First trip with my first RV

[vik1]

Hi.

I just bought my first RV in USA
I would like to know if I have somethings to know as the road signs, is there any road signs reserved for RV, some rules to follow on the road....

So many questions, if you have some ideas, you welcome.

And now my road trip this August.

It begins in Lehigh Acres FL, it's the place where the RV is waiting us.

Here is some ideas.

In Florida:
-Sanibel, Captiva
-Sarasota (classic car museum)
-Réserve Fort De Soto
-St John's pass village and boardwalk
-Clearwater
-Tampa, Bush gardens
-Ocala (parc de Silver Springs)
-St Augustine
-Jacksonville

Georgia:
-Savannah
-Atlanta

South Carolina:
-Charleston

Between North Carolina and Tenessee:
-Great smokey mountains
-Sevierville (muscle car museum)

May be:
-Nashville
-Lynchburg (Jack Daniels)
-Bowling green (Corvet museum)

What do you think about it?

Do you have some ideas about these places, some advices to park the RV in Citys, Good, nice and quiet places to past nights...

Places to add that I wouldn't have thought...

Thanks

[ronfisherman]

vik1 wrote:
Ok for these recommendations.

On Mall parking as the Wall Mart, is there any places reserved for RV or we park where we can.

Also, to fill up propane tank, where can i go, gas station, campground...
Is there any information sign to tell us we can fill up propane tank?
Do I need a downpipe, a connector... or seller have it as the gas?

I don't know if my questions are clear, I hope so.

At Wal-Marts you go inside store and ask manager for permission to park in their parking lot. Manager will generally tell you the what area to park.
Propane can usually be found at most RV parks. If they do not have propane park personnel can give you direction where to find it. I purchase at Flying J gas stations when traveling.

[vik1]

Ok for these recommendations.

On Mall parking as the Wall Mart, is there any places reserved for RV or we park where we can.

Also, to fill up propane tank, where can i go, gas station, campground...
Is there any information sign to tell us we can fill up propane tank?
Do I need a downpipe, a connector... or seller have it as the gas?

I don't know if my questions are clear, I hope so.

[Bordercollie]

A few more recommendations: When driving in hill country use second gear to help control down-hill speed, don't ride your brakes, they may overheat and fail. Use second gear when climbing steep grades, let engine rev and not "lug" to avoid over-heating your engine. Don't let impatient people in cars behind force you to drive too fast going around curves and risk losing control. Pull off the road and let cars, truck and motorcycle drivers get by but only in designated pull-off places. If you go at the speeds posted on yellow signs, around curves, you will normally be safe when roads are dry and clear of debris. Learn about the 12-volt DC house batteries and 110volt AC "shore power" systems and including the converter charger and how to properly start and stop the RV generator, air conditioner, water heater, furnace and how to operate the TV antenna and cable TV. Stop at rest stops every few hours to relax and walk around. Find an RV Park or camp and get settled in for the night during daylight when there are still vacancies. It's is awful trying to find a place to stay at night when you and kids are tired, hungry and irritable.
Have a decent set of hand tools, a multi-meter, electrical tape and some crazy glue, and variety pack of fuses. Know where the circuit breakers and fuse boxes are located.

[quingus]

Buon Jour, some food for thought. Here in the Americas, there are a few that are in a hurry. In the RV life we are not. Going any faster than 70 miles per hour, will rattle your vehicle and your teeth out. For most RV-ERS if we are slowing down the flow of traffic we move to the far right lanes. Here in California you can get a ticket for impeding traffic. For your first trip driving, much less driving an RV, is quite bold for the schedule you have set. But hey might as well jump in with both feet and have fun. That's what it's about, fun with your loved ones and to make memories. I repeat have FUN! Oh don't forget to lock up your vehicle a few things can come up missing. Like your RV. Food for thought. Adios.

[coolmom42]

vik1 wrote:
Again one question.

In RV Park, I saw that there is 30Amp and 50Amp outlets.

What could I use with 30Amp outlets (cofee maker, micro wave, AC...)???

You only need 50 amps to run 2 air conditioner units. With 30 amps you can run 1 air conditioner unit plus other appliances. You might not want to run AC, microwave, and coffee maker all at the same time, however. Stick to AC plus 1 other appliance to be on the safe side.

[vik1]

So much questions.

Do you know an App for smart phone to find Parking (no Rv park) where I could park the rv to visit citys???

[vik1]

Again one question.

In RV Park, I saw that there is 30Amp and 50Amp outlets.

What could I use with 30Amp outlets (cofee maker, micro wave, AC...)???

[vik1]

Hello every body.

I'had ever gone in Florida and went to the Keys not enough time but ever gone, and Cape Canaveral too.
In August, lot of people discourages me to go in south of Florida.
I note DownTheAvenue Fort Caroline np.

Here is my new itinerary:


Floride
Samedi 1er Août : Arrivée à Miami à 17h05, prise en charge du véhicule de location pour rejoindre Lehigh Acres
235km/3h

Dimanche 2 Août : Journée à Lehigh Acres/Fort Myers (marchand de glace Kilwin’s)/Captiva, restitution de la voiture de location, courses.

Lundi 3 Août : Lehigh Acres/Punta Gorda (Muscle car city) Fort De Soto (reserve naturelle) Caddy’s on the beach (resto de poisson)/Sarasota (Yoder’s restaurant Amish village)/ 70km/1h/80km/1H

Mardi 4 Août : Sarasota/Ocala/Silver Springs (réserve avec grande communauté d’alligators)/St Augustine
260km/3h30/140km/2h

Géorgie
Mercredi 5Août : St Augustine/Savannah
300km/3h30

Jeudi 6 Août : Savannah


Caroline du Nord
Vendredi 7 Août : Savannah/Charleston/Jacksonville
170km/2h/360km/5h


Maryland
Samedi 8 Août : Jacksonville/Washington DC
540km/7h

Dimanche 9 Août : WashingtonDC

Lundi 10 Août : WashingtonDC

Mardi 11 Août : Washington DC/Baltimore
70km/1h


Virginie
Mercredi 12 Août : Baltimore/ Front Royal (Skyline Drive sur la 340 170km)
175km/2h30

Jeudi 13 Août : Skyline Drive (170km) début de la Blue Bridge Parkway (sur la Hwy 64 après Afton760km)


Caroline du Nord
Vendredi 14 Août : Blue ridge parkway (Cherokee)

Samedi 15 Août : Great Smokey mountain


Tenessee
Dimanche 16 Août : Great Smokey mountain/Pigeon Forge (Hatfield&Mc Coy dinner)/Gatlinburg


Lundi 17 Août : Great Smokey mountain

Mardi 18 Août : Gatlinburg/Lynchburg (Jack Daniels)
387km/5h


Géorgie
Mercredi 19 Août : Lynchburg/Atlanta
329km/4h

Jeudi 20 Août : Atlanta

Vendredi 21 Août : Atlanta


Floride
Samedi 22 Août : Atlanta/Talahassee
440km/6h

Dimanche 23 Août : Talahassee/Weeki watchee (sirens)/Tarpon springs/Bush Gardens
385km/5h

Lundi 24 Août : Bush Gardens

Mardi 25 Août : Clear water (tatoueur)/St John’s Pass Village and Bordwalk

Mercredi 26 Août : Sanibel/Lehigh Acres

Jeudi 27 Août : Fort Myers, prise en charge de la voiture location/nettoyage du RV
212km/3h

Vendredi 28 Août : Lehigh Acres/Miami restitution de la voiture de location/aéroport départ à 21h50
235km/3h

I left it in Frensh, it's just to show you where i'll go.

[DownTheAvenue]

Since you are from France, you absolutely need to go to Fort Caroline National Memorial in Jacksonville, Florida. It is the site where the French Huguenots first settled North America in 1682, yes even before the Spanish in St. Augustine.

[Mich_F]

Wijames wrote:
I live in central FL and can tell you that some of the places you listed are must see's. Fort Desota Park is great and has one of the top 5 beaches in Florida but no RV camping there,

I just noticed this thread. There is a 238 site campground that's part of Fort Desoto county park. There is an 85 site section that is restricted to tents, vans and pop ups. All RVs are allowed in the other sections. 😉

[Yaj]

Wijames wrote:

Yaj wrote:
Just a heads up. we're very close to Lehigh Acres this winter and on the news all we hear about is bad things happening in Lehigh Acres be careful when you're there.

Yaj, sorry to go off topic but I didn't know how to PM you. How did you set up your unit so you could carry a scooter and pull your boat too? I've looked all over for something to do that. My email is Wijames2002@yahoo.com
Thanks

Sent e-mail

[Wijames]

Yaj wrote:
Just a heads up. we're very close to Lehigh Acres this winter and on the news all we hear about is bad things happening in Lehigh Acres be careful when you're there.

Yaj, sorry to go off topic but I didn't know how to PM you. How did you set up your unit so you could carry a scooter and pull your boat too? I've looked all over for something to do that. My email is Wijames2002@yahoo.com
Thanks

[Wijames]

I live in central FL and can tell you that some of the places you listed are must see's. Fort Desota Park is great and has one of the top 5 beaches in Florida but no RV camping there, Captiva is great for shell hunters and Johns Pass is kind of touristy but a nice visit. I would also think about a trip to the FL keys. It's a trip you will never forget. We make it at least twice a year. Hope this helps. Feel free to message me for more info.

[PghBob]

Since you have listed points to visit on the East Coast of Florida, I would highly recommend you add the NASA/Cape Canaveral tour and Hall of Fame near Titusville, Florida. Welcome to the US, and hoping you have a great trip.

[vik1]

Hello.

So I took a litlle time to translate all what you told me, and I recorded everythink well.
Thanks for advices and places you recomand me.

If I have more questions, I'll coma back to you?