Hey all, I'm new to this forum and I just purchased my first Truck! I have owned a few radar detectors in the past such as Escorts, Cobras, etc...

My main concern is Reduced sensitivity due to the size/height of the truck. Let me apologize in advance for my ignorance as my question may seem silly to many of you.

I'd like to avoid the very expensive remote devices if at all possible.

Thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions.


Russ from Florida

Truck Facts:
2011 F-150 King Ranch Super-Crew)
RetraxPro bed cover (all Aluminum)
Lumar window tint (Pinnacle metalized) front doors and front strip); factory privacy tint on rest

 

Passport 8500...Nothing else.

 

heres a great one DON'T SPEED

 

Escort 9500ix
Valentine V1

^^considered the best ones on the market. I've heard the passport 8500, which is made by Escort is up there. If i had the money a 9500ix would be in my truck.

 

The only difference to the 9500 and 8500 is that the 9500 has gps location on it. If you pass a certain spot every day in your commute that sets off the radar detector you can program it so that when your in that location again, it will not give a false alarm. I sell these things. 9500 is a waste of money. 8500 is where it's at. V1 is too bulky.

 

Radar detectors have really out lived their time. Almost all law enforcement agencies have switched to laser, which most people know means if your radar detector is going off for a laser it's too late Unless you are going to drop a small fortune and have a built in system on your vehicle that actually deflects lasers then don't waste your money. you really don't save any real time speeding and when you do wreck from the slower reaction time you've given yourself guys like me have to come cut your mangled body out of your car and clean up the mess. I will now get off my soap box. Thank for your time.

 

[QUOTE="Lonestar EMT"]Radar detectors have really out lived their time. Almost all law enforcement agencies have switched to laser, which most people know means if your radar detector is going off for a laser it's too late Unless you are going to drop a small fortune and have a built in system on your vehicle that actually deflects lasers then don't waste your money. you really don't save any real time speeding and when you do wreck from the slower reaction time you've given yourself guys like me have to come cut your mangled body out of your car and clean up the mess. I will now get off my soap box. Thank for your time.[/

I agree with the EMT on all points. As a cop I have worked many accident scenes that were caused by speed and carelessness. Just slow down and forget the radar detector. He's if ur detector signal a laser is painting the vehicle, then it's too late - you're caught.

 

I do agree with the last two posts, however I still speed slightly (5-10 over). It's nice to know when I'm on the freeway if a certain area is being hit. Here in AZ laser doesn't seem to be used to much from what I can tell and some of the newer Infiniti vehicles as well as the sun itself can actually trip your "laser" on the radar. I have the 8500 and love it. It's also to know ahead of time if a photo van is in the area as well as certain permanent cameras.

 

RADAR detectors are still valuable. I'd say it pays for itself by preventing one speeding citation. That being said, I write citations all day, every day to owners of expensive RADAR detectors. It's obvious when a vehicle is equipped with one, due to the driver's reaction to the RADAR detector's alarm. If I stop a vehicle for speeding and it's equipped with a RADAR detector, I don't give warnings. Having a RADAR detector in your vehicle means you are making a habit of exceeding the speed limit and are trying to beat the system. With modern POP and "instant on" RADAR, lazer, and LIDAR systems...I wish you good luck.

 

I've found the best one to be my right foot and large gauge on the dashboard cluster that tells me my current velocity. Every so often you see a white sign along the side of the road which has a number on it, keep your current velocity at or about that number and you don't get speeding tickets.

I've never been bothered for 5-10 over. I figure they (the State Troopers) have bigger fish to fry than the guy going 70 in a 65. Maybe I've been lucky, who knows. I've only had one radar detector and it annoyed the crap out of me with false positives (this was 10 years ago, I'm sure they're much improved by now). I used it for two months and decided my drive was more enjoyable if I just went the speed limit and didn't have a loud *** buzzer screaming every 3 minutes.