Hi Everyone - Newbie here....MORE questions :)

AlysshaLynn wrote:
I posted a pic of the generator - its a Troybilt. Hopefully we will be testing it out later tonight or tomorrow to see how it goes and make sure it does what we need it to. (And see how loud it is)

there's no such thing as quiet Troy-Built. they are all loud and sometimes louder than other similar types.
it'll be fine for boondocking but not in any campground.
seriously doubt you'll be able to stand it.
plus i'm betting it weighs over 100lbs.

hope you can find a generator better suited for your trip. needs to be an inverter generator if you spend anytime in a campground.

and thank your husband for me, for his service.

Many states offer discounts to disabled vets of one sort or another, but you have to ask. Many times it depends on the particular park. Last year we visited the Great Lakes area and stayed at East Harbor State Park, OH. Had no reservations and selected a walk up site. Now we don't need full hook-ups, just electric and are B campers, so our requirements are much different. But the lady asked of my disability and I replied 100%. She asked if I had my papers, DD-214 & letter of P&TD (Permanent & Total Disability) {I detest people who use acronyms that they know, but we might not}. She ask which campsite and how long. Then said that's free for you sir!!! Next stop on that trip was General Butler SP TN. Same thing. A free night.
Michigan requires a park use/entrance fee for most State Parks. Non resident is $7, I think, a day or a $31 annual pass. 100% disabled vets it is free, so I'm told. Haven't tired it yet. Florida & Texas
also offer free admit passes to vets.
I'd like to find a chart/site that lists this info but haven't yet. Mght have to just compile one.

Hope this helps.

I don't have much to add, but I want to wish you luck! I hope it all goes well - my late DH passed away in 2009 from brain cancer. We were fortunate in that I was comfortable pulling our TT, so we traveled as long as we could. The memories were well worth the hard work, especially for our sons, who were teens at the time. God speed!

tatest wrote:
Truck stops don't usually have reservations, time frames, and often don't have fees. Either there is space when you pull in, or there is not. Similarly for rest areas or roadside parks. Add to this "friendly" parking lots like Walmart and Cracker Barrel in some places.

I still don't understand whether you are looking for some sort of family travel, camping, sightseeing experience, or getting across the country in minimum time. For me, the two approaches are different. The trip I most often take is about 1000 miles from NE Oklahoma to SE Michigan, and it can be driven without overnight stops with enough drivers, two days with one driver, or 3-4 days as a family RV road trip experience.

Is there a bucket list of places to see, or is this a trip to get as quickly as possible to some California destination at lowest possible cost? Or something in between?

Everyone has been so incredibly helpful - I thought I should take a moment to clarify some of the questions.

The trip is supposed to be a 'bucket list' trip for my husband - the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame and the White Sox are his two priorities. If all goes well and he tolerates the travel ok then we will continue on to CA. If that happens then I have a convention to attend in CA, so there is that deadline - however that may not occur at all. I am trying to be very flexible, and still as prepared as possible if you know what I mean.

Once the convention is over then we can do whatever we want - possiblities would be Grand Canyon or Yellowstone, someplace in Texas, head over to GA to see his adult kids and grandkids.

So - to answer the question - all of the above. Bucket list - Family camping, make memories for his boys that have never been camping. My girls and I have done similar adventures on a smaller scale - we just never had an RV.

I have no intention of using the AC all the time. (My hubby is always cold and the kids can suck it up) I am fine with truck stops and such - especially on the way out. The reason I would look for campgrounds would be amenities of course, and the ability to set up the tent and spread out a bit. All those kids in the RV all the time will make everyone crazy.

I posted a pic of the generator - its a Troybilt. Hopefully we will be testing it out later tonight or tomorrow to see how it goes and make sure it does what we need it to. (And see how loud it is)

GritDog Thank you! We do have at least one stop in CO I think on the way out. I would love to try it out with the kids nearby, but we are running out of time to make my convention. While it may not happen I sure want to give it my best shot!

Keep the suggestions coming! I am loving it! (and in other forums that would be called a troll :) )

AlysshaLynn wrote:
Thank you so much for your feedback everyone! I have been offered a loan from a neighbor of a generator that is 4000 watt. It does have the 30 amp plug in - but being a total newbie I'm not sure will this run the ac? It is a small older RV - not a ton of fancy stuff. Not even a TV (my kids will be horrified LOL) so we are certainly expecting it to be camping, not a luxury vacation. The RV is really just so my husband can lie down while travelling and have access to a bathroom. The kids can sleep in a tent if we are in a campground. I have also hear of the P8ilot and Flying J? truck stops. I guess I am just not clear - If they dont take reservations, then if I know about where I want to stop then what? I am not wording this well (Long day) but we are driving down the road - how do I know if a place has space? I feel dumb asking - again, if it was just me I woulndt really care - but at the end of the day I know my hubby will be very frustrated if we go to a place and there is no room.

From NY to CA we are on a time frame, but if my husband is doing well we are freewheeling it after that. And what exactly is a bait post? Not that anyone cares but this is my husbands bucket list trip because he is terminally ill, so I am pretty sure that whoever asked that should stick it :) Thank again!

What is the time frame: this summer, fall or when? If it's this summer I'd look carefully into where I was staying on the east coast since many prime locations are already booked up. Oh you might find a weekday or 4 but weekends are pretty much gone.

Hi Alysshalynn, If you have a lot of experience you would be fine for this trip. Since you don't, is it possible to try a few nights of local or nearby camping? Or even a trip to your nearby Walmart? If hubby could be left at home, you could refine your skills, and determine your resources.

We travel without reservations and use truck parking for overnights in rest areas, Walmarts, Cracker Barrels. There are a lot of places giving you a lot of flexibilities. Get a directory of Walmarts along your route for planning. Also be aware of how long Hubs can travel in a day. Stay brave! You can do it!
PaPa

What are the ages of your kids? Yes, fancy "resort" type campgrounds are expensive, but they also can have a lot to offer - pools, playgrounds, planned activities, rental equipment (bikes, kayaks, etc), and more.

Overnighting in a parking lot is very cost efficient, but there will be nothing for your kids to do except sleep - which may be fine if you are just trying to get somewhere and need a rest.

AlysshaLynn wrote:
... And what exactly is a bait post? ....

There isn't an exact definition, but many times posts are made with little initial information, and end up being from a company looking for free advertising. Also, sometimes someone will post an intentionally vague question, intending to start an argument for some reason.

Some busy forums (like this one) can get a lot of "bait" posts -- usually the moderators delete the posts before too many people get involved with them.

Your first post did not have a whole lot of information of why you are planning the trip, which is why the question came up.

Truck stops don't usually have reservations, time frames, and often don't have fees. Either there is space when you pull in, or there is not. Similarly for rest areas or roadside parks. Add to this "friendly" parking lots like Walmart and Cracker Barrel in some places.

I still don't understand whether you are looking for some sort of family travel, camping, sightseeing experience, or getting across the country in minimum time. For me, the two approaches are different. The trip I most often take is about 1000 miles from NE Oklahoma to SE Michigan, and it can be driven without overnight stops with enough drivers, two days with one driver, or 3-4 days as a family RV road trip experience.

Is there a bucket list of places to see, or is this a trip to get as quickly as possible to some California destination at lowest possible cost? Or something in between?

We got back about a month ago from 7 month snowbird trip. We don't do reservations. Most we paid was $37.00 for one night. Most of time free or very little with old fart pass. I think disable pass is same price 50% off camping, but not sure. You said "we have the access pass". If you can use MWR on bases, many Mil Camps are available but some are not worth the $$ to travel out of the way to them. But some are pretty good. Check out the link above for milcamps. Many states also have reduced rates. But be sure to check out them out first because some only give reduced amount to their state residents. Also American Legion and VFW have lots of places.

It's pretty easy to get carried away money wise when you're a newbie getting a RV.

Here is a pretty good link that covers a lot of ground for newbies. Yes, some is outdated. But very good overall. And takes awhile to go thru. But price is right.

http://forums.woodalls.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/264829.cfm

And you said "Everyone tells me how inexpensively this can be done" Depends on how you do it. You're going to eat regardless, but eat out how often? Some stay a long time at one spot, which equals less fuel. Some don't travel far everyday. You get the idea...there are ways to not spend as much. But haven't seen to many people get into RVing to save money.

And "Can someone give me the basics of getting to point a (NY) to point b (CA) without spending 60 bucks a night?" Ya, head west and stop where it don't cost much. Which is truck stops, Walmarts, rest areas and part in between. Till you get 3 hours from Ca coast then it gets harder in the freebie department.