Ultra rugged Kyocera phones,GPS smartphones ..my guide

So I have my Kyocera Duraforce, the cheap one, the E6560. I have the free versions of Co-Pilot, OsmAnd, Guru Maps, Locus Map, and Gaia Map...Is there any I should add?

I also have a slew of gpx files from others, such as the MABDR, and I few I made myself using kurviger and furkot..

Well, the problem I'm having is when I upload / import a gpx track to locus for example, it shows up just as a straight line?

I can't seem to upload // import gpx into Guru maps at all

I can't upload / import gpx files into Co Pilot; guess I can with the paid version?

Only with OsmAnd can I get an actual gpx to show up as the route that it is on the map...what gives and what should I be doing differently?

I use Mappite.org to create a route and then export it as a "trk" file. This comes into Guru great and follows the road. If I export it as a "route", it comes in as a straight line like you are describing.

Thanks but mappite seems tricky to use. It only seems to give you a route for short distances, isn't very user-friendly, can't seem to type in locations, etc. Kurviger and furkot seem a little better.

What other combos should I be using as far as route builder online with laptop and android app to navigate with it by phone?

Wow - I find Mappite the absolute easiest program to use out there, lol. I just completed a 5,200 mile trip using it to transfer trks to Guru, breaking each day into it's own route (average route distance was about 400 miles). I wrote up a tutorial that used an iPhone, but the Mappite part is the same:
https://advrider.com/f/threads/galileo-pro-quick-start-guide.1166708/

As for other route-building programs, I don't use anything else. lol

I agree, Mappite is the easiest SW I've found to create tracks and it follows the road contours with the least number of waypoint inputs. Of course it doesn't do all the planing details, POIs and such, that Kurviger and Furkot do but that is why it is so much easier to use.

When you say you can't upload to Guru, what exactly do you mean? Do you get an error? Not sure how to?

Can't seem to find the option or command to do it. I must be dense

Open file browser. Browse to file. Tap it. It should prompt you with what app you want to open with.

So you can't import a gpx directly into the app while it's open?

Which app should I use for navigating myself along a pre-built route in gpx format?

I keep all my files on my Google Drive that way they are available anywhere I have internet. To make them resident for Guru, pick the file from the Google Drive and open with Guru. I then can place into the Guru directory of my choosing and they reside on my phone's SD card. I don't think there is an "import" or "download" feature within the app.

Not that I'm aware of. Guru is a little TOO simple.

I use Locus or OsmAnd

This has been a great thread read (I did not dead all 150 some pages!) but it has helped me decide against a Garmin. Ordered a Duraforce Pro on eBay
Ram base mount and short arm, and a Quad-lock mount with ball for ram mounts. Ive been using quad locks on bicycles and motorcycles for years and love them. I also had one in my last truck which was still in place after being rear-ended by a guy doing about 45 mph as I sat at a red light. I’ll post pics once everything is mounted.
This forum has been a blessing.

The most frustrating thing now is getting a gpx file imported into these apps and it shows up as a straight line not along roads as it should be.

That's not a track then. It's a route. Personally I only use tracks.

What's the difference?

https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=v0rJAHy2hq3prHjRlxdRw5

that's an issue with how the route is exported, not how it was imported or the application used.

route and track will display the same, IF it has the points to follow roads. if it only has the start/end points, you'll see the straight line mentioned earlier

So how do I export it correctly from route building sites like kurviger, mappite, and furkot, etc?

Just don't select the "route" option? I only ever use the track option on Furkot