Planning a tour of the US

[JudyJB]

Personally, I would skip taking the car. Your motorcycle can fit in a toy hauler and you could use that space for a bed for your brother for those times he comes with you. One thing about full-timing is that you will be traveling more slowly than vacationers travel, plus you will be working, so if the weather is bad, you can wait it out and just use your motorcycle.

When I started, I had tons of people tell me I could not full time without a toad. Ha!! I have driven 185,000 miles over almost 11 years, and never towed anything. I plan my errands and sightseeing for a couple of days a week, especially when I was working online half-time. And you will want to be planning your travels around the weather anyways, so you will not be traveling to Oregon and Washington in the winter, nor will you be spending the summer or hurricane season in Florida or Texas, or heading for the Rocky Mountains in snow season!!!

As far as security goes, I have never had anything stolen from my RV, nor has anyone threatened me or made me feel unsafe. I stay mostly in federal, state, and county campgrounds, and have felt very safe. Frankly, I think most thieves and nasty people are likely to hang out in cities and towns, and not go hiking out into the woods or desert to find a victim for a crime. Just not worth the trip when you can find victims closer to home.

And the Ford v10 engine has been the best and most reliable part of my motorhome. Noisy, but keeps on going up and down hill no matter what, as is evidenced by the mileage I have put on it. I did recently have to add new spark plugs and coils, but what do you expect for the hard use I have put it to??

 

[Mountain high]

[*]The ones I have found tend to be longer than what I would like as well. It's been recommended to me that I not get anything longer than 35 feet in length,

[, driving long distances across the country seems like it would be far more comfortable in those big motorhome chairs than it would be in the cabin of a truck. There is also gas mileage to consider, as I know motorhomes get very low MPG.

Other concerns:
[*]I plan on taking a gun safety class and buying a handgun
[*]I would also like to get a concealed carry permit, but I need to figure out how that works going from state to state, with the varying laws each one has
[/LIST]

[*]Electricity

• I know there are some RVs that come with a generator. If I end up getting one that does not (or maybe even if I get one that does), I am considering if it would be appropriate to get a generator myself, for emergencies or extended stays without an electrical hookup
• Would a solar generator be better or worse than a gasoline one?
• On the one hand, solar generators never really run out of fuel (the sun can be blocked, but even then solar generators get some power, just not as much). On the other hand, it seems you either need to run it off the battery (for however long that lasts), or else deal with a low power output while charging.
• Gasoline generators can give consistent power, but the fuel supply is also limited

• 
  
  -35 feet is the maximum combined length over Independence Pass, Colorado. I'm at 45 feet towing a 25 foot TT. I don't like traveling through Aspen anyway.
  
  -I've been driving light duty pickup trucks across country since 1971. Over 1.25 million miles on trucks that I've own. Can't fit a La-Z-Boy in the cab for more comfort. It will fit within the pickup bed though with room to spare. My Power Wagon gas mileage on 35 inch tires is very low without towing, but without a 4x4 I couldn't live in the Rockies.
  
  -I have a CCW. Took NRA training around 1969. I carry. I have a 10, 25, and 50 yard pistol and rifle practice range. My plan is to never use my concealed weapon. If I ever do pull it out, it's to save life.
  
  
  
  
  -Our Northwood Desert Fox has a gas generator built in. Runs off a 40 gallon gas tank. That's enough fuel. 100 gallon fresh water tank too.
  
  -Our Outdoors RV Backcountry has a propane generator built in. Runs off of two 10 gallon tanks. Also, has 170W solar panel and another can be installed. Also, have a 200W portable with a built-in port on the TT. 100 gallon fresh water tank on this model also.

 

[Stormfather]

And you will want to be planning your travels around the weather anyways, so you will not be traveling to Oregon and Washington in the winter

Ah, but I will be. I love to go snowboarding, and I fully intend to visit a local ski resort during winter. For example, I always hear good things about Mammoth mountain, but I've never been there.

As far as the security goes, I'm less worried about random thieves in the night (although that is still a concern) and more about wild animals or crazy people while I'm out hiking alone.

35 feet is the maximum combined length over Independence Pass, Colorado

Is this something I should be concerned about? I don't have any specific plans to travel through that exact pass, but I do plan on visiting every national park, and plenty of other landmarks along the way.

 

[Old_Crow]

Ah, but I will be. I love to go snowboarding, and I fully intend to visit a local ski resort during winter. For example, I always hear good things about Mammoth mountain, but I've never been there.

You'll be lucky if the campgrounds around Mammoth open by July this year. As far as parking on the street, I've been watching videos of the snow in Mammoth this year, and you can't park a Subaru in Mammoth right now, it's all filled with snow.

 

[Stormfather]

You'll be lucky if the campgrounds around Mammoth open by July this year. As far as parking on the street, I've been watching videos of the snow in Mammoth this year, and you can't park a Subaru in Mammoth right now, it's all filled with snow.

I don't need to be camping on the mountain itself. Just like at home, I'm fine driving a ways to get to the resort. Hence bringing the car along

 

[Mountain high]

Is this something I should be concerned about? I don't have any specific plans to travel through that exact pass, but I do plan on visiting every national park, and plenty of other landmarks along the way.

No

 

[Old_Crow]

I don't need to be camping on the mountain itself. Just like at home, I'm fine driving a ways to get to the resort. Hence bringing the car along

You're in luck this year. They just announced that they'll be open through July 4th this year.
To get an idea, go to YouTube and search a channel called "Mammoth Mountain Life" and watch his latest video. He's got a company that plows snow and clears roofs of snow and he shoots videos in and around Mammoth. My campgrounds are within 30 miles of Mammoth and I don't believe I'm going to make my April 29th opening date this year. There's currently 8' of snow sitting in most of them.