| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: West Virginia Turnpike
Thanks for all of the information. I don't worry too much about long grades on toll roads--we just stay in the truck lanes and take our time. I was more curious about cost (for planning purposes)and now I have that answer.
We're looking forward to the trip.
|
realladyat57
|
03/31/08 04:53am |
Roads and Routes
|
|
RE: San Antonio to Tuscon with Big Bend in Between
All good advice. I would also add that a trip up Chisos Basin (without the rig!) is a beautiful drive and there are some short walks you can take. We treated ourselves to lunch at the lodge.
A week isn't much time and I can almost guarantee you that once you've had a taste of the park, you'll want to go back. We were there two years ago the first week of April, and it does get warm--just be prepared and you'll be okay.
|
realladyat57
|
03/31/08 04:49am |
Roads and Routes
|
|
West Virginia Turnpike
We're thinking about taking the West Virginia Turnpike from I-64 to its northern end. I'm trying to figure out our tolls. We're towing a 36' fifth wheel (two axles) with a truck for a total of 4 axles. I see from the website that the toll for our size vehicle is $4. Is that $4 at each of the toll plazas we'll go through, or $4 for some other unit of measure?
I'd appreciate it if someone familiar with the road could help me out. Also--any reason we wouldn't want to be pulling it on that road in May? We're heading from Richmond, VA to Indiana.
Thanks.
|
realladyat57
|
03/29/08 12:55pm |
Roads and Routes
|
|
RE: Travel Planning - Places to see
I love Streets and Trips (and think I'll check out Google Earth), but the Rand McNally Truckers Atlas is also a BIG help when we're on the road (we pull a fiver and don't carry the laptop with us in the truck) and in trip planning. The biggest advantage to the atlas is that it indicates the truck routes. We know that if big trucks are okay, we'll be okay.
If we see a route that isn't marked for trucks, and is near one of the national parks, I'll usually go online to one of the forums and ask the "locals" if they think we'd be okay. We ran into this issue on a road in Idaho that was not marked for trucks, but was fine for us. The atlas will also tip you off to roads with low clearances, etc. It's a great supplement for S&T and is handy in the truck.
|
realladyat57
|
03/20/08 05:40am |
Full-time RVing
|
|
RE: Which TriCare Plan?
I've had Tricare Prime since I became eligible at age 60--and I wouldn't recommend it for someone who is on the road full time. I've been okay because I've only needed routine care, which I've been able to receive from my PCM. (We've gone back to the same area the last couple of years, so that has worked out okay for me--but I don't think it would have if I had chronic conditions that required more than one yearly visit.) If I had it to do over again, I'd go with Standard and maybe consider a supplement.
DH has Tricare for Life and that has been great. He's used walk in clinics when we've been away from home base and we've never paid a cent. I can't wait until I'm 65 for that reason.
We're using the Tricare Retiree Dental Program. It's not the greatest, but better than nothing. There is no vision coverage available that I've been able to find other than discount programs such as AARP.
The medical coverage isn't what we were promised, but considering the cost as compared to what many of my non-military retired friends are paying, I'm not complaining too loudly.
I'd also suggest that you join one of the organizations (such as MOAA) who are watching out for our interests when DOD tries to substantially increase our costs. JMHO.
|
realladyat57
|
03/08/08 04:31am |
Full-time RVing
|
|
RE: Advice needed Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands, Arches, Yellowstone
Only one person mentioned one of our favorite "finds" when we did the trip last fall: Don't miss Cedar Breaks. We were staying at Ruby's Inn (but any of the other CGs in the area would do, too) and took a drive through Red Canyon. The volunteer at the visitor's center suggested the drive through Cedar Breaks and we loved it. The scenery was spectacular and you can see it with only short walks to the overlooks.
We did Monument Valley (another not to be missed)in just an afternoon. If you don't have a vehicle that will take the dirt roads, take one of the tours that are available.
When you are at Arches/Canyonlands, you can take a boat ride on the Colorado River--we wish we had done so (ran out of time) and it doesn't involve hiking!
Enjoy your trip--we concur with all of the other recommendations.
|
realladyat57
|
03/04/08 04:50am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
|
|
RE: Are high-end 5ers worth it?
We've been very happy with our 2003 Alpenlite--another good mid-range unit. We've towed from Key West to Alaska and have hit every state except Maine with no problems. We pull it with a 2003 Dodge One Ton Diesel.
One issue with the higher end units is the weight. If you go that way (and they are very nice units) make sure you have enough towing capacity.
|
realladyat57
|
03/04/08 04:34am |
Full-time RVing
|
|
RE: Cold in florida
I'll still take the 60s over the teens (and lower) they are having in Michigan! Plus, it only lasts for a couple of days and then we'll be back to the 70s. On the other hand, maybe we should tell people it's always cold and rainy here, so fewer of them will come down. :) Just joking! (I think!)
|
realladyat57
|
02/29/08 04:34am |
Snowbirds
|
|
RE: Residency Requirements (Here we go again!)
I think the real issue is voting in national elections. I don't vote in local South Dakota elections, and if there is a local issue or candidates on the November 2008 ballot I won't vote in those contests either. However, I DO want to vote in the presidential election this year and don't think that right should be taken away because we've chosen to full time.
We have to find a way around this issue before all of us who choose this lifestyle are disenfranchised--or can't get a driver's license because of the new "Real ID" law.
|
realladyat57
|
02/26/08 05:16am |
Full-time RVing
|
|
RE: The "REAL" story on Fulltiming
We've been FT for three years now and are looking to find a small home to use as a base. When we started, I thought I'd love it but as the years have gone by I've found that the negatives have outweighed the positives for US.
One comment posted earlier really hit me. It was the suggestion that you ask yourself (before you start FT) how you feel at the end of a trip? Are you glad to be heading home or do you wish you could stay on the road?
I've always wanted to travel (and we've done a lot of it over the last three years.) I traveled a lot when I was younger, too, particularly doing my annual training with the Navy Reserve. I had the chance to see a lot of new and exciting places and really enjoyed the chance to explore and experience different areas and even different cultures. (Five of my AT's were overseas.) However, I was also very glad to go HOME at the end of the time.
That to me is the key. We will still travel--but we'll go out for a month or two at a time and spend the rest of it involved in the community where we will live.
John--you gave everyone a lot to think about. Thank you.
|
realladyat57
|
01/03/08 04:58am |
Full-time RVing
|
|
RE: Exit Strategy
I think it is crucial to have an exit strategy. We've been full timing for three years. We sold our house and stored some of our "stuff" in a 10 x 10 storage unit. When we started, we fully expected that by this time we'd be getting rid of the stuff in storage because we would love the lifestyle so much.
Well, we were wrong. Although we've thoroughly enjoyed our travels, the places we've seen and the people we've met over the last three years at this point we find that we really want a SMALL home. We're looking for one now and plan to purchase something by the fall. We'll use the money we put aside for this purpose when we started.
We still want to travel for a few months out of the year, and thanks to good planning we will be able to do so--but we'll also have the home base that we find that we need.
You'll hear from many others on these forums who can't imagine ever living in a sticks and bricks again--and that's great for them (we have several friends who are in that category) but we've discovered that we are in that group that needs a home base.
My point is--you won't truly KNOW how you feel about it until you've done it for a few years. You can always get rid of the rest of your "stuff" later--but leave yourself an "out" in case you need it.
|
realladyat57
|
12/31/07 04:11am |
Full-time RVing
|
|
RE: How to Plan a Year Long Trip?
You've been given some good ideas. We've been FT for three years and generally pick an area of the country we want to explore. This year it was the National Parks in the SW (Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico) and planned our trip around that area with an eye to being in Texas by December. We did some reservations (usually about a week in advance) because we were in some of those areas during busy times. On the other hand, we changed "plans" more than once because we learned about something else we wanted to see.
In other words--we had a general idea of our route when we started out based on what we learned from our research (both online and by talking to friends who have made similar trips) but we didn't commit to a specific schedule and timeline within that plan.
Worked for us.
|
realladyat57
|
12/08/07 05:45am |
Full-time RVing
|
|
RE: SD new trailer plates
I know what you mean. I really like our truck plates from SD, but the fiver plate is very plain. Oh well, I guess it's easier to read and that's what counts.
|
realladyat57
|
12/08/07 05:37am |
Full-time RVing
|
|
Highway 171 from Shreveport to Lake Charles, LA
Is anyone familiar with this road? We're heading to Lake Charles from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. It looks like the road would be shorter, but is it a good road to tow over? Thanks.
|
realladyat57
|
12/07/07 06:19pm |
Roads and Routes
|
|
RE: I-10 from Baton Rouge to Lafayette
We took Highway 190 west from Baton Rouge to Kinder, LA 18 months ago. We found it to be a good road and would take it again over I-10 any day. I can't recall if it was all that more scenic, but it was a pleasant drive.
|
realladyat57
|
12/07/07 06:16pm |
Roads and Routes
|
|
RE: US 82 New Mexico from Alamagordo to Artesia
Thanks. This is just the information I was looking for. It looks like we can 70 up to Hondo and 380 from there to Roswell where it looks like we can then go south to Carlsbad. Do you see any problems with this route?
Are you aware of any source for this kind of information that is readily available when we are planning trips?
|
realladyat57
|
11/27/07 06:46am |
Roads and Routes
|
|
RE: flooring options
For Alpenliter--we also have an Alpenlite (which we love.) It has "wood" flooring in the kitchen that has held up very well. It got soaked on one trip (long story--but basically DH left the pump on--when we were having problems with it and it wasn't working--and then left the sink faucet open and the sink stopper down on a trip in the Arizona area.) The floor was soaked and I was really worried about the wood floor being destroyed but it was fine and I see no evidence of damage.
Do you know what kind of wood flooring was used? We're thinking about replacing the carpet in the living room with something similar, but I don't know what to look for.
1994brave--your flooring looks beautiful. What kind of flooring product did you use?
Thanks to all.
|
realladyat57
|
11/27/07 05:54am |
General RVing Issues
|
|
US 82 New Mexico from Alamagordo to Artesia
We are currently in White Sands and want to head to Carlsbad, NM in a couple of days. US-82 runs between Alamagordo and Artesia but is not indicated on our map as a truck route.
Does anyone know anything about this road? We are pulling a 36' fiver with a one ton Dodge diesel truck. Is there any reason we should avoid this route? If so, can you suggest a better route to take? Thanks.
|
realladyat57
|
11/27/07 05:44am |
Roads and Routes
|
|
RE: Will the rising diesel fuel cost restrict your travel
The increase in fuel prices has contributed to our decision to stop fulltiming by next summer and find a house near family (luckily 90% of them are in one location.) Until then we are traveling less (we tow a 36 fiver with a one ton diesel truck) and curtailing other extras. We've also noticed a decided increase in RV park prices. We're lucky in that we can use military campgrounds and those are still pretty reasonable--but they aren't always available.
If I have to stay in one place, I want it to be in a small house with the "stuff" that means a lot to me around. We still hope to travel some, and will save our pennies in order to do so--but we probably won't go as far.
It's sad, but I know we aren't alone.
|
realladyat57
|
11/26/07 04:25pm |
Full-time RVing
|
|
RE: How many bath towels / linens do you carry?
I carry two sets of bed linens (sheets/pillow cases), 2 "sets" of towels (wash cloth, hand towel, bath towel) 6 dish cloths, six dish towels plus about 3 additional towels that are used for bathing the dog, cleaning up spills, etc. I usually do laundry once a week but we have enough to go two weeks if necessary. We use an electric mattress pad for extra warmth and two light weight blankets on the bed. In three years of full timing, this has worked out well for us.
|
realladyat57
|
11/13/07 06:56am |
Full-time RVing
|
