Garmin replaced a “defective” power cord, after which the unit “works wonderfully.” Another verified buyer noted a missing item: “seems to be missing a wall charger… wasn’t packaged with one.”
Final Verdict
Buy if you’re an OTR driver or fleet operator who wants truck-specific routing, truck stop planning, and a dedicated screen—and you’re willing to keep your truck profile accurate and cross-check posted signs. Best Buy reviewer jamesh put it plainly: “input your truck’s height, weight, etc… and it routes you past obstacles!”
Avoid if you run 12–20 local stops daily and need phone-fast address search and the most direct routing. One Best Buy review page 3 said the routes were “unnecessarily careful” and “95% of the time worse than… my iphone.”
Pro tip from the community: treat it as a co‑pilot, not the boss—an Amazon verified buyer advised: “keep your eyes open,” and another user story shows that even major issues can come down to basics like a bad power cord rather than the navigator itself.
