Community Forums

stevenapril · 06-01-2023, 01:53 PM

Trying to do this for the first time and looking for some experienced opinions on how to go about the planning process. What worked well, what didnt work,..

Arch Hoagland · 06-01-2023, 03:36 PM

Have done it once, that was enough.

My advice....tell everybody in the morning what RV park you are all going to and then take off. Don't try to keep everybody together on the road.

**pasdad1** · 06-01-2023, 03:44 PM

How many is a bunch?

Rockwood27 · 06-01-2023, 03:44 PM

We did a 6 week, 6,000 mile trip with 2 other couples (2 motorhomes with toads one 5th wheel with a dually). The worst part was the sightseeing. It was almost impossible to put 6 adults in one vehicle. It was 4 in one and 2 in the other. The team of 4 could make plans with little input from the other 2 people. Another issue is traveling with pets. The pets may have different schedules for eating and potty time. This gets impacted during sightseeing.

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Cousin Ed · 06-01-2023, 03:48 PM

We have crossed the country 20 times but only by ourselves. After you're sure your coach is ready and you have your route...MAKE RESERVATIONS!

Bigceasar · 06-01-2023, 04:09 PM

We would see a few such groups every year. We always considered their visit a success if there wasn’t a murder.
Different people have very different travel habits. What starts out as quirky can often devolve into insufferable behavior.

stevenapril · 06-01-2023, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pasdad1

How many is a bunch?

4 to 6

alank · 06-01-2023, 04:18 PM

Never went with a group, but ran into a group at River Side Park, Little Rock, the leader had done groups before. They had reservations, a schedule of the locations, everyone departed when they wanted to, they drove the speed they wanted to, then met up at the destination for the evening. He said that’s the only way it works good.

stevenapril · 06-01-2023, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigceasar

We would see a few such groups every year. We always considered their visit a success if there wasn’t a murder.
Different people have very different travel habits. What starts out as quirky can often devolve into insufferable behavior.

Thats funny and very true. We've all traveled together for years on our motorcycles and now we're moving to RVs (with our motorcycles on back). Hopefully we dont kill one another.

Dutch Star Don · 06-02-2023, 05:00 PM

One secret......determine the cities where it will be the hardest to get multiple sites and the time period, like 4th of July week that will be hardest to get sites. Book those first and then back into or go forward from there to less busy areas.

Isaac-1 · 06-02-2023, 10:04 PM

Also go in with a guideline on max travel miles in a day, and schedule down days in case of weather delays, etc.

atreis · 06-03-2023, 05:09 AM

Take a survey to find out travel limitations (miles per day, hours per day, etc.). Go with the most restrictive values.
Make reservations for the stops in advance so that you know they can accommodate all the units. Try to be within walking distance of each other, but you don't always have to be grouped right next to each other and it might be a nice break now and then to NOT be grouped all together. (Not everyone is a social butterfly.)
Give everyone the itinerary and encourage them to leave/arrive as they see fit. Everyone travels differently and trying to stay together doesn't work. If you want to take meals (lunch) together or have sightseeing stops, make that arrangement for a particular time in advance, give people a margin for arrival. Anyone who's not there within the margin doesn't do whatever it is with the group, and make sure that's understood in advance. Don't get bent out of shape if one or another unit doesn't make it to the event spot on time, and don't get bent out of shape if you're late and they've started without you.
Tolerance and flexibility.

Also, make sure everyone has everyone's phone number so that you can text and check up on someone that's late to make sure everything is okay. Don't be obnoxious about it though.

KenZ71 · 06-03-2023, 06:00 AM

This outfit looks interesting https://adventurecaravans.com/destin...united-states/

Although I have no experience with them or group travel.

For groups it would seem best to plan an route share among the members with cell phone numbers then go. Could get fancy and have a Facebook group for updates or something similar.

Also decide on how much handholding you want to do i.e troubleshooting and helping each other with trivial (packing gear) to extreme (mechanic breakdowns)

BillJinOR · 06-03-2023, 06:30 AM

Was with a good Sam chapter for years . Caravan travel of 6-10 rigs with one cross country big trip a year.
If you have that many it’s best to divide up into two groups. Less traffic disruption. The slow and the fast. Some can’t drive over 55 ( ever ) and others 55 is poking along and drives them crazy they want 65. It just causes people to become uncomfortable and blame others. As “ wagon master “ go over the planed route and camp the night/ day before at the happy hour and let them decide how and when they will travel. Those wanting to group caravan can and those not …. it’s ok and no stressed out folks. If you do caravan , spread out so your not an obstruction to Traffic and allow passing of you one at a time.
Back when we travelled we all had cb’s to talk on the way ( I need a pull out for restroom break , pet break etc ) but have no idea if any still even care about that. Overnight Stops, because it’s a group of course should be booked in advance and loose printed itinerary distributed.
The group we had was a do as you want group no forced activities and everyone got along great.