Toronto to FL, Newbie need some advices.
We just ordered a jayco X213 and will towed by Ml350 Bluetec. We plan a trip from Toronto to FL around beginning of Feb. ( Depend on the weather condition), this will be our first RV trip. We ( my wi...
Forum Discussion
First of all I commend you on your spirit of adventure and willingness to take on something new. I saw this post earlier and it kind of raised my eyebrows but I thought I would just stay out of it. I just can’t keep quiet any longer though.
Please do not take this the wrong way but I believe you are being very naïve and unprepared for what you are about to do. You will be travelling on the 401 to Windsor at the absolutely worst time of year for surprise weather conditions, you are towing a moderately sized travel trailer with an SUV, you have absolutely no towing experience, and you have absolutely no experience with RV’ing.
So here is my 2 cents for whatever it is worth;
• Do you have a proper brake controller on your tow vehicle?
• Do you have adequate mirrors for towing?
• Do you have a hitch, equalizer bars, etc. that are rated for the tow vehicle/trailer combination?
• Is your tow vehicle equipped with a towing package that includes a transmission cooler?
• Make sure your dealer spends at least an hour with you going over your trailer when you pick it up.
• Make sure your dealer sets up the trailer tongue and hitch height correctly when you pick it up.
• Find out if any major warranty work will be honoured by dealers in the U.S. and where they are located.
• Before you even think about embarking on this trip try to get a few miles under your belt towing on the DVP, 401, 404, or similar roads around Toronto convenient to you. If you can find an area with some narrower construction lanes to try out then even better.
• Be very aware of the weather and road conditions you will be encountering. For example, there is a fairly long stretch in northern Ohio that is quite open and prone to crosswinds similar to the 401 between London and Windsor. There is also a stretch about 15 miles long when you first enter Tennessee that is at a higher elevation and can have winter weather or heavy fog when the rest of the area is clear.
• Have you ever backed a trailer of any kind into a driveway?
• Do you have any idea what your fuel tank range will be while towing?
• Get a decent measurement on the trailer height for when you try to go under that hotel canopy.
• Get an emergency road service provider (CAA, Good Sam, Coachnet, etc.) that will cover the RV as well.
As for the trip down I-75, I have done it many times in January and February from the Hamilton area. Based on your limited experience I recommend using hotels until you get to at least Chattanooga. The KOA at Findlay/Bluffton will be too far north and too cold for you. No washrooms or showers, nothing open nearby, and electrical hookup only. They advertise full hookups but they are either taken by permanent residents or frozen. If you insist on using a campground earlier then the Lexington Horse Park may be an option if the weather is mild. Their showers and washrooms are open and clean. There are electrical hookups but the water is shut off until March but their dumping station is open with water available.
There is a lot of knowledge and experience on this forum so don’t be afraid to ask questions. We were all newbies once. With mild weather and clear dry roads it could very well turn out to be an uneventful and enjoyable trip. It is quite an undertaking for your first trip out and I hope everything goes well for you.
Please do not take this the wrong way but I believe you are being very naïve and unprepared for what you are about to do. You will be travelling on the 401 to Windsor at the absolutely worst time of year for surprise weather conditions, you are towing a moderately sized travel trailer with an SUV, you have absolutely no towing experience, and you have absolutely no experience with RV’ing.
So here is my 2 cents for whatever it is worth;
• Do you have a proper brake controller on your tow vehicle?
• Do you have adequate mirrors for towing?
• Do you have a hitch, equalizer bars, etc. that are rated for the tow vehicle/trailer combination?
• Is your tow vehicle equipped with a towing package that includes a transmission cooler?
• Make sure your dealer spends at least an hour with you going over your trailer when you pick it up.
• Make sure your dealer sets up the trailer tongue and hitch height correctly when you pick it up.
• Find out if any major warranty work will be honoured by dealers in the U.S. and where they are located.
• Before you even think about embarking on this trip try to get a few miles under your belt towing on the DVP, 401, 404, or similar roads around Toronto convenient to you. If you can find an area with some narrower construction lanes to try out then even better.
• Be very aware of the weather and road conditions you will be encountering. For example, there is a fairly long stretch in northern Ohio that is quite open and prone to crosswinds similar to the 401 between London and Windsor. There is also a stretch about 15 miles long when you first enter Tennessee that is at a higher elevation and can have winter weather or heavy fog when the rest of the area is clear.
• Have you ever backed a trailer of any kind into a driveway?
• Do you have any idea what your fuel tank range will be while towing?
• Get a decent measurement on the trailer height for when you try to go under that hotel canopy.
• Get an emergency road service provider (CAA, Good Sam, Coachnet, etc.) that will cover the RV as well.
As for the trip down I-75, I have done it many times in January and February from the Hamilton area. Based on your limited experience I recommend using hotels until you get to at least Chattanooga. The KOA at Findlay/Bluffton will be too far north and too cold for you. No washrooms or showers, nothing open nearby, and electrical hookup only. They advertise full hookups but they are either taken by permanent residents or frozen. If you insist on using a campground earlier then the Lexington Horse Park may be an option if the weather is mild. Their showers and washrooms are open and clean. There are electrical hookups but the water is shut off until March but their dumping station is open with water available.
There is a lot of knowledge and experience on this forum so don’t be afraid to ask questions. We were all newbies once. With mild weather and clear dry roads it could very well turn out to be an uneventful and enjoyable trip. It is quite an undertaking for your first trip out and I hope everything goes well for you.
