BSB67
Well-Known Member
One of my favorite movies
Has anyone here rented a motorhome and traveled to the national parks out west?
- Thread starter Richard Cranium
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BSB67
Well-Known Member
Funny, we did your exact list of spots in October a couple years ago including the Hover dam. Did a raft tour starting at Glen Canyon too.
I've about done it all, most only once. I've camped, I've used a motorhome, hell, I've even renovated a motorhome. My idea of a camping anymore is a cheap hotel. Don't worry about a trailer to bring a car back on, you'll need to bring one. Plans should be made in advance before pulling in saying, here I am, where do we park. A few friends had them years ago, they can be rolling luxury. Driving around through a town with all that around you and behind you can be a PITA. It's fun and can be a super adventure, if you're into it.
chargervert
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Mopar Miki
Well-Known Member
Rent one locally for 4 or 5 days and go somewhere 350 miles away. Spend some time on the slab [interstate] for sure.
If you are really adventurous go boondocking.
Campgrounds are a whole new social circle.
Lot's of logistics to consider
If you are really adventurous go boondocking.
Campgrounds are a whole new social circle.
Lot's of logistics to consider
A couple years ago I was in Mammoth Ca during the huge snow event. 395 was closed due to flooding on my way out so I detoured through Death Valley and Las Vegas to get back to Phoenix. Spent more than a few hours there. Want to go back.
70ChargerRT
Well-Known Member
I’ve pulled a 5th wheel and lived out of it most of my life for work even before I ever owned my 1st camera or phone. I seldom took pics of anything until my 1st I-phone in 2010 and I’ve lost most of those lol. I’ve been to a lot of places out west, I’ve even been to tatooine lol. The only place I didn’t pull my camper was to Maui but after all the places Ive been I still find myself loving the east coast better. I just love the Appalachian Mountains. California is still one of the most beautiful states they are.
70ChargerRT
Well-Known Member
chargervert
Well-Known Member
My friend used to drive from Connecticut to California to buy cars and bring them back home. He bought 5 E body cars on his last trip. A 70 Challenger R/T V code car,a 70 Challenger R/T SE U code car,a 70 Challenger SE 383 car,a 70 Cuda U code car,and a 70 Barracuda slant 6 roller. On one trip he had a problem with the trailer axle somewhere in Arizona and the cops towed it to a tire shop in town. The tire shop owner ran the whole town,cops and all. He would not let my friend leave until he deemed the trailer safe for travel and had the cops make sure he couldn't leave! He was there for 18 days until he had a representitive from the trailer manufacturer come to the tire shop and approve the repair work done to the axle on the trailer! It was like an episode of the Twilight Zone and Groundhog Day mixed together! He has other true stories like his truck burning to the ground after the oil line for the turbo failed,and the cops pulling the gas tanks out of the cars because they thought he was hauling drugs! No one drives across country just for old cars. After a fruitless search they realized he does! Be careful out there!
Rebelrouser
Well-Known Member
Did the upper peninsula of Michigan in the camper 1st week of October mackinaw island, several state parks, and pictured rocks national seashore. We hit the fall colors just right. Super trip to do. lots of history and restored forts on Mackinaw besides the no cars and riding bicycles. And my truck gets 17mpg carrying the camper, so I don't spend a ton on fuel. In Mackinaw we camped on the shore of lake Huron for $40.00 a night
Love the UP! Gotta do the Mackinaw Bridge in the rain. On a Motorcycle. Only way to go.
Unkle Krusty
Well-Known Member
The road from LA area, to the high lands of Nevada and Edwards Field, is quite steep. Many big block motorhomes would stop, due to fuel starvation. Many would overheat.
Going the other way brakes can be a problem. Both reasons are why I needed my 727 to engage first gear, and stay in first gear. The Sierra Mountains and the Cascades, have some wonderful scenery and places to visit. But it comes with steep hills. Yellowstone sits on a high plateau around 6000 feet.
You go up from there in many places. Snow lingers to late in the year. Many of the nice places to visit have already been mentioned.
Going the other way brakes can be a problem. Both reasons are why I needed my 727 to engage first gear, and stay in first gear. The Sierra Mountains and the Cascades, have some wonderful scenery and places to visit. But it comes with steep hills. Yellowstone sits on a high plateau around 6000 feet.
You go up from there in many places. Snow lingers to late in the year. Many of the nice places to visit have already been mentioned.
Might get some good pointer's here..... 
nitro_rat
Well-Known Member
I go out West all the time. I usually drive my '73 Power Wagon which has an old truck bed camper on it. Nothing fancy, it's just a cap.
I can sleep in the back in a pinch but I usually stay in cheap old motels. I look for good rated ones on Expedia. You can generally call and negotiate a lower rate because Expedia only pays the hotel a portion of the booking fee. $40 to $80 will usually get you a decent room in an old "tourist trap" motel. Some of them are pretty cool. I've been all over the Western US and Canada, the one pic is on the ferry to Vancouver Island and then following my buddy in his '79 Macho Power Wagon on the island.
I can do more exploring this way, a RV just seems to get in the way off the beaten track. I don't do anything extreme, but you can generally traverse most of the "4x4" trails in the National Parks with a stock vehicle. The antique Warn winch on my front bumper does work, but I don't leave it connected and have never used it to un-stick myself.
I can sleep in the back in a pinch but I usually stay in cheap old motels. I look for good rated ones on Expedia. You can generally call and negotiate a lower rate because Expedia only pays the hotel a portion of the booking fee. $40 to $80 will usually get you a decent room in an old "tourist trap" motel. Some of them are pretty cool. I've been all over the Western US and Canada, the one pic is on the ferry to Vancouver Island and then following my buddy in his '79 Macho Power Wagon on the island.
I can do more exploring this way, a RV just seems to get in the way off the beaten track. I don't do anything extreme, but you can generally traverse most of the "4x4" trails in the National Parks with a stock vehicle. The antique Warn winch on my front bumper does work, but I don't leave it connected and have never used it to un-stick myself.
Might get some good pointer's here.....
Abby sure does have a couple good points.
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Check places/parks & you want to go, places you want to stay in between them
make sure the size of the unit you want, especially if it's a Class A pusher
or will rent, or to use will be allowed
many of the parks or parts of them,
overall have strict lengths/heights restrictions
so do a lot of RV parks on the way to & from them parks
had this unit from 1997-ish to 2007-ish
Safari, 36 Magnum Chassis, rear pusher Cummins Allison combo
if you got a car or any trailer (boat etc.) behind it,
there's a lot of places that it would be too long
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Unkle Krusty
Well-Known Member
Just a thought.
It has been rumoured that many places will not accept an older vehicle. 1995 or thereabouts. We had no problem anywhere with our 77 Dodge camper van. So I think junky looking might be the key for no admittance. We are older than the wheels used by the Hillbillies, when they moved to Beverly.
The camp grounds will have all manner of rigs. From really big and expensive, to tent like things on the back of hatchbacks.
Depending on your age, warmth might be one of the biggest criteria. Tents are chilly, so too is sleeping in the back of a pickup. Rain is the next big thing. We see a lot of miserable campers in the chilly rainy spring. Mosquitos are a problem in the far North. We have screens that fill the window and door areas. Amazon has bug suits. The tent type rigs that sit on top of a hard top jeep are cute, but you need to descend a ladder to have a pee. Your special circumstances will guide you. We like being inside and warm, and staying inside to pee at 0 dark 300.
It has been rumoured that many places will not accept an older vehicle. 1995 or thereabouts. We had no problem anywhere with our 77 Dodge camper van. So I think junky looking might be the key for no admittance. We are older than the wheels used by the Hillbillies, when they moved to Beverly.
The camp grounds will have all manner of rigs. From really big and expensive, to tent like things on the back of hatchbacks.
Depending on your age, warmth might be one of the biggest criteria. Tents are chilly, so too is sleeping in the back of a pickup. Rain is the next big thing. We see a lot of miserable campers in the chilly rainy spring. Mosquitos are a problem in the far North. We have screens that fill the window and door areas. Amazon has bug suits. The tent type rigs that sit on top of a hard top jeep are cute, but you need to descend a ladder to have a pee. Your special circumstances will guide you. We like being inside and warm, and staying inside to pee at 0 dark 300.
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wahya
Well-Known Member
In 2011, on our first trip camping from Florida to Alaska, we ran into all sorts of obstacles. First was the massive tornado outbreak in Alabama. Then flooding trying to get across the Mississippi,took us about 70 miles out of the way. A snowstorm in Colorado and the east entrance to Yellowstone was closed. The only reservation that I had made was a State Park just outside Yellowstone, for the Memorial Day weekend got canceled do to flooding. Someone had told us about Big Horn Canyon national recreation area in Wyoming and we just went there. Raining all around us, but we had sunshine. I found a fm radio station that just played music from the 60s and 70s. Almost nobody at the campground and I turned on the outside speakers. I told my wife that the vacation just started for me and we got the chairs to sit outside. The next day, we went on a long hike to the canyon and river. Loved that place. Edit : correction, Montana.
sam dupont
Well-Known Member
I have taken some great photos of Moose in Yellowstone and the Tetons, but be careful. People talk about Bison, I'm more afraid of Moose, especially cows with young ones. They are fleet of foot. Always have an escape plan.
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