lovetoskifloridian,
Very interesting thread. First of all, let me wish you and your family well on this trip. I think I've read all of the posts and you certainly got a wide range of predictions from "rose colored glasses" to "doom and gloom". My guess is your actual experience will be somewhere in the middle. I think you realize that everyone here means well, they just want to express their opinions to show you as many "what ifs" as they can. I sometimes tend to be the "wet blanket" on ideas, but I try to excuse that as being a realist. I think your trip is doable, but you will have some challenges, and they should be expected. I think your thread and questions you asked will definitely help you during your travels.
In fact, if you have a laptop or tablet computer, bring it with you. If you run into issues during your trip, feel free to post them here. You should be able to find wifi in most areas, or use your smart-phone as a hot spot, if you have one.
Someone had already mentioned to make sure the propane tank is full when you leave. Not only make sure that it is filled, but it should have also been purged first, and verify that the gas is flowing to the stove, refer and hot water heater. As you probably know, the propane is required for the refer to be functional when the rig is not plugged in or the generator is not running. It was also mentioned that RV refrigerators take about 24 hours to cool down, so if the rental company can turn it on the day before you arrive, that will help. Otherwise you'll probably have to pick up some ice with your first stop to pick up food supplies. (We find Zip-Lock bags VERY handy!) Also, you want to avoid putting a lot of warm items in an empty refrigerator (like soda bottles). Again, the refrigerators are pretty slow at cooling, and loading the refrigerator up with warm items will cause the temperature to rise.
I mentioned the generator. I don't remember that being mentioned yet in this thread. Are you allowed to use the generator on this trip, and if so, at what additional charge? In a 30' class C, you will most likely NEED to run the generator to run the roof air conditioner while on the road to keep the living quarters comfortable. The cab A/C up front won't keep the back of the rig comfortable on a hot summer day. So if you haven't looked into this, please find out what it will cost to run the generator.
When the generator is running the refer should be set to run on the AC power, not the propane. When you refuel, make sure ALL propane ignition sources are off (refer, hot water heater, etc.) and that the generator is off as well.
I'd also recommend that they fill the water tank for you and verify that all faucets and drains work properly with no leaks. Put some water down the drains and into the commode and make sure the dump valves operate and seal properly. You do NOT want to find out your black tank valve leaks the first time you remove the sewer cap with a full black tank. :)
As for water use, you will have a limited supply of water on hand so it's very important that everyone know how to clean, wash & shower with a minimal amount of water. We can go 4+ days on our 75 gallon fresh water tank with 6 people. However, I've read some reports on here of couples using that much in a day. So water conservation is very important.
Lastly, if, for some reason, things don't go quite as well as you had hoped on this trip, please don't let this be your only RV motorhome experience. There are enough variables on this trip that you will have to contend with that are not typical of normal motorhome use. Give it some time, then try it again on a less ambitious trip closer to home. In my opinion, there is no better way to travel than in a motorhome. Especially with children.
Good Luck on your trip and safe travels,
~Rick
