Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > CAMPING, TRAVEL and TRIP PLANNING > Navigation, Routes & Roads
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 02-03-2015, 06:45 PM   #1
Member
 
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 94
Utah backroads in a 36' MH

We want to explore a lot of the back-roads of Utah, especially slot canyons and the like. We will be driving a 36 ft. Class A, no trailer. There is very little information on various roads. I know a lot of roads are not paved. Some that are packed gravel I would think would be OK but then others not.

Any ideas on how to find out which ones are good and which ones are not?

I am particularly interested in hwy 1012 just west of goblin state park?

Thanks

Tom
__________________
2008 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 35QBA with a 2010 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited in tow
TooTallTom is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 02-03-2015, 06:57 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Gordon Dewald's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 14,885
Talk to the Utah State Visitors Bureau. They have a vested interest in tourism as well as tourist safety.
__________________
Gordon and Janet
Tour 42QD/InTech Stacker
Gordon Dewald is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2015, 10:02 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
skigramp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HOME: Oshkosh, WI
Posts: 2,102
Google Earth shows 1012 is paved west for a few miles to a parking lot ...
__________________
2012 Buick Enclave
Present At home Home: Oshkosh, WI

former owner 2004 Winnebago Journey 39W
skigramp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2015, 06:43 AM   #4
Member
 
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 94
Quote:
Originally Posted by skigramp View Post
Google Earth shows 1012 is paved west for a few miles to a parking lot ...
skigramp - You are correct. I should have been more specific. What I am asking is in general would you drive a class A on some gravel roads in Utah.

The route I am specifically asking about is:
- Take I70 exit 131, cnty road 332 (on the north).
- Turn south of the exit and then take the west frontage road called Temple Mt Rd
- Turn right on cnty road 322
- That meets upwith cnty road 1012 and continue south.

My question in general is would you stay only on paved roads or how far off the beaten path would you take an MH assuming fairly smooth gravel roads?

Thanks

Tom
__________________
2008 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 35QBA with a 2010 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited in tow
TooTallTom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2015, 07:20 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
MandG-Fun's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Westcliffe, CO
Posts: 913
I've driven our 35' coach pulling a Jeep on unpaved roads in CO and UT. From experience I can tell you that doing a little advanced planning in Google Earth is a good thing, however you won't know the road conditions until you get there. Roads that were smooth a month ago may be all washboard and rutted today. A recent rain may make it a muddy mess and even dangerously slick. Etc, etc. Probably not an issue near Goblin SP is also the potential for low overhanging trees. If we have a question and don't want to get into a bad situation we'll just unhook the Jeep and scout before taking the coach up.

In general, as long as you are patient, don't mind driving slowly and there is room to maneuver and let other pass you should be fine. Just be mentally prepared to change your plans if the road is not passable, its not worth damaging your coach. For us, some of the best coach camping can be found at the end of a dirt road.
__________________
Glenn & Mary
2000 Monaco Dynasty 34 York / 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel / 2017 Polaris General
MandG-Fun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2015, 07:37 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
halfwright's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 601
Tom,


If it is the Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon you are trying to get to, it is easier to go to Goblin Valley State Park and go right just before the entrance to the park. It a good road to the parking area at the trailhead. But, I was very disappointed in the canyon. It has very little color and is mostly a dull gray. It does not photograph well. You can camp at the state park or if you go past the road that goes to Goblin Valley, there is a BLM area. Goblin Valley is worth the trip. It is as interesting group of unusual formations
__________________
Jim and Darlene Wright
plus Ryder,Poodle and
garbage disposal cross
halfwright is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2015, 11:09 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Firebug5's Avatar
 
National RV Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Retired Fire Service RVer's
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Salida, Colorado
Posts: 656
Quote:
Originally Posted by TooTallTom View Post
skigramp - You are correct. I should have been more specific. What I am asking is in general would you drive a class A on some gravel roads in Utah.

The route I am specifically asking about is:
- Take I70 exit 131, cnty road 332 (on the north).
- Turn south of the exit and then take the west frontage road called Temple Mt Rd
- Turn right on cnty road 322
- That meets upwith cnty road 1012 and continue south.

My question in general is would you stay only on paved roads or how far off the beaten path would you take an MH assuming fairly smooth gravel roads?

Thanks

Tom
Hello, Tom.

I will share my experience with your general question pertaining to staying on paved roads or not. It is boring to just keep the moho on paved roads! With that being said, I can tell you what it sounds like when the windshield pops out of the lower left corner when you are navigating a bumpy dirt road. Or the sound made when the windshield gets a stress crack from tweaking the frame too much while exiting a National Forest CG onto a washed out roadway. Oh well, that is why they invented RV insurance with zero deductible on glass coverage, eh? If I had to always keep her on a paved roadway, I think I would just own a tent. However, what others have already recommended to you concerning using Google Earth or local authorities is worth listening to. I have backed out of long dirt roads before after finding out the hard way that there was no place to turn around. Now, when faced with the unknown dirt roads, we simply disconnect the Jeep and go check it out.

Have fun, be safe, and make sure you have glass replacement insurance!

Bruce
__________________
Bruce & Judy, living the dream in Salida, CO!
2005 Nat'l Dolphin W22 Chassis, 2004 Jeep Liberty
"Let's Roll 'em, Let's Roll 'em!"
Firebug5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2015, 12:28 PM   #8
Member
 
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 94
Firebug - thanks for the information.

We are an exploring family and want to get off the beaten path. I am more than willing to go slow and I have no issues backing the MH back down the road I came (learned from mater ).

Most of the roads looks pretty good and as always need to keep in mind what can happen over time.
__________________
2008 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 35QBA with a 2010 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited in tow
TooTallTom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2015, 01:22 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Firebug5's Avatar
 
National RV Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Retired Fire Service RVer's
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Salida, Colorado
Posts: 656
Tom, we are planning on visiting Utah this spring, let us know how your trip off the beaten path goes! Thanks.

Bruce
__________________
Bruce & Judy, living the dream in Salida, CO!
2005 Nat'l Dolphin W22 Chassis, 2004 Jeep Liberty
"Let's Roll 'em, Let's Roll 'em!"
Firebug5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2015, 04:04 PM   #10
Member
 
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 94
Quote:
Originally Posted by Firebug5 View Post
Tom, we are planning on visiting Utah this spring, let us know how your trip off the beaten path goes! Thanks.

Bruce
Bruce - I think the tables are the other way. We are not planning on going until late summer, early fall. It was just a question I had as we plan out our year.

So I look forward to hearing from you where you went and how it went.

Tom
__________________
2008 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 35QBA with a 2010 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited in tow
TooTallTom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2015, 04:19 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Enjoying the Western States!
Posts: 19,680
We've traveled many unpaved back roads with our 40' motorhome, including in Utah. However, we would typically disconnect the Jeep and drive it first in the Jeep to make sure it's suitable for the motorhome. That system worked very well and we were able to get into a lot of areas that were questionable. Good luck!
__________________
Full-timed for 16 Years . . .
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Diesel
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th wheel
twogypsies is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2015, 05:06 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Firebug5's Avatar
 
National RV Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Retired Fire Service RVer's
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Salida, Colorado
Posts: 656
Quote:
Originally Posted by TooTallTom View Post
Bruce - I think the tables are the other way. We are not planning on going until late summer, early fall. It was just a question I had as we plan out our year.

So I look forward to hearing from you where you went and how it went.

Tom
Will do, Tom. Still in the planning stage, but will likely start around Moab and continue SW thru Utah.

Bruce
__________________
Bruce & Judy, living the dream in Salida, CO!
2005 Nat'l Dolphin W22 Chassis, 2004 Jeep Liberty
"Let's Roll 'em, Let's Roll 'em!"
Firebug5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2015, 05:40 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
scampers227's Avatar
 
Tiffin Owners Club
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 215
Check out Canyon Rims Rec Area 40 miles south of Moab. BLM area with great boondocking places.
Plus 2 campgrounds suitable for your rig. We host at Windwhistle in the spring.
__________________
'02 Tiffin Phaeton 330 CAT
'02 Chevrolet Tracker Toad
scampers227 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2015, 07:12 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Scottybdivin's Avatar


 
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Spicewood Texas (West of Austin)
Posts: 4,511
We will be in UT in Apr between two races. Coming from a race near Lake Havasu and starting out in Zion, then headed to Moab area after that. I have tried for 3 years to get reservations at Dead Horse Point SP. They only have a few sites for large rigs and they seem to get scooped up by folks staying a couple weeks. We are going to try some of the BLM parks around there, hoping to get a good spot on the river for a few nights.

One back road you don't want to take in your MH on is UT 261, unless your stopping at Goosenecks SP. It is in the Monument Valley area near Mexican Hat. Only if you have a toad and and no fear for heights. It is called the Moki Dugway and is well with the effort.
__________________
Scotty and Kristen, Airedales Dagny and Wyatt
2007 Newmar Mountain Aire 4528, 450 HP ISM, Allison 4000, 8 Lifeline AGM's
2019 F250 King Ranch 4x4 Powerstroke - SOLD
2022 F350 DRW King Ranch 4 x 4
Scottybdivin is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Southern Utah Feedback/info MitchellPnw Camping Locations, Plans & Trip Reports 19 03-26-2015 10:45 AM
St George Utah to Kanab Utah SunnyInUtah Camping Locations, Plans & Trip Reports 1 07-29-2014 07:12 PM
Utah for RVers cucotx Camping Locations, Plans & Trip Reports 6 05-11-2014 08:26 PM
Utah highways SNAIL1 Navigation, Routes & Roads 4 05-03-2014 11:17 PM
Touring Southern Utah National Parks michguy Navigation, Routes & Roads 7 02-10-2014 01:57 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:07 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.