ReneeG wrote: Mbryson - thanks for the quick reply. I actually posted an inquiry on this resort and got back some pretty bad replys - RVparkreview was also bad. Was it easy to get around with your long TT? What about mosquitos - are they bad? We may just drive up and check them out. Thanks.
Well, we did have a few issues. Some with the park, some with the skeeters and some with other guests. We've never had an issue ANYWHERE we've camped and I'm quite land use conscious. We have kids and dogs and they were supposedly welcome there.
Getting my trailer in there wasn't too bad. The fiver behind me we had a hell of a time getting in there (driver is quite experienced (spotter not so much), but it's a new trailer to them--tight spot, though), but we got him out EASY with my help and I tried to teach the spotter a little.
We pretty much had to deal with camp staff at least once per day dealing from some complaint from a neighbor or something?
We had a complaint that the kids were throwing rocks at chipmunks the first night. OK, they're kids, we didn't tell them NOT to, but they wouldn't fess up to that even after we had a chat about that (normally they would) and it's not a big deal to me. Good luck hitting a chipmunk with a rock. We told them they'd have to stay within our circle of four trailers and find stuff to do within that for the rest of the week unless they were accompanied by an adult somewhere else.
All four of our group have little kids (11-2 years old). We're pretty conscious about not offending people without kids and dealing with the kids' safety and what not.
One of the guys was SEVERELY chastised in the dark by someone about driving too fast and I didn't notice his speed or anything, but I doubt he was going too fast. He was backing his truck up with kids around. I can't imagine he was flying around. 5 mph is too fast and the posted speed which I think is quite reasonable for dust and safety reasons?
Skeeters were pretty bad, but we're right on the edge of a lake. I wonder if they could install some of those propane skeeter attractors around the site and fix that, though.
One of the dump pipes upper fittings in our group's sites wasn't even glued to the riser so we had a bit of a spill when we first started dumping....at least it was galley water and not black tank.
If we do the Jellystone thing again, I think we'll be looking for another park. There was one in town (just off Yellowstone Ave.) over by the hardware store that looked quite nice and roomy (no idea on pricing or anything else, just looked nice as I drove by). I like to be "remote", but for how often we ran to town, I'd have just as soon been in town.
OK, so maybe the park did suck..... Seriously, the staff did seem OK, but maybe a little on the "camp nazi" side. I've had worse, though. They never did get real grumpy with us, though. I think they were just trying to appease the complainers, whomever they were.
I had a good trip, though. I'd do it again, but likely at a different park. I'm angling for the Grand Canyon next year, though.
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mbryson - thank you for taking the time to report, fully, on Madison Arm Resort. We'll pass on it based on that. By your comments you seem to be a reasonable person even if you do have kids . We only have the fur kind. We're planning on staying at Red Rock. A bit further out but we've been there before and it's super nice and no "camp nazi" approach or mentality. They go out of their way to make sure you have everything you need while you are there.
2006 282TS 32' Komfort
1999 Ford F250 4x4 XLT SD Triton V10 with Tow Package
Prodigy Brake Control
Magnaflow Cat Back Exhaust, FIPK, and TransGo Shift Kit
Hensley Arrow
Dave and Renee plus Champ, Molly (in spirit), Missy and now Maggie Along for the Ride!
ReneeG wrote: ..... By your comments you seem to be a reasonable person even if you do have kids ......
Well, we are from Utah. So reasonable is a moving target
I'd be interested to know your experience at Red Rock. Sounds like our crew wants to head that way again. (here's to deezel being less than $3.50 for the next trip...)
Red Rock is about 5 miles off the main highway a mile from Henry's Lake at the base of the Centennial Mountain range. It's quiet and dark out there at night. The sites are varied in length and they will do their best to locate you on a site that fits the length of your unit. Each site has a fire pit and table. We were there last year early September around Labor Day and ended up extending our stay a few more days. They usually give a discount of stay or 7 but pay for 6 kind of thing. They have swings and tetherball for the kids, ice cream in the office along with some supplies, as well as showers and a laundromat. All is well kept and clean. When you arrive, you are escorted to your site and they help you get situated. There's a nice dog walk area too. A lot of ATV'ers stay here since they use this as their base camp to head to the Red Rock pass which is down a ways from the park. The staff here is nice and courteous and have never heard of any complaints of their being too strict. I've already called ahead but not reserved for this year since we don't know if we'll leave next week or the week following, but they already have several sites penciled in for us, I just have to call back and confirm. Check out their site - Red Rock RV
Here are some Labor Day pictures! We stayed at a small CG in Emlenton, PA called Gaslight Campground. It is a nice little place. The water could be a little better, but that's why I have a filter.
Here's a shot of the Hornet on site 105 with the sun setting!
This is the JayFeather on site 103. This site wasn't quite wide enough for my aunt and uncle's TT. The hillside sloped right down to their front door, so they couldn't keep the picnic table under the awning.
A couple of nice TT's!
One last one of my cousin's Coleman Cheyenne. For being 12 years old, this PUP is in great condition!
We had a great time!
2006 Hornet 28BHDS-Bunk House, Dual Slides
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 HD
5.7L Hemi, Factory Towing Package
Reese Brake Controller, WD Hitch and Sway Bar
Hi folks, we recently visited Stone Mountain in Georgia and had a blast. They had the 25 Anniversary Lazer and Fireworks show. This is a neat campground. I wish all campgrounds were so well laid out on their websites. You can view a map of the campground and request specific sites. Anyway, I wanted to share some of the pictures. I must have shot a couple of hundred while we were there. Fun Fun Fun. I hope this posting is OK. 3191 HI-LO
How's that Jayco pull with your 1500? We really liked that model, but it just seemed to be stretching what we were comfortable pulling with our 1500 QC, especially since what we bought would be our first trailer.
Just curious how it goes for you, 'cause we did love the model you bought...
Jason, Angie, and our toddler, Sean Patrick
2008 Ameri-Lite 27BH
2007 Dodge 1500 QC Laramie, 5.7Hemi, 3.92
Equalizer hitch, Prodigy Brake Controller
Hi Jason,
Well, as you know, I'm right on the jagged edge of what my 1500 is rated for. So, with that in mind, we try to keep it as light as possible and plan ahead. I always carry a small Coleman generator and 5 gallons of gas, a little firewood, a small air compressor, a Coleman bbq grill, a bottle of propane, and a few other assorted things in the truck... but not much more. We try to figure how much water we'll need between refill opportunities and fill the tank accordingly. We have carried a full load of water in the trailer and ten extra gallons in jugs in the truck without a problem.
We just got home from a five-day trip that started out light and ended up heavy. We had the usual supplies in the truck but on the first stop we loaded the truck with about 400 lbs of slate that my wife just had to have for the flower garden. We then proceeded to pull about 300 miles to our destination and back (through the mountains). We were headed to a nice camground in Palmer that had water though so I only had about 15 gallons in the tank. But I could really tell the difference with the extra weight on the truck. Back end was pretty heavy.
If we only carry the basics in the truck and the typical load in the trailer (even with a full water tank) it pulls very nicely. We always go north and that takes us through the Chugach Range but that sweet little Hemi is always ready to snatch the trailer up and through the mountains. She never gets hot.
The photo was taken last September in Turnagain Pass, the highest point on our way home. We had just finished the toughest and longest pull uphill, about seven miles. We try to do that part empty if possible. In the photo the truck was pretty heavy, you can see it's squatting just a bit. Normally the truck sits nice and level.
On good road I have no problem holding the speed limits... 55 and 65. She'll cruise at 70 if I need to but I like to keep it around 60. At that speed I average about 8 mpg.
A 2500 truck would be a better match for the 31BHDS but we'll make do with the 1500 for now. I do plan to upgrade to a dedicated tow truck in the future. I'd like a 1-ton diesel.
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Seriously, the staff did seem OK, but maybe a little on the "camp nazi" side. I've had worse, though. They never did get real grumpy with us, though. I think they were just trying to appease the complainers, whomever they were.
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