first trip for newbies ? wintertime

[sean425]

hi guys, i just bit the bullet and purchased a 2016 412ts raptor 5th wheel toy hauler. i plan on doing some small weekend trips from september-november, but our first real trip will be the day after christmas.

we plan on going for two weeks, and are very open about where to, as its our first larger trip. ive done many trips towing vehicles, and im comfortable driving 14 hours a day.

is 2 weeks long enough to go out west? ca or ut? without feeling very rushed and overwhelmed?

just looking for opinions and suggestions here guys. we aren't set on one specific place for the first trip.

a little about us, we live in New jersey, both under 30, travel with 3 large dogs over 100 lbs. we enjoy hiking, cycling and i bring along the dirt bike. also, please understand two weeks off of work for us is a LONG LONG time.

thanks!

[Dr_Quick]

I think that you biggest problem at that time of the year would be SNOW and cold out west. A lot of the National parks could be closed by snow in the mountains. Most parts of Utah are 7,000+feet. We have been in southern Utah in late September and it got down into freezing several nights. Is you trailer equipped for very cold conditions? Also if you are planning on visiting national parts, dogs are not allowed on any of the trails.
I would say that is to ambitious a schedule. Stick with the south east USA. 14 hours days is a BIG difference in a truck with a big trailer behind you then in a car.

[agesilaus]

No 2 weeks isn't enough. Four or five days getting there doesn't leave you much time. I've driven 14 hour days and it becomes a lot less pleasant with that big fifth wheel behind you. You should only drive 60-63mph since the fiver tires aren't rated for higher speed and will start blowing out if you push them.

Possibly Rocky Mountains National Park could be done in that amount of time. Otherwise has you been to Acadia NP or the Smokys. Or maybe the Florida Keys.

[Merrykalia]

If you plan to do LONG days of driving, then you will be able to have about 8 good days to see whatever you want to see, but for many of those places, that's only skimming the surface. From NJ to Moab (just used that as an example), it is a 32 hour drive, not figuring in traffic. That is three good driving days of about 12 hours since you have to eat and go to the bathroom. You will need to leave about 5 am in order to get to the next camping spot during daylight hours since this is a new RV. Remember, this will be winter when it gets daylight late and dark early.

If you were going to do it in the late spring or even early fall, the daylight/darkness driving might not be a bad thing, but you also never know what type of weather you are going to run into. You will be driving through the major winter storm areas and December and early January are prime times for those.

I'm honestly not sure if two weeks are enough time to head that far, but it is according to how badly you want to go, I guess. I would opt for heading for warm weather down south, maybe heading toward Texas. That would be doable for a two week trip.

Just my $.02 worth.