UK Motorhome in USA

[Souljourner]

Originally Posted by JohnKing

Hi to all that have provided tips and advice. We really can't thank you enough for your suggestions. We're a little overwhelmed with the contribution this forum is making to our (hopefully) successful tour of your country.

We have many notes and tips to consolidate, but I thought I'd let you know that the biggest take-aways, besides all the other suggestions and advice, are about the need to adjust our route to stay south longer & the need for AC. So I think the southern states are going to see us for a month longer than we originally planned, and Amazon (via VPN) will be researched for portable AC units.
Thanks again for taking the time to help.

Somehow your trip has caught the attention of this forum and has become a real demonstration of American friendliness.

I’m going to provide a different opinion about AC. I live in the northeast and rarely use the AC in my RV. I do not have AC in my personal home. Where I live I find fans work well, especially with the cooler nighttime temps we typically experience, and I prefer the cool of a fan over the noise and artificial cold of an AC.

My point is - you’re going to get different opinions from people depending on what part of the country they come from. Many people head for cooler, higher altitude places in the warmer months where AC is not necessary. Other people, from warmer parts of the country, couldn’t imagine living without AC. Take your pick!

Depending on your route, you may not need AC. Rather than lugging around an AC you’ll only need occasionally, I would suggest picking up some powerful rechargeable fans. If it turns out you need an AC Amazon can deliver one to you, usually within 2 days, to a location near where you’re camping.

[MRUSA14]

“ Depending on your route, you may not need AC.”

Do you want your route to be determined by you, or the weather? This is not England and it gets very hot in the USA, even in the north, and in Canada at times. Portland OR had temps of 40C (over 100F) this summer. I doubt you will be sorry if you buy a portable A/C unit.

[TheCatsRV]

The rig I saw a couple of weeks ago was likely a Burstner Lyseo I (integrated with single rear axle). That fuel economy is nice. My 30' Class A or even a 28' Class C rental, drive across Canada, both with the Ford petrol 6.8l V-10 only get 2.5 to 4 Km/l (7-11 miles per Imperial gallon). Do note that the U.S. gallon is about 16-17% smaller. Something to do with 16 oz vs. 20 oz pints and different water temperatures.



Depending on where you are and when, at least drying the air a bit makes it more tolerable. High humidity makes for water condensation and everything starts to get/feel damp. Paper and textiles (and powders such as flour, sugar, cement) will start absorbing moisture, and untreated metals will start corroding or taking on a coat of oxidation, and not to mention a nice environment for mould. A portable A/C (get the free-standing ones) works basically the same as a dehumidifier. The difference is that the a/c moves the heat outside (via a hose) while dehumidifiers don't. You don't need to set the A/C on too low (we set the heat pump in our house to cool only when it gets above 25C and the RH in the house starts to get uncomfortable). I have neighbours who heat their house to well above 25C in winter but set their heat pumps to cool to 18C in summer.


Speaking of neighbours, most where I live justifiably felt they never needed a/c (some have lived in the same house for ~50 years) until 3 summers ago when the temperature rose above 30C (reaching 40C) and very very usually never dipped below that 30C (usually it cools to below 20C) for 96 hrs. My heat pump ran for that continuous period of time and must have condensed 20 gallons of water if not more out of the air. Since then, many have had heat pumps installed.



Not sure where you'll land but most of Canada is considered too cold for camping and many public parks don't open their campgrounds until early May and many start to close in very early September or a little later. Broad exception is on the west coast due to more temperate (but still cool) winters and that's where you find RVing Canadians who can't cross the border to the U.S. for whatever reasons.


Do note that by sometime in March, most Canadian RV "snow birds" who go to Arizona or Mexico or desert California start heading back home because it starts to get too hot. Temperatures in the southwestern U.S. are getting and staying higher for prolonged periods (as in minimum temps of 100F (~38C).



Back to the portables A/Cs, some have a heat function (matter of a reversing valve) though coil freezing may be an issue (try to find one with a defrost function, and a unit that uses 2 hoses instead of one).


As for the comments about heat and location, there is the continental (inland) heat and the milder coastal climates. It gets very hot inland - as in anywhere more than a few dozen miles from the coast (think being in the great plains of eastern Europe) in summer and very cold in winter, and don't get the temperature-moderating seas of the Atlantic or Mediterranean. For whatever reason, the west coast does not get as torridly hot and humid as the east coast does in summer (and also doesn't get that cold in winter).

[DarkSideJeep]

Originally Posted by TheCatsRV

........


As for the comments about heat and location, there is the continental (inland) heat and the milder coastal climates. It gets very hot inland - as in anywhere more than a few dozen miles from the coast (think being in the great plains of eastern Europe) in summer and very cold in winter, and don't get the temperature-moderating seas of the Atlantic or Mediterranean. For whatever reason, the west coast does not get as torridly hot and humid as the east coast does in summer (and also doesn't get that cold in winter).

The west coast of the US and Canada have more a temperate climate for the same reason the UK does not get excessively hot or cold. Just like the Atlantic Gulf Stream that circulates clockwise up the east coast of the US and down the west coast of Europe the Pacific has a similar circulation that moderates the west coast of North America. Then we get to the "Dry Heat" of the Southwestern US. In Arizona and southern California, the nighttime temperature is governed by the dew point. While I am writing this reply, the dew point in Phoenix AZ is 63F the low temperature expected tonight is 83F. While A dew point of 60F might feel ok with a 110F temperature once the temperature drops within 20 degrees of the dew point, it becomes very uncomfortable.

[JohnKing]

@Souljourner, MRUSA14, TheCatsRV,

The engagement & responses we've received since joining this forum are indeed a reflection of the friendliness and helpfulness of the RV community in the US. During previous vacations to the US and my visits with the Royal Air Force, I've always felt incredibly welcomed and impressed with how friendly people are.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on AC. I've considered the views provided, and decided, at the moment, to hold off purchasing a portable AC unit. I realise weather will be more of a factor in North America than it is in England (where we live may get a frost a couple of times a winter and 1 inch of snow every 20 years or so and a maximum summer temperature of 24 degrees C, 75 degrees F).

We've chosen a rough route to be in the parts of the US & Canada at the time of year when the weather is at it's most temperate, this kind of makes sense to me. We've been in central Florida in August on vacation so have experienced the high humidity there.

We have a few fans in our motorhome already, but I intend to purchase & fit a roof mounted Maxxair fan, replacing one of our skylights. Hopefully, this should make a difference moving air around. If we find it isn't enough, we'll take @Souljouner's advice and purchase a portable AC unit in the US (where they're much less expensive than in the UK).

Our motorhome will land in Baltimore, but we haven't decided our departure point due to not having our US visas yet. Our choices are Halifax, Baltimore, or Brunswick in December. First choice at the moment will be Brunswick, meaning we can stay in NW Canada during the summer months and travel south and then east in the Autumn and early Winter.

[Souljourner]

Originally Posted by JohnKing

@Souljourner, MRUSA14, TheCatsRV,

The engagement & responses we've received since joining this forum are indeed a reflection of the friendliness and helpfulness of the RV community in the US. During previous vacations to the US and my visits with the Royal Air Force, I've always felt incredibly welcomed and impressed with how friendly people are.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on AC. I've considered the views provided, and decided, at the moment, to hold off purchasing a portable AC unit. I realise weather will be more of a factor in North America than it is in England (where we live may get a frost a couple of times a winter and 1 inch of snow every 20 years or so and a maximum summer temperature of 24 degrees C, 75 degrees F).

We've chosen a rough route to be in the parts of the US & Canada at the time of year when the weather is at it's most temperate, this kind of makes sense to me. We've been in central Florida in August on vacation so have experienced the high humidity there.

We have a few fans in our motorhome already, but I intend to purchase & fit a roof mounted Maxxair fan, replacing one of our skylights. Hopefully, this should make a difference moving air around. If we find it isn't enough, we'll take @Souljouner's advice and purchase a portable AC unit in the US (where they're much less expensive than in the UK).

Our motorhome will land in Baltimore, but we haven't decided our departure point due to not having our US visas yet. Our choices are Halifax, Baltimore, or Brunswick in December. First choice at the moment will be Brunswick, meaning we can stay in NW Canada during the summer months and travel south and then east in the Autumn and early Winter.

Sounds like a lovely plan! Since you’re free to go wherever you wish to go, it makes sense to follow the weather. If I had the choice I’d prefer not to be in areas where AC was a necessity since I like to spend lots of time outdoors and want to be comfortable.

If you’re heading down the east coast some locations to consider:
Shenandoah National Park (right off of I81 - my favorite route south)

Chincoteague Island in Virginia (known for its wild horses)
https://www.chincoteague.com/

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (I like Myrtle Beach State Park and Huntington Beach State Park - both on the ocean)

Hunting Island State Park, Beaufort SC (not quite as touristy as Myrtle Beach)

Skidaway Island State Park Savannah, GA
Savannah is an old southern city with beautiful architecture and large live oaks dripping in Spanish moss. For a real American experience of southern hospitality try Mrs Wilkes Boarding House (Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room). Not a place I would go to eat regularly, but definitely a once in a lifetime experience. You’ll be seated in a dining room of a house sharing a table with 10 friendly others from all over the country as friendly staff bring out heaping platters of authentic southern cooking. My husband, born in the south and rarely satisfied by southern restaurant food said this was just like Mamma used to make and reminded him of home. The other guests at your table will love your British accent!

The Golden Isles of Georgia - Saint Simon’s Island and Jekyll Island

Cumberland Island National Seashore
St Mary’s Georgia

I spend my winters in along the coast of southern Georgia, about 30 miles north of the Florida border. Winter temperatures are more temperate than heading further south into Florida (about 18 degrees C) and it’s considered an “off” season as compared to heading south into Florida where all the snowbirds flock in the winter)

And of course in the northeast - there’s Acadia National Park in Maine and my second home - Cape Cod - which will allow you a day trip into Boston if you wish.

We each have our style of camping and the things we like to do when away. As a result, just like opinions on AC, you’ll find one person’s favorite location or campground is another one’s nightmare. It’s important when taking advice from strangers to confirm that their style matches your own. I camp in a small travel trailer (22’), I prefer nature over cities and museums, and I prefer the more rustic, wooded, and private state parks over large and more expensive RV resorts. I have solar panels on my camper and don’t rely on hookups, and I travel extensively and comfortably throughout the entire year by “following the weather”!

[JohnKing]

@Souljouner, I really can't thank you enough. I've looked up the places you listed in your last post and think they'll fit perfectly into our April in the Southern Eastern States. It's probably no surprise, but I haven't heard of most of them, and would have been lucky to pick them out as go-to places on my internet searches. As your camping rig and style seem a good fit for ours it's a good match. Thank you.