Community Forums

Tifoso · 07-06-2020, 11:36 PM

Greetings all -
I've been eavesdropping here and dropping in on dealers for years, trying to figure it all, and our needs, out. If this is to work for us, we'll be in a recent Class-B, most likely an AS Interstate Grand Tour. So as a last step before diving into your world, we're able to give it and a great RV a real 'test drive' as a local dealer is again offering a Class-B rental.
My hope here is you can offer suggestions for this test run of Class-B touring. I am thinking 5-8 days, to/from Chicago, possibly circling Lake Michigan, or up its Wisc shore to the Mich-UP and then west to Lake Superior-Apostle Islands and back through Minn-St.P (family).
Is that realistic? How much driving vs camped time? Any suggestions on sites to overnight?, not miss? Or, important do's/don'ts to make the most of a tour? We like the idea of not 'needing' to plug-in if there's a pretty spot available/legal. (Yeah, I do need to make sure it's not a disastrous, "tried that once" experience.) It's an Interstate GT though because the intrepid wife is still more Leading Hotels than Log Cabin.
Can anyone help me plan a journey to discover, first-hand the wonders of your world?
Many thanks - and best wishes to all.

akeagle · 07-07-2020, 12:39 AM

Unless you're really good with looking up information on the internet, I'd suggest getting a good Rand McNally atlas to plan a driving route. As long as you're at the bookstore getting the atlas, also get one or more RV related books that cover places to go and sights to see as well as campgrounds or other accommodations. Then you'll have all the info you need for trip planning.

You will have to determine the answers to driving questions pretty much on your own. Everyone's capabilities and durability are different. I'd recommend taking a couple short shakedown trips so you can get used to the rig, learn how to set up and break camp, and figure out your own capabilities and limitations.

Just about the only hard and fast rule in RVing is the there are virtually no hard and fast rules. You are asking good questions right off the bat, so I think you'll be fine.

Just don't fall into the trap of believing everything everyone tells you, even me! There are just about as many opinions on RVing as there are RVers!

Isaac-1 · 07-07-2020, 01:51 AM

Whatever route you pick try to limit your daily driving distance to not more than 250-300 miles, and not drive more than 2 days in a row.

**Spdracr39** · 07-07-2020, 08:39 AM

Welcome !!

There are many good folks here to offer help and advice, glad you could join the party

Safe Travels!!

MSHappyCampers · 07-07-2020, 09:15 AM

Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined us!

Don't know anything about Class B's so can't help with that.

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

sbleiweiss · 07-08-2020, 08:24 AM

I know you are excited to take a real trip right away, but I wouldn't do that. Your ideas about around Lake Michigan are great for your second or third trip out. But in only less than a week and for your first trip I would do a close to home shake down cruise to get used to the RV and RVing. There are nice campgrounds near Chicago and in southern Wisconsin. If I were you I would drive one day or less, then camp somewhere nice for a couple of days. Maybe then move once for less than one day of driving and camp at another place for a couple of days. How about Door County WI, for example. Or there are a lot of really nice campgrounds in lower MI, some that are condo ownership but rent out to outsiders when owners aren't using them.

twogypsies · 07-08-2020, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tifoso

It's an Interstate GT though because the intrepid wife is still more Leading Hotels than Log Cabin.

I'm not sure of this statement. You'll see a lot more interesting things if you get off the interstates and travel the secondary roads. Are you planning to sleep in the Class B or get a hotel room?

I think the Circle tour of Lake Michigan is too long for a week's time. You don't want to pull in somewhere for the night and take off the next day. You need to stop at interesting areas and explore. Otherwise it will be more like a race or chore and will not be relaxing and pleasurable.

I'd recommend exploring Wisconsin only for this first trip.

Tifoso · 07-08-2020, 05:03 PM

Thanks all for your thoughts.
Twogypsies, Sbleiweiss- Thanks for your straightforward comments; just what I need to understand. Want to do something special - true RV Touring, not just a drive and a ("Grand") hotel - but also want to make sure it's successful and leaves us eager for more.
Actually, thought I was being conservative, but ... that's why I asked.

Isaac-1 · 07-08-2020, 05:46 PM

There are a couple of big differences in traveling by motorhome than by car, first off driving a motorhome, even a relatively small class B tends to be more fatiguing than a car, how much more so will depend on a number of factors. For me with my 28 ft class A, my stress factor, endurance, and fatigue levels vs driving a modern car is probably somewhere around double, and this is after 4 years and 20,000+ miles of experience. The second thing is you need to allow time to set up and break camp each day, with a car you can typically stop at a roadside motel, and be propped up in bed watching TV in 5 minutes, check out is even quicker. With both commercial and public campgrounds much of the time the whole process goes slower, this somewhat excludes self service check in and free camping option, though even then self service exact change only drop envelopes take time to fill out, campgrounds are often a few miles off the route, some commercial campgrounds escort you to your site in a golf cart, which takes time, having a spotter help you back in at your site so you don't hit a tree takes time, then you get to level the coach (most class B's don't have leveling jacks), hook up water and power. Then you might put out a BBQ grill, camp chairs, etc. Inside in a class B you will likely need to assemble your bed at some point, and put it back up the next morning, don't forget cooking, cleaning, ... Then when it comes time to leave in the morning you have to pack everything back up, unhook, possibly wait in line at the dump station to dump your black and gray tanks. Class B's tend to have small tanks that will likely need to be dumped almost daily, .... (I figure 10 gallons of water per day per person without super active water conservation, allowing each a 3 minute shower per day)