First RV (old class A), and want to take it to Yellowstone

At the very least replace the front tires. All belts and check and most likely replace all hoses. Check all the tires carefully as they are most likely 10 or more years old. Blowout = Family Danger! Replace all fluids and flush and replace coolant. Replace oil and trans fluid.
This advise from owing a 20 year old MH. It helped me avoid many problems.

Pogoil.

JohnoO2: Fa--s pass??

2Gypsies: I'm concerned with the mountains. Unfortunately there are not really even any hills within hours of where we are at now.

PRSTLK: We have RV roadside assistance through Progressive. Wanted to use USAA, but they don't cover MHs in my state.


Wallynm: Is CoachNet >> typical roadside assistance/towing from insurance companies like progressive? If so, how? (Looking at the Coach Net site, I need to follow up with Progressive to see if they have limits like 1 tow per year, etc. My understanding is they will take me to the closest repair shop capable of fixing).

Darsben: Tires look okay, but haven't checked the dates on them yet. Over 7years and you would replace them? With two spares, that would be about $2K. I only bought the rig for $5K....ouch!

Stick: Brakes look and feel okay, but haven't had chance to really "test" them yet.

Tatest: I have "tent camped" across country several times and completely understand your point about the differences between RV and tent campsites. I've tented in an open field surrounded by RVs running generators...not conducive for sleep! I think we would be fine with running off 15 anp power on this trip...anyone know if many of the RV friendly tent sites have 15 amp power?

Also, we will be taking it out to the lake all the time, about a 60 mile round trip. But again, unfortunately, virtually flat roads between here and there. Maybe we will take it on a longer trip...

BillMFI: I want to stay inside the park for just that reason. I remember driving into Yellowstone on first day and looking, in wonder, at the buffalo on the hillside 2 miles away. Two days later we were impatient in a bison induced trafffic jam. Even got to see two wolves on that trip there. It is really an amazing place, which is why I want to bring my extended family there.

I think I'm done backcountry camping, which is why I bought the motorhome. Last long backpacking trip was superstition mountains about 4 years ago. I'm just too old and broken for that stuff now.

Matt: I'm afraid because the coach is old, because I'm new to RVing, and because the coach is NEW to me. We have hand-held VHF radios.

I don't have hard-and-fast dates yet, probably end of July-early August timeframe before the wife and kids start back to school. Trying to coordinate this many people and their schedule is nearly impossible...might just take the wife!

Thanks so much to everyone for the information!

You are afraid because the coach is OLD? We did just under 12K in a 1973 build this year and do 1K hauls regularly. If you keep up with the required maintenance, it is just the driving...

Start your research on Yellowstone TODAY. The only FHU in the park is Fishing Bridge and it is hard side only. Some campground parks are hard to get reservations for at this late date.

If you might take two cars into the park, get at least a pair of FRS radios. Cell coverage is spotty and you will be tied up in a Bison Jam or a Gawker Jam so just sit back and enjoy.

Matt

The last time I was in Yellowstone some campgrounds were hard side only because of bears. You can google the info you need for camping both inside and outside the park. Summer availability becomes very tight and requires reservations. As others mentioned brakes and tires MUST be in good condition. Camping outside the park requires fairly long drives to/from every day and if in summer lots of traffic. Nitwits often clog the roads to get a pic of bears, buffalo and elk if they are seeing such for the first time. I go there in spring and fall when there is little traffic and no crowds at major attractions. If you are adventurous, the back country trails are mostly empty but can be rigorous.

Get good tires, brakes, change oil (if not done recently), ....other general maintenance items....buy a roadside assistance program, make reservations BEFORE you leave, and go for it!! Have fun!!

I added RV coverage to my regular AAA policy for very little $$$.
bumpy

Just a reminder if you have AAA, it may or may not cover your RV, depending on the state you are in. We were members of the Hoosier Motor Club (AAA Indiana) about 15 years ago, when we threw a serpentine belt on our 19' Coachmen Class B on I95. We ended up being flat-bedded to a Ford Dealer in Lake City Florida. When we had called the AAA road service phone number, they wouldn't even call a service provider, with us paying the tow since it was an RV. The lady did give us a number of a local tow company though. Cancelled AAA on getting home and got CoachNet.

Not crazy. A thousand miles is not very far, do that several times a year (each way) to stay in touch with family.

A motorhome that old, I would be concerned about condition of tires and brakes. tires rot, braking systems corrode.

One of the problems with your destination (don't know about enroute) is that great sites for RVs and good sites for tent camping are not always in the same place. People with RVs use "campground" to mean "RV parking place with facilities" but they are really different kinds of facilities and not always located in the same place. You can learn to camp in a RV (giving up some of its home-like capabilities) and put it in a campground, but less often can you pitch tents in a RV park where the RV has full home-like functionality.

We visited, stayed at, Yellowstone long before there were any RV hookups, but our RV did not hook up anyway, except a 15 amp power cord. So the campgrounds were OK. Used the LPG lights and appliances in the trailer, some of us slept in the back of the station wagon. When the bears came snooping around, would not have wanted to be in a tent, it was crazy enough having them inspect us through the windows of the station wagon.

Bear management has since changed in Yellowstone, there is a RV park for RVs (no camping) and campgrounds where RVs can park (no hookups). You'll have to figure out what you want to do. The RV park needs reservations, the campgrounds are first come, first served.

I would not make 1000 miles the first trip. I would take a trial trip or two, not even an overnight, just a loop for a picnic or something. Back and forth to a local lake works. It is all about learning how things work, and learning what does not work, and fixing that, before making the first longer trip. I have a 100 mile loop, with a lunch stop, about a half day trip, that I used to first try out the RV, and use it to check things out at the beginning of the season sometimes, though I can also do it in camp driveway without spending $30-50 on gas.

reservations are definitely needed at Fishing Bridge campground in Yellowstone. You didn't say when you were going. Coach Net Road service would be well worth the price. If they are booked up, ask this forum for other options. They do have other campgrounds with no hookups. Ask yourself what's the worst thing that could happen and have a plan for that and go for it!

Buy an ERS like Coachnet. Take few short trips first. Do not get in a hurry. Check tire date codes. Plan to have a good time.