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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

time2roll
Nomad
Nomad
How old are the kids? They sound young and will not even remember the trip except for the pictures.

I would find some place local or fly.

Or save this trip for when you have a solid TWO weeks.

nickdarr
Explorer
Explorer
We average about 500-600 miles a day when towing our TT. We travel with two kids and my 60+ year old mom. Fuel stops take about 20 to 30 minutes to get pulled in, fuel up, and use the services. Then there are always some unwanted stops for the bathroom services in between. We use the TT for this, but it still means pulling over somwhere. TT tires are rated for 65 and the heat that time of year can cause problems if traveling at 80 or 85 mph, despite the speed limit allowing it. I found it is slower just manuvering with the trailer on the road and in the parking lot for fuel. I would plan three and a half days travel for us to do that trip. If I were pressed for time, I would throw a camper or shell on or tent in and be able to drive at the maximum speed allowable. Whatever you choose, I hope you have a great time. Both places are awesome.
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Tachdriver
Explorer
Explorer
In one area in front of my shower is that way too. I do not believe there was a leak and it seems that perhaps there should be more support there to help.

Just remember this is a fun hobby and relax, don't sweat the small stuff. Invest in a good hitch, perhaps extension hoses and electrical cables as well.

Be interesting if you ran a blog so some of us can follow you!

Acdii
Explorer
Explorer
OK, well I put a deposit down on a trailer today. There is this saying, if you find what you want, and dont grab it when you can, you will never get it again. Unless the prior people looking to get this trailer has by some miracle financing happen, which the saleman thinks won't happen, ,then I get first dibs. Its a 2003 KZ 2405. The floor is a little soft in it, and a couple pieces of trim are loose inside on the slider, but he said they will fix that when they detail it. Outside its in really good shape, appears to have been kept indoors, there is very little UV damage to the plastic. The only thing I see I need to replace, don't have to replace it, removing it will do, but the prior owner had the right idea, there is OSB under the area where the LP and battery is stored, and that area inside is pristine clean. So I may just take those off and copy them. Will use Marine grade and paint it white so it lasts.

Seems like most of the trailers I looked at have soft floors, not sure why.

As far as the trip goes, we may do a loop around Lake Michigan instead, and maybe hit Dayton OH as the final stop before home. EAA Oshkosh is that week too, so we ay see if we can get a slot for one night there. Thats an easy first leg of the trip, 4 hours tops from here driving like an old man (was going to say granny, then remembered how my mother drives).

There is a place in Michigan that I read about that is equally as dark as Bryce, so that might be a good second stop for a night, would love to get some good time lapse pics of the night sky. Tried it from my house, but there is still too much light pollution even though I am way out in the country.

Maybe hit up Kalamazoo, there is(I still hope) an air museum there. Then onto Dayton where the Air Force Museum is. I know each one of these trips is an easy 8 hour drive tops from my house, been to each one several times pulling a trailer, except the upper Michigan one.

I only have a 26 gallon tank, so I know I will be stopping every 180 - 200 miles to fill up, but that's about what I normally drive before stopping anyway.

It's going to be an interesting experience for all of us. My kids are good travelers, they were fine driving back from Orlando to Rockford in 21 hours, and my mom would be fine too, we are a hearty bunch when it comes to being on the road. Somewhere I have a pic of them all after a long day at the Milwaukee Zoo, passed out snoring while I was driving.

Each one of the destinations I am considering would be an easy drive for me hauling a trailer, but that GC one, yeah, agreed, that is way too far to plan only a week out, it is at least a 2 week trip in order to take it all in.

there is also a place in PA that is very dark, and I have driven that one a couple times, not to that particular place, but to PA, trying to think of the name of it, its a ski lodge/golf course. I did some Cisco training there a few years ago. Drove to it in a day. I would consider that a two day trip for us with the trailer.

Lots out there, just have to decide on where we would all like to go. My mom hasn't been anywhere west of Minneapolis, and that is one of her buckets. I think Devils Tower isn't very far from Mount Rushmore. So we could do that too. Looks like quite a bit of western activities up in that area, so will look into that as well.

Thanks for everything guys and gals, you have all been helpful.

phxchica
Explorer
Explorer
As a local, when you do the Grand Canyon and Bryce go to the North Rim, not the South. That is the three hour trip from Bryce. The train from Williams is way out of your way and IMHO not that great. Then stop at Lake Powell and go to Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon. Amazing. Drive Utah Hwy 12 through Grand Staircase Escalante, double amazing.

bsinmich
Explorer
Explorer
In North Dakota is Theodore Roosevelt NP. In the Black Hills we have stayed at Rafter J Bar 5 times. They have trail rides on the site and loads of space. We went to the area with small children and lately with Grandchildren. Adding all of the options like Custer SP, Deadwood, etc there is a week worth of enjoyment there. One time, when we were at the Grand Canyon we took a plane ride through the Canyon, Bryce, and Monument Valley. That was before kids and money wasn't short then. It was a trip we always remembered.
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KD4UPL
Explorer
Explorer
I wouldn't want to do what your proposing. We try not to travel more than 6 or 8 hours a day at most. Otherwise there's no time to camp or enjoy yourself.
Keep in mind it will take you a while to set up and break camp, especially if your new to it and the RV. Also, just as you can find bad motels you can find plenty of bad campgrounds: dirty restrooms, noisy neighbors, electric and water that don't work, un-level sites, etc.
You do realize you'll be lucky to get 10 MPG in that F-150 pulling an RV with all those passengers? That makes for a lot more fuel stops which also take longer when you have a trailer.

STBRetired
Explorer
Explorer
Going out to the Canyon myself later this year. Plan on taking 3 weeks to do it. 1 week out, 1 week there, 1 week back. Will be retired by then so that makes it easier. In my car or the wife's Explorer, 14 - 16 hours is not that bad. In the MH with the toad, 10 hours is rough. Misplanned one leg on our last trip and a 10 hour drive on one day just plain wore me out. Way more stressful drive when you're long and bend in the middle. People have even less respect for RVs than they do for 18 wheelers.

Over the July 4 holiday, it's Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Michigan. That's a nice area as well and the crowds are isolated into certain areas so is easy to maintain your crowd tolerance level. Some nice wineries up that way as well.
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RRinNFla
Explorer
Explorer
Have you looked into the cost of renting a motor home? You may find air fare and hotel rooms cheaper. Fly to Vegas, rent a vehicle, and add Zion to your itinerary.
Richard

2015 Prime Time Crusader 295RLT
2008 Ford F250 V10 (Gas), EC, SB, 4X4

evanrem
Explorer II
Explorer II
The Dells are nice but busy as you know, Look at Mirror Lake state park or Devils lake and day trip to the Dells. The family did Custer state park last year and enjoyed it. If northern WI is your thing you cant beat Firefly and Crystal lake in the state forest up in the Minocqua area (was our goto spot for years)no electric but you can use a generator. Sleeping Bear in MI is neat for a few days visit and has several stops along the way to check out different sand dunes at various parks (camping in MI state parks stinks in my opinion, better off finding a private park).

Jebby14
Explorer
Explorer
not for me. would need another full week at least before it would be worth it for me.
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A: A Stick....

aguablanco
Explorer
Explorer
dave54 wrote:
I personally find towing about half again as tiring as just driving a single vehicle. More things to monitor, maneuvering, etc.

My rule of thumb is at least a 2:1 ratio for time at destination versus driving (2 days driving each way = 4 days driving, 2x4 = 8 days at destination, total time 12 days). Others are happy with less.

I also do not like to be rushed on my trips. I prefer to spend enough time at a destination to enjoy it and experience it, not just a ten minute sample a few highlights then drive to the next one. I really dislike the "if this is Tuesday it must be Yellowstone" trips. So we will go to fewer places and stay longer.

The total cost of an RV versus motel debate will go on forever. I think it about even. I own an RV because motels are not found where I prefer to stay overnight, and I have yet to see a motel where I have no neighbors and wake up to a herd of elk grazing immediately out my window.


And for those that are retired, or for various reasons can travel at will, that is a good set of rules. Unfortunately, not everyone has that luxury. Obviously the OP has work and family obligations and must make do however he can.
RichH
4 out of 3 people have trouble with fractions.
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dave54
Nomad
Nomad
I personally find towing about half again as tiring as just driving a single vehicle. More things to monitor, maneuvering, etc.

My rule of thumb is at least a 2:1 ratio for time at destination versus driving (2 days driving each way = 4 days driving, 2x4 = 8 days at destination, total time 12 days). Others are happy with less.

I also do not like to be rushed on my trips. I prefer to spend enough time at a destination to enjoy it and experience it, not just a ten minute sample a few highlights then drive to the next one. I really dislike the "if this is Tuesday it must be Yellowstone" trips. So we will go to fewer places and stay longer.

The total cost of an RV versus motel debate will go on forever. I think it about even. I own an RV because motels are not found where I prefer to stay overnight, and I have yet to see a motel where I have no neighbors and wake up to a herd of elk grazing immediately out my window.
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So many campsites, so little time...
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bukhrn
Explorer III
Explorer III
Acdii wrote:
Well, this is why I asked the question. I know my limits of driving, but that was just in an 18 wheeler and my pickup going across country. Pulling a camping trailer with 4 passengers, thats why I asked. I really appreciate all the responses and will go back to the other two adults here and reconsider what we want to do for the trip. I was able to find a few slots at a couple KOA campsites for the days mentioned, which is why I started pursuing this route. I am thinking long term here too, planning future trips, and spur of the moment weekenders. Weighing all factors as well.

The #1 thing, I cannot give up my F150 for this. It is my daily driver, and one of the most comfortable vehicles, save for the Flex, I have driven. Getting 20+ MPG doesn't hurt either.

I blame my wife for this, I got a nice bonus this year, her reaction, OOH family trip to Disney Oh H e l l N O!!! Grand Canyon popped into my head, and that's where I am at now. Mainly I hate crowds, and would like to get away from people for a while. It's too bad the resort I went to when growing up is long gone, would love to do that at least one more time.

Thanks for all the responses, your experience doing this is what I was looking for, and helps me make my decision easier.
You will not be happy with the Canyon in this case, as the Grand Canyon is absolutely NOT getting away from crowds, the North Rim is better in this respect BUT there are still crowds.
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2chiefsRus
Explorer
Explorer
Acdii wrote:
She always talked about wanting to head west and see things like the Grand Canyon, and THAT's where this trip came from. 🙂



Then I would opt for the North Rim of the Grand Canyon instead of the South.
Dave & Kathy
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