Scottish Family Adventure

[Caledon]

Hello

My wee family (me, wife, 5 month old daughter) are planning a 6 month Motor Home adventure starting in Vancouver and then heading down the West coast of the US, up through Texas, to Chicago, onto Montreal, then down the East Coast and finally back to Vancouver.

We’re flying from Scotland this Friday the 25th of April.

We plan to buy a 5th wheel and a truck in British Columbia, we have a friend there and can use that address for registering the vehicle and insuring it. So this seems the best option (happy to hear other opinions though).

I’m hoping the people here could help with a couple of things:

We’ll have a budget of roughly $25k-$30k CAD
1. Is that a reasonable amount to buy mechanically sound Truck and Trailer?
2. I am aware that pin weights/tow weight are a large factor but is it reasonable to assume that a ¾ ton will pull most 27’ trailers?
a. Or is the performance of a one ton make it much safer/better
3. Are there particular models of truck and trailer that I should avoid or look out for?
4. I am not mechanically inclined, is there a service available to have a truck and trailer checked by a mechanic before purchasing.
5. I am inclined to purchase privately – especially from someone selling truck/5th wheel combo as this seems to be the best way of ending up with a “matching pair”
6. Have never towed anything; is there somewhere/someone who offers training that could be recommended?

This is a big adventure for us and naturally very exciting but also pretty intimidating. I’d be interested in hearing from anyone who has made a similar trip and has:

1. Suggestions for RV parks along the way
2. Tips for RV’ing with a baby!
a. E.g. Particular RV features that are handy
3. Anyone who has had experience with Thousand trails or similar.

I realise this is a lot of information to ask but I’m happy to buy anyone a beer who can help out (and is at least roughly on the way!).

Thank-you all

Ben

[frankdamp]

It's not the width of the roads that's the challenge, but driving on the opposite side.

Before we emigrated, I was a develpoment engineer at Norton-Villiers, riding the Norton Commando for endurance testing. I did about 40,000 road miles in about 15 months!

When we emigrated. I took one look at the little old ladies driving their Oldsmobile 98's on the freeway, 10 mph below the speed limit and looking through the steering wheel. They probably could not see the end of the hood. I decided that motorcycles were no longer my vehicle of preference.

It's really the "wrong-side" thing that gets UK, Oz, NZ people into trouble, particularly in circumstances where reactions are instinctive. I hope Caledon has enough LH side-of -the-road driving experience already that the vehicle size is his only issue.

[Caledon]

Will do - we get our rig on Thursday and set off then. We're from Midlothian actually (Edinburgh) did she emigrate or do you mean ancestrally?

[bigred1cav]

If you get to Ohio let me know. My wife is Scot, Kerr. Midlothian?

Caledon wrote:

fla-gypsy wrote:
I would like to welcome you to the forum and extend a warm welcome to our Scottish cousins coming for a Holiday. We do hope your trip will be both fun and inspiring. N America is a beautiful land full of natural wonders.

Thanks.

While I am looking forward to beaches, redwoods, desert, cactus, canyons, geysers, and mountains; I should probably admit we are equally excited about Soldier Field, Wild West Show,Baseball , Disneyworld, Graceland, and Medieval Times!

[olfarmer]

Caledon wrote:
So now safely in Canada and think we've found a good option:

2006 Ford f250 sd xlt supercab short box 4wd

I believe it has these specs:

Curb Weight 6,207 lbs
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating 9,200 lbs
Max Payload 2,993 lbs
Max Tow: 8200

The 5th wheel I'm look at is a Jayco Eagle 281 RLS
Cargo capacity 2078lbs (tanks full)
GVWR: 10500

GAWR:5000

By my calculations we will be good for this set-up - but without a huge margin. There is an option for an older f350 but then we start getting into a bit rusty, a bit too old, wrong side of 200km.

Thoughts very welcome!

That sounds like a pretty tough and reliable truck and a very decent 5th wheel to me. I would go for the '06 F 250, the F 350 sounds a little too tired for a long trip. The gas mileage on either will not be great but either one is tough enough to pull the 5th wheel. Have a great trip and keep us posted on your progress!

[frankdamp]

Good luck on your trip, Caledon. If you happen to come our way (it's a good option to get to the Washington coast from I-5 without going through Seattle, using the ferry from Coupeville to Port Townsend), give us a call - we're in the Anacortes phone book.

There's a decent CG in a city park about a mile from our house (Washington Park - City of Anacortes). It's an older CG and the roads and sites are a bit tight, but the location is abso;utely gorgeous. Scenery you wouldn't beleieve - but maybe from Scotland, you've got something similar!

[bsinmich]

I hope your travel plans are flexible. That is one huge amount of driving for 6 months. We can all help as you get to different areas. Chicago is not RV friendly but there are ways to do it. We do Chicago ourselves because my wife is from Illinois. Enjoy out side of the Ocean.

[Caledon]

So now safely in Canada and think we've found a good option:

2006 Ford f250 sd xlt supercab short box 4wd

I believe it has these specs:

Curb Weight 6,207 lbs
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating 9,200 lbs
Max Payload 2,993 lbs
Max Tow: 8200

The 5th wheel I'm look at is a Jayco Eagle 281 RLS
Cargo capacity 2078lbs (tanks full)
GVWR: 10500
GAWR:5000

By my calculations we will be good for this set-up - but without a huge margin. There is an option for an older f350 but then we start getting into a bit rusty, a bit too old, wrong side of 200km.

Thoughts very welcome!

[Spleenstomper]

I'd suggest you try to see Yosemite (California) and destin, Florida area. Haha... Not like they are on opposite sides of the country.

[Veebyes]

pitch wrote:
I was suggesting no such thing. I just put that up there as a price example.
Complete truck and trailer combos are not plentiful Plenty of truck and plenty of trailers,proven combinations not so common.

True. Finding the right combo together takes research, time & luck. You need to be flexible & able to jump at it when your combo shows up.

[pitch]

I was suggesting no such thing. I just put that up there as a price example.
Complete truck and trailer combos are not plentiful Plenty of truck and plenty of trailers,proven combinations not so common.

[frankdamp]

Why would you suggest that the OP should travel all the way to Toronto from Vancouver round trip when there are plenty of acceptable rigs in BC that have had little exposure to very cold weather?

BTW, Caledon, don't overlook the State Parks, particularly Oregon and Washington. It's easy to spend a month just covering US 101 between Brookings (OR)and Port Townsend (WA) and never use a commercial CG. You can cut out a lot of driving by crossing between Coupeville and Port Townsend on the state ferry.

[pitch]

http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/yrk/rvs/4377748861.html

[Veebyes]

Ah ha! More information bubbles to the surface. Some research for registration has been done & 2 weeks being allowed to get setup & going sounds realistic.

Every spring it takes us the better part of 10 days once in the US to get out of storage do the initial supply, give the truck its once a year major service & do whatever needs to be done to the trailer before setting off on a hopefully trouble free 4 month trip.

Let us know how you make out.

[wbwood]

Have you thought about a class b van? We have noticed a lot of people from Canada down here in Florida the last couple of days with them. Seems very feasible.