Planning the Trip
Chapter 2

            The secret of worry free traveling is planning for every contingency and having a backup plan readily available if problems arise. Start by choosing a RV that is mechanically good and is right for your needs.  But, as the saying goes, "If it has wheels, it's gonna have to be fixed!" My ace-in-the-hole on automotive breakdowns has always been to initially purchase value in the vehicle so that you don't mind spending money on it if you have to.   I purchased my RV at a price that allowed me to recondition it mechanically before I left.  I overhauled the engine, replaced the transmission and replaced the tires.   I could still afford to drop in a new engine and be ahead of cost on the vehicle when compared to buying a brand new RV.  Some folks will prefer a shiny new rig; however, an older unit has advantages.  First of all, you can refurbish the interior to your liking and not be bound to dealer restrictions on choice.  Secondly, an older unit does not draw as much attention from would-be thieves.  And finally, you will feel more comfortable taking the rough roads and parking your RV in the trees and bushes since you won't be as worried about scratching the paint.  Routine maintenance will keep repairs to a minimum and even the newest of RV's require repairs.  Be sure that your warranty, insurance, and towing agreements are readily available should you require roadside assistance.  Also make all necessary repairs to your RV before you leave home.  If something "ain't broke", but looks like it may not last long, fix it.  One last thought about RV repairs.  Always allow a few extra days for repairs in your itinerary just in case you need them.

                                                                                    
                                                      Our RV in Hendersonville, NC.                             In Idaho, Dale fixes our steps

             Let's discuss itineraries.  Everyone has one and they stink, if you stick to them.  Except for meeting up with friends at a particular place in time, I've tried hard not to be anywhere at any certain time.  The whole idea of leisurely RV travel is to do it at your own pace.  If you have to make reservations, always allow an extra day or two to take the pressure off driving a long distance if you happen to get sidetracked.  And as contradictory as it may sound, making itineraries is fun!  Planning my retirement trip was detailed and precise, day by day, down to specific parks on specific days and to see specific points of interest nearby.  Estimated driving times and scenic stopping points for breaks were all duly noted down and maps were marked and placed in sequence.   I spent weeks of evenings planning just two or three days.  It kept me sane for at least the last six weeks before I retired!  Planning our trip was fun and the anticipation going to all the places we planned was thrilling.  Out of 150 carefully planned days, we actually were "on schedule" to only 2 of them.  We just didn't bother to go from "A" to "B" if "C" seemed more interesting.  We also stayed in places as long as we wanted or skipped stops that just didn't seem worthwhile. 
             An itinerary should give you a general overview of your trip. The idea is to have a campground target for the day you start out, know the directions to get there before you leave, and be willing to go somewhere else as time and interests dictate.  Unless you require full hookups to be comfortable at night, reservations are largely unnecessary.  However, getting to a campground before 3 P.M. is advisable or it may be filled.  Having the capability of being totally self-contained with a full water tank, empty waste tanks, and a generator to provide your own electric makes it easier in case you're required to stay in an overflow area during crowded season.  We provide copies of our itinerary to family and to friends who might want to meet us along the way.  Knowing that we deviate from our plans, our son at home is our message center for anyone wishing to contact us.  We phone home once a week, rotating weeks between our son and our daughter.  They keep each other informed and pass on any messages to us.  We also keep a cellular phone and a CB radio for emergencies.   Another option to keep the communication lines open, is an 800-message center where you can collect and leave messages.

                                                       
            In your planning of where to go, the "where" is often determined by services of campgrounds and whether or not they accept pets.  You will frequently want to select your next stop based on your needs to dump, refill water, or to do laundry.  I always prefer to have full fresh water and empty waste tanks while traveling to enable me to stay anywhere, regardless of hookups.  However, some people prefer to have minimum fresh water in transit to cut down on weight and fuel consumption.  We have "dry" camped for up to 10 days with careful water management.  There are faucet attachments that save two-thirds of "sink wasted" water available at RV supply stores.   These screw into most faucets and require a "push" pressure or the water stops.  It saves a lot of water, rinsing dishes, or brushing teeth, where water is usually left on.
                                                                                                               
                                                        when you push white plastic wand the water comes out...                   

            Also be mindful while traveling with a pet to, make sure that the campground you've selected allows pets.   It has always bothered me that my home state, Florida, does not allow pets in all state owned campgrounds. 
This is starting to change, but they charge extra where they do accept pets.  There are plenty of resources that can provide you with information on campgrounds that accept pets.  Below are just a few that you can write to and ask for information.    Specific state and regional addresses for federal, state, and county parks are listed in the appendix.  After you gather the information, you might consider storing it alphabetically by state in large envelopes for easy reference.
            Private campground directories are available from camping stores and RV clubs.  A few good ones are Trailer Life Campground/RV Park Directory, Woodall's Directory of North America and Automobile Association RV and Tent Sites. Their directories are usually updated once a year. Some parks listed in these directories have resort amenities such as tennis courts, swimming pools, spas, and playgrounds.  They usually have paid to have their information listed and may not be listed every year due to the expense.
            Public parks and conservation areas are usually managed by one of four groups.  The National Park Service manages parks such as Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park.   Information on National Parks is readily available at camping stores or you can write the U.S. Government Printing Office for "The National Park Camping Guide".   The address is:

                                                                                Superintendent of Documents
                                                                                U.S. Government Printing Office
                                                                                 Washington DC 20402

            To date, we have found that all National Parks accept pets.
            The U.S. Forest Service often maintains campgrounds in many of the forests under its management.  Information about campgrounds in U.S. Forests is maintained by region and you must contact the regional forester for information.  As part of your request, be sure to mention the size and type of your RV because some campgrounds cannot accommodate 5th wheels or large units.  Address your correspondence to The United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. We have found some of the best campsites are in U.S. Forests and they all accept pets.
             By far, the best campsites, we have encountered are managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages areas around waterways such as dams, locks, and rivers.  They often establish campgrounds for travelers to enjoy.  The campsites are very well maintained.  Water, electric, and shower facilities are available and the sites are almost always level.  All allow pets on leashes.  The campsites are reasonably priced at approximately $15.00 per night and offer half-price discounts for Senior citizens, with the Golden Pass. Unfortunately, some campgrounds have recently been turned over to state and county management locally.  They have suffered a loss of sites available to national travelers with almost summer-long communities being established by local people.  We found this was the case in the Ohio Valley area where former US Army Corps of Engineers Parks created by federal funds has been given over to local water districts management.
A complete list of campgrounds can be obtained by writing to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the address below:
                                                                                    Regional Brochures
                                                                                    CEWES-IM-MV-N
                                                                                    3909 Halls Ferry Rd
                                                                                    Vicksburg, MS 39180-6199

            You may obtain maps and directions to specific campgrounds by listing a regional recreation area from the list below:
                                     Lakeside Recreation in New England-EP 1130-2-419
                                     Lakeside Recreation in Mid Atlantic States-EP 1130-2-420
                                     Lakeside Recreation in the Southeast-EP 1130-2-421
                                     Lakeside Recreation in the Great Lake States-EP 1130-2-422
                                     Lakeside Recreation in the Upper Mississippi-EP 1130-2-423
                                     Lakeside Recreation in the South Central States-EP1130-2-425
                                     Lakeside Recreation in the Great Plains-EP 1130-2-426
                                     Lakeside Recreation in the Northwest-EP 1130 2-427
                                     Lakeside Recreation in the Southwest-EP 1130-2-428

             Finally, the Bureau of Land Management also manages tracks of land and permit camping on the land.   The land is usually leased in order to preserve the land from development and to keep the land useful in the public domain.  The areas are usually used for watershed, grazing, or for recreational purposes.  Most of the areas only offer primitive campsites, but many accessible and comfortable sites can be found in the western and northern U.S.  Some of the best "dry" camping we've done was on these wide-open spaces of land.  You may obtain maps and campsite information by writing to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land.
            Municipal Tourists bureaus and Chamber of Commerce will also provide a wealth of information.  As you enter most states and provinces you will usually find a welcome station.  Road maps often list state parks and campsites by symbols such as a tree or a tent.  Maps may also provide a key to identify services provided at campsites.  If you are traveling to Canada it is best to write to provincial government agencies and regional tourist bureaus rather than relying on the National Bureau of Tourism.

                                                                      
             Now that you know where to go, it is time to start planning what to bring with you.  Our first experience in a RV was with one we rented.  As part of the briefing on the use of the vehicle we were provided with a small checklist verifying that all required items were on board.  We thought the checklist was a good idea so we developed our own.  We separated the checklist into categories for ourselves, Tigger, general items, and spare parts and tools.  If you intend on doing any outdoor activities that require additional gear such as rafting, or backcountry, hiking, we suggest you have separate checklists as well.  We also have prepared checklists for leaving in the morning and arriving at a campground in the evening.  It may seem like a waste of time to refer to a checklist all the time, but we have seen rigs leaving campgrounds with compartment doors open, having their TV antennas ripped off by trees, and hoses left attached and trailing behind. 
                                                       Below are examples of our checklists:

             Start loading up a day or two before you plan to leave on your trip.  Your refrigerator will need time to reach an adequate temperature for storing food.  It's a good idea to already have the food items for the refrigerator already chilled before you put them in your RV. 

            As I briefly alluded to before, you should bring some automotive spare parts and tools along with you on your trip.  Breakdowns, repairs and maintenance are as much a part of RV travel as is the traveling itself.  Prepare for it and take any delays as routine.  You should expect to lose time and spend money, making repairs.  On 125 miles of unpaved Alaskan highway, screws will back out and unscrew themselves with the constant vibration of the road. Below is an example of our spare parts and tools checklist that may be helpful to you.

                                                                    We use our morning and evening checklists to help us get started.  
                                                                    They are kept handy on a clipboard since we use them so often.

            The above seems pretty straightforward.   Remember to make your hookups before it gets dark or rains and pay attention to procedures provided by the manufacturer for your appliances. Preparing for a longer trip should start a week before you leave.   Pack clothes for weather you're not planning to encounter until later in your trip first and get clothing stowed, holding on to what you need to get you through the week.  There are enough last minute checks the morning you leave without having to wonder if you are forgetting something.  You will realize after a few longer excursions that you can probably leave at home half of what you took with you.  Now that you're ready to go, let's get rolling.

                                                                                                              
                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                         Side by Side
                                                                                                  http://midistudio.com/midi/DC_SZ.htm

Home Previous                                         Next