Community Forums

ICU2 · 04-25-2011, 06:34 PM

Our first club to join. Planning a trip to Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone and Grand Canyon. Camp ground info helpful. Coming from Illinois.

Adventure · 04-25-2011, 06:58 PM

Welcome! We stayed in the Grand Canyon Campground near the south rim, for a few days. You will need reservations. We had a pull through site, little bumpy, few small trees between sites. We used our truck and shuttle busses to get around.

There are so many National Parks and Monuments between Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, see as many as you can they are all spectacular. We also enjoyed the Wah-reap Campground at Lake Powell--beautiful view of the water from all sites. You can tour the dam too.

JMonroe · 04-25-2011, 09:09 PM

Near Rushmore, stay in Hill City. It's the most centrally located to all the sights. We (and many others) really like the Rafter J Bar - Rafter J Bar Ranch - Home . It's beautiful and spread out.

Chickadee · 04-26-2011, 05:51 AM

G'morning ICU2:

Hi from our winter camp in Tampa/St. Pete. You're planning a great trip. We're full timers but our base state is South Dakota, my wife's family home, so we know the Black Hills pretty well. Have also done the Grand Canyon area.

Can you tell us what kind of rig you'll be traveling in? Will you be towing a smaller vehicle to get around ink? This will help all of us trying to make suggestions.

Steve & Lynette

John H... · 04-26-2011, 06:03 AM

ICU2, welcome to the forum. You should mention what type of RV you have and maybe a picture.

ICU2 · 04-26-2011, 06:22 PM

Thank you for answering my request.
We have a 30' Jayco pulling with a 2004 350 dully.

barlin44 · 04-26-2011, 06:53 PM

Hey ICU2 and welcome,
Back in 03 my wife, son and daughter in law went to a sturgis bike rally and stayed in my big 5th TH in Spearfish. What was cool about it was all the day trips we were able to take. Just driving through the spearfish canyon was gorgeous, which can take you to Deadwood, very cool old history town with casinos

. Then on to Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse...both have the WOW factor. Also you can go west oneday and see Devils Tower where the movie "Close encounters of the third kind" was filmed..also cool. All these sites were day trips we took on Harleys and was very cool.

Hope your trip is awesome

Chickadee · 04-27-2011, 05:59 AM

ICU2:
G'morning again. Yup, barlin44 (above) had alot of good ideas. Also, Jay and Peggy Monroe suggested Hill City area which makes sense. Also, check "Rushmore Shadows RV Park" located on Hyw. 16 between Rapid City and Keystone (Rushmore) area.

DO take the Custer Park Wildlife Route one day. It's a great wildlife viewing trip...(prairie dogs, antelop, BUFFALO, etc. ) and, for sure, take the Needles Hwy. Also, that day trip over to Devils Tower mentioned by barlin44 is a VERY good idea. It's an easy day trip.

Have FUN!!!

Steve & Lynette

DRosedale · 04-27-2011, 08:44 AM

Welcome to the forum. As you can see a lot of helpful and nice folks here. Many happy and safe miles.

ICU2 · 04-27-2011, 05:35 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions. Checked out the Rafter Campground last night.
Will look up Chickadees suggestion in a little while. We will leave tomorrow for our 1st camping trip of the year. We have had so much rain in the last two weeks may be soggy. Just going local to Boulder Campground on Carlyle Lake. Corpe of Engineers and one of our favorites.

Robi · 04-27-2011, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ICU2

Thank you for answering my request.
We have a 30' Jayco pulling with a 2004 350 dully.

Hi there, and welcome aboard. I'm still living in a stick, hehe, but doing the research to go full time with in the year. How do you like your Jayco? Gas mileage? How much difference in gas mileage with the tow. (what is a 2004 350 dully? hehe

Have fun!

ICU2 · 04-29-2011, 05:17 AM

Robi,
We like our Jayco, 2nd one. First 24' and now its 1993 30' Jayco 5th

wheel.. Yes, its older(payed for) and Heavier but well made. Went to Canada 3 yrs. ago and pulled it 6000 miles. It was great. We also have a good Jayco dealer about 12 miles away, they have been great. This one is all usable space inside and out. Just make sure you have a lot of outside storage.
The truck we just got about 2 months ago. 2004 Ford F350 Super Duty, dully (double axle rear). We had a F250, it pulled ok, but drug down on inclines and take off. F250 might work with the lighter trailers. Talk to a rv dealer they can tell what you need for sure.

We were to go camping yesterday, Carlyle Lake closed due to high waters. We didn't get the call until after we left. But gave Phil chance to drive truck pulling camper. He said it did a good job.