RE: Montana Rt. 200 Forest Park to Great Falls
We actually just took HWY 200 all the way from Missoula to Minnesota...just got back on Friday. The eastern MT portion is definitely light on traffic, but be aware that there are some long stretches with no shoulder...can be a little stressful especially if it's windy. Some surprisngly nice scenery around Lewistown including some badlands and the Judith mountains...nice break from the monotony of the plains. Great little rock shop in Grass Range (a local guy makes all his own jewelry and sells some other works by local artists) and a small campground--full hookukps only $13!
The road gets wider/better after Great Falls should you decide to continue west from there.
Pleased with gas mileage on my Dutchmen :)
Just came back from a 3000+ mile round trip from Minnesota to Idaho in our 2006 Dutchmen Express 28' (chevy chassis with the V8). Our worst mileage was through in SD with a WICKED headwind: 8.75 MPG. Our best was 13.3 MPG from Boise to Lolo, MT...very pleasantly surprised, especially considering the mountain terrain (slight to moderate tail wind). We didn't properly calculate our "overall" mileage, just went tank by tank, but I'd guess it was somewhere in the low 11 range.
We stuck mostly to the 2-lane backroads runing at about 55-60 MPH. Our MH doesn't have slides and we weren't towing anything (did have the camper full of "stuff" though.) The V8 did just fine in the mtns...we certainly weren't setting any speed records, but never felt "underpowered."
It was a wonderful trip with the added bonus of coming in under budget for gas ;)
Happy travels!
RE: Why should I buy a class C?
We traded our pickup/trailer combo a couple of years ago and are very happy with our decision. The truck was a Dodge 3/4 ton diesel (we had a rather heavy toy hauler). GREAT puller, but now with the diesel prices coupled with the fact that DH was driving the truck to work everyday...I cringe at the thought!
Our monthly payments on the MH vs. the truck/trailer are about the same. Granted we will be paying on the MH much longer than we would have on the truck, but we only put a few thousand miles a year on the MH as opposed to the towing AND daily driving miles we were putting on the truck. The other advantage (for us) is we got a much newer engine (less than 10K miles) in the MH as opposed to the 75K or so we had in the truck.
Like you, we consider this a long term "investment" and plan to have our rig for a long time, so depreciation isn't as much of a factor for us (not that we could sell it in this market anyway!)
Of course if you prefer a truck/trailer and can afford NOT to drive the truck as a daily driver (i.e., buy a cheap economy car for commuting), then you're pretty much in the same situation as having a MH with regards to engine longevity.
As others have mentioned, there are pros/cons to both types of set ups. We personally LOVE having access to the whole rig while traveling, the easier setup and the ability to "drive the big part and tow the small part" when we opt to take the boat or ATV's along (which is most of the time). I wouldn't drive the truck/trailer combo but feel very comfortable driving the C. I've even taken it without DH a couple of times!
The main disadvantage is if you're not towing a "toad", you're pretty much "stuck" at your campsite once you set up with the C. If you're mostly into "destination" camping where you don't plan to do any day trips out of your camping spot, then it shouldn't be an issue (this is the case for us as 90% of our camping trips involve getting out in the woods as opposed to "touring".) Of course if you can tow a car with you, then this isn't an issue, even if you're a "tourer."
I agree with one of the posters above with regards to making sure you don't buy too small or old. We went through several "upgrades" that undoubetly cost us more money in the long run than if we had just bought what we "needed" in the first place. Now we're very happy having a roomy, reliable MH that will hopefully serve us well in the years to come :)
Good luck to you in finding the best fit for your family!
RE: Michigan to Yellowstone, SD in between
If you're a longtime "flatlander" (as I was before moving to Colorado for a while), I would definitely opt for Hwy 16 to Yellowstone. 14 is certainly pretty, but if you're not used to mtn driving (especially in a rig), it might be a little more of a challenge than you're looking for. Definitely do NOT do alt. 14 (an alternate route to "regular" 14), not recommended for big rigs.
As far as South Dakota, it's mostly flat to gentle rolling hills until you get to the Black Hills. Think of the Black Hills as a "practice" run before you get to the big boys :)
Don't worry...you'll be just fine...common sense goes a long way! Have a great trip!
RE: Westward Hooo!
I agree with 4runnerguy. We're doing a trip out to Boise this summer (leaving in a week, actually!) and are sticking to the backroads as much as possible. Sure, there are times when the Interstate is convenient (especially if it's an area you've been through a million times or you just really need to get to point B), but it sounds like you guys have a lot of time, so take it slow and enjoy ;)
RE: Finally on the way tomorrow!
Have a great trip...wish I was going! Last time I went to Alaska was back in my tenting days in college. Always dreamed about doing it again now that we have an RV...maybe someday ;)
RE: Westward Hooo!
I'd try to visit the Utah parks before the summer heat sets in. The plains and the rockies are still "iffy" in April as far as snow/sleet and other nasty weather...perhaps you might opt for a more southerly route out to Utah and start making your way back through the more northern mtns a little later in the season. (Grand Teton can still have snow in June!) Head over to the Black Hills from Glacier and take in the fall colors in the Midwest on your way back home. Sounds like a great trip!
RE: How late is too late to go to Alaska
September is a nice month to travel up north. By October you have to have to start worrying about snow, but Sept still has nice weather (cool, but nice), less mosquitoes and less crowds...a great time to start making your way back home. (Plus the gas prices may even be a little cheaper since the summer driving season will be winding down.)
RE: Toyhauler/5W than can haul an F150???
I dont' know of any toyhaulers that can handle anything that big/heavy. I've heard of a class A that had a garage big enough for a mini-cooper (has a hydralic lift on it...pretty cool!), but I'm sure a full size pick up would be way too big.
You might want to look at a Class A or C that can handle towing a car trailer....(or drive the truck and tow a small TT??)
Good luck.
RE: Sell your RV because fuel costs too much
After reading these posts, I think the deciding factor for most people isn't the extra gas money they spend "per trip", i.e, an extra $50 for a short trip, or an extra $500 for a long trip that they wouldn't have had to spend a year ago. Cutting back a little in other areas can make up that difference for most folks.
I think what's squeezing some people is just the overall cost of living in general: gas to get to work every day, higher food and heating oil prices, etc. That's money you could have socked away for your big summer trip that you just don't have anymore. That threshold, of course, depends on how much "cushion" you have in your debt to income situation as well as how far you have to drive to work, etc. It will be different for everyone.
Fortunately for us, personally, we haven't hit that critical point yet. We haven't really given anything up. We still have our satellite TV, cell phones and are still going to go camping as much as we did last year. We do find that we aren't replacing things that we may have if we had more disposable income (i.e, furniture, computer, television, etc.) I suppose we too, have a critical point where we'd have to give up the RV, but $4/gallon obviously isn't it.
RE: SUPER "C" OR CLASS "A"
I only own a "regular" C, but I LOVE the way it drives, handles, etc. Just like driving a really big van as opposed to a greyhound bus. DH loves it too because I will actually drive it (I wouldn't drive the truck/toy hauler combo we used to own.) I've even taken it on a couple of "girls only" trips by myself :)
We get about 10-12 MPG. We're almost always towing either a boat or our ATV's. Taking a "big" trip this summer without towing, so we'll see if there's any difference.
I would love to own a super C...but for now I'm very happy with what we have ;)
Good luck to you!
RE: traveling in the summer with pets
RV's don't tend to heat up as fast as cars, but in the desert heat you obviously have to be careful. Short meal stops and that sort of thing are usually OK with the fan/vents/water. For longer stops, we've sometimes run the genny with the A/C for the dog. Of course you have to make sure you're in a place that won't distrub others with the noise. If there's a truckstop nearby and you can walk to your attraction, that's a good option (truckstops are already loud anyway, so your genny noise won't really matter.) Asking the manager for permission and giving them your business is obviously the courteous thing to do.
RE: Sell your RV because fuel costs too much
We're taking a 3 week trip out west this summer. Will spend about $1400 in fuel if gas stays at around $4/gal. Campground fees for the trip will be about $100. Yes, total! Does not include Wal-mart. Did my research and found many cheap/free places to camp, i.e., city/county campgrounds, casinos, national forests. That $100 even includes the entrance/camping fees to two national parks. Granted we are also staying with friends in Boise for a few days for free...but the point is you can save a LOT if you can live without the full-hookup RV "resort" type places (which we tend to avoid anyway...I really can't believe people actually pay $100/night to camp. Sure, different strokes and all that, but...wow!)
If we stayed home, we'd probably spend about $100/week in groceries. Granted we aren't realistically going to eat EVERY meal in the RV, but in theory, we could do this whole 3-week trip for about 2 grand. Even at $5/gal it's under $2500.
Sure you could drive a car, stay at cheap hotels and eat fast food, but a lot of what makes camping justifiable cost-wise (at least for us) is you don't have to go looking for entertainment. If you drive a car and pull in to a roadside motel for the evening, there's really not much to do other than watch TV--unless you go out and spend more money. When you're camping, you can take a walk, build a campfire, grill up some burgers, go for a swim, etc. Yeah, you spend more on gas during the day, but once you're stopped, you're pretty much done spending money until you hit the road again. The whole "camp more, drive less" theory.
I guess a lot of it is how you look at it, but a lot of it depends on your camping "style" too. Time is definitely a factor...wouldn't make sense to take the RV if this was only a week-long trip. But for 3 weeks, it's still a good deal. Just my .02.
RE: US 95/US 12 Boise to Missoula
Sounds great! Thanks so much...I think this is the way we'll go. (BTW, this trip will be in mid-late June.) Thanks again!
US 95/US 12 Boise to Missoula
For not too many more miles, we could take the above route back east (from Missoula, we're thinking about taking MT 200 all the way into ND) rather than the way Mapquest has us going (I84 to I15 and up to I90 via West Yellowstone). The Missoula way looks more interesting, but I wanted to see if this is a decent route to take in a 28' class C with regards to grades, curves, etc.
We're not in a big hurry and would rather take backroads than interstates, but we don't want *too many* white knuckle adventures either! We do have some mtn. driving experience (used to live in CO), but not in the MH. Oh, we are not going to be towing anything, if that helps.
Thanks!
RE: How far is TOO far to go to camp?
We consider sewer a luxury, not a necessity. Weekenders and people like us (who usually camp in more "rustc" NFS campgrounds and the like) would be fine with water/electric only, especially if it saves us a few bucks compared with the "full hookup" sites. If we're staying for the better part of a week, though, we do try to find something with full hookups. Perhaps offering a selection of sites (full hookup and W/E only), would be a good way to start?
More important to us are spacious sites and being close to nature. 5 miles off the main road is nothing!
RE: North Shore - MN, Attractions?
I'd also add:
In Duluth: the lakewalk (starts in Canal park and goes up the shorline.) Lots of shops and restaurants in the canal park area. Very touristy but a fun place to watch the ships come and go under the Ariel Lift Bridge. Near the William A. Irvin (ship tours) there's also an omnimax theater.
On the shore: as mentioned above, tons of state parks to explore. I'd also add Pallisade Head where you can drive to the top of a cliff overlooking the lake. Great view of Split Rock Lighthouse and you might even be able to watch some rock climbers. (I wouldn't recommend this road in a "big rig" though.)
Grand Marias: gotta stop at Sven and Oles pizza!
Beyond: a trip to Thunder Bay, Ontario is worth it if you have the time. Check out the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park and the Terry Fox memorial. Terry Fox was a couragous man battling cancer who attempted to walk across Canada to raise money for a cure. Oh, and Kakabeka (sp?) falls near Thunder Bay is also a very nice place to visit.
Edit: If you hike, you must check out the Superior Hiking Trail. Many access points along the shore if you just have time for a quick day hike.
RE: City and County Parks.
One that we've enjoyed while on vacation in the UP of Michigan is:
Houghton RV Park (hopefully this link will work) or you can go to their website.
Lots to see and do up in "Copper Country." I did the above google map figuring that might be a good way to show the parks since they are usually off the beaten path.
Lovely! Just curious, how much is this park per night?
RE: 55 mph on two lane roads.
A few years back we came from Edmonton, AB to Michigan's Big Mac bridge without hitting any freeway. We just used the compass knowing we had to go a long way East and some South. When a road ended we would turn the proper direction and go until we saw something that interested us. Some of the roads weren't even on the map but we did get home.
That sounds pretty cool...will have to try that sometime.
RE: City and County Parks.
Snow sure is coming down now. John&Joey, hope you put your MH in a safe place until the snow melts :) We jumped the gun a little last year and got ours out before the last snow of the year...had to play "musical chairs" with the vehicles in the driveway in order to get the snow out of the way.
jpalm, thanks for the link! Hope that site continues to grow.
