Tere and I are going to buy a new GPS system for use in both our motor home and car. Being able to mount it easily and being able to read it easily are important considerations as well as all the other normal features. Any recommendations?
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The windshield is soooo far away from the pilot's (or copilot's) seat(s). A large screen GPS is soooo expensive. I was acutely aware of the first circumstance driving the Barth home to MI from AZ almost a year ago. At least I had remembered to pack it in my carryon, flying one way to Phoenix. "It" is a Garmin NUVI 200W. I think the suffix means widescreen. I protect it in a Speck silicone tough skin. Anyway, although it is great for my MINI, the screen is too small in the Barth.
Solution: Garmin GPS 18USB Deluxe, consisting of software (disc) and what appears to be a hocky puck with a long wire hanging out of it. The puck has a suction cup mount for the windshield. The end of the wire has a USB plug. I connect the plug to an old Compaq Armada M300 with 12" screen. I power the laptop from a Compaq 12V adapter brick plugged into the lighter/accessory socket.
The laptop or notebook computer sits atop a thing like a Jotto Desk that I fabricated from primarily an extruded-aluminum-framed black glass small cabinet door (salvage from IKEA) to which I screwed an exceptionally robust RAM MOUNT. The RAM was a real deal I found on line. They were surplus from a group that had a flange pre-drilled to fit the back of some particular flat panel screen. The bottom of the RAM is screwed to the Oak plywood console cabinet.
Unfortunately, the spherical joints of the RAM will not alone hold the platform horizontal. The flange of the RAM is screwed to one corner of the extruded alum frame. the weight of the computer and platform exert too much torque for the spherical plastic joint to hold during the vibration and jiggling of going down the road. So, I have to place a leg under the platform. Temporarily, I am using a piece of PVC pipe. It is being replaced with a lightweight tubular steel leg (another salvage find from IKEA)
So, I have a 12" screen GPS from a GARMIN USB I bought second hand, running in a second hand laptop I formerly used for remote email before I got an iPad. In fact, I can still use it for email when the Barth is parked within range of wi fi, like behind a McDonalds or Panera.
The Armada M300 being small for a laptop, we were able to strap it onto the console of our Buick Rendezvous. It is too large and the console too small to do that in our Merc Montego. So, when I get lost in it, I activate VZnavigator on my Verizon LG Chocolate Touch phone.
Sometimes my wife and I wish that her iPad or mine was 3G enabled. Then the ipad would make a great GPS, along with doing so many other cool aps.
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I too recommend the Garmin, you want to be sure to buy one with lifetime upgrades.

I have found a down-N-dirty method to solve the "windshield too far away syndrome", I mount the GPS suction cup to the corner of my backup CRT glass. It is not in the way, and stays stuck better than the windshield.

We use a remote antenna for our Garmin. This solves the distance problem. The Barth windshield is almost vertical, so the roof really gets in the way without a remote.

Previous RV was a Southwind, which had an extreme swept-back windshield which was almost a sunroof.

However, we find ourselves using our smarter-than-me phone (Droid X) more and more on the road. Usually, being old-fashioned, I just pull up a map, but when seriously in need, the navigation feature is really good. We find the GPS being used mostly for off road forays.

We vote for the Garmin 465T which has the truck software. You put in height and weight of your coach and it plots routes to suit. Never had any issues with receiver. Mounts with suction cup to dash above the radio. Lifetime updates and we got it on Ebay with all the accessories for under $200. Last check there were a bunch at that price level.

I like my Magellin with the 7" screen.

Mine is not the newest model.
I've had her for nearly 39 years and I like her a lot. I call her Patty.
She has an undergrad degree in geography and even took a cartography course once, so she knows how to read the truckers road atlas.
She hasn't steered me wrong yet!
Don ... we love our Barth!

I use a Garmin in all 3 of my service trucks and have one for personal use. To solve the issue with the windshield, I just mount it to my drivers side, side window. No problems for me.

I also second the suggestion that you look for one with lifetime updates.

The unit I use in the Barth and my service truck is a StreetPilot c530 and I had to buy a lifetime subscription for that. The other 3 units are a the Gamin Nuvi 40LM. The LM, in the part number, stands for a unit sold with the "Lifetime Map Subscription" already included. On black Friday, the Garmin Nuvi 40LM cost me about $85.

You really should go to a local store, with the display table setup, to see the units for yourself. Some have neat features like height restriction avoidance, traffic updates and Bluetooth for hands free calling.

If you want more opinions/info, over on busconversions.com one of the hot topics right now is about gps units.

I'm using a Samsung Droid Charge smartphone for a GPS. It has an HDMI-out on it. I plug it into an 8" Lilliput monitor. It works great. This monitor also has a signal wire so you can connect it the reverse switch and use it with a backup camera. I also have a mini-ITX based computer plugged into it so I can used MS Streets & Trips on it too. The monitor is also wired to the ignition so it shuts off automatically.

My model is a 869GL-80NP/C/T. It is a touch screen monitor but the touch feature won't work with the smartphone. It only works with the PC. I don't have a camera for it yet but it's on the to-do list.

I plan on connecting a second monitor for the co-pilot seat. That way my wife can control everything from her position as well. Looks like I threw the K.I.S.S. method out the window on this project.

I call her Patty.

Sounds way more expensive than a Magellan or Garmin. But, oh those added features by password-only. Password: ILoveU.

It may not be practical for some, but I have a small laptop with Delorme's Street Atlas USA and a USB GPS receiver. I have a fold-down table mounted to the center console.

The advantage is the screen size (14") and its flexibility in mapping routes. The "Plus" version has 7,000,000 phone numbers.

With the download of a special driver, the GPS receiver can be used with Trailer Life's Campground Navigator.