Biting off more than I can chew?

[UGAVET]

Ok,  Friday I am closing the deal to sell my veterinary hospital trying to downsize my commitments in life.  We have adopted our 5 yr old nephew after finally getting our own son raised and out of the house.  I want to do something's different this time around like actually being part of the family instead of being married to my profession.  We have went to the Tampa Fla RV Supershow the last 2 yrs.  never owned an RV but just bought a Haulmark Motorcoach 4504HB.  This is similar to a Showhauler for those familiar with the. TLC RV shows.  We will leave northeast Ga next Monday the 29th headed to Logan, Utah to pick up the Rig.  Now I will be a Rookie.  I have driven o big truck similar in size thru the Appalachian Mts where I live.  I have to be back in Ga August 12th as the little guy starts kindergarten.  I would like to go from Logan up to Grand Teton national park for a couple of days then try to have a couple of days to hit some highlights in Yellowstone and get a taste for what we want to see on a longer trip in the future to include Glacier.  If anyone has suggestions on easy big rig friendly parks in those areas I would appreciate the advise or if you think I should pick up the rig, head east and just detour to Disney World as the first trip, the wife would probably like that too as she thinks I am biting off more than I can chew for a first trip in a rig not even supplied yet.  Yikes! Can I drive this Rocky Mt. terrain with no experience of Appalachian grades only? Be as brutal as you need to be.  Thanks for the help

 

[ArdraF]

Okay, it sounds like you're leaving Georgia on July 29th for Utah and you have to return by August 12.  It will take you several days to get to Utah.  Then it will take several more days for your RV checkout and fixing anything that needs fixed.  You'll also need time to purchase items you'll need for the return trip.  This means you'll have about a week to return to Georgia.  I hate to say it but I think your wife is right (again?!?!).  You're trying to do too much for this trip, the primary purpose of which is to pick up your new motorhome.  You would be better off to take the time you need to pick up your RV and make sure everything is right with it.  Forget about sightseeing for this trip, at least until you've started toward home.  There are plenty of places to see and explore on your way across the country.  Just look for those brown highway signs that lead to all kinds of interesting places.

As to driving in our western mountains we have some very loonngg grades out here that go to pretty high elevations (more than twice the height of the Appalachians).  You need to learn what your new RV can do but again, perhaps this isn't the trip to do it.  You'll have enough to do to just learning what you need to do with all the "stuff" that will be new to you (how to dump waste tanks, when and how to hook up utilities, proper use of the transmission, how to save your brakes, your engine's "sweet spot" for best fuel consumption, etc.).  With a brand new rig you don't need to put yourself in the position of driving long days and pulling into a campground after dark when you can't see what you need to see just to get set up.  There is quite a learning curve when getting one of these new rolling homes.  Also, you need to get back across the country in a reasonable amount of time without adding an extra 1,000 miles or so of mountain driving.  When you are ready for that trip into the mountains, I recommend getting a copy of the Mountain Directory which comes in both east and west coast editions.

By the way, congratulations on your new motorhome and especially your new life in retirement.  You'll have plenty of time to use that motorhome and I hope you love it.  When the inevitable questions arise you'll find a lot of good help here on the RV Forum.

ArdraF

 

[Seilerbird]

Ardra makes some great points. I only have a few things to add.

CoachNet. Do not leave home without it. It is a roadside assistance program specifically for RVs.

http://www.coach-net.com/

rvparkreviews. An excellent web site with user reviews of campgrounds all over the country. With links to the campground's web site and a Google map view of the place.  You can easily figure out if a campground will be easy to navigate or not.

http://www.rvparkreviews.com/

Passport America. It costs $44 a year and they have about 2000 member campgrounds where you can stay for half price for a night or two. It is no good for long term staying but for driving across country it will pay for itself and then some in one trip.

https://www.passportamerica.com/

Google map. I love Google maps for trip planning. Put in the starting destination and the final destination and it will map out the shortest route. The cool thing is you can drag the route and change it and it will update all the information.

https://maps.google.com/

I must comment on how difficult a large class A is to drive. I was a full timer for ten years driving big rigs all over the country. I have now retired to living in Florida so I had to buy me a car. I never pulled a toad while I was full timing, I always drove the RV. So for the first time in ten years I am driving a car. It scares me. They are not as easy to drive as a motorhome. Actually they are just as easy but since I am so used to a motorhome it seems strange driving such a little thing around. Backing it up is the worst. I can't see much out of those tiny little mirrors.

 

[Trailer traveler]

Have you considered flying to Utah to pickup the RV? This would leave more of the 15 days you have to check it out and maybe stop and see a place or two on the drive back. It would also let you get use to the RV without towing the car behind it. You would likely have time to stop and stay a day or two at Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone. You could take one of the yellow bus tours so you would not have to drive the RV through the park and try to find parking in the pullouts. Then you could head South to  Colter Bay Village RV Park and at least see a little of Grand Teton National Park. From there, US-191 or US-287 are good routes to get to I-80 to start heading East.

Good Luck with your Adventure!!

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

If in Utah anyway, why not do your initial sight-seeing at Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce, etc. instead of detouring well north to Teton/Yellowstone. You really don't have enough time to take any detours, and you will want to stay close to Logan for 5-6 days in case problems arise during the shakedown period. Rarely are new RVs trouble free.

 

[SkyKing4AR2]

I just dropped you a message since we are in Brigham City for the next two weeks, just over the hill from Logan. I actually have to run my rig up there next week for some warranty work, and perhaps I can be of some help while you are here. Might even be headed to the same dealer!

Us Southern boys have to stay together! 

 

[BinaryBob]

If in Utah anyway, why not do your initial sight-seeing at Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce, etc. instead of detouring well north to Teton/Yellowstone. You really don't have enough time to take any detours, and you will want to stay close to Logan for 5-6 days in case problems arise during the shakedown period. Rarely are new RVs trouble free.

/\
||
This...
What great places to break in a new RV.

 

[NadaThing]

What Skyking said. Use the time buffer to do a good shake down, see the local attractions while doing so. One he missed is Lava Hot Springs or for the smaller Downata. Or Bear Lake. If you, golf, Logan has a nice course. Yellowstone is a fantastic place but locals know the best times are before Memorial and after Labor day, MUCH less crowded.

 

[1joester2]

What everyone here said. No exception.


Learn your rig before you explore with it. Keep a journal too. Your 5 year old will love reading it when older.


Tom (SeilerBird) was dead on with the CoachNet info. Being a newbie you will really appreciate the assistance you get if something unfortunate happens.


After you get your feet wet, you will have plenty of time for those extravagant trips with the fabulous places to visit.

 

[Marsha/CA]

Others have given you some good advice, I'd like to chime in with trying to get campground sites.  I've been calling Colter Bay RV park in the Grand Tetons for the last several weeks and there are no campsites available, as least as of today.  I'm sure they get cancellations, but I've had a hard time getting a reservation.  You will need reservations.  You will also need them in Yellowstone.

Reservations aside, I'm with the others in that you may need to stay close to where you pick up the RV.  You will have little issues to deal with....all the new ones do.

BTW, my son works for VCA.

Marsha~

 

[Oscar Mike]

I will be cancelling our reservations at Colter Bay in the next day or two, from August 16-20 2013. I am also cancelling our Grizzly RV Park reservations that run from the 12th to the 16th. I don't know if it is possible, but if a forum member wants these reservations perhaps there is a way to transfer them. I may be being optimistic.

 

[Marsha/CA]

Hi John,

I don't know if a transfer can be done either; but in any case, I've been able to get reservations at Grizzly and have made other plans for the dates you have at Colter.  We will be south of Jackson for a month and I can just run up in my tow car to check out the Tetons.

Hope all is well with you and yours. 

Marsha~

 

[Icemaker]

I didn't see any one tell you to NOT BACK UP with a toad in tow...2-3 feet ok maybe ...the toad will jack knife almost every time..
Remember your only going to average 50 miles an hour and you'll get tired faster due to the newness..
I like the fly-in drive out idea..except I hate flying and use AMTRAK or drive it..
You do know that your credit card has a limit of $75-100  per pump usage and locks out after 3 uses[ least mine do most time] so I limit my self to $200 a fill, which is somewhere around 50 gallons..and I only get 7 mpg ..
I may have missed where you said ... how do you tow your vehicle back?? that in it's self is another thing to know the safe answers to..
Give your first real trip as much time as you can...enjoy it...there's, as already said, a lot of new things to learn...here is the place to get good advice...from experienced folks..
Don't push yourself too hard and smell those roses..

George

 

[UGAVET]

Very good advice and I have taken it to heart.  We are going to stay in Utah and see some of the sites mentioned and shake out the kinks on the rig.  I knew this inside was the right thing but being "right there" so close to the places I have waited years to go got to me and the excitement took over.  I appreciate the advice about the gas cards and towing tips.
Just to clarify, many have congratulated me on my retirement.  I am 43 and unfortunately have several years left to practice.  I love my profession so it's not hard to go to work.  I have 2 hospitals, 1 with 6 veterinarians and 25 employees and 1 with 2 vets and 3 employees.  So I am selling the big one to make life simpler and keeping the smaller one where I have a Dr. That can cover anytime I want to be gone so I don't have to worry.  Unfortunately the men on my mothers side of the family don't live to be old men and I seem to have inherited a lot of their genetics so I am trying to live life a little different and at least get to work on my bucket list. 
Thanks again.  I'll post some pics of the rig when I get it.

 

[ArdraF]

Hey, semi-retirement works too!    Sounds like it will take off a lot of pressure you no longer need.

I think staying in Utah is perfect.  I never gave a thought to how you'll get your car back to Georgia.  You'll need to get it set up for towing, preferably in or near Logan.  See the Towing and Towables board for discussions about what you'll want for towing.

ArdraF

 

[Trailer traveler]

Ugavet,

No argument with the recommendation to get Coachnet road side assistance. However, if you are getting a motorhome that has a manufacturer's warranty on the engine and chassis see if it includes towing and other benefits like trip interruption. You will be starting your travels in an area where service facilities can be rather few and far between. Coachnet will tow you to what they consider the closest qualified service facility. If the manufacturer of the engine or chassis covers towing, they will have you towed to the facility that they want to have do the warranty work and will accept their payment schedule for such work.

 

[zmotorsports]

If I can be of any assistance when you take delivery of your coach I would be more than happy to.  I am only about 70 miles from Logan in Northern, Utah.  I am pretty familiar with many makes/models of coaches and coach systems.

Mike.

 

[UGAVET]

We made it to Logan, Ut. In 3 days. We had a 36 hr straight drive from Clayton, Ga. To Rawlins, Wy.
Skyking4AR2 was camped at Golden Spikes Rv Park just down the road and was very helpful to us as newbies. He actually came up to Logan and did the walk thru if you could call it that with me and helped me ask the important questions.  We actually camped next door to him for 2 days which helped tremendously with the learning curve.  I can't than him enough.  We got to have dinner with ZMotorsports who lives nearby.  I got to see what my jeep wants to be when it grows up.  We are heading back Tueday to Ga.  Gonna try to make it to Cabelas in Sidney, Nebraska as I promised my son we would stop.  Gonna try to camp there overnight.  Hoping towing the Jeep home is no problem.  Had the Roadmaster All Terrain Falcon installed on the Jeep for the tow.  Can't wait for the next trip

 

[DearMissMermaid]

You live in northeast Georgia?  There are tons of campgrounds right in your neck of the woods to enjoy your rig on weekends and holidays. I have been workamping in northeast Georgia off and on for a few years.

Also while Georgia has beautiful state parks, SC has gorgeous ones far cheaper, though it doesn't sound like budgeting is a problem for you. State and National parks tend to be on rivers, lakes and beaches, just awesome places.

If I were in your shoes, I would home school the child through the internet and hit the road fulltime in a rig that nice. Kids on the road learn a lot more of life's lessons traveling around.

In the interim there are wonderful parks up and down the lakes that border SC and Georgia as well as the Tallulah Gorge area and Chattahoochee Forest area.

You might be surprised what you find near your backyard for drop dead gorgeous camping on the water front (lakes and rivers). Get the little one to the Y for swimming lessons soon.

If you have never been to Hunting Island State Park in SC, it's well worth making reservations now as they book up fast. It's the most beautiful beach on the eastern coast.

Good luck with your new family and new rig!  I commend you, we need more folks to adopt.