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RE: Mackinaw City Mi Camping--Wilderness SP or Mill Creek?
We just got back from the U.P. I Mill Creek was not what I had expected. If we had not got a site on the end of a row I would have left. The sites are so close together it is unreal. The campground is too large for us. Only one pool for hundreds of campsites. Our boys did not even get to use the pool because it was a drive by truck to get there.
As suggested, don't stay in the "bridge view" full hookup area. It's very packed there. There are many other places in the park with very large sites and are more laid back.
But certainly in season between the 4th and Labor Day it's large and busy place. Go outside of those times and it's a lot quieter.
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bonscott
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08/05/09 08:19am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: South west Michigan or Lake Huron side
True that. Lake Huron's dunes are for the most part on the Canadian (east) side of the lake.
Yep, lots of sand and dunes will always be on the east side of the lakes. The Lake Michigan shoreline along Wisconsin and Illinois is like it is on the east side of Michigan. More rocky with less beaches as all the sand is blown westward. Not to say there aren't good beaches in Wisconsin or on the east side of MI, just more rare and usually no dunes.
There are good beaches also along the southern UP on the north side of Lake Michigan as well as the north shore along Lake Superior.
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bonscott
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08/05/09 08:14am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: South west Michigan or Lake Huron side
It'll be a lot easier for you to get into parks on the Huron side. On the west side pretty much every state park is booked solid thru Labor Day. Gotta book 6 months in advance on this side.
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bonscott
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07/31/09 11:38am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Cassette toilet and shower or no cassette toilet and shower?
#2, however we have a porta potti. But I don't want one built into the PUP.
Shower, don't need one. Campground showers are fine or if dry camping (which we do the most) we often take a portable shower tent and use our Coleman Hot Water on Demand for nice hot showers in the woods. Doesn't get any better then that. Plus the porta potti can go in it as well so we have our own private bathroom. :)
The less complicated my PUP the better. Just give me a bed off the ground and a furnace and that's all I need.
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bonscott
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07/21/09 07:54am |
Folding Trailers
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RE: OMG! Talk about strange...
I have a Sorento and hadn't had that problem. I will say though that the Sorento is a fantastic tow vehicle. Main reason is that it has a truck like wide wheelbase. I did have to have air bags installed in the rear as my PUP would really lower the rear and raise up the front and my PUP cannot use a WDH. Just those air bags though do the job of leveling everything up.
The only thing I don't like is that it's only rated to 3500lbs. However it is rated 5000 outside the US for the exact same vehicle. The newest Sorento's (since 07 I believe) are rated for 5000 lbs.
Have fun!
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bonscott
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07/21/09 07:46am |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Interlochen SP, Mich:Never been, how is it?
We were out that way a couple weeks ago, and based on all the hype I'd heard about Interlochen SP, we decided to do a drive through one afternoon. Personally, I don't understand the hype. There are some nice sites on the lake, but of the hundreds and hundreds of sites, most seemed rather tight and devoid of any sunlight.
Ummmm, shady sites is kinda the point of camping in a state park. ;) And yes, many are smaller and more for tents and popups. As mentioned, check the site size online before you reserve a site to make sure your "big rig" can fit. But the south campground especially is very wooded, which is a good thing for most people.
Coupled with a lake you can't swim in, and little else to do without getting in the car and leaving the park, we just didn't find enough redeeming qualities to bring us back.
-- Rob
Fair enough. It's a "base camp" to do all multiple things there are to do around the area. You have to drive 10-15 miles to anything up there no matter where you camp.
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bonscott
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07/20/09 07:40am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Interlochen SP, Mich:Never been, how is it?
You need a screen room as it's on the marshy end of the lake and the mosquitos are bad.
Well, that's pretty typical for *any* state park and most private parks in the spring/summer. You can't get away from the unofficial state "bird". :)
It's an older shady park, so if you're in a larger rig you will have trouble with the trees and unlevel sites.
As suggested and it should be stand procedure anyway, check the site specifics before you reserve. You can see the site size and if it's level or not on the reservation site.
Also it's a Michigan State Park which right now unfortunately means it's overpriced, under staffed and not well maintained.
Hmmmm, so $21 is overpriced? $23 for 50 amp? While a private park is at least double to triple that this time of year. :) Can't comment on the staff but last time we were there rangers patrolled every couple hours and the sheriff patrolled a couple times a day.
They use summer help (teenagers) who can't enforce the rules, so it's a party park, bring earplugs for sleeping.
Not my experience there but then it really depends on luck of who you have around you. Last time we were there on the 4th holiday it was pretty quiet around us. But about 10 sites down it was party time (was still quiet by midnight or so). So we got lucky. But perhaps things have changed. Then again I always bring ear plugs and a fan to drown out noise at night on every trip no matter where we go, just can't control who will be around you.
The voltage was low (30 amp sites) and it was cool out and not full. So I imagine during peak hot days, the voltage is low enough to damage appliances, like air conditioners.
They do have 50 amp sites available. No idea if voltage is better or not though. We prefer rustic camping so even having electric is a luxury so I won't comment more on something I don't know about.
On the other hand we discovered that there is a beautiful National Park Service campground a ways west at Platt Lake (Empire MI). It's approx the same cost but it was well maintained and policed. We were impressed as it was quiet (saw a few deer), shady, and has large private sites with great Lake Michigan beaches nearby. It's my new favorite Michigan campground.
Happy Travels!
Platte River campground in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is indeed a fantastic place to camp.
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bonscott
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07/17/09 08:25am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Do you really wash dishes/pans in the PUP?
Never wash dishes in the PUP. Mainly because the sink is only a foot wide, if that. And it's just cramped inside. So we do the dishes in a couple wash basins outside on the picnic table like we did when we tent camped. We now have a Coleman Hot Water on Demand system which gives us instant hot water to wash dishes so that makes it even easier.
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bonscott
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07/15/09 08:15am |
Folding Trailers
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RE: new popup owner - how to camp w/out full hookup
Also if you don't use your shower and conserve water you won't have much gray water to dump as well. We usually just have dish water and brush our teeth and that's pretty much it.
We don't put any water in the fresh tank. We have a aquatainer that we fill and set on the picnic table. Use it for cooking, and brushing teeth. Heat water on the fire for everything else. Use the CG restroom for well, the rest room
Same here for the most part. I'll put in a few gallons "just in case" in the on board fresh water tank. We have an aquatainer with our fresh water which pumps into our Coleman Hot Water on Demand unit which gives us hot water for cooking and dish washing. Dump the used water into another aquatainer for gray water. Very easy and not too complicated.
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bonscott
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07/15/09 08:11am |
Folding Trailers
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RE: new popup owner - how to camp w/out full hookup
Also if you don't use your shower and conserve water you won't have much gray water to dump as well. We usually just have dish water and brush our teeth and that's pretty much it.
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bonscott
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07/14/09 01:36pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: new popup owner - how to camp w/out full hookup
Just a good old 5 gallon bucket or an aquatainer is good enough. Dump it either in a toilet or at a dump station. If you're boondocking then check with the park service to see if you can dump gray water on the ground. Typical dumping is buried at least 200 feet from a water source and away from your campsite. But regulations are different in various parks.
You can also get a rolling tote that will hold more like these: Holding tanks
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bonscott
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07/14/09 01:34pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Interlochen SP, Mich:Never been, how is it?
Interlochen is a great SP. I agree with Brian that the south half of the south loop is the best. Mostly level, very wooded and some large sites. There are smaller sites too so be sure to check online the size of the site if you have a bigger trailer. But we saw plenty of big class A's in there.
Stay out of the lake, swimmer's itch. But you are a quick 15 minutes to the beach in TC or about 20 minutes to Sleepy Bear and Lake Michigan.
There are also 2 rustic loops on the other side of the main road if you want no hookups.
Here are a couple pics: Interlochen pics
We had a corner site at the very south end of the south loop. Across the road was the very end sites that seems quite large.
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bonscott
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07/14/09 08:24am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Portable BBQ's
I'm not familiar with the length of usage with the 1 pound container over the larger 4 pound tanks,just how much usage can be expected from the 1 pound bottle?
Should last a week no problem. If not no more then 2 of them if you are using it every single meal. They really do last.
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bonscott
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07/09/09 08:28am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Portable BBQ's
Weber Q 120 all the way. This thing is fantastic and will sit on a table or picnic table or you can buy a stand for it.
Paying a bit more for quality is totally worth it to me. For my regular home grill I kept buying the cheapo $100 Charbroil type grills and they would break down every two years. So I kept spending 100-150 every 2 years. I finally said enough and spent a few hundred on a nice quality Weber Genesis. Had that thing over 5 years and it's still like new. I've now saved money by spending the money up front on quality.
Anyway, we had the Coleman Roadtrip for a couple years and while we liked it for it's versatility (grill/griddle/stove top) I was not satisfied with it as a grill. The Weber Q is more like a standard grill and the cast iron grate is fantastic.
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bonscott
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07/07/09 11:35am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Popups in January?
Where and when are you planning to go? Even in southern Texas it can be below freezing and snow from time to time. Florida and the southwest (Arizona/southern Cali) are probably about the only "safe" spots from being super cold. But again, all depends on when you go and the weather that week. For example Atlanta in December could be 70 or 35, just depends on the year.
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bonscott
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07/07/09 11:27am |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Disposable plates/utensil or Not
Paper plates so we can minimize washing.
We usually dry camp/boondock and conserving water is more important to us than conserving paper.
Same here.
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bonscott
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07/07/09 11:20am |
Folding Trailers
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RE: New to PUP and a few questions.
Definitely need the 2" hitch, the 1 and 1/4 is not good enough.
That PUP is pretty heavy for the Jeep. You would probably be ok but it's a bit close for my comfort to be honest. Also be sure you have electric breaks on the PUP because at that weight you need it.
What stats you need on the Jeep are the specific ratings like GCWR and such to really figure out for sure you're ok.
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bonscott
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07/07/09 11:09am |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Your opinion: Extension Mirrors
Just some suction cup type tow mirrors is all you need.
Something like this: http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/product/suction-cup-tow-mirrors/7644
Mine are similar to this and they have a string loop that goes around your mirror so in the off chance the suction cup unsticks the mirror will just hang off your mirror until you get a chance to pull over and fix it.
There are various clip on types as well: http://www.campingworld.com/search/index.cfm?Ntt=tow+mirrors&x=0&y=0&N=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=p_keyword&Nty=1&Ntpc=1
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bonscott
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07/02/09 01:41pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Michigan CG recommendation
Hope you got a heater if you're camping this week. Next two days up north highs barely 60 and lows in the 40s. In July! It'll be back up near 80 though by the weekend.
On Mackinac Island I think the best thing to do is take the horse carriage tour of the island. It's a couple hours and takes you thru the middle of the island and up to the fort. Very nice tour.
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bonscott
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06/29/09 11:46am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: State Park fees
Unfortunately, in Michigan, instead of LOWERING state park fees to encourage tourism, we have raised the fees chasing people away. Except for the holiday weekends, most Michigan state parks have been pretty empty!
Don't know where you've been but on the West side and up north they have been booked and packed solid all season and are booked up thru Labor Day. As they always are. Perhaps the east side is down as people over there do their vacation on the west side instead of going out of state.
As for fees in Michigan, they are basically unchanged from last year outside of a few parks that went up a buck or two. Pretty much the way it's been for a few years.
Michigan parks are 100% self funded, there are no state money or tax money that goes to them. In fact the public had to vote in a law to actually stop the state from raiding the little money the park system has as it is.
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bonscott
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06/29/09 11:42am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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