Destination for a "Trial run" in the Northeast

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Joenew61

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Mar 8, 2021
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119
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Connecticut
My wife and I have been seriously considering purchase of a rig to travel in our soon to be post-retirement years, but wanted to rent something to see how the two of us and the two dogs would like being active RV travelers - not full time but looking to do a lot of long trips regularly. We are in SW Connecticut. We came close back in 2021, but you know what, and the >1 year lead time on buying the coach we were looking at (large Super C) got in the way.

For those of you that know the area, where would you suggest we go? Given that we are renting, and it will be our first trip, we didn't want to add a Toad, so we would want someplace that could keep us occupied without needing our own local transportation. I also would like to use the trip to make sure that both myself as driver and my wife as navigator would be able to get comfortable driving.

I'd appreciate any ideas! Thanks.
 
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Joe,
I can't help you with a destination. Though a refugee of the east coast megopolis, we have not have not had our coach back there is many years. Nearly everybody I would want to see has also left. I do know that not many places fit your requirements. Most the places that come close do not want RVs parked there. Mystic Seaport might be one. I never parked the coach there because my mom used to live just down the way and we walked there.
Now, what I will help you with and we always do and you have a good start.
Co-Driving is the hot set up...
A good navigator can take a lot of the stress off the driver (who already had enough in megopolis traffic). When you are planning, buy a GPS you like. If you don't know, borrow as many as you can from friends and then buy. Navigator will need a decent tablet or a laptop on a small inverter and a cell phone set at the internet hotspot. That way navigator has the big map with the "You are here" arrow. You can load the day's plan into the driver's GPS, but if you do it right, that plan will need to be revised before you are through with the first cup of coffee. (Another reason to co-drive - navigator can refill coffee.)
Remember to start a running travel log. If you do it in something electronic, back it up all the time. If you do this right, in no time at all this will all be a blur of memories. (Honey, what year were we at ....?)
Oh, and the towed answer is, when you decide where you are going, plan to rent a car if it is needed. (Except for RI, they have a killer rental car tax.) That makes one less thing to worry about.
Matt_C
 
Folks in your region often go to the Maine shore, where the scenery is good, RV parks available, and you are never far from civilization (restaurants, shopping, car rentals, etc). Another good choice in NY's Hudson Valley and further up into the Adirondacks around Lake George & Saratoga.
 
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Joe,
I can't help you with a destination. Though a refugee of the east coast megopolis, we have not have not had our coach back there is many years. Nearly everybody I would want to see has also left. I do know that not many places fit your requirements. Most the places that come close do not want RVs parked there. Mystic Seaport might be one. I never parked the coach there because my mom used to live just down the way and we walked there.
Now, what I will help you with and we always do and you have a good start.
Co-Driving is the hot set up...
A good navigator can take a lot of the stress off the driver (who already had enough in megopolis traffic). When you are planning, buy a GPS you like. If you don't know, borrow as many as you can from friends and then buy. Navigator will need a decent tablet or a laptop on a small inverter and a cell phone set at the internet hotspot. That way navigator has the big map with the "You are here" arrow. You can load the day's plan into the driver's GPS, but if you do it right, that plan will need to be revised before you are through with the first cup of coffee. (Another reason to co-drive - navigator can refill coffee.)
Remember to start a running travel log. If you do it in something electronic, back it up all the time. If you do this right, in no time at all this will all be a blur of memories. (Honey, what year were we at ....?)
Oh, and the towed answer is, when you decide where you are going, plan to rent a car if it is needed. (Except for RI, they have a killer rental car tax.) That makes one less thing to worry about.
Matt_C
Thanks for the tips. My wife is not a natural with technology, but once she learns something, she is a superstar on execution. I will definitely get the kinks and training worked out on navigation before I ever get behind the wheel. With a rental being our first planned trip, I was planning to use whatever was onboard as the primary GPS, hoping it would be configured for the rig in question.

Still not sure if I will use RVshare or one of the big corporate renters (e.g. Cruiseamerica) for the first trip. The former has a rig similar to what we were planning to buy....maybe that will be round 2. The trial run (s) are intended to both see if we like it, and to get comfortable with the driving part.

We have a tablet, and will definitely practice that with some dry runs in the car to make sure we can get the service and connections we need. Curious - what APP do you use for the navigator's route planning?

When you say the "plan will need to be revised...", are you referring to traffic-related re-routing, change in plans, the tablet overriding the driver's GPS...?

I like the car rental idea - hadn't even considered that. I guess we just need to find a rental company that delivers, or use a car service to get there.

Thanks again!
 
Folks in your region often go to the Maine shore, where the scenery is good, RV parks available, and you are never far from civilization (restaurants, shopping, car rentals, etc). Another good choice in NY's Hudson Valley and further up into the Adirondacks around Lake George & Saratoga.
Thanks- those seem like great options. We were in the Acadia region for a week a few years ago, but wouldn't mind a return trip, or maybe something further south. We haven't been to upstate NY, but hopefully there isn't too much white-knuckle mountain driving in the Adirondacks? Not quite ready for winding roads with drop-offs and switchbacks on the first trip out.
 
The desire to go toad-less is the limiting factor. That said, I have been to Pinewood Lodge in Plymouth Mass twice (see my profile pic). It is only 5 miles or so out of Plymouth Harbor so you should be able to get a rental car
 
The desire to go toad-less is the limiting factor. That said, I have been to Pinewood Lodge in Plymouth Mass twice (see my profile pic). It is only 5 miles or so out of Plymouth Harbor so you should be able to get a rental car
Thanks - I'll check it out. When we buy, I definitely plan to get a towable vehicle. I'm just not sure what the options are to tow when renting. Neither of our vehicles are flat-tow capable.
 
Thanks - I'll check it out. When we buy, I definitely plan to get a towable vehicle. I'm just not sure what the options are to tow when renting. Neither of our vehicles are flat-tow capable.
My thought was that you would pick up the rental once you get to your destination. I doubt that you will be allowed to modify a rental to make it a toad
 
Any state park in your geographical target area is a good choice for your first destination, provided the sites will fit the size of the rig.

More than likely, you'll have electricity only. A dump station will be somewhere in the campground vacinity and you'll have a common water spigot for an area of the campground. Not knowing much about the state parks in your area, it is possible some have full hook-up. But rest assured, you'll need to make reservation for these sites way, way, way in advance.

That's my suggestion.

Make your first camp-out a bit more local rather than driving for hours and hours under stressful conditions because everything is brand new. You will find driving ANY RV or RV rig is much, much more tiring and exhausting than driving the daily driver at home. You will wear down quickly and then the remainder of the time you'll be exhausted and find it difficult to get refreshed so you can actually enjoy your time.

Shorter distances (at least initially) will teach you a LOT about RVing without being so overwhelmed. So, I strongly suggest a 2 or 3 day week-end trip, or a middle of the week trip (Monday through Friday) at a state park near you.

Next time you go out, go farther!

Another thing to consider, if you rent an RV, you'll pay mileage. You normally get XX number of miles in the contract, but anything over that, you pay extra when you return the rented RV. And you have to pay for fuel, so return it with a full tank of fuel.

You will learn a lot in your first outing. And that's what's it really all about.

Once you start breaking camp at the end of your allocated time, and you make the comments to each other that you wish it wouldn't have to come to an end ... well ... you know RVing IS fit for you!

If on the other hand, when you break camp you absolutely cannot wait to get back home because it wasn't what you expected, you'll know you'll need to work a bit harder to adapt to the life style or abandon it because it does not fit you the way you though it would. If you find it more desirable to return home than stay on the road, you've lost nothing but a couple or 3 days of another experience under your belt. Once home, analyze what when good and what went ... well, not so good. If you think improvements can be made, schedule another trip with another rental, or ... by now .... you'll be ready to purchase your own.
 
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Any state park in your geographical target area is a good choice for your first destination, provided the sites will fit the size of the rig.

More than likely, you'll have electricity only. A dump station will be somewhere in the campground vacinity and you'll have a common water spigot for an area of the campground. Not knowing much about the state parks in your area, it is possible some have full hook-up. But rest assured, you'll need to make reservation for these sites way, way, way in advance.

That's my suggestion.

Make your first camp-out a bit more local rather than driving for hours and hours under stressful conditions because everything is brand new. You will find driving ANY RV or RV rig is much, much more tiring and exhausting than driving the daily driver at home. You will wear down quickly and then the remainder of the time you'll be exhausted and find it difficult to get refreshed so you can actually enjoy your time.

Shorter distances (at least initially) will teach you a LOT about RVing without being so overwhelmed. So, I strongly suggest a 2 or 3 day week-end trip, or a middle of the week trip (Monday through Friday) at a state park near you.

Next time you go out, go farther!

Another thing to consider, if you rent an RV, you'll pay mileage. You normally get XX number of miles in the contract, but anything over that, you pay extra when you return the rented RV. And you have to pay for fuel, so return it with a full tank of fuel.

You will learn a lot in your first outing. And that's what's it really all about.

Once you start breaking camp at the end of your allocated time, and you make the comments to each other that you wish it wouldn't have to come to an end ... well ... you know RVing IS fit for you!

If on the other hand, when you break camp you absolutely cannot wait to get back home because it wasn't what you expected, you'll know you'll need to work a bit harder to adapt to the life style or abandon it because it does not fit you the way you though it would. If you find it more desirable to return home than stay on the road, you've lost nothing but a couple or 3 days of another experience under your belt. Once home, analyze what when good and what went ... well, not so good. If you think improvements can be made, schedule another trip with another rental, or ... by now .... you'll be ready to purchase your own.
Thanks very much - great advice, and it all really resonated with me! The idea of getting through the process in stages makes a lot of sense, and <2 hours of driving will get me the ice-breaker on the travel aspects just as well as a 5 hour drive. And with two dogs that are home-bodies, shorter will be much less stressful. Fewer stops along the way would be best.

Regarding the comment about "wishing it didn't end" vs "can't wait to get back home" I will just have to manage my wife's expectations, since she isn't all that great at projecting. What I mean by that, is that if on the first trip we go to a location that isn't a "signature destination", she may think "is that all we will be able to see and do when we are on the road"? I'll just have to get her to understand that this is a process.

I do know of a few state parks in CT that could work, and I think it's probably best if we have a target for the second longer trip so she can see where we are heading with this.

Thanks again!
 
The desire to go toad-less is the limiting factor. That said, I have been to Pinewood Lodge in Plymouth Mass twice (see my profile pic). It is only 5 miles or so out of Plymouth Harbor so you should be able to get a rental car

Generally speaking (But not always) Campgrounds are NOT on the "Beaten path" of the Bus services and may be "Taxi only" and that gets expensive.. Most of the exceptions I know of are in the far west (A campground or 3 in Las Vegas. and one in Page AZ. one in Michigan is in Lapeer across the road from the Hospital so it should be on the Public transport path if there is one.

However what to do in the area... now that's an issue.
We have a lot of casinos I've never visited.. I suspect some of them also have bus service into town but frankly don't know. This includes Soaring Eagle and Firekeepers here in Michigan.. I simply do not know.
 
Generally speaking (But not always) Campgrounds are NOT on the "Beaten path" of the Bus services and may be "Taxi only" and that gets expensive.. Most of the exceptions I know of are in the far west (A campground or 3 in Las Vegas. and one in Page AZ. one in Michigan is in Lapeer across the road from the Hospital so it should be on the Public transport path if there is one.

However what to do in the area... now that's an issue.
We have a lot of casinos I've never visited.. I suspect some of them also have bus service into town but frankly don't know. This includes Soaring Eagle and Firekeepers here in Michigan.. I simply do not know.
That's why I noted the location very close to Plymouth Massachusetts. My thought was that the OP would drive the RV to Enterprise Rental in Plymouth, pick up rental car for somebody to follow the RV the last 5 miles to the campground
 
We haven't been to upstate NY, but hopefully there isn't too much white-knuckle mountain driving in the Adirondacks? Not quite ready for winding roads with drop-offs and switchbacks on the first trip out.
Nothing like that, and you can get to all the comfy spots on major roads, either Interstate or major two-lanes. I87 and the Adirondack Northway will get you practically from your doorstep to the Saratoga & Lake George region, and St roads 28 & 30 are easy access to the interior. No cliffs or hair pins turns!
 
....

Regarding the comment about "wishing it didn't end" vs "can't wait to get back home" I will just have to manage my wife's expectations, ....I'll just have to get her to understand that this is a process.

....
Yes, that is exactly what I was attempting to say. It's a process. You and / or your wife may still be on the fence after your first outing. But that first experience will unearth a lot for you.

If you do not take the dogs with you when you go places in your car / truck now, you should start traveling around with them now. Go to the grocery store and take them with you. Have one of you stay in the car / truck with them while the other goes shopping. They need to be "auto" trained also. The more you drive around with them, the better acclimated they'll be when you get the RV.

The important thing is, after your first trip, sit down together and discuss what when good and what went, not so good. And talk it through and see if you come up with a plan to make it better next time.

And yes... having a second destination a bit farther is an excellent idea.

After traveling with a motor home (especially a rental), don't be disappointed or upset if you realize the motor home does not work to your expectations. You may find a travel trailer or a fifth wheel may fit your life style better.

Also remember, the floor plan of every camper has its good points and its "not so good points". So, the motor home may be OK, but the floor plan may be the problem. So, after that first trip, talk, talk, and talk about it with each other. The important thing is for both of you to be flexible and listen to the other. RV's are too small and too cramped if both using it are not, at least 85% content with the camper itself.

Just remember too, when you finally purchase your own RV, if that be motor home or towable trailer, it will be yours and you can customize that remaining 15% in such a way that the 15% can be reduced to 1 or 2%. No RV is perfect, there is always something we all wish was a little different. It's that 1 or 2% that sometimes drives us batty. But we learn to accept it.

Good luck.
 
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Yes, that is exactly what I was attempting to say. It's a process. You and / or your wife may still be on the fence after your first outing. But that first experience will unearth a lot for you.

If you do not take the dogs with you when you go places in your car / truck now, you should start traveling around with them now. Go to the grocery store and take them with you. Have one of you stay in the car / truck with them while the other goes shopping. They need to be "auto" trained also. The more you drive around with them, the better acclimated they'll be when you get the RV.

The important thing is, after your first trip, sit down together and discuss what when good and what went, not so good. And talk it through and see if you come up with a plan to make it better next time.

And yes... having a second destination a bit farther is an excellent idea.

After traveling with a motor home (especially a rental), don't be disappointed or upset if you realize the motor home does not work to your expectations. You may find a travel trailer or a fifth wheel may fit your life style better.

Also remember, the floor plan of every camper has its good points and its "not so good points". So, the motor home may be OK, but the floor plan may be the problem. So, after that first trip, talk, talk, and talk about it with each other. The important thing is for both of you to be flexible and listen to the other. RV's are too small and too cramped if both using it are not, at least 85% content with the camper itself.

Just remember too, when you finally purchase your own RV, if that be motor home or towable trailer, it will be yours and you can customize that remaining 15% in such a way that the 15% can be reduced to 1 or 2%. No RV is perfect, there is always something we all wish was a little different. It's that 1 or 2% that sometimes drives us batty. But we learn to accept it.

Good luck.
The dogs definitely add another dimension to this, and they are one of the reasons why we are looking to get into RV travel. Post-retirement, I'd really like not to have to worry about finding a sitter or kennel, so the idea of travelling with the dogs, as opposed to jumping on a plane seems to make sense. I'm sure that comes with its own "constraints", but it seems like a good trade-off.

After a few years of research, RV shows, etc, we have as good as possible of an understanding of what we THINK we want, at least theoretically, but I suppose there is a big difference between walking through a coach and living in it! The big question at this point is whether we get the big rig now and go all in (Renegade Verona 40), or ease into it with a small C that gives us more flexibility and options for travel, with less range and capacity. But yes, all of that could change after a few trips out.

I like your customize math, and I have always been a buy and hold guy, meaning I like to avoid the transactions costs and hassle of trading up. In the boating world, we affectionately call that 2-foot-itis. I jumped in with the lifetime purchase back in 2006, and still have it. I'd rather get the 85% and adjust it to get all the critical features, than buy and sell a few times to get the perfect rig.

Thanks again!
 
I have only one suggestion--when you go on a trial run on the actual vehicle you buy, try to find a campground with full hookups and go there on a weekend when it is expected to rain!! Full hookups will enable you to learn how to use all of your systems, and rain will enable you to check for leaks.
 
I have only one suggestion--when you go on a trial run on the actual vehicle you buy, try to find a campground with full hookups and go there on a weekend when it is expected to rain!! Full hookups will enable you to learn how to use all of your systems, and rain will enable you to check for leaks.
You mean it really rains on campgrounds? In all the videos I have seen online, it's ALWAYS blue skies and bright sunshine. :)

But seriously - thanks for the tips!
 
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