amarie1

thanks all! that info reduces my anticipated stress. 😉 I know this will be fun in a while but as an almost complete newbie on her own it's kind of intimidating. Really glad to have found this community! AM

ah, great to know! thank you! I wasn't looking forward to the "hoofing it back down to the parking lot" part. 😉 AM

I have a 30-foot RV (Thor freedom elite) and a Volkswagen Rabbit toad. When I pull into a state campground (the only kinds of places I've stayed so far), what's the common/best way for me to handle the 2 vehicles? 1) Drive with toad down twisty turny lanes (hey the 5th wheelers can do it) until I get to my space, which is seldom pull-through. Then ... ? Block traffic while I detach the toad, drive it to my space, then back the RV up into the space too? 2) After checking in, find a place in the parking lot (?) to drop the toad, then drive one vehicle up to space, hoof it back, and drive the other vehicle? I can't think of any other solution. I'm very new so have never seen how other folks do it. Is it different if I pay for like a KOA site? Do they have pullthroughs so I don't have to detach until I'm in my slot? Thanks AM

how do you maneuver a 30 foot motorhome close enough to a gas station faucet? And where do you find these... by the bathroom? I need to see a video of it. lol. Also I've been to a couple Pilot truck stops in my short life as an RVer but never saw "an RV lane". I had to go where the cars went to fill up the gas tank. And park where the trucks parked to run inside and get something to eat. Am I missing something obvious? thanks AM

Thank you for all this! Yes, it's just me and two dogs, a terrier mix at 16 lbs and a hound/beagle mix at 45 lbs. Using secondary roads sounds interesting and appealing. I used to drive from Chicago to Kansas City MO for school and often chose to do the trek, at least from Iowa City to KCMO, entirely off-interstate, just to see the country and small towns. Hmm. A city park ...you mean like a regular park, with swingsets and baseball diamonds? AM

Todd thanks, I hadn't heard of that. I'll check it out. Ideally I'd like to take a month of meandering across the US before I get to Oakland. BUT I haven't seen my daughter/grandson since pre-COVID and seeing them and staying there to visit for a week or two is a major motivator. Probably on the way back I'll be more relaxed about it. 😉 AM

Thanks all! The inspector did say the tires were in good shape. But I'm bringing the rig to an RV service center this week just to check everything and one of the things I want them to do is check the condition of the tires. Assuming I buy new ones, any recommendation regarding brand? Do I need to buy all of them at once? AM

Hi all, After 2 years of dreaming and scheming, having never owned an RV before nor ever taken a trip in one (other than a test 2-week rental last summer) I finally snapped up a 2017 Class C, 29 foot Thor, and it came with a toad and tow bar etc. I had it professionally inspected and the report came back that it was in good shape. That was 2 weeks ago. I drove it from the seller's location near Detroit to my home in Chicago where I had a parking space in a storage lot ready and waiting. I've done one short trip to the Indiana Dune Nat'l Park (last week) and it went okay. Doggos and I are getting more comfortable. I'm buying leveling blocks, tire minder system, etc. Short-term (1 year) goal: Figure out how to take 6 to 8 week trips and keep working on the road (I teach software via Skype/Zoom). Longer term, possibly full-timing. I joined Escapees back in January I think, and Good Sam, and FMCA ... lol. Now I'm trying to figure out how plan out a trip from Chicago to Oakland California, where my daughter and grandchild and son-in-law are. I'd like to go late July/ early August. I know I should not drive the thing more than 5 or 6 hours a day, right? That's about 7 or 8 driving days, taking it easy. I think at least half way through I'd like to rest up for a couple days, no driving. I'm not sure if I'll bring the toad this trip. Is there any service from Escapees, or elsewhere, that would help me plan this out? That is, where to stop each day, where to take my 2-day break? It would make me feel better to have a few choices or reservations along the way rather than purely winging it. I'm anxious enough already. 😉 Thanks! AM

thank you!

Hello! I going to pick up my new-to-me RV this Sunday and drive it home. It's north of Detroit and I'm in Chicago. I'm a new RVer and will be on my own, and it comes with a toad. So I'm a bit nervous. I joined Escapees a few months ago but am wondering, does it come with Roadside Assistance? I can't figure out if that's a separate purchase or not. How would I reach them? Other RVers have recommended Good Sam roadside assistance ... thoughts? Thanks for your quick response! 😉 AM