2019 Cross country RV trip planning

[chineselady00]

Hello, everyone.

This is Lily & Richard. We are new to RV life. Just retired, got a 2014 Crossroad Sunset 5th wheel RV & 2010 Ford F-150 4X4 Supercab XLT 514L V8. Planning our 2019 cross country RV trip now. Hope to hear more suggestion from your guys - experienced RVers. Thanks in advance.

If some experience RVers wants to join our trip or part of our trip, share the cost with us, feel free to contact, please!

2019.5.15 - 6.3 Moncton, NB & Halifax, NS?may need longer, 17 days at least?
Kouchibouguac National Park & Hope Well & Fundy National Park(101km/1h+81km/1.5hx2)
Shediac, Bouctouche, Richibucto, Miramichi,
Truro, Peggy’s cove, Sydney(170/km/2h+301km/3.5h)
2019.6.3 - 6.10 Cape Breton?134km/2h?
2019.6.10 -7.10 Newfoundland
Gros Morne, Deer Lake, Grand Fall, Twillinggate, Argentia(300km/3h+242km/2.5h+150km/2h+
400km/4.5h )
2019.7.10-7.17 PEI(261km/3h+51km/1h)

https://www.trailingaway.com/atlantic-canada-rv-road-trip/amp/

2019.7.17-7.19 Moncton catch up or Fredricton (340km/4h)
2019.7.19-7.25 Maine (1mile=1.61km)
Ellsworth, Acadia National Park, Brunswick(271km/3.3h+203km/2h+228km/2.5h)
87 MT. Desert Island & 86 Maine coast
2019.7.25-31 Boston, New York (346km/4.5h)
2019.7.31-8.2 Hurley, NY (165km/2h)
58 Wisconsin North Woods & 57 North Shore Drive
2019.8.2-8.16 Syracuse, NY then Hamilton, ON (317km/3h+355km/3.5h)
2019.8.16-8.26 Detroit, Mackinaw city, Marinette,ME, Minneapolis, MN, Sioux Falls, Rapid city, SD, Sheridan, WY (308km/3.5h+465km/4h+329km/4h+500km/5h+382km/4h+559km/5h+395km
/3.5h+395km/5h)
62 Lake Michigan Tour & 63 Scenic Sunrise Shore
2019.8.26-9.2 Yellowstone National Park
2019.9.2-9.11 Deer Lodge/Missoula, Spokane, Settle, Port Angeles, Victoria, Vancouver
(505km/5.5h+319km/3h+450km/4.3h+132km/2.5h+Ferry25m+2h+50km/1h)
5 Olympic Loop

RV TOWLING 9286 km, 25L/100km, 2321.5LX$1.49=3460
truck drive 50km x 30days x 4=6000km, 15L/100km, 900L x $1.49=1341

[garyp4951]

Thanks for the update, glad yall had a good experience.

[chineselady00]

Hi, everyone. Thanks for all your help. I still haven't figured out how to post pics, but at least come back to do a report, tell you all that we did it!

From May 23 to Aug 6, our cross country RV trip from Moncton, NB, to Vancouver, BC, Canada finished. We visited NFL, NB, NS, PEI, Quebec, ON, BC, 7 provinces in Canada, crossed MI, IL, WI, MN, NE, WY, MT, ID, WA 9 states, visited WY, MT and WA. Driven 16,678km. Highlights on the way: Hopewell Rocks, Lobster all you can eat buffet, Peggy’s Cove, Cape Breton National Park, Iceberg Alley, Gros Morne National Park, Old Quebec City, Montreal Jazz Festival and Circus Festival, Devil’s Tower, Yellowstone National Park, Bighorn Canyon, Red Lodge (Beartooth Road), Grand Teton National Park, Glacier National Park.

We used $3655 for gas, $125 for bridge and tolls, $950.85for small repairs and a new RV battery and some little equipments, $705 for campsites, $420 for NFL ferry, $275 for boat tours, $136.5 for Canada National Park pass (we had the US one already). Totally cost except the food is $6250 Canadian dollars.

77 days, because we didn’t book those popular national park campsite in advance, we only stayed at 5 campsites for 26 days (the campsite in Quebec City shouldn’t really call a campsite because it’s a city runs parking lot, no service, but the location is very good, only $15/night; the most expensive campsite we stayed was in Cody, WY, 1 hour from Yellowstone National park, we got a 15 % discount for staying for a week, it became $50 Canadian dollar/night; other campsites are around $20 Canadian dollar/night because we have Passport America membership, got 50% discount for less busy season); we stayed at different friends’ house for 25 nights; dry camping for 26 nights, including stayed at different Walmart for 14 nights, NFL 6 nights, other stores and casinos for 6 nights.

Cheapest gas we bought was $2.249/G in the US, converted, that’s $0.8022/L.

The truck and RV were bought in 2017. Never really thought I would use it for a cross country trip. The regional plan was using it as my Canadian home, a summer home on the east side of Canada. The truck is a F150 XLT long bed, 5.4 L V8 superpower. Even the Crossroad Sunset 28L 5 th wheel trailer is a Superlight one, the truck is still a bit under power for it, especially we have to cross the Rocky Mountains to reach Vancouver. Thanks to my “White Knight”( that’s the name we gave our F150, he is an amazing truck, we love him so much). The average gas usage should be 15L/100km without RV, 25L/100km with RV, but with climbing the hill, the worth one was 31L/100km. Mr Energy Save Master achieved the unbelievable records: 11.55L/100km with AC, without RV, saved 23% compared with average usage;22.75L/100km with AC and RV, saved 10% compared with average usage. And we will still keep our promise: take the public transit whenever we can in the next year, to do our best for the environment and our kids.

[laknox]

Here's instructions for picture posting:

https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27694224.cfm

Lyle

[ppine]

I don't get the concept of maybe just enough truck.
when you get to the Rockies you will wish you were towing with something else.

[chineselady00]

Actually, I didn't figure out how to post pics? Any instruction, please. Thanks again.

[chineselady00]

Hello, everyone. It is really a busy year. Just come back to do a report. We did start our trip since May 25 without a detailed plan. Luckily, we have finished NB, NS, NFL, PEI, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, now we are in Toronto. Everything seems fine at this point. We enjoyed a lot. Of course a bit stressful, not because of F150, more because of no experience and no detailed plan. But so far so good. We will keep going. Since we are still on the way, may no internet to respond. But I will come back report more and post some pics in the future. Thanks again to everyone here. Thanks a lot for your advice and help.

[BarneyS]

ppine wrote:
With all due respect, how can you not realize that the West is "full of mountains?" Nevada has 278 mountain ranges.

If you were RVing in China, would you know where all the mountains are?
Barney

[ppine]

With all due respect, how can you not realize that the West is "full of mountains?" Nevada has 278 mountain ranges.

[Me_Again]

Along with issues going up and down mountain pass, wind is going to be a major item that you are not going to like.

My best advice is take the truck title along with you so you can duck into Canada to up grade the Tow Vehicle. If you have any thoughts of a larger trailer down the road then consider a 350/3500 single rear wheel vs a 250/2500.

[chineselady00]

Thank you, guys. I am out of country. I don’t know why I can’t use this site when I am in China. Appreciate all your suggestions. Will ask more questions when I come back to Canada. Thanks a lot. Happy new year to all of you.

[road2002runner]

Planning wrote:
Ma'am,

I would seriously counsel you to rethink your intended plan. You have, self-admitted, no experience regarding this. In addition, you are planning to do it in a vehicle that is already loaded significantly beyond capacity. You have no training, no experience and you are using equipment ill-suited to perform the task. As a result, even before any incident might occur, you have eliminated any safety margin that might be to your advantage.

Another issue is the reality that it is not just about what you can pull; it is also most definitely about what you can stop. Even if you stick to interstates, if you travel through Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, etc, you will be in an environment that can tax novice drivers even when properly equipped. Add in a system failure in an under-rated tow vehicle piloted by an inexperienced driver and the end result can be a tragedy to you and others on the road.

Please carefully reconsider your plans.

THE ONE AND ONLY VERY BEST ADVICE if you plan on going WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

[ppine]

Mountains are the reason people drive across the country from the East. But then they get there they are not ready for long steep grades.

For a short trip in flat country your truck is okay. For months on end in the mountains you are beyond your capabilities. Get a different truck or a lighter trailer.

[Planning]

Ma'am,

I would seriously counsel you to rethink your intended plan. You have, self-admitted, no experience regarding this. In addition, you are planning to do it in a vehicle that is already loaded significantly beyond capacity. You have no training, no experience and you are using equipment ill-suited to perform the task. As a result, even before any incident might occur, you have eliminated any safety margin that might be to your advantage.

Another issue is the reality that it is not just about what you can pull; it is also most definitely about what you can stop. Even if you stick to interstates, if you travel through Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, etc, you will be in an environment that can tax novice drivers even when properly equipped. Add in a system failure in an under-rated tow vehicle piloted by an inexperienced driver and the end result can be a tragedy to you and others on the road.

Please carefully reconsider your plans.

[Likes_to_tow]

You ask about trip planning? By all means get the Mountain Directory both East and West additions. It's an invaluable tool to use in planning routes with heavy rigs!! If you have never towed anything heavy, the feeling of going up a steep grade and getting the engine and transmission hot is only a minor worry compared to heading down the other side and having brakes get hot and fade out to zero or see smoke rolling out from the wheels when you do get stopped. Not to scare you but you need to read this and other forums about mountain towing. Also, mountain roads in the West have steep grades that go on for miles and miles. This gives the brakes time to get toasty hot if you don't use the gearing to help. Never ride the brakes constantly........get on and reduce speed by 10 mph and then coast in a lower gear while the brakes cool down.