Our countdown is really getting short now! We hope to leave in early July and return in mid to late august. Hopefully, we can stretch it out to 45 days.
Just did a shake down run to Key West last week. 2300 miles round trip with three fuel top off stops and three additional stops to check our trailer and tie downs, it took a touch over 18 hrs each way. We drove it straight through with me doing the night shift and my dw doing the day shift. Our soon to be 17yr old is still in training.
We are all fairly confident about our big stretch from VA to ND and hope to non-stop that leg of our adventure to pick up a few precious hours. The children were very good about dividing up their time with crafts, games, homework, sight seeing, and TV. I think they can keep themselves entertained on our long adventure. The dw and I were pleased to find that the MH was very easy and actually fun to drive. We kept bugging each other for our shift change.
Now we are tussling with whether or not to take a trailer and a dinghy. Based on the feedback on this thread, we really won't have time for many "out of RV" excursions. However, considering a trailer as a home for extra gear (bikes, foul weather gear, fishing poles, spare parts, etc.) AND a lifeboat, it begins to take on added appeal.
Would a trailer handicap us when looking for campsites or places to boondock? The MH is about 43' and we are considering a 24' cargo trailer (~28' oal).