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First, download BaseCamp from the Garmin website and install it.
Then download and install Mapsource - BC includeds a general map which MS recognizes as a valid map product to allow the update to MS.
If you are doing this on a 64-bit PC with Windows 7 you may also need to install a mapset which used a 32-bit installer, i.e. My-Trails...

Got it.  Thanks a ton!

Some of our guys use the 500 but a lot use the 1300 or what ever they have.  I have ridden about a 1000 miles with my 1300 on and it still works.  I rode through a big rain storm with it on and it still works.  ATVers like them for the big screens.  You can see them pretty well while you are moving and bouncing.  It you are hiking or geocaching you can easily stop and read a smaller screen.  The other thing is you can get them real cheap on sale.  I would try your and see how it works.  You will need to get a ram mount to mount it securely, the Garmin mount will not work very well on an ATV.

I had a RAM mount for my old Garmin etrex and it worked great so i will def go that way again. I am going to try loading some maps on my 205w. I think i will have to get a dvd copy of city navigator first tho. I cant for the life of me get map source to work on pc. I used your tutorial, downloaded the garmin trainer, some of your maps and still nothing. I keep getting the no previous vrsion found error.

MNTrailridr, I do exactly what you want to do and I ride with a lot of people who use various Nuvi models.  You can load a custom map (like the ones on here to any Nuvi, the new "custom maps" like Google Earth you cannot.  All of the ATV riders on RZR and other forums use the tansparent custom maps.  I think the work "custom map" is becoming confusing.

You can search for maps on here by me, "BobT" and you will find three custom ATV trail maps for West Virginia, Taylor Park, Co, and Moab, UT.  These maps are widely used for ATV riding.  These all work great on all Garmin GPSr's.  These are the type of custom maps that ATV'ers use.  "eparks" on this site also makes ATV trail maps.

Not sure if this is the type map you were thinking about.

The link below will take you to a site where you can download a tutorial to make these type of maps.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/b7mfd8rkabwzdd9/Garmin%20Map%20Making%20Tutorial.zip

You can also get a free progam called "gpx2img" that will make maps from GPX tracks with one click of a mouse.  They are not as nice or customizable but or OK.  These are not as easily distributed to friends as the ones in the tutorial which shows how to a distributable .exe file.

Thanks Bob T!  I agree that "custom map" can imply many things and cause confusion.  I have since gotten a chance to talk to one of the guys on the RZR forum who went on some crazy 4800 mile ride across America and they did all thier trail navigating with a Nuvi 500, City Navigator and Mapsource.   I already have a Nuvi 205W that I use in my car, but I doubt it would last one trail ride in out the elements.  What Nuvi's are you guys using?

I just looked over the Garmin Topo 24k for MN.  Kinda disappointed with the trail detail... none of the trails we ride on are there.  It looks like it is just topography (obviosuly) with limited paved and dirt roads.

I guess the guys that brag up the Nuvi 500 do so because the trails they ride are on the map product they are using.  Since I can't seem to find a map product with MN and WI atv trails, the Montana is my clear choice.  I have come to the realization I just have to spend the money for it.  With the Garmin custom map feature I can do exactly what I want. 

Thanks for all the help Boyd!

Thanks Boyd.  I can afford a Montana, but if I can do what I want for considerably less I will for sure go that way.  Over on the RZRForum, members all swear by the how great the Nuvi 500 is, but no one can really goes into detail about the mapping works.  And trust me, i've asked. 

I think the biggest hurdle is finding the trails I want to ride on a particular map product.  I assume if (for example) Garmin Topo 24k for MN has the Red Top ATV Trail on it, then I can utilize MapSource to zero in that particular area, cut and paste (or whatever) to make my custom map and then upload it to the Nuvi 500 SD card.  I could use the street maps side to navigate the truck to the trail head, disable that, then enable my custom Red Top map and go ride.  Right?

Newbi looking for a GPS unit to use only off road on Mn and Wi ATV trails.  My first choice is a NUVI 500 (cheap), back up choice is Montana 600 (spendy). 

My main concern with the 500 is that it is not custom map capable like the 600.  I know a lot of people us the 500 for off road only but I dont know how they are able to load maps onto it. 

I want to be able to view/load a specific trail onto the GPS and then go ride without having to do so much navigating aong the way.  Being able to add waypoints here and there which I can upload to the PC later and then download back to the GPS would be a plus.  Can anyone help with what maps or tools I need to accomplishthis on the Nuvi?  Thanks!