whatsnext Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 Has anyone driven this with their rig? As far as I can tell the roads look fine and the TX State Park Campground can accommodate our size so I just want to make sure there are no "gotcha's". Thanks and I appreciate all the input. 2016 Volvo VNL780 D13 I-Shift 2016 DRV 44 Houston 2015 Smart Cabriolet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barncats Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 If you plan on going down in the canyon the road going down is fairly narrow and twisty. If you meet another RV someone is probably going to have to backup. Be a good idea to have someone at the top or bottom of hill stopping traffic until you are clear. Mike 2000 W900L KWSingled, C15 CAT 475 HP 18 sp, 3:36 rear, power locker,ET Hitch,,22.5 rubber 2011 Excel 36CFE Limited Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXiceman Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 While we do not have an HDT, we do have a 40' 5er towed by a 1 ton crewcab dually. Total rig length is about 58'. We have no issues getting into or out of the park. Ken Amateur radio operator, 2023 Cougar 22MLS, 2022 F150 Lariat 4x4 Off Road, Sport trim <br />Travel with 1 miniature schnauzer, 1 standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigTexRex Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 While we do not have an HDT, we do have a 40' 5er towed by a 1 ton crewcab dually. Total rig length is about 58'. We have no issues getting into or out of the park. Ken I have the same setup and Ken is a better driver than I am. After traveling the route with my truck, I opted not to take my 5er down into the park and have no regrets. Rex & Karen Libre y pobre en La Casa Rodante Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docj Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 If you plan on going down in the canyon the road going down is fairly narrow and twisty. If you meet another RV someone is probably going to have to backup. Be a good idea to have someone at the top or bottom of hill stopping traffic until you are clear. Mike A Texan friend of mine suggested that I not take my 40' MH into the canyon for these reasons. He said that he thought we would be better off staying in the town outside of the canyon Sandie & Joel 2000 40' Beaver Patriot Thunder Princeton--425 HP/1550 ft-lbs CAT C-12 2014 Honda CR-V AWD EX-L with ReadyBrute tow bar/brake systemWiFiRanger Ambassador Follow our adventures on Facebook at Weiss Travels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrfrank Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 I have taken my 44ft DP with Jeep Toad into PDC several times. Just drive slowly and use low gear and engine brake, if you have it. Frank Kay - Co-pilot Roscoe and Maggie - Rescue Beagles "I asked God to send us a True Friend. He sent us a Beagle!" "It's never too late to have a happy childhood!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2gypsies Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 We had no issues driving down the hill with our 40' MH and Jeep. Mesquite is the best campground. Full-timed for 16 YearsTraveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Motorhome and 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David-and-Cheryl Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 We've been there twice in the last few months with our 41' fifth-wheel and Ford F-450. About 60' long total. No problems getting up or down the road into the canyon--just go slow. It's not that hard to drive. There usually isn't enough traffic that you have to worry about meeting someone on the road, but there are a few turns that are tight enough that if you did, one vehicle would have to wait before the turn for the other to get through it. There is pretty good visibility well before each of the turns, so you can see if someone else is approaching from the other direction and time it accordingly. It's a beautiful campground. Don't let worries about getting down into the canyon stop you from enjoying it. David & Cheryl - SKP #126793 2023 New Horizons Majestic 2020 Ford F-450 Platinum Follow us at Landmark Adventures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXiceman Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 I have the same setup and Ken is a better driver than I am. After traveling the route with my truck, I opted not to take my 5er down into the park and have no regrets. Like several have noted, slow and easy. Just gear down both going down as well as up. It is not all that hard. Ken Amateur radio operator, 2023 Cougar 22MLS, 2022 F150 Lariat 4x4 Off Road, Sport trim <br />Travel with 1 miniature schnauzer, 1 standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatsnext Posted December 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2016 Thanks everyone. I appreciate the comments. I have heard mesquite CG is good but the TxSP website directs me to Juniper CG due to length. 2016 Volvo VNL780 D13 I-Shift 2016 DRV 44 Houston 2015 Smart Cabriolet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuiteSuccess Posted December 11, 2016 Report Share Posted December 11, 2016 David, if you're worried about it just let Sondra drive, 2006 Volvo 780 "Hoss" Volvo D12, 465hp, 1650 ft/lbs tq., ultrashift Bed Build by "JW Morgan's Custom Welding" 2017 DRV 39DBRS3 2013 Smart Passion Coupe "Itty Bitty" "Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David-and-Cheryl Posted December 12, 2016 Report Share Posted December 12, 2016 Thanks everyone. I appreciate the comments. I have heard mesquite CG is good but the TxSP website directs me to Juniper CG due to length. We have stayed in both the Sagebrush and Juniper campgrounds. Both were very nice, and easy to get our 41' 5er into. Sagebrush and Mesquite are relatively close to the road out of the canyon as well as the amphitheater and other facilities. Juniper is a new campground that's a several-mile drive down to the other end of the park. The scenery is pretty, so the drive isn't painful, but just be aware that it will take additional time to get out of the park from there. If you do go to Juniper, note that they haven't updated the signage at the entry to the campground yet (at least as of late September when we were there)--if I recall, the turnoff just says "Day Use Area" (which is in the same vicinity) and you'll pass right by it unless you are looking carefully at the map. It's then a long way to anyplace where you can easily turn around. Ask me how I know... David & Cheryl - SKP #126793 2023 New Horizons Majestic 2020 Ford F-450 Platinum Follow us at Landmark Adventures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big5er Posted December 12, 2016 Report Share Posted December 12, 2016 Ask me how I know... How do you know, David? Sorry, I couldn't help it. You said to ask........ MY PEOPLE SKILLS ARE JUST FINE.~It's my tolerance to idiots that needs work.~ 2005 Volvo 780 VED12 465hp / Freedomline transmission singled mid position / Bed by Larry Herrin2018 customed Mobile Suites 40KSSB3 2014 smart Fortwo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
champ_49 Posted December 16, 2016 Report Share Posted December 16, 2016 Been up and down it once with a 40' fifth wheel hauled by a F350 Diesel 7,3. It was no big deal at all. It was a huge surprise to us as we checked in and they gave us a map and off we went. Come around the bends and it was one of "oh sh**" moments at first. Of course going down is no big problem at all. We were there for 3 day stay and that whole 3 days I fretted about getting out of there. It's a 10% grade and it looks deceiving. Where we stayed down in the park was a very nice area, but I could see that hill all the time when I went outside. At the time going outside wasn't much of an option as it was 119* down in that hole with no wind. HOT! is all I can say. We walked right up that hill with no problems at all. Would I go back down there? Absolutely not LOL. I just didn't find it all that appealing, but that's just me and my wife. Dave & Linda 2011 Bighorn 3670 2000 Ford 7.3 PS diesel white and tan in color Now Fulltiming since May15, 2010 Semper Fi Marines!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David-and-Cheryl Posted December 16, 2016 Report Share Posted December 16, 2016 Been up and down it once with a 40' fifth wheel hauled by a F350 Diesel 7,3. It was no big deal at all. It was a huge surprise to us as we checked in and they gave us a map and off we went. Come around the bends and it was one of "oh sh**" moments at first. Of course going down is no big problem at all. We were there for 3 day stay and that whole 3 days I fretted about getting out of there. It's a 10% grade and it looks deceiving. Where we stayed down in the park was a very nice area, but I could see that hill all the time when I went outside. At the time going outside wasn't much of an option as it was 119* down in that hole with no wind. HOT! is all I can say. We walked right up that hill with no problems at all. Would I go back down there? Absolutely not LOL. I just didn't find it all that appealing, but that's just me and my wife. Yeah, Palo Duro in the summertime is not fun. We were there in late June, and it was too hot to do anything outside until the sun went down. It was much better when we re-visited in late October. For that matter, most of Texas in the summertime is not fun, with the possible exception of the Davis Mountains. That's why we got out as fast as we could and spent the summer in Colorado. David & Cheryl - SKP #126793 2023 New Horizons Majestic 2020 Ford F-450 Platinum Follow us at Landmark Adventures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatsnext Posted December 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2016 David, if you're worried about it just let Sondra drive, LOL. Hey, I just might so I can enjoy the scenery! 2016 Volvo VNL780 D13 I-Shift 2016 DRV 44 Houston 2015 Smart Cabriolet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
champ_49 Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Yeah, Palo Duro in the summertime is not fun. We were there in late June, and it was too hot to do anything outside until the sun went down. It was much better when we re-visited in late October. For that matter, most of Texas in the summertime is not fun, with the possible exception of the Davis Mountains. That's why we got out as fast as we could and spent the summer in Colorado. It was I believe early October for us. Still to hot, lesson learned Dave & Linda 2011 Bighorn 3670 2000 Ford 7.3 PS diesel white and tan in color Now Fulltiming since May15, 2010 Semper Fi Marines!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txdslshop Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 I went to Palo Duro a couple weeks ago to scope it out for a later trip and I don't see it being an issue as far as driving in or out with our rig. Mesquite camping area looked to have plenty of room to me. Of course, I was in my pickup for a day trip and just eyeballing for our HDT later. Jeremy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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