Dreamsend
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2016
- Posts
- 614
Well only 3,220 of those miles will be towing my new trailer. Talk about a "break-in, get familiar with stuff" trip.
So my new 2018 Outdoors RV Timberidge 27BHS is at the dealers in Salt Lake City with my name on it. The plan to get it and bring it back to Indy is described below.
Where I'm asking for any specific recommendations for overnight campgrounds - hook-ups or not, is the 3rd and 4th and 5th Segments. BTW, I've already studied Campendium, Trip Advisor, RVParky, Free Campgrounds USA, USCampgrounds.info, and forestcamping.com -- so what I'm looking for is advice from experienced people who might be familiar with these locations and could make recommendations.
1st Segment - Indianapolis, IN to Salt Lake City. Will take I70 west and cut up to I80 at some point prior to Denver. I'll be leaving Indy on May 2 with plans to arrive in SLC on Sunday May 6. The plan is to tent camp 3 nights and do the motel thing 2 nights. I haven't slept on the ground for 15 years, so it will be interesting to see how my ole body does. I did buy a new Thermarest pad, and it's really nice. Total miles is 1,520.
2nd Segment Salt Lake City at the dealers May 7, 8, and 9. Will stay at dealers on at least the 7 and 8 of May. Lots of things to do in those two days - the PDI and paperwork, taking out the bunk beds, removing carpet, learning all the water, wastewater, electric, propane, etc. systems. AND - begin learning how to tow, turn, back-up and get in and out of gas stations! Also, install the TPMS, the hitch, program the truck's back-up camera for hitching just to name a few things. As of now, I plan to tow to a nearby campground on May 9 and stay there for the night getting more familiar with stuff.
3rd Segment May 10 through Sunday May 13. Will drive I15 north to I84 through Idaho then east through Oregon to Portland and drop down on I5 to Eugene-Springfield where AM Solar will do the panel and battery installation beginning Monday May 14. Total miles is 720. I have tentatively broken up this trip as follows:
May 10 - Salt Lake City to Twin Falls, ID - ~220 miles
May 11- Twin Falls to Baker City, OR - ~253 miles
May 12 - Baker City to Hood, OR - ~248 miles
May 13 - Hood to Springfield, OR (drop off trailer, and find motel)
Any suggestions for "can't miss places" near the above?
There are Walmarts in a couple of these locations, but with 2 12V batteries for this portion of the trip (I don't know the capacity yet), I'm thinking I'll need to plug in somewhere. I won't be using the refrigerator on this segment - just the bed, maybe the furnace (I'll have a portable propane heater along), and the sink, shower, toilet, some lights, and maybe TV with the OTA antennae. I'll be driving right through the Eagle Creek fire of last September that took out the wilderness area of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. So sad, I hate to think about experiencing that. There is no camping or hiking etc. in the burned portion.
4th Segment It will take AM Solar in Eugene-Springfield, OR an estimated 4 days to do the installation-- meaning May 14 through 17 at a minimum. I can't use the trailer during that time. I'll have the truck and camping gear however. I'll likely do motels during this time, but would not be adverse to an overnight somewhere in the area if anyone has any suggestions. Like maybe somewhere for a nice hike, and a car-camping site? Also, any suggestions for other sights to visit or things to do in Eugene or nearby during the day?
Good places to eat???
5th Segment Eugene to Indianapolis, IN. This is the biggy - 2,440 miles towing the trailer, but now with my solar panels and lithium batts. Will leave on May 18 towards Portland, east on I84 and drop down I15 to SLC again. I could use as an opportunity to swing back by the dealer's in case anything has come up that needs attention. I'll likely stay on I80 east and then drop down somewhere to pick up I74 after that which takes me directly to Indy. Haven't planned anything for this portion because I'm not really on a time table to get somewhere like I am for the first portion of this adventure.
So, any suggestions for places to stay along I80 in the Great Plans and Midwest are welcome. The bad part about this is looks like this schedule would have me arriving in Indianapolis on May 27!!! which is the running of the Indianapolis 500. NO WAY in --- am I gonna do that. In fact, coming in on the Monday May 28 would still be bad. Uhmmm, maybe I'll see if AM Solar could move things up for the install. As busy as they are, I don't have much hope however.
25 days minimum on the road assuming no glitches for my first trip is pretty overwhelming. But, that is one reason I'm sticking to Interstates. The trailer won't be loaded with lots of stuff yet. Just some sleeping and showering stuff.
So, comments from the ole pros here? And thanks.
Linda
So my new 2018 Outdoors RV Timberidge 27BHS is at the dealers in Salt Lake City with my name on it. The plan to get it and bring it back to Indy is described below.
Where I'm asking for any specific recommendations for overnight campgrounds - hook-ups or not, is the 3rd and 4th and 5th Segments. BTW, I've already studied Campendium, Trip Advisor, RVParky, Free Campgrounds USA, USCampgrounds.info, and forestcamping.com -- so what I'm looking for is advice from experienced people who might be familiar with these locations and could make recommendations.
1st Segment - Indianapolis, IN to Salt Lake City. Will take I70 west and cut up to I80 at some point prior to Denver. I'll be leaving Indy on May 2 with plans to arrive in SLC on Sunday May 6. The plan is to tent camp 3 nights and do the motel thing 2 nights. I haven't slept on the ground for 15 years, so it will be interesting to see how my ole body does. I did buy a new Thermarest pad, and it's really nice. Total miles is 1,520.
2nd Segment Salt Lake City at the dealers May 7, 8, and 9. Will stay at dealers on at least the 7 and 8 of May. Lots of things to do in those two days - the PDI and paperwork, taking out the bunk beds, removing carpet, learning all the water, wastewater, electric, propane, etc. systems. AND - begin learning how to tow, turn, back-up and get in and out of gas stations! Also, install the TPMS, the hitch, program the truck's back-up camera for hitching just to name a few things. As of now, I plan to tow to a nearby campground on May 9 and stay there for the night getting more familiar with stuff.
3rd Segment May 10 through Sunday May 13. Will drive I15 north to I84 through Idaho then east through Oregon to Portland and drop down on I5 to Eugene-Springfield where AM Solar will do the panel and battery installation beginning Monday May 14. Total miles is 720. I have tentatively broken up this trip as follows:
May 10 - Salt Lake City to Twin Falls, ID - ~220 miles
May 11- Twin Falls to Baker City, OR - ~253 miles
May 12 - Baker City to Hood, OR - ~248 miles
May 13 - Hood to Springfield, OR (drop off trailer, and find motel)
Any suggestions for "can't miss places" near the above?
There are Walmarts in a couple of these locations, but with 2 12V batteries for this portion of the trip (I don't know the capacity yet), I'm thinking I'll need to plug in somewhere. I won't be using the refrigerator on this segment - just the bed, maybe the furnace (I'll have a portable propane heater along), and the sink, shower, toilet, some lights, and maybe TV with the OTA antennae. I'll be driving right through the Eagle Creek fire of last September that took out the wilderness area of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. So sad, I hate to think about experiencing that. There is no camping or hiking etc. in the burned portion.
4th Segment It will take AM Solar in Eugene-Springfield, OR an estimated 4 days to do the installation-- meaning May 14 through 17 at a minimum. I can't use the trailer during that time. I'll have the truck and camping gear however. I'll likely do motels during this time, but would not be adverse to an overnight somewhere in the area if anyone has any suggestions. Like maybe somewhere for a nice hike, and a car-camping site? Also, any suggestions for other sights to visit or things to do in Eugene or nearby during the day?
Good places to eat???
5th Segment Eugene to Indianapolis, IN. This is the biggy - 2,440 miles towing the trailer, but now with my solar panels and lithium batts. Will leave on May 18 towards Portland, east on I84 and drop down I15 to SLC again. I could use as an opportunity to swing back by the dealer's in case anything has come up that needs attention. I'll likely stay on I80 east and then drop down somewhere to pick up I74 after that which takes me directly to Indy. Haven't planned anything for this portion because I'm not really on a time table to get somewhere like I am for the first portion of this adventure.
So, any suggestions for places to stay along I80 in the Great Plans and Midwest are welcome. The bad part about this is looks like this schedule would have me arriving in Indianapolis on May 27!!! which is the running of the Indianapolis 500. NO WAY in --- am I gonna do that. In fact, coming in on the Monday May 28 would still be bad. Uhmmm, maybe I'll see if AM Solar could move things up for the install. As busy as they are, I don't have much hope however.
25 days minimum on the road assuming no glitches for my first trip is pretty overwhelming. But, that is one reason I'm sticking to Interstates. The trailer won't be loaded with lots of stuff yet. Just some sleeping and showering stuff.
So, comments from the ole pros here? And thanks.
Linda