Short story... New (old) Class C. Fixed it up, ready to go. My plan is to take it from New England (where I live) to Kentucky for the 2017 eclipse. While stopping at Niagara Falls, Cincinnati and then Kentucky. (One day at each)I am 45 with my 12 year old son so we can "rough it". I need "cheaper" rather than "nicer". So... Besides RV parks, if I am JUST sleeping for the night, where is good? RV lore says "Rest stops" and "Walmart". Do rest stops have sewer dumps and places to fill water? I am not worried about electric as I will be driving MOST of the day and charging the battery. What is the deal with Walmart? Should I look for one in the areas I think I need to sleep for the night? Or is a rest stop better? God Sam for roadside assistance? And use their "trip planner"? Just some "tips" to point me in the right direction... What would YOU do in my situation? I am REALLY nervous about how this all works... But I assume I will learn a LOT on the way. :)

tommymsw wrote:Short story... New (old) Class C. Fixed it up, ready to go. My plan is to take it from New England (where I live) to Kentucky for the 2017 eclipse. While stopping at Niagara Falls, Cincinnati and then Kentucky. (One day at each)I am 45 with my 12 year old son so we can "rough it". I need "cheaper" rather than "nicer". So... Besides RV parks, if I am JUST sleeping for the night, where is good? RV lore says "Rest stops" and "Walmart". Not all rest stops or Wall Marts allow overnight camping. Call the Wall Marts where you think you might be trying to stay and ask them if it is ok. Call the Dept. of Transportations in the states you will traveling through and ask about camping overnight. Security is my first concern.Do rest stops have sewer dumps and places to fill water? I am not worried about electric as I will be driving MOST of the day and charging the battery. In Calif. a few of the Rest stops have dump stations. You can go into most RV Parks and for a $$$ fee you can dump.What is the deal with Walmart? Should I look for one in the areas I think I need to sleep for the night? Or is a rest stop better? Personally, neither of your choices would be my first choice.God Sam for roadside assistance? And use their "trip planner"? Yes for the GS roadside assistance is cheap and gives you some piece of mind. GS trip planner works well for me.Just some "tips" to point me in the right direction... What would YOU do in my situation? 1. check your tires, if in doubt replace them2. check all your systems to make sure they all workI am REALLY nervous about how this all works... But I assume I will learn a LOT on the way. :)

I would avoid rest and truck stops. Noisy, and not particularly safe.So far as Walmarts---look for smaller towns, less chance of getting into a really bad neighborhood that way. Go in and ask the manager if it's OK to stay there and do the courtesy of buying something you need. Park in a well-lit area. Chances are you will not be the only RV there. Keep your door locked and do not open it to anyone except law enforcement. Look out the window to see who is out there before you answer or open it.Not trying to scare you, but you do need to use common sense.Check your tires, make sure they are not old and dry-rotted. Get a good overall mechanical check.You will not be able to run the microwave, hair dryer, AC or other high demand electrical off your battery. Be conservative with lights. In your shoes I would look for state parks or city/county parks, but Walmarts are an acceptable short-term solution.It's going to be hot. Electrical hookups would be nice for AC, assuming you don't have a generator.Stay in the RV a few nights in your driveway, and make sure you know how to work things. I hope you have a place to stay in Kentucky. All lodging and campgrounds are booked. You may have to stay well outside the eclipse zone and drive in for just that day. Be prepared for bad traffic.

If you have never "RV'd" before, to take on this kind of trip with an older rig, I'd try staying in it AT HOME over a weekend and see how it goes first..That's just to make sure you know how all the systems work.. Do you know how all the systems work?? Like how long you can go on a tank of fresh water, how much you can put down the toilet/sink? How the fridge works, how the hot water heater works, all without being hooked up to 120v power??Your batteries will only last so long.. Even driving will charge the house batteries, sure... But they only have so many of hours of power..Anyway, good luck! Been doing this RV thing for some time, and it takes some time to learn all the "tricks"..Mitch

Thanks everybody. I have stayed in it in my driveway both hooked to shore and not. I am not sure how long the water will last, but I don't plan on drinking it.. Just toilet flushing and hand washing. The trip will only be 4-5 days long so I am not too worried. The fridge is not getting past 50, but I hear this is not uncommon and just needs to be filled with cold items to start with. I also installed a fan for the back of it. But I am also not overly concerned about that. I can just eat out (like you would in a car). Basically (for this trip), I am not looking for much more than what I get from a car, outside of a comfier trip and sleep. I almost booked an RV site today (I got a call from one in the blackout area that they had a last minute opening), They wanted a 3 night minimum and as I am just getting in and getting out (due to work)... I may just sleep at a Walmart the night before and I have a reservation at the local fairground for "watching" the event, that includes parking. So sleep in the Walmart Sunday night... Go to the fairground Monday early (Entry starts at 6am) and then just hang there all day. Because I am trying to get there as fast as possible... I will drive all day and just pull over 8hrs to sleep... Figured why pay for a site when I will only be there to sleep. Not that the money is a problem... Just seems like a lot of work when I can just pull into a rest stop for the night and not get off the highway. I drove from New Hampshire to California and back with my brother in a Mercury Cougar (took turns sleeping in the back seat)... So even an RV with no fridge will be a PALACE! :)

Watch your tire pressure. Check it when the tires are cold.Take your time, many of us travel around 58-62 MPH. It seems to be the most economical speed.Travel with water in your tank, the extra weight will make very little difference in gas mileage.For future travel, consider Free Campsites, you may find something along your route. There are other free/cheap sites, do a Google search.Don't hesitate to ask another RVer for advice. Most are happy to help.Enjoy your travels.

About to take my FIRST trip. Please advise.. | Good Sam Community

rockhillmanor
Explorer
Jul 27, 2017
Because of the eclipse many CG's are full up. this is usually not the norm.

Not all Walmarts have over night parking. And as of late most are not safe at night. Do a search on the rest stops along your route first, as many have changed to no overnight parking.

If it were me traveling with my child, "I" would not stay overnight at Walmart. Heck by myself I wouldn't stay at a Walmart. Its the new venue for meth labs and drug dealers. Been there seen it.

That said, since you are looking to save money.
Do a google search for "Flying J" truck stops. This is a place that is RV friendly, safe, and have parking spots along side the gas station designed for RV's. You will be parking along with other RV's.
Here is the link for locations and trip planner.
https://pilotflyingj.com/store-locator/

Also real nice, real big, well lit truck stops is another place you can stay overnight in. Stay away from the small dingy truck stops.

Also do a search for Fairgrounds along your route. They all have CG's and the price to stay overnight is sometimes only 10 bucks!

Good luck plenty of options for a 'safe' place to stay.
Hope you and your son enjoy the adventure. :C
gbopp
Explorer
Jul 27, 2017
Watch your tire pressure. Check it when the tires are cold.

Take your time, many of us travel around 58-62 MPH. It seems to be the most economical speed.

Travel with water in your tank, the extra weight will make very little difference in gas mileage.

For future travel, consider Free Campsites, you may find something along your route. There are other free/cheap sites, do a Google search.

Don't hesitate to ask another RVer for advice. Most are happy to help.

Enjoy your travels.
tommymsw
Explorer
Jul 27, 2017
Thanks everybody. I have stayed in it in my driveway both hooked to shore and not. I am not sure how long the water will last, but I don't plan on drinking it.. Just toilet flushing and hand washing. The trip will only be 4-5 days long so I am not too worried.

The fridge is not getting past 50, but I hear this is not uncommon and just needs to be filled with cold items to start with. I also installed a fan for the back of it. But I am also not overly concerned about that. I can just eat out (like you would in a car). Basically (for this trip), I am not looking for much more than what I get from a car, outside of a comfier trip and sleep.

I almost booked an RV site today (I got a call from one in the blackout area that they had a last minute opening), They wanted a 3 night minimum and as I am just getting in and getting out (due to work)... I may just sleep at a Walmart the night before and I have a reservation at the local fairground for "watching" the event, that includes parking.

So sleep in the Walmart Sunday night... Go to the fairground Monday early (Entry starts at 6am) and then just hang there all day.

Because I am trying to get there as fast as possible... I will drive all day and just pull over 8hrs to sleep... Figured why pay for a site when I will only be there to sleep. Not that the money is a problem... Just seems like a lot of work when I can just pull into a rest stop for the night and not get off the highway.

I drove from New Hampshire to California and back with my brother in a Mercury Cougar (took turns sleeping in the back seat)... So even an RV with no fridge will be a PALACE! :)
MitchF150
Explorer III
Jul 27, 2017
If you have never "RV'd" before, to take on this kind of trip with an older rig, I'd try staying in it AT HOME over a weekend and see how it goes first..

That's just to make sure you know how all the systems work.. Do you know how all the systems work?? Like how long you can go on a tank of fresh water, how much you can put down the toilet/sink? How the fridge works, how the hot water heater works, all without being hooked up to 120v power??

Your batteries will only last so long.. Even driving will charge the house batteries, sure... But they only have so many of hours of power..

Anyway, good luck! Been doing this RV thing for some time, and it takes some time to learn all the "tricks"..

Mitch
coolmom42
Explorer II
Jul 27, 2017
I would avoid rest and truck stops. Noisy, and not particularly safe.

So far as Walmarts---look for smaller towns, less chance of getting into a really bad neighborhood that way. Go in and ask the manager if it's OK to stay there and do the courtesy of buying something you need. Park in a well-lit area. Chances are you will not be the only RV there. Keep your door locked and do not open it to anyone except law enforcement. Look out the window to see who is out there before you answer or open it.

Not trying to scare you, but you do need to use common sense.

Check your tires, make sure they are not old and dry-rotted. Get a good overall mechanical check.

You will not be able to run the microwave, hair dryer, AC or other high demand electrical off your battery. Be conservative with lights.

In your shoes I would look for state parks or city/county parks, but Walmarts are an acceptable short-term solution.

It's going to be hot. Electrical hookups would be nice for AC, assuming you don't have a generator.

Stay in the RV a few nights in your driveway, and make sure you know how to work things.

I hope you have a place to stay in Kentucky. All lodging and campgrounds are booked. You may have to stay well outside the eclipse zone and drive in for just that day. Be prepared for bad traffic.
MarkTwain
Explorer
Jul 27, 2017
tommymsw wrote:
Short story... New (old) Class C. Fixed it up, ready to go.

My plan is to take it from New England (where I live) to Kentucky for the 2017 eclipse. While stopping at Niagara Falls, Cincinnati and then Kentucky. (One day at each)

I am 45 with my 12 year old son so we can "rough it". I need "cheaper" rather than "nicer".

So... Besides RV parks, if I am JUST sleeping for the night, where is good? RV lore says "Rest stops" and "Walmart".

Not all rest stops or Wall Marts allow overnight camping. Call the Wall Marts where you think you might be trying to stay and ask them if it is ok. Call the Dept. of Transportations in the states you will traveling through and ask about camping overnight. Security is my first concern.

Do rest stops have sewer dumps and places to fill water? I am not worried about electric as I will be driving MOST of the day and charging the battery.

In Calif. a few of the Rest stops have dump stations. You can go into most RV Parks and for a $$$ fee you can dump.

What is the deal with Walmart? Should I look for one in the areas I think I need to sleep for the night? Or is a rest stop better?

Personally, neither of your choices would be my first choice.

God Sam for roadside assistance? And use their "trip planner"?
Yes for the GS roadside assistance is cheap and gives you some piece of mind. GS trip planner works well for me.

Just some "tips" to point me in the right direction... What would YOU do in my situation?
1. check your tires, if in doubt replace them
2. check all your systems to make sure they all work

I am REALLY nervous about how this all works... But I assume I will learn a LOT on the way. :)

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