Another Exciting Episode in Audrey's Great RV Adventure

[RonBoyd]

Well - DH learned how to program those maps himself a few years ago based on Google maps. I'll get the link from him where he's posted the code on some user forum.

Thank you... in advance.

 

[cantlogin]

Well, we tend to be drawn to the western US and only visit GA because we have family there.

But one of these years we'll spend going up New England and into the Maritime Provinces of CA - all the way to Newfoundland if we can.

Audrey

If I ever make it to Newfoundland I'm gonna go the extra ten miles and visit France.

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon

 

[audreyh1]

Thank you... in advance.

First of all - if you create an account on the Google Maps page, you can customize and save your own maps and routes and make them available for public viewing if you want. I thought it was worth mentioning that first as no actual coding is involved.

Here is the info from my husband about what he does:

Here is the Google Map code documentation.
Google Maps API Concepts - Google Maps API - Google Code

Here is a simple example that I posted on the map forum. It uses routing code which is limited to 25 points. Our maps draw a polygon which has not point limit. I don't have an example of the "Where" code posted. The "Where" code on our Map Years and our Where pages are in a semi-compiled state on our web site. The real source code is kept on my computer.
Google Maps API - Route from Waypoints Example (route_waypoints.html)

Hope that helps!

Audrey

 

[NW-Bound]

In my earlier post today, I mentioned that we wanted to go look at a class C. Well, the owner was not home. So, perhaps during next week.

RV sales appear to be slow here. There are some sales all right, but on eBay so many auctions ended up below seller's reserves. The ones that got sold have been usually below blue book values. The only ones that got sold FAST and ABOVE blue book are Rialtas. I observed this phenomenon on eBay, RVTrader, and Oodle.

My DW would NEVER live in a rig full time and the jury is still out on how long she could live in it at any one time. If you are married, YOU MUST HASH THIS OUT IN GREAT DETAIL WITH YOUR SPOUSE!

Yes, I know that I need to get my wife to "buy into" this. I always have her with me when out looking at RVs. I also have been telling her about gray/black tanks, the need to conserve resources when boondocking, etc... One thing we share is the love of travel, and if I am doing all the driving and wrestling with the drain hose, she will come along. I need my sweetheart with me. And she would be afraid I might pick up a companion along the trek.

Same as yours, my wife would not want to be an RV full-timer. That's OK, because I do not either.

NW, if I were you, I would go rent a Class C for several days or a week to see how you like the experience.

Please see my answer below.

An excellent idea! If possible, spend a couple of weeks with it. We owned a Class C motorhome in the 80s and really enjoyed it. It was fairly easy to get around even in heavier traffic. It's nice to be able to pull over and use the bathroom or get a snack without stepping outside. It was a pain to unhook everything at a campground to go exploring, but that issue would be solved with a "toad".

Yes. I am thinking the same.

A BIG reason I like our 26 foot LD is that we can get into the out of the way forest service campgrounds and the like that Class A's can't. I'm not a big fan of RV resorts and only stay there once in a blue moon. I much prefer staying in pristine backcountry with hiking, fishing and like opportunities away from civilization. I get enough of that in the stick house setting.

We went out to look at small TTs and agreed that we like something bigger for long treks. Larger TTs may stress my SUV. I definitely would not buy a big truck just for a tow vehicle. That leaves the class C as most appealing, and the price of used ones is so reasonable I wonder what I am missing.

Class Bs have the allure of simplicity, i.e. no toad. However, there are cons. They command higher prices. There are fewer used ones to choose from. They are geared towards 2 persons, and my children might want to join us sometimes.

About renting to try out, I have read that one needs a longer time than a weekend to see if it would work. Now, we have gone to CruiseAmerica to look at their class Cs. The rental fee is not cheap! For a month's rental, I figure I can buy a used one, and if it does not work out, sell it and suffer a smaller loss than the rental fee for a month. Of course that is from a novice's viewpoint because selling one may not be all that easy.

We have spent a bit of time inside several class Cs and "know" that we will like it. I am really torn between a longer one of 28ft or shorter ones of 23-25 ft. I am quite familiar with the general floorplans now. The difference is the longer ones have room for a sofa, while the shorter ones have to settle for an easy chair. There are some slight variations between makers, but not a whole lot; one cannot make room out of nothing. For me, a sofa is important. I like to read, and read while laying down. Will I be happy giving that up? Why not just get the long class C? The debate is on inside my head because the shorter one can be kept at my city home, while the long one must be kept up in my boonies home. My cheapskate nature does not like to pay for RV storage.

So, by researching, studying, reading blogs, visiting dealerships, I slowly learn what would work for us. Mistakes might still be made, but at least I am making attempts to avoid them.

Our travel style is such that we must have a toad. Here's an example. The last time we were in Seattle, which was the 6th or 7th vacation we had been there, we drove to Snoqualmie Falls and took a hike to the bottom of the fall. We spent time to walk along Green Lake and did a bit of people watching. We went to Discovery Park for a walk, and happened to observe a Pow Wow at the Indian Center inside the park. As described earlier, we have plenty of "nature" at our boonies home and do not avoid humanity when we travel. We will need a toad to get around.

Future travel will be different in that we will return to our "home on wheel" at the end of the day, instead of a hotel room. And I certainly hope travel by RV will be cheaper, which allows us to go for longer trips than in the past.

Many pleasures in life are free. However, it costs money to get to and to stay there. An RV should help.

No way would I ever use a dolly! It's an extra piece that you gotta store while camping. I'd say hassle factor would be really high.

This is the argument I read time and time again against a dolly. I wonder why. Is a tow dolly that burdensome? Or is it because it can be stolen? I thought it is neat to be able to tow any front-wheel-drive car with the same dolly. Flat-towing should be simple, I thought, but then Andy had a bit of trouble with his setup. Have you looked at his blog?

Hankster, thanks for the link on RV towing. I did not realize the towing brake can fail and cause much grief. Also, it appears that the use/non-use of braking system on the toad has been a source of contention among RV'ers. Gee! I hate to think what would happen if they start to talk politics. Oops. We used to talk politics here too.

If I ever make it to Newfoundland I'm gonna go the extra ten miles and visit France.

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon

That's neat. Here's another oddity. Look on the map for Point Roberts, Washington State, 98281.

 

[audreyh1]

This is the argument I read time and time again against a dolly. I wonder why. Is a tow dolly that burdensome? Or is it because it can be stolen? I thought it is neat to be able to tow any front-wheel-drive car with the same dolly. Flat-towing should be simple, I thought, but then Andy had a bit of trouble with his setup. Have you looked at his blog?

Is a tow dolly that burdensome? It must be, because you really don't see them that much, and they seem to be used more by snowbirds - folks who are generally going to one destination for long period, so don't use the dolly that much.

I haven't read Andy's blog. You don't hear much about people having trouble with their tow setup (other than forgetting to do something like release the parking brake, or having trouble with the tow bar - which is why you inspect it regularly and keep an eye on the tow in the rear camera). A lot of people seem to choose vehicles that are "designed" to be towed. But I see a lot vehicles that must have been modified as well, and the owners didn't seem to think that was a big deal either.

Audrey

 

[heyduke]

There might be a third and much smaller group: people like Steinbeck who make a long-distance trek but in a relatively short amount of time. Will I fit in that class? I do not see myself becoming an RV full-timer. I like to travel to remote locations, but then must return to my permanent place from time to time to resume some navel gazing. However, I hope to make more than one trip (I think Steinbeck never made another RV trip after Travels with Charley and died a few years later).

The more I think about it, the more a class C like George's Tioga or Andy's Lazy Daze makes sense for my purpose. It would give us enough room, conveniences, and comfort, while not being overly large like a class A that would limit mobility. Add a car behind that class C and it would be complete.

Class C owners, I would like to hear from your experiences. Thx.

The Adventures of Tioga and George

Skylarking

Interesting following your thread here on your thoughts about buying a class c... I too am going thru the same mental issues and have read the miranda blog above... thanks for the other class c blog link as I have plenty of time to read and research too...

 

[RonBoyd]

Hope that helps!

Again, thank you very much.

 

[Martha]

I haven't read Andy's blog. You don't hear much about people having trouble with their tow setup (other than forgetting to do something like release the parking brake, or having trouble with the tow bar - which is why you inspect it regularly and keep an eye on the tow in the rear camera). A lot of people seem to choose vehicles that are "designed" to be towed. But I see a lot vehicles that must have been modified as well, and the owners didn't seem to think that was a big deal either.

Audrey

Interesting following your thread here on your thoughts about buying a class c... I too am going thru the same mental issues and have read the miranda blog above... thanks for the other class c blog link as I have plenty of time to read and research too...

I recommend Andy's website. He is a good writer and there is a lot of good information on his site. He wanted to install his own brake system. The system he ordered, which would have allowed him to do that, did not fit in his Honda Fit. So, now he has to go for a professional installation.

His story of early semi retirement is interesting as well. He retired on not much money and a very small pension. He needs to supplement his income to get along. He does that through web site development and some other ventures that he has experimented with. I am thinking about purchasing his rv'ing hints and tips ebook as I like his clear writing style and excellent illustrative photography.

I have a LazyDaze as well so I am especially interested in what he has to say about his life in a LazyDaze.

 

[heyduke]

I recommend Andy's website. He is a good writer and there is a lot of good information on his site. He wanted to install his own brake system. The system he ordered, which would have allowed him to do that, did not fit in his Honda Fit. So, now he has to go for a professional installation.

His story of early semi retirement is interesting as well. He retired on not much money and a very small pension. He needs to supplement his income to get along. He does that through web site development and some other ventures that he has experimented with. I am thinking about purchasing his rv'ing hints and tips ebook as I like his clear writing style and excellent illustrative photography.

I have a LazyDaze as well so I am especially interested in what he has to say about his life in a LazyDaze.

a similar story can be found at the rv dreams site...

 

[Martha]

a similar story can be found at the rv dreams site...

Excellent website heyduke! They use inflatable kayaks like I do, their east Texas kayaking sounds interesting and a possibility for this spring. A lot of good information on their website.

 

[walkinwood]

This thread can be turned into a book!

I have no desire to RV (uh, well, maybe just a teensy bit now), but have enjoyed reading your posts. Thanks for allowing me to RV vicariously.

 

[Nords]

I have no desire to RV (uh, well, maybe just a teensy bit now), but have enjoyed reading your posts. Thanks for allowing me to RV vicariously.

Same here-- I don't mind living/camping/boondocking in an RV-- it's the driving & maintenance/repairs that I don't care for!

 

[NW-Bound]

Interesting following your thread here on your thoughts about buying a class c... I too am going thru the same mental issues and have read the miranda blog above...

Well, it's Audrey's thread which I might have inadvertently hijacked because of my current obsession about RV. I don't think Audrey would mind though.

I started thinking about RV last year, shortly after discovering this forum. It was in the following thread that I stumbled across Martha's mentioning of Andy Baird's blog: http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f29/motorhome-purchase-pros-cons-19087.html

Besides being an good writer and illustrator, and apparently a nice man, Andy looked like a "geek" (in a good way), and that appealed to me. By reading his blog from the beginning, I followed his learning process about full-time RV'ing. Yes, he managed to ER and enjoyed life on not much money. I agree wholeheartedly with Martha that Andy's blog makes good reading and there's a lot to learn from his Web site.

I have read that "George and Tioga" is one of the most followed blogs on RV. He even shared what he earned from the ads on his site ($1K/month). I enjoyed his early posts where he was learning the rope about RV'ing.


By the way, I did a bit of research on travel trailer towing, and would like to share some videos I found about the peril of towing without proper equipment, undersized towing vehicle, or improper center of gravity. Going to and from my boonies home in the AZ high country, I have been passed on a hilly highway by aggressive drivers of pickup trucks towing a TT, and with their TT wagging like a dog tail behind them. I did not understand why they did not feel or see the TT swaying behind them. Were they so excited about being able to pass other cars that they were oblivious to the imminent danger they posed to themselves and other cars?



YouTube - The Little Car that Couldn't

YouTube - Trailer Sway Control Demonstration

YouTube - Winds of change

YouTube - Unstable caravan-auto jack-knife. Test by Olle Nordström.

 

[W2R]

Same here-- I don't mind living/camping/boondocking in an RV-- it's the driving & maintenance/repairs that I don't care for!

Well, for me it's all of that PLUS the purchase prices are pretty heady for someone like me.

Believe it or not, there actually is an advantage provided by having an RV that appeals to me despite all my comments on the forum through the years. That is that if the electricity, plumbing, A/C, roof, or something else fails in my home, the RV parked in the back yard could function like a "spare house", so to speak, and I would still have my creature comforts while waiting out the storm or whatever had caused the problem and waiting for someone to come and fix it. Now that aspect of RV'ing is one that nobody has mentioned, but it seems nice to me. It isn't enough to get me to actually buy an RV, but it is an advantage.

 

[brewer12345]

Well, for me it's all of that PLUS the purchase prices are pretty heady for someone like me.

Believe it or not, there actually is an advantage provided by having an RV that appeals to me despite all my comments on the forum through the years. That is that if the electricity, plumbing, A/C, roof, or something else fails in my home, the RV parked in the back yard could function like a "spare house", so to speak, and I would still have my creature comforts while waiting out the storm or whatever had caused the problem and waiting for someone to come and fix it. Now that aspect of RV'ing is one that nobody has mentioned, but it seems nice to me. It isn't enough to get me to actually buy an RV, but it is an advantage.

That is a definite consideration for us. If we had had the camper when we did the kitchen rennovation it would have been a lot less painful. And if we lose power during teh winter and have no heat, it will be a night spent in the camper with the heat on.

 

[audreyh1]

Well, for me it's all of that PLUS the purchase prices are pretty heady for someone like me.

Believe it or not, there actually is an advantage provided by having an RV that appeals to me despite all my comments on the forum through the years. That is that if the electricity, plumbing, A/C, roof, or something else fails in my home, the RV parked in the back yard could function like a "spare house", so to speak, and I would still have my creature comforts while waiting out the storm or whatever had caused the problem and waiting for someone to come and fix it. Now that aspect of RV'ing is one that nobody has mentioned, but it seems nice to me. It isn't enough to get me to actually buy an RV, but it is an advantage.

Not only that - but you could get the heck outta Dodge if that nasty weather was coming and go somewhere nicer, taking a bunch of your creature comfort stuff and pets with you!

Audrey

 

[W2R]

Not only that - but you could get the heck outta Dodge if that nasty weather was coming and go somewhere nicer, taking a bunch of your creature comfort stuff and pets with you!

Audrey

Good point! And definitely something to consider.

 

[hankster]

That is a definite consideration for us. If we had had the camper when we did the kitchen rennovation it would have been a lot less painful. And if we lose power during teh winter and have no heat, it will be a night spent in the camper with the heat on.

We had this happen a few times when our rural power line went down during cold weather. We just made up the bed in our travel trailer, fired up the propane furnace and fixed dinner in our much smaller, yet cozy second home on wheels.

 

[audreyh1]

Excellent website heyduke! They use inflatable kayaks like I do, their east Texas kayaking sounds interesting and a possibility for this spring. A lot of good information on their website.

We've been talking about Kayaks. A lot! Maybe we should try this Sea Eagle type first - it certainly is a fairly low cost entry point.

Audrey

 

[brewer12345]

By the way, I did a bit of research on travel trailer towing, and would like to share some videos I found about the peril of towing without proper equipment, undersized towing vehicle, or improper center of gravity. Going to and from my boonies home in the AZ high country, I have been passed on a hilly highway by aggressive drivers of pickup trucks towing a TT, and with their TT wagging like a dog tail behind them. I did not understand why they did not feel or see the TT swaying behind them. Were they so excited about being able to pass other cars that they were oblivious to the imminent danger they posed to themselves and other cars?

I think that this is much ado about nothing. Towing is like everything else: idiots will do what idiots do; the rest of us will read up as necessary and do it safely. I don't know squat about towing, but have had no problem figuring it out and doing it safely. Of course, I actually gave some thought to matching my trailer to my tow vehicle and learned what to do to keep it safe. If you decide to skip that stuff, you take your chances.

In short, I do not find towing to be much of an issue even with a tow vehicle that isn't really designed for heavy duty towing (minivan).

 

[FinanceDude]

Yes - you don't want a long, long trailer - that's a towing/backing nightmare. You don't want a heavy trailer either. I caution folks against the aluminum trailers because they usually are very heavy and seems like people often tow them with way underpowered vehicles - not good when you are in an emergency braking situation. Better to go with fiberglass.

Keep the trailer small/short, keep it light, and you can enjoy a great deal of RVing with minimal hassle, and then decide if you want to upgrade.

BTW - that movie is the funniest RV movie we've ever seen!

Audrey

Wow, I learned something today.....aluminum boats are LIGHTER than fiberglass boats, but aluminum trailers are HEAVIER than fiberglass trailers........

 

[audreyh1]

In short, I do not find towing to be much of an issue even with a tow vehicle that isn't really designed for heavy duty towing (minivan).

Same here. We used something called a sway-bar that limits fishtailing, and we didn't drive like idiots. But an adequately powered tow vehicle and adequate braking is a must.

Audrey

 

[audreyh1]

Wow, I learned something today.....aluminum boats are LIGHTER than fiberglass boats, but aluminum trailers are HEAVIER than fiberglass trailers........

Well - I think it is all the wood inside that aluminum trailer. Compare a 16ft airstream with a 17ft casita and I believe the former is much heavier.

Audrey

 

[RonBoyd]

10,000 miles lets us make a big coast to coast loop most years. We stay at a spot 3 days, 5 days, a week, 2 weeks - very rarely a month. Use the toad heavily of course for day trips.

You can see our travel pattern over the last 4 years -

This is what 40,000 miles looked to us... well the "lodging" cost anyway. We stayed at friends and relatives for a number of nights (e.g., two weeks in Annapolis MD and 1½ weeks in Pittsburg PA). There were a few multi-night stays in here that are not obvious (none over three nights). The most we paid was in Key West FL and Jackson WY.

Date | Payee | Memo | Amount 8/5/2008 | KOA | Salina KS | $ 29.70 8/6/2008 | KOA | Granite City IL | 35.00 8/7/2008 | Wolfies Kamping | Zanesville OH | 24.44 8/17/2008 | Red Barn Rendezvous | Edwardsville IL | 27.00 8/19/2008 | Double J Campground | Chatham IL | 29.00 8/20/2008 | Kentuckiana Kampground | Mackinaw IL | 25.00 8/21/2008 | Fish Lake Beach | Volo IL | 34.00 8/22/2008 | Sky High Camping Resort | Portage WI | 41.78 8/23/2008 | KOA | Gretna NE | 32.82 9/12/2008 | KOA | Rock Springs WY | 30.88 9/13/2008 | Virginian RV Resort | Jackson WY | 62.01 9/14/2008 | KOA | Cody WY | 32.34 9/16/2008 | Fort Caspar Campground | Casper WY | 16.74 10/6/2008 | Panhandle Campground | Guymon OK | 10.00 10/7/2008 | Gunsmoke Trav L Park | Dodge City KS | 29.00 10/8/2008 | USI RV Park | Wichita KS | 30.60 10/9/2008 | Fossil Creek RV Park | Russell KS | 22.00 10/11/2008 | Wacky West RV Campground | Valentine NE | 13.44 10/28/2008 | Happy Camper RV Park | Pagosa Springs, CO | 14.45 10/29/2008 | USA RV Park | Gallup, NM | 28.03 10/30/2008 | El Rancho Lobo RV Park | Deming, NM | 11.25 10/31/2008 | Road Runner RV Park | El Paso, TX | 28.80 11/1/2008 | Midland RV Campground | Midland TX | 42.50 11/3/2008 | KOA | Carlsbad, NM | 39.77 11/4/2008 | Enchanted Trails | Albuquerque, NM | 14.84 11/5/2008 | Trailer Ranch RV Resort | Santa Fe, NM | 35.17 12/1/2008 | KOA | Salina KS | 24.93 12/2/2008 | Mingo RV Park | Tulsa OK | 28.00 12/3/2008 | Mingo RV Park | Tulsa OK | 28.00 12/4/2008 | KOA | Choctaw OK | 31.87 12/5/2008 | KOA | Choctoaw OK | 31.87 12/6/2008 | Wichita Falls RV Park | Wichita Falls TX | 45.00 12/7/2008 | KOA | Lubbock TX | 21.55 12/8/2008 | KOA | Lubbock TX | 21.56 1/31/2009 | Ole Towne Cotton Gin RV Park | Quanah TX | 23.40 2/1/2009 | KOA | Montgomery TX (Houston North) | 34.20 2/2/2009 | KOA | Houston TX | 72.00 2/3/2009 | KOA | Houston TX | 36.00 2/5/2009 | Gulf Coast RV Resort | Beaumont TX | 17.50 2/6/2009 | KOA | Lafayette LA | 39.73 2/7/2009 | Maxie's Campground | Broussard LA (Lafayette) | 24.64 2/9/2009 | KOC Kampground | New Iberia LA | 25.03 2/10/2009 | Capri Court RV Park | Houma LA | 27.05 2/11/2009 | KOA | New Orleans LA | 31.27 2/12/2009 | KOA | New Orleans LA | 31.27 2/13/2009 | KOA | New Orleans LA | 62.54 2/14/2009 | KOA | New Orleans LA | 31.27 2/17/2009 | KOA | Lafayette LA | 37.58 2/17/2009 | Wispering Pines RV Resort | Tyler TX | 15.00 2/18/2009 | Ole Towne Cotton Gin RV Park | Quanah TX | 23.40 3/14/2009 | Palo Duro RV Park | Canyon TX | 20.00 3/15/2009 | KOA | Abilene TX | 27.30 3/16/2009 | Lonesome Dove RV Ranch | Del Rio TX | 15.00 3/17/2009 | Warwick Rentals (Towne North RV) | Laredo TX | 25.00 3/18/2009 | Breeze Lake Campground | Brownsville TX | 27.00 3/19/2009 | Watersedge RV Park | Rockport TX | 26.10 3/20/2009 | Lazy Longhorn RV Park | Victoria TX | 25.00 3/21/2009 | KOA | San Antonio TX | 105.30 3/21/2009 | KOA | San Antonio TX | 35.10 3/25/2009 | Hwy 71 RV Park | Austin TX | 18.00 3/26/2009 | Belton RV Park | Belton TX | 25.20 3/27/2009 | KOA | Abilene TX | 31.79 3/28/2009 | Lamar Sportsman's Campground | Lamar CO | 22.50 4/19/2009 | KOA | Salina KS | 24.93 4/20/2009 | Basswood Country Resort | Platte City MO | 35.90 4/23/2009 | Park Ridge Campground | Van Buren AR | 20.00 4/24/2009 | Tall Pines RV Park | Shreveport LA | 32.57 4/25/2009 | Battlefield Campground | Vicksburg MS | 19.26 4/26/2009 | Okatibbee Lake Waterpark | Meridian MS | 8.56 4/27/2009 | KOA | Tallahassee FL | 32.40 4/28/2009 | Ocean Grove Camp Resort | St Augustine FL | 39.24 4/29/2009 | KOA | Lion Country Safari - Loxahatchee FL | 42.65 5/1/2009 | Boyd's Key West Campgrounds | Key West FL | 75.00 5/1/2009 | Boyd's Key West Campgrounds | Key West FL | 81.10 5/3/2009 | Indian Creek RV Resort | Fort Myers Beach FL | 26.00 5/4/2009 | A Campers World Campground | Lamont FL | 28.00 5/5/2009 | River View RV Park | Vidalia LA | 20.05 5/6/2009 | Tall Pines RV Park | Shreveport LA | 32.57 5/7/2009 | Pavilion RV Park | West Monroe LA | 19.02 5/8/2009 | Glen Oaks RV Park | Waynesville MO | 21.10 5/9/2009 | KOA | Goodland KS | 26.82 6/8/2009 | Indian Campground | Buffalo WY | 32.67 6/25/2009 | Indian Campground | Buffalo WY | 69.34 7/12/2009 | Indian Campground | Buffalo WY | 34.67 9/14/2009 | KOA | DuBois WY | 27.68 9/15/2009 | KOA | Rock Springs WY | 31.85 9/16/2009 | KOA | Grand Junction CO | 26.43 9/17/2009 | KOA | Grand Junction CO | 26.43 9/18/2009 | Country Village RV Resort | Montrose CO | 16.53 9/19/2009 | KOA | Pueblo CO | 34.60
| | | $ 2,793.88

 

[RonBoyd]

Thanks for the info on the used RoadTrek. I can get a used class C, a bit older and with about twice the mileage for half that price or less.

I know that a class B is not what you are looking for (and it is probably long gone anyway) but the price of this one should be encouraging... no matter what class you're looking for:

2005 Roadtrek 210 POPULAR - Clinton - RVs - Campers - Caravans