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Doable or overly ambitious?

Acdii
Explorer
Explorer
Planning a family vacation for end of July, I have a solid week Saturday through following Sunday. The goal is to get to the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon and home which is Rockford IL.

I have gone from Rockford to Chino CA in two days, so as far as driving endurance, that's not the issue, I wasn't hauling a trailer with me, but was driving an F150.

Difference this time, pulling a trailer with my family and mother. Reason I am even thinking of this wild notion, we would need two motel rooms for each layover, along with the destinations, and after adding them all up, it came out to a whole lot more than I would like to spend, which did not include fuel or meals. Wild notion, pay more in fuel, make our own meals and not have to worry about two motel rooms. I noticed that camps spots are up to about $50 a day, which is not bad at all, considering motel rooms were twice that.

So gleaning off those who do this all the time, is it doable, or too much to take in? How many hours driving a day would you consider normal while hauling? I have driven from Orlando to Rockford in 21 hours, so duration driving is not an issue, but again, that was not pulling a trailer. Ideally I would much rather just get a motor home since the difference in gas mileage would be negligible, what do they average on 87 Octane, 8-10 maybe? Thats about what I expect my F150 EB to get towing. Pulling my 12x6 Enclosed gets me about 11-13 and that is all fighting wind resistance as there is not much weight to it, so just giving a rough estimate on what to expect in FE.

Instead of a TT would I be better off finding an old motor home instead? Its a 3500 mile RT. I was considering renting a trailer, but logistics get their ugly head in the way. Have to pick it up o a friday between 1-3 PM, and return on Monday before 10, no weekend hours, which means 9 days of rental, and it appears they also charge mileage of .39. That comes out to $4K for the week. I am finding decent looking TT for $8K, so makes more sense to just buy one, paid for with two week vacations. It also gives us the ability to just load up and go spur of the moment. I also do an RC flyin in Iowa every year, and that would save me a few hundred $$ as well. So it makes sense to get one, but not sure if it should be a TT or a motor home. My wife can drive the motor home but not tow a trailer.

Thoughts? Opinions?
57 REPLIES 57

Acdii
Explorer
Explorer
Well, guess you guys missed where I changed my plans and took this trip, but not to the south rim of the Canyon. Thanks to several members who gave great suggestions, we went to Bryce Canyon instead and it worked out perfectly! One of the best trips I have ever taken, without the hassle of setting up rooms(two of them each stop), figuring out where to eat, etc. and in the end it came out $1500 less than had I done the motels and meals. So I used twice as much fuel, would have still driven the truck @ 20MPG.

We just got back from a short weekend trip at the other end of the state and in Wisconsin, Rustic Barn. Very nice campground. So far we have done 4 trips, 10 campgrounds, and really putting the new trailer to good use.

Oh and the general consensus is we are going to hit a few of the campgrounds we visited on that long trip again, especially Chatfield. My mom wants to go to Omaha again and stay there a few days next year, so I guess I will get some good use again next year.

Now to get it winterized and stored in the barn. Not looking forward to that, lots of work ahead of me to get the barn cleared out, move some lights, move the horse trailer, clear out the back of the barn. Would much rather drive to Utah again!

Roy_Lynne
Explorer
Explorer
I have never found that RVing is cheaper than car and motels. We do both and the vehicle we take depends on the sites we want to see and what we want to do.

It costs us up to $150 to fill up the gas tank on the RV and for $150 in the car we can go four to five times further (but our Honda gave us 40 MPG and our RV gives us 11 mpg)

When in the car, we never spent more than $110 for a room at night and that was only once, most of our hotels ran between $60 and $85 a night and that included breakfast. So we only had to buy one meal a day and snacks for the car. So if your doubling it, your spending $150 a night for motel and breakfast.

When we take the RV we still have to buy food to cook and there is the hassle of expecting someone who has driven all day to now cook a meal. Believe me, its not fun.


If you make reservations for the motels you will get a better rate than if you just go in cold. Before our trips, I decide where we want to stop, I google the motels in the area, pick out two with the best bang for the buck with the best reviews, and jot down their address and phone number. I make reservations for the first night and when we get to the motel, before going to bed, I make reservations for the second night. I have found that if the town I want to stay at all the hotels cost more than I'm willing to pay, I just go to the next town and check on prices there. Its amazing the difference. Smaller towns seem to have been deals on hotels than big cities.
I find that driving an RV is also more stressful than a car so there is that to consider also.
What ever you decide, happy travels

Jim_Shoe
Explorer
Explorer
3200 miles round trip. In 8 days. I'd need a vacation from my vacation. Take high speed film.
Retired and visiting as much of this beautiful country as I can.

ppine
Explorer II
Explorer II
Is this really a serious post?

IndyCamp
Explorer
Explorer
Look, trips like this CAN be done, but whether they SHOULD be done is another question.

When I was 17 years old, my parents and I took our tent camper 6,341 miles (I just mapped the rout) in 17 days. We also had three drivers (mom, dad, and me), and could take turns sleeping in the back of the van while the others drove, so we were able to drive through the night when we needed to.

I wouldn't do what you are proposing, but I will say this: that trip I just mentioned with my parents the summer before my senior year of high school is one of the best travel memories I have, and I have traveled to 49 states (camped in 48, but not Hawaii) and 22 foreign countries.

This is also one of the reasons I like living in the Midwest. We can hop in the car and drive east or west and see a lot of the country within a short amount of time. Someone who lives in MA or NH couldn't even consider what you are proposing.

Good luck and safe travels!
2018 Grand Design Reflection 315RLTS
2014 RAM 2500 6.4L HEMI

NYCgrrl
Explorer
Explorer
Acdii wrote:
I think you missed something. I changed my plans and was able to do what I wanted in a reasonable amount of time. I took others advice on not going to the southern rim of the canyon, which was my initial plan, but went to Bryce instead and spent 3 full days there. It was perfect. My mother always wanted to travel out west and I finally was able to do it for her and she enjoyed the entire trip, filled her phone with pictures of the mountains and canyons. For her the drive was a big part of the trip. The kids enjoyed it was well, especially the drive across I70 in Utah, and the mountains in CO.

Next year though, going to take 2 full weeks and go to Texas, or through Wyoming. We will probably take some short 4 days and hit Nebraska again, they liked the camp grounds we overnighted in. The campground in Chatfield Co was perfect too, they have an RC flying field, so I know what I may do next year too. 🙂 My wife has family up there, so may spend a few days there, let her and the kids visit, while I fly.

Glad to here you and your family had a memorable time and the reality of traveling w/ others set in:).

2gypsies1
Explorer II
Explorer II
Thanks for returning with an update and so glad the trip was successful for you and that your mother enjoyed it.
Full-Timed for 16 Years
.... Back in S&B Again
Traveled 8 yr in a 40' 2004 Newmar Dutch Star Motorhome
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

Acdii
Explorer
Explorer
I think you missed something. I changed my plans and was able to do what I wanted in a reasonable amount of time. I took others advice on not going to the southern rim of the canyon, which was my initial plan, but went to Bryce instead and spent 3 full days there. It was perfect. My mother always wanted to travel out west and I finally was able to do it for her and she enjoyed the entire trip, filled her phone with pictures of the mountains and canyons. For her the drive was a big part of the trip. The kids enjoyed it was well, especially the drive across I70 in Utah, and the mountains in CO.

Next year though, going to take 2 full weeks and go to Texas, or through Wyoming. We will probably take some short 4 days and hit Nebraska again, they liked the camp grounds we overnighted in. The campground in Chatfield Co was perfect too, they have an RC flying field, so I know what I may do next year too. 🙂 My wife has family up there, so may spend a few days there, let her and the kids visit, while I fly.

ppine
Explorer II
Explorer II
I have been a road warrior all of my life. Your plan is flawed. If you really want to drive that far in a short time, do not handicap yourself with a TT or motor home. Go light and fast in a large car or a van.

The smart thing to do would probably be to fly to Phoenix, rent a car or a motorhome, and drive to the Canyon from there. For the cost of a rental RV you could easily cover the cost of renting a car and staying in motels. Good luck. The best answer might be to wait until you have two weeks and then try it.

Acdii
Explorer
Explorer
Well, just got back from our Bryce canyon trip, and 3 days driving out and 3 days back, other than a few issues with my truck, it was a really good vacation for us. The Denver to Bryce legs were the longest, but we still managed to make it there in day light, the other legs were 10 hours each, and the kids loved it. The views while driving more than made up for the long times on the road.

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
Cool!
Have fun and make sure the trailer tires are new(er) and bearings and brakes good n let er rip.
We be Rollin the opposite direction this summer. Seattle to N WI.
You'll be planning your second trip out there the second you get outta Denver heading west, if you haven't been there before!
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

Acdii
Explorer
Explorer
Well the family has spoken. Bryce canyon it is. Looks like it wont be that bad of a trip for us. Two days there, two days back and 4 days onsite. That gives me a day in case of OH **** NOW WHAT. I planned it out, 10 hours of driving @ 60 MPH, with stops thrown in, where that puts us on the map, and the first leg drops us just outside of Omaha, second stop just outside of Denver, which actually works out well as there is a CW there, so can overnight there. Then Bryce the next day, would put us there between 5 and 7 PM. Then we can all relax and enjoy the scenery for 3 or 4 days. I picked up the trailer today, in heavy cross winds, had sway to deal with, but was still controllable at 65 MPH, and got 10 MPG, so my calculations are all panning out.
Oh also won a free night of camping that we can use prior to our trip to get the hang of camping. Will find something in the 6 hour drive range and give it a try one weekend either this month or next.

When the wind was at my back, it was rather pleasant driving. The trailer is smooth, and will probably be even more so once I have the WDH properly setup. I thought CW was going to adjust it, at least that is how the sales guy presented it when I was up there the first time, but they basically just dropped it on my hitch and tightened the bolts on the tip ups and walked away, even though it was clear the hitch is too high. The shank needs to be flipped over then the trailer will be at the correct height.

Veebyes
Explorer II
Explorer II
"pulling a trailer with my family and mother" Now THAT is something I'd like to see.

Are they aware of your plans.
Boat: 32' 1996 Albin 32+2, single Cummins 315hp
40+ night per year overnighter

2007 Alpenlite 34RLR
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2gypsies1
Explorer II
Explorer II
Have fun in your new trailer and the trip with Grandma!!!
Full-Timed for 16 Years
.... Back in S&B Again
Traveled 8 yr in a 40' 2004 Newmar Dutch Star Motorhome
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel