Thinking about a trip across country
I am probably being too ambitious based on my set up but I have been itching to take myself and my family out west for a family camping Trip. Here are my two major concerns and maybe you fine folks ...
Forum Discussion
My advice: go for it, one way or another.
Yes, it will be a lot of time and miles in close quarters, but it's not going to get easier as the kids get older (and bigger and busier), and the memories will be priceless. I would bring a tent along for one or more of the kids (and/or adults) to use if the weather and campground permits.
I get the impression you aren't really interested in changing your vehicle or camper for various reasons, and that's OK (though maybe not ideal). That said, in my opinion for traveling I think a motorhome is a lot more convenient; you have more elbow room on the road, and ready access to snacks, pastimes, etc. Setting up camp is quicker in the evenings, and likewise breaking camp in the mornings. Another quite reasonable vehicle option might be a full size van and a decent size travel trailer. Vans can be equipped to tow quite a bit (8000+ pounds) and have enough payload to do so while carrying some load inside as well.
I'm not sold on bunk beds in trailers (or often in motorhomes) as they tend to be quite cramped and relatively short and take up a relatively large amount of interior space, but they apparently do seem to work out well enough for some.
Obviously more time is always preferable, but three weeks should be sufficient for the trip. I'd plan on five days out and five days back, which gives a good ten or twelve days out west. If you can spare a day to spend at the St Louis City Museum, your kids will (almost certainly) thoroughly enjoy that and it can split up some of the long drive.
Yes, it will be a lot of time and miles in close quarters, but it's not going to get easier as the kids get older (and bigger and busier), and the memories will be priceless. I would bring a tent along for one or more of the kids (and/or adults) to use if the weather and campground permits.
I get the impression you aren't really interested in changing your vehicle or camper for various reasons, and that's OK (though maybe not ideal). That said, in my opinion for traveling I think a motorhome is a lot more convenient; you have more elbow room on the road, and ready access to snacks, pastimes, etc. Setting up camp is quicker in the evenings, and likewise breaking camp in the mornings. Another quite reasonable vehicle option might be a full size van and a decent size travel trailer. Vans can be equipped to tow quite a bit (8000+ pounds) and have enough payload to do so while carrying some load inside as well.
I'm not sold on bunk beds in trailers (or often in motorhomes) as they tend to be quite cramped and relatively short and take up a relatively large amount of interior space, but they apparently do seem to work out well enough for some.
Obviously more time is always preferable, but three weeks should be sufficient for the trip. I'd plan on five days out and five days back, which gives a good ten or twelve days out west. If you can spare a day to spend at the St Louis City Museum, your kids will (almost certainly) thoroughly enjoy that and it can split up some of the long drive.
