Community Forums

AZgl1500 · 11-23-2010, 08:02 PM

Freelancing it. No clue where we’ll be. Is finding a place to park a problem?

I've mentioned in other posts about looking for "the perfect RV" which I suppose don't exist yet. That aside, I am thinking forwards to how much "pre-planning is required" to find a place to overnight with a larger Class A. My target RV is 34-42 ft.

Let's assume the “perfect RV” is taken care of for this topic, okay?

DW and I have always enjoyed just ambling along, looking here and there, and when mid-afternoon approaches start giving some idea of where we want to stop for the night.

With Dry camping, a rest stop on the interstate will fill the bill IF a space is available, but my daily trucker buddy tells me all the time about how he has to "go on" and look elsewhere. We want to see America, not the Interstates. Just like with my Goldwing, which is in the trailer with us.

Like my trucker buddy, I will be at the max length because of the RV + enclosed trailer (motorcycle and car) will put me "right there" at 65-70 feet. Neither of these have been acquired, but my drawings push the limit as the trailer will be custom built with dual drive in ramps. Side ramp for m/c and back ramp for car.

So, here is the question?
Will I have to start being more regimented in my trip planning when we graduate to the Class A + trailer lifestyle?

If the answer is YES; what tools do you folks use to help in that regard?

I have a CDROM subscription to Trailer Life campgrounds, but honestly, it has never ever been loaded on the computer yet.

I looked for some similar topics, but I must have missed them so far. I am NOT worried about getting fuel. Me and long rigs are very friendly, so problems there.

Just wondering how hard it will be to find overnight places to park and not get hassled with jealous owners or self made vigilantes.

_______________________________________________

**NLOVNIT** · 11-23-2010, 08:18 PM

Many members RV "by the seat of their pants" so to speak. The longer your combo, the more advanced planning you'll need to do. The tricks to it are, calling ahead when you can & having a plan B & plan C (& a fallback for those) if either of the 1st choices don't pan out.

Lori-

motojavaphil · 11-23-2010, 09:12 PM

Meandering around is fun for awhile. I tired of it and decided I did not like it. We never had a problem getting a space or finding a place to overnight despite our 40' MH towing a Dodge Dakota. We were about 60'. What I did not like was coming into an area with little research because we did not know we would be staying there. We missed a lot as each stop has a story and its fun to know and see. Expenses are also higher when meandering although some dry camping and Passport Americas can offset some of those expenses. Freeway fuel prices can be so much higher than stations just a mile or so off the slab. In the end I discovered I was more of a snowbird/vacationer wanting to research an area and then explore it. I think the way a person is wired has a lot to do with meandering or not.

Ray,IN · 11-23-2010, 09:14 PM

I hit the road after sunrise then get off the road early, 3PM normally. This is way before most travelers even consider stopping. This also allows enough time for local sightseeing, swimming, just relaxing , prepping for next day,etc. This is for CG's that are not at high interest tourist places at peak time of year. Reservations are made for the latter.

SpursMVP · 11-23-2010, 09:17 PM

My only tip is with a rig like that you MUST plan your fuel stops. We have pulled off the interstate for a station offering diesel and found it to be set up for cars and mid-sized trucks.

You will be relegated to truck stop style stations so you can manuveur your rig through it.

UFO Pilot · 11-23-2010, 09:20 PM

Try and have reservations in advance for big Holiday weekends. We were on the road 10 weeks this summer and the only problem we had was 4th of July. We called about 10 places before we could find a vacancy. We used Trailer Life and RV Park Reviews :: Home.

paz · 11-24-2010, 06:31 AM

Lots of RVers never (or at least almost never) make reservations. They just pull in when they get tired. Sometimes they will call ahead from the road to make sure they can find a space, but many times they do not.

If you're going to do that, you may need to spend a few nights at Walmart, an interstate rest stop, or a Flying J, and that's fine if that's your style.

Although we don't like being tied down with reservations, we like being inconvenienced even less. We like to have at least electricity when we stop for the night, especially if it's hot and we want to run the air or if it's cold and we need the furnace. We prefer not to stay in noisy parking lots, but then that's us.

We make reservations when we're in tourist areas in season (Florida in winter, sightseeing areas in summer) and on weekends (especially at state parks, and ESPECIALLY on holiday weekends).

After you have been traveling a little while, you will find a style that suits you best. Only you will be able to decide what that is.

bldrbob · 11-24-2010, 06:54 AM

We found the campgrounds fill up on weekends so if you have a site it is better to not move.Sunday afternoon the campgrounds are empty and friday they start filling up.
BOB

Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43' · 11-24-2010, 08:41 AM

Typically we do not make reservations (exception being Holiday weekends). Try to stay planted on weekends. When on the road we check the trailer life and see what's available in the area where we plan to stop. Seems to work for us. I am not in a hurry so my driving day starts around 9:30-10 AM and stop around 2:30. Shortest drive so far 3 miles. Also prefer the Blue Hwys vrs Interstates and plan fuel stops every 700-800 miles.