spoon059 wrote:
valhalla360 wrote:
Generally a good plan.
If you can extend those trips to 3-4 months, lots of oppurtunities open up to be flexible and figure things out as you go.
I would keep reservations to a minimum with only absolutely key sites reserved. Especially if you are going off season, reservations are rarely needed. We did Yellowstone last fall and Banff/Jasper this spring...got reservation inside the parks about a week out for both as the school kids were all back in school and the crowds gone. We usually call ahead no more than 2-3 days out (or has become more common, reserve online). This avoids the stress if you run into issues (something comes up with work or issues with the RV and you can't travel for example).
Out of season camping also benefits boondocking. Mid summer when it's in the 90sF, boondocking without aircon is miserable, so you have to break out the generator or pay for a site with power. Spring/Fall, power demands tend to be much lower making boondocking easier.
Gosh I hope our experience mimmicks yours! One big downfall is that we're a young family, we'll likely have a 40' 5th wheel. That will limit some places we can stay, hence the need for some more dispersed camping sites!
Boondocking is harder with a big rig. They often are down narrow roads or are on uneven ground. It can be done but far fewer options compared to a small rig.
Newer commercial campgrounds are less of an issue though still some limits.
Think long and hard if you really need a huge rig.i won't go so far as to say you don't but it creates its own problems. I'm the youngest of 10, and we typically did a month each summer in a 28ft travel trailer.
