It's many years since I traveled in a Vanogan camper. I will be towing a 24' Zepher to the Grand Canyon and then to Zion starting this weekend. I would like some advice on certain things.
In order to reduce weight I have heard it's good to drive with the water tank empty. I am pretty sure there is no water hook up at GC. So is there somewhere we could get water? There is no electrical hook up there for sure. The rental person says the AC only works off of hook up. What about lights, tv, stereo, etc....? I am thinking to take a household fan. If propane powers the ac outlets how many amps can I expect or count on?
We have up to three days between the South Rim and Zion. Any recommendations of boondocking or National forest, BLM campsites? Any recommended places to visit?
Unless you have an on-board generator that runs off propane you will NOT have any AC for Air Conditioner, TV, Stereo etc........lights will be via 12V from battery.
As for water.....although CG might not have water at your camp site, water will probably be available at CG to fill your fresh water tank......call the CG you are going to for the correct info. Might want to put a little water in the tank before you go (1/3 or so) just to have water for potty breaks while traveling to/fro.
Also suggest you check on Zion for road construction.....the road thru Zion was torn up back in June and was scheduled thru this summer.
I always stay at Trailer Village at the South Rim. They have full hook-ups. I actually stay at Glen Canyon Recreation area on beautiful Lake Powell in Page, Arizona and take day trips to Zion, Bryce, and the North Rim. It's a beautiful 2.5 hour drive to each. The campground at Lake Powell also has full hook-ups.
Thank you all. I don't know if it is other states as well but I am in California and travel trailers ahve no generators while toy haulers do. I am bemused by that since a toy hauler and travel trailer are essentially the same. Also fifth wheels here have generators. That made me assume the issue is the trailer hitch.
We are already booked into the National Park Campground with no facilities. I will check on the Zion road situation. We will likely go to the glass walkway and then on to the North Rim or at least head that way on the road to Zion. Does anyone know if we can leave our trailer in the Nat Park parking lot when headed west to the glass walk?
Travel Trailers are the starting pointm just a little above popups in price and therefore don't usually have a generator. They also don't have a fuel tank to feed the generator. That would all mean extra weight and cost. Wwhen you get up to a toy hauler they are a little higher priced and built for a little heavier load. That is when you can get into something with a generator. Enjoy your trip.
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I believe you will not be needing the AC, you will be in higher elevations at the Canyon, Zion would be warmer. North side of Canyon is very high elevation. We traveled for years without a generator for weeks at a time. Only place we were hurting was at Lake Powell near Page, AZ.
No hookups and no generator, nothing which runs off household current, AC current, will work. Only DC current off the battery. Or things with their own batteries.
You might find a DC powered fan at Wal-mart, about $10. We have used one. But the Zepher might have a fan on the roof, a Fantastic Fan or something similar. They are DC powered and run of the TT's batteries.
I usually just carry the water, near now when you might want it or need it.
As for Grand Canyon both sides are really nice, each have their own campgrounds which would be neat to stay in, but are often filled. My daughter & her husband stayed in a tent at the one in the South.
We have always stayed in campgrounds out of the park. We found the park on south side by Flagstaff is close enough to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument with camping nearby where we have stayed to see the area. There is no camping in the monument.
However, Bonito Campground , operated by the US Forest Service, is located across from the visitor center at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument which is on the loop road which goes by Wupatki National Monument. This campground is generally open from late May through mid-October. There are no hook-ups. There are nice campgrounds on the north side at the park and if full in the Nat'l Forest just before getting into the park. We stayed outside the park when there in summer and park cg was full. Sunset Crater *** Wupatki
Bonito Campground is a very clean campground, newly remodeled, flush toilets, but no dump, no filling RV water tanks. Neat area. Two Thumbs Up for it. Drive 12 miles northeast of Flagstaff on US 89. Turn east (right) on FR 545 and drive 2 miles to Bonito Campground. Paved roads, concrete walkways & slabs at each site for picnic tables, steel raised fire rings and steel covered grills. Friendly hosts and ranger programs as well. Sites are spaced out very well, none crowded together. Stayed there mid-June 2010.
By taking the Hwy by Sunset Crater to Wupatki, we then drove along the Grand Canyon entering via the east off US 89 also. We did the drive in one day trip. Looping down from the Main entrance back to Flag. There are several routes back to Flag as well, via the interstate or other more backcountry routes.
This might be of help Dispersed Camping Coconino Nat'l Forest I am not sure if there would be sites along the loop mentioned below or not, even if the campground is not open, perhaps there would be dispersed sites which could be use. It has been too many year for me to remember the area well.
Outside The Park Camping - North Rim Campgrounds
DeMotte Campground
Operated by the U.S. Forest Service. 16 miles/ 28km north of the canyon rim. No hookups or reservations.
Jacob Lake Campground (was closed for upgrading during the 2009 season)
Operated by the U.S. Forest Service, 45 miles/75 km north of the North Rim, during the summer only, no hookups or reservations. $14 per vehicle per night. Free evening programs.
Dispersed Camping
Is permitted in the national forest outside the park; there are restrictions, however. Inquire at North Rim Visitor Center inside park, or at Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center at Jacob Lake (928) 643-7298. In winter contact the North Kaibab Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest, P.O. Box 248, Fredonia, AZ 86022 or call (928) 643-7395.
Kaibab Camper Village (Jacob Lake)
Commercial campground located ΒΌ mile/0.5 km south of Jacob Lake on Arizona Highway 67. Full hook-ups available. Phone (928) 643-7804 May 15-October 15. Off-season phone (928) 526-0924, outside AZ 1-800-525-0924.
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DesertHawk - Las Cruces, NM USA
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There is drinking water available at the dump station to fill your water tanks once you arrive at the Grand Canyon. Only trailer village has water, other hook ups.
JRappr wrote: The rental person says the AC only works off of hook up. What about lights, tv, stereo, etc....? I am thinking to take a household fan. If propane powers the ac outlets how many amps can I expect or count on?
your lights and stereo will work off the battery. the fridge/freezer will need the battery for the electronics and propane for cooling. the TV won't work without hookups or a generator, unless it's a 12v TV or it's plugged into an inverter.
a household fan will not work unless hookups or generator.
the last statement is confusing. are you thinking that the propane provides electrical power? again, the ac outlets need hookups or a generator to be able to be used.
sounds like you didn't get much education from the rental place.
what are you towing with and are they providing the WDH?
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