RE: Thought I was done camping for year
Check www.weather.com for Williamsburg - you'll get an accurate (as much as they ever can be) forecast for the next 10 days.
RE: 4 RV virgins from the UK - please help us hire an RV :)
Excluding your pick-up and drop off days you still have over two weeks, am I figuring that right?
Nope. 23 - 11 = 12. That's less than 2 weeks. There's a good bit of territory and a LOT to see. Though the OP didn't mention specifics, I'm assuming they have in mind seeing several national parks, perhaps Las Vegas or L.A., etc. In 12 days that would be a challenge for anyone, much less folks new to the country. :) Not a pace I'd like to maintain.
RE: 4 RV virgins from the UK - please help us hire an RV :)
I second the idea of renting a van or minivan and tenting. If the weather is bad, you could consider cabins - national parks often have them (though they can be a bit more expensive than they look, about $120-$150/night), and KOA campgrounds usually do. Advance reservations WILL be needed for cabins - a disadvantage, especially if you'd be using them based on weather. Advance reservations rarely needed for tents, and they go almost anywhere, whether national/state parks, private campgrounds, etc.
I agree that 12 days is not much time for that itinerary. However, it's possible if you don't mind long drives between places you want to spend a couple days (8-15 hours a day is not out of the realm of possibility), and pick a few places you most want to see.
You should be aware that most car rental companies require the driver(s) to be 25 years old or more; not sure about RV rentals. Be sure to ask their requirements - about licensing too. I doubt an international driver's license will be needed, but inquire anyway, just in case. And the company will charge an extra fee for each additional driver (over one). That fee may be worth it if you plan some long drives, so you could switch off & no one get too tired.
Sounds like a fun trip! Good luck with the planning!
RE: How far from home??
We took our PUP from Illinois to Maine, to Yellowstone several times, and to the Pacific NW once (a 3-week trip), plus lots of other somewhat shorter trips. Had it for 16+ seasons and got lots of use out of it! We almost never felt unsafe - the most uncomfortable we ever felt in a CG with it was once with lots of people around, actually. Loved the times we were in nearly deserted CGs! Of course, we were much younger then. :) Our main reason for the move to a TT was comfort & anticipating somewhat longer camping seasons, rather than safety.
RE: AL-KO torsion axles
Nothing near that bad, but we did have an issue with one wheel hub this past summer (not sure what caused it to overheat - whether it seized first or the heat caused it to seize) and had to replace it, the brake drum and the spindle. We haven't pursued it with FR but are keeping tabs on our wheels frequently now.
RE: Lake Superior Circle Tour
Sandman, you might get a better response if you change the title of your post to "Lake Superior Circle Tour" and ask the moderator to move your post to the Campgrounds section. Good luck! (You can send the moderator a PM.)
RE: Our new 2010 Roo 21SS is Home ***update***
Not a Roo, but we always use the slide locks; our owners manual says they're needed in order to make sure the seals are tight between slideout and trailer body.
Oh, and - congrats on the new Roo! :)
RE: electric awning
From most of the comments on this site, we have decided the electric awning basically can't be left out (deployed) in any sort of wind or rain. Rain especially is a problem - if you have one of the newer ones that tilt, you MAY be ok leaving it out, but even light rain has given us problems with our electric awning. We both wish we had a "normal" one instead.
That said, we have used ours with a tie-down in light winds, when there was no chance of rain, and that's helped - at least I felt better about it!
RE: losing a friend
No, it never is easy. So sorry for your loss! And it should be some comfort, however small for now, that you gave them a chance for a happy life.
RE: Jumping right in - looking at a travel trailer
Just my gut feeling, but I'd go with the lighter trailer. Then you're much less likely to have issues, especially with an older truck.
RE: Suggestion for Tow Vehicle and RV
Depending on the weight of the trailer and how your truck is equipped, you may be able to tow it safely. More info is needed on both items. :) Remember you'd need to subtract the weight of your passengers, cargo, pets, etc. which you would carry in the truck from its tow rating. (As an example of what might be possible, we tow a 7000-lb (loaded), 34' TT with a 1/2 ton. I wouldn't go any heavier, but this combo works well for us.)
Unless you get a bunkhouse model with at least 4 beds, you'll be sleeping somebody on the dinette or couch (made into a bed), as that's just how RVs are configured. Sounds like 26' would be a nice size for your size family, but others have made do with less (sleeping one or two kids on the dinette or couch, though).
If you'd be ok with sleeping under canvas, you might give some of the hybrid trailers (HTTs) a look, especially the models that have 3 popout beds, or have bunks at one end. Rockwood Roo and Jayco are the most popular brands of HTT. These trailers tend to be a bit lighter weight for their size, and since the beds at the front (and back, if it's not a bunk model) fold down when you're in camp, the towed length is less than the open-in-camp length, assisting with some of the handling ease when towing.
First, find out what your truck is capable of pulling. Then work from there. Even for short trips, you need to be within your truck's specs for safety and for a more comfortable tow. Weight-distributing hitch may be needed, and sway control will definitely be needed for something as long as a 26'. Good luck!
RE: Snow load limit
Popeye, we're in your general area and so far haven't felt the need to clear the camper roof of snow, even during the last 2 winters. (I did consider it from time to time, but by the time I got really worried, we'd have a melting period.) I believe I also called our (local) dealer to ask if we should, and they said not to worry about it with the amounts we had. There seems to have been no damage to the trailer. We also use a cover - good move around here, I think.
Maybe if you lived downwind of the lake, I'd say you should plan to get up there a couple times during the winter & clear it off. Otherwise just keep an eye on it. If you get too nervous, then go up & clear it off, but use a broom, not a snow shovel, to avoid damage to the roof - and be careful not to slide off!
RE: Stupid Question Lite/Ultra-lite/Luxury Heavy
Another reason for a heavyweight is if you plan to fulltime in it. You'd want the sturdier construction and greater storage capacity then.
A complicating factor in a TT's GVWR is the axles - many of the ultra-lightweights have lighter-duty axles, and therefore a lower GVWR (and consequently lower CCC, or cargo capacity). A higher GVWR may not necessarily mean the trailer itself weighs more, but instead has heavier-duty axles and a higher cargo capacity.
Cases in point: #1 - our 34' "super light" trailer has a GVWR of about 7600 lbs, but has a cargo capacity (allowing for full LP & freshwater tanks) of only 800 lbs. That's adequate for 2 people on a long trip, but not enough for fulltiming, or for a large family with lots of stuff to bring along. #2 - our previous HTT had a GVWR of 5000 lbs, which corresponded to the lighter-duty axles. Later-year models of the same trailer had a GVWR more like 7000 lbs, only because heavier-duty axles were used. That allowed their cargo capacities to be higher, i.e. you could store more stuff in them.
RE: Class A or TT
Being a TT fan, I agree with those who have been advising renting a MH. Traveling in comfort with those little kids will be easier in a MH than a TT, and you won't have the expense of buying. If you get the TT you'll need to make sure you have an adequate tow vehicle, both for towing and for carrying your family (tough to achieve on your limited budget). As pointed out, renting is expensive, but a lot less so than buying a camper, and you won't have the hassles of licensing (often pricey) & longterm insurance. Remember you'll also have campground fees to pay, which can also mount up on an extended trip - don't plan to boondock most of the time; kids your kids' age may be happier if they get to swim in a pool, play with other kids in a playground, etc., which most private campgrounds offer - and the private CGs are on average more expensive than state/national parks & forests. (A combination of both types of CGs is a nice way to offer your family a variety of experiences on a camping trip.) You'll need to factor that into the budget too.
I don't think it's necessary - though more convenient in some ways - to get a MH with washer/dryer. The ones that have them are much more expensive, not likely in a rental, and most private CGs (and even some state ones) have laundromats. Start saving those quarters, though! Anyway, for best results plan to spend a night or two per week at a CG with a laundry (make sure it's a coin-op; "laundry" sometimes - especially in state parks - means a utility sink where you can wash stuff by hand!)
RE: Rockwood Roo 23ss Towing with Ford Explorer
If you're not used to towing a full-height trailer with the Explorer, you'll find the experience a bit of a shock at first. Make sure to check your owner's manual to see what they recommend as far as transmission settings (ours said to disengage overdrive). Gas mileage will likely be about the same as most of us get with trucks & trailers, somewhere between 8 and 13, depending on conditions.
From our experience (former combo was a V6 Explorer and a Travelstar 21SSO, which is roughly similar to your Roo), I would recommend making sure your WDH & sway control are adjusted & torqued properly. That length of trailer was all our Explorer could handle - we definitely felt wind & passing trucks, though I wouldn't say it was white knuckle most of the time. The extra power you'll have from the V8 will be welcome in headwinds, hills and other less-than-ideal towing conditions.
RE: Trip out West and back...
Welcome! I'll start off with the obligatory first question: how much time are you allowing for the trip? And the obligatory second one: what are your interests? The latter will determine what kinds of recommendations you get (i.e. don't-miss places, etc.)
Not sure what a "class 3" is, but that's less likely to be as limiting a factor as time and interests are.
