New Camper/Travel Questions

Valkyrie

New member
Hi Brats,

Marcia and I are sitting in our new RV at Salt Fork State Park in Ohio and reveling in luxury (to us anyway). For the last ten years we had a Coleman pop-up and loved it. But three years ago we saw a KZ Spree 240RL (rear lounge) at the Cleveland RV Show and decided that we liked its open floor plan, huge windows, built-for-a-couple design and decided that we would buy one in five years when Marcia retired. Of course, they discontinued it last year. Internet searches put us a day late on great deals: $10,000 off retail in this soft market. Last month we were in SC at a wedding and I found a used one at a dealership (used four days by a couple who found it too small for ALL of the grandkids!) in WV just three miles from our route of travel. Anyhow, we saw it, liked it and wrote a check for an immaculate RV for only 40% of retail! Last week we sold the pop-up to a good friend, happy in the knowledge that his family and kids will enjoy it as much as we did.

We picked up the trailer yesterday and got 13.5 mpg from the first tank through our diesel cruising at 65 mph on the mountainous WV Turnpike! We are finding it easy to get used to AC, a real refrigerator, an oven, a microwave, huge awning and so on. In less than two weeks we are headed for the Black Hills for a few days, then the Big Horn mountains west of Sheridan, WY and finally the Snowy Range of Medicine Bow National Forest west of Laramie. We're taking Boomer, of course, and also our canoe for some trout fishing in those high mountain lakes (close to 11,000 feet). Can't wait!

Questions, please. Someone mentioned that they had programmed campgrounds and Flying J's (I think) into their Garmin Nuvi GPS. How is that done?

Also, what truck stops and so on, have free WiFi?

Finally, although we would do this only as a last resort, I understand that some stores, truck stops and restaurants allow overnight parking of RV's. Which ones allow this and has anyone taken advantage of this? Of course, we would prefer a nice campground and would have security concerns, but does anyone have experience in this area?

Thanks in advance for your help. I'll post pictures in our album when we get back home.

Regards,

Nick
"Valkyrie"
 
Congratulations on the trailer - Aren't those little things like AC and your own bathroom great?

RV parks east of the Big Muddy are kind of scarce in a lot of areas. However = state and federal parks are there in plenty, some are really beautiful. Check out "reserveusa.com". and Golden Age Passport cuts the already reasonable price in half!

Happy trail(ing) to you!

The other Marcia
 
I don't own an RV but in anticipation I visit RVTravel.com

You should join this site's news letter

I believe WalMarts allow over night parking.
 
Hi Nick,

That post was from me. Check out POI-Factory...

http://www.poi-factory.com/

There, you can download all kinds of useful points of interest that can be loaded into most Nuvi models.

The absolute MUST for RV travel is the Trailer Life Campground Directory. It is as thick as a big city phone book and lists almost all the campgrounds in the US; also gives ratings (completeness, cleanliness, scenic), amenities (hook-ups, cable, wifi, etc, etc, etc), directions to the RV park, and way more other stuff than I can think of right now. :wink:

We do NOT travel without that guide book - including with the boat.

If you want to save some bucks on campgrounds, there is Passport America - you pay $50 or so to join and then you get 50% off at selected campgrounds. You get a book with your paid membership that lists the parks. We saved more than the membership fee the first week we had it. Now, understand that some of these parks are not fancy... but they are a place to stop for the night while enroute... and hook-ups ('cause you're gonna want to use that a/c). This is a marketing program for the campgrounds: helps them fill sites. There are some restrictions at certain campgrounds (no holiday weekends, discount not available some months, etc), but that is all listed in the book.

http://www.passportamerica.com/

Regarding the Wal-Marts: not every Wal-Mart allows overnight parking (many local communities ban overnight parking, except in campgrounds). Also, there is an etiquette that should be followed if you stay there...

http://www.escapees.com/boondocking.asp

We've already visited some about the Black Hills (our home for nearly 30 years), but if you have any questions, feel free to drop me a note or give me a call.

Have fun with the land traveling!

Best wishes,
Jim
 
toyman":2ap1a4k0 said:
Welcome to the world of blacktop boating. The place I'd suggest going first is here - http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm Lots of good info.

Dave, you beat me to it but it bears repeating.

RVNET is the best place to learn about RV'ing, not so much here on C-Brats unless, like some, we use our C-Dory as the camper/trailer. A few of us do use RV's to tow and launch, but we're in the minority by far.

Yes, most Walmarts allow overnight parking but there is etiquette involved: Always ask the manager and only stay one night. Indian casinos that don't already have an RV park are usually very open to overnighters....

Don
 
toyman":bd6splpz said:
Welcome to the world of blacktop boating. The place I'd suggest going first is here - http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm Lots of good info.

That site is a good for search but be wary if you want to participate. It's very moderated and a few of them really like their power. Myrvtalk.com is smaller, just as knowledgeable, and moderated like this site.

-Greg
 
Thanks for the info, especially Jim with your links - the POI site and Passport America really look good. I'll use them both. I have to pick up a new copy of the Trailer Life Directory - ours is a few years old and we consider it the Bible of camping.

Anyone have info on free WiFi truck stops etc?

Thanks again,

Nick
"Valkyrie"
 
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