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What now? Have my route mapped out...

dcoutts
Explorer
Explorer
Only a few weeks away from the family's first RV (rented 32' class C) trip!

We have reservations at all the campgrounds and have a general route mapped out here: https://goo.gl/maps/L4hnO

So now what should I do? Do I need to try and figure out where most easily accessible gas stations are? Do I need to figure out if there are any very narrow roads? How about where all the Wal-marts are for emergency supplies? 🙂

Not sure what I need to do when it comes to planning before we hit the road.

Thanks in advance!
23 REPLIES 23

Rlaubert
Explorer
Explorer
There are many applications that will help you with this. I love RVTripWizard.com. It costs $30 a year, I think. But helps plan the trip and they even have gas/fuel information with current prices. I have used them for almost 2 years.
Ray & Daisy Laubert

BubbaChris
Explorer
Explorer
dcoutts wrote:
BubbaChris wrote:
I'd see if the folks you are renting the RV from have any how-to videos on YouTube that you can review in advance.

I'd consider bringing my own puck-style 30-amp to 15-amp adapter along with a plug-in voltage meter and 3-light circuit tester. That way you can test pedestals before connecting the RV to them.

I'd love to visit the areas you've mapped out via RV, have fun!


Can you elaborate a little on why I'd need each of these?

The RV requires 30-amp. Is the 30-amp to 15-amp in case one of our spots only has 15-amp?

I assume the voltage meter is to make sure I don't fry anything. I assume I test the pedestal with this but how do I know if what it reads is trouble?

And I have no idea why I'd need a 3-light circuit tester 🙂


I'll start each section with the Amazon code you can search on to find it:

B00192QB3I - Allows you to use both types of testers directly at the pedestal. You turn off the circuit breaker on the pedestal, plug this in with one of the testers, and turn the circuit breaker back on.

B00CDJRLKI - Can be used with the adapter or inside your RV to know you have enough voltage to run everything safely. Depending on who you ask, anything less than 109V runs the risk of damaging things like your air conditioning. If you only buy one item of the 3 I recommended, this is it.

B0012DHVQ0 - Lets you know ground is present and the hot and neutral lines are correctly wired.

Campground pedestals get a lot of wear and tear. If you have your own testing tools, you can identify problems before getting fully setup on a site. And if you're testing directly at the pedestal, the CG management can't say the issue is inside your rental RV.

I'm only on my 2nd year of RVing, about 30 nights worth last year and about 20 nights so far this year. I've only run into one problem site, and it was too-low voltage (about 102V). I knew we could NOT run our air conditioning and we were careful about everything else.
2013 Heartland North Trail 22 FBS Caliber Edition
2013 Ford Expedition EL with Tow Package

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
Stop worrying and get In the camper and go!
Heck you don't even need campsites, you're self contained.
Do you worry about where the next gas station is in your car?
Not many places you can go 100 mi without services and those few places aren't much more unless you're in the Yukon or NWT or something.
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

dcoutts
Explorer
Explorer
BubbaChris wrote:
I'd see if the folks you are renting the RV from have any how-to videos on YouTube that you can review in advance.

I'd consider bringing my own puck-style 30-amp to 15-amp adapter along with a plug-in voltage meter and 3-light circuit tester. That way you can test pedestals before connecting the RV to them.

I'd love to visit the areas you've mapped out via RV, have fun!


Can you elaborate a little on why I'd need each of these?

The RV requires 30-amp. Is the 30-amp to 15-amp in case one of our spots only has 15-amp?

I assume the voltage meter is to make sure I don't fry anything. I assume I test the pedestal with this but how do I know if what it reads is trouble?

And I have no idea why I'd need a 3-light circuit tester 🙂

dcoutts
Explorer
Explorer
1775 wrote:
You don't say where you are traveling.


The link in the original post maps out the route including campgrounds. (https://goo.gl/maps/L4hnO)

1775
Explorer
Explorer
You don't say where you are traveling. Most places have everything right off the interstate - one town about the same as the next - and you won't have any problem finding gas or whatever you need. And since you don't say where you are or are traveling keep in mind that you are an overheight vehicle. In some areas of the Country (particularly the Northeast to Middle Atlantic) some roads that Google may route you on have height restrictions too low for your Class C. Follow the trucks and you will not have a problem - if an 18 wheeler can fit under so can you.

Sounds like you have never RVed before. Before you leave the rental place ask them to show you how EVERYTHING works. Pay attention. It looks easy until you have to remember what they said to do.

You will be fine. No matter what DON'T watch the movie RV before you go... 😉
Roadtrek 190 Popular 2011

Meryl and Me Hit the Road

campigloo
Explorer
Explorer
Sounds like you have hitchitis. No known cure except hit the road. Relax, drive the vehicle, keep in mind the tips listed above. You'll be fine.

BubbaChris
Explorer
Explorer
I'd see if the folks you are renting the RV from have any how-to videos on YouTube that you can review in advance.

I'd consider bringing my own puck-style 30-amp to 15-amp adapter along with a plug-in voltage meter and 3-light circuit tester. That way you can test pedestals before connecting the RV to them.

I'd love to visit the areas you've mapped out via RV, have fun!
2013 Heartland North Trail 22 FBS Caliber Edition
2013 Ford Expedition EL with Tow Package

Klueck
Explorer
Explorer
You might want to get the Allstays App for Low clearances.

tenbear
Explorer
Explorer
I have never planned my trips to the extent that you have. We usually have a general idea of where we want to go, but as we travel we pick up brochures at various visitor centers and modify our plans as we go. We rarely reserve a campsite far in advance but may phone early in the day if we know where we want to stay that night. If we have a specific destination such as a concert, we will then reserve in advance.
Class C, 2004/5 Four Winds Dutchman Express 28A, Chevy chassis
2010 Subaru Impreza Sedan
Camped in 45 states, 7 Provinces and 1 Territory

ken56
Explorer
Explorer
So you are going thru New Found Gap in GSMNP? AS a new RV driver (we assume) you need to understand how to go down a LONG grade. Going up is not a big problem, just let the tranny do its thing, going down is a whole other issue. I live near the GAP and every time I have gone thru there I see RV's where people have burned up the brakes. Use the engine and tranny to slow your descent, gear down and don't worry about the RPM's too much, just make sure you don't red line. There are lots of turn outs on the GAP road so don't be afraid to turn out and let the brakes cool if you think you need to. Seriously, be careful on that road, its steep and twisty but do-able, not to mention beautiful scenery.

tatest
Explorer II
Explorer II
You just go.

You should buy gas at any station that looks roomy enough to you, once you are down to about a 1/2 tank, so you are not in panic mode about finding a place when it is almost empty. Most C's have nearly 400 mile range, they fit into gas stations easily in rural areas (don't try to fill in cities and suburbs) and there are no places where the stations are more than 400 miles apart.

Walmarts are where you find them. Small towns have other stores with emergency supplies, and RV dealers are more frequent along the highways than you would expect, you just don't see much of this from the Interstate Highway system, that was intentional in the planning and design.

Very narrow roads? You have to get off the highways, to find the narrow roads, as the highway system is designed for 8.5 foot wide trucks, up to 65 feet long and 80,000 pounds. Your C is a lot smaller.

Where you find more narrow roads will be on city streets, particularly residential areas, or on secondary and tertiary roads in rural areas. A RV doesn't belong on city streets;you just don't go there unless you know the route well.

On back roads in rural areas, you will be on slow speed roads where there is a protocol for two vehicles sharing a space less than 16-18 feet wide; most of the time these have no traffic. When you see oncoming, it is often best to pull over and stop, the locals know more about what they are doing.

Otherwise most narrow road situations will be construction zones, where you have to slow down to thread your 8.5 wide RV though a spot 11 to 12 foot wide. Any narrower, there will be warnings for wide vehicles to take detours; pay attention to that. You will build "staying in lane" skills quickly driving a RV. Often drivers can't keep a 5 1/2 foot wide vehicle within a 14 foot wide lane, because they've never had to concentrate that much on the task. Drive a RV for a while, you'll outgrow that lack of concentration quickly, all it takes is making driving your primary task, instead of something you do while eating, texting, or brushing out your hair.

If you've not driven in mountains, you'll need to learn to control your speeds downhill with minimal braking, which means using engine braking to maintain the speeds needed to make it around the curves, rather than running up to 70-80 mph and them trying to slow to 35-45 to negotiate the curves. Speed limits in mountainous areas are set to maximum safe speeds for the whole section of road, pay attention to that.

P.S. Walmart is not a particularly good place to buy fuel, whatever your discount/rewards program, if in a RV. Many of the discount store and supermarket fuel sales points are way too crowded for negotiating large vehicles. I like the rural gas stations that cater to farmers and ranchers, who are almost always towing something when they pull in. The pump layouts are designed to take care of that, you'll learn to recognize them. Clue: pumps parallel to the highway, wide entrances with no sharp turns or change in grade.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B

sdianel_-acct_c
Explorer
Explorer
The Pilot Flying J website has a trip feature and you can locate the Flying J's that have RV islands. Usually truck stops like Love's, Petro, TA and Pilot Flying J have easy access. We fill up at half a tank. I do like to plan our fuel stops.
Lonny & Diane
2004 Country Coach Allure 33' "Big Blue"
Towing 2008 Chev Colorado 4x4
Semper Fi

sdianel_-acct_c
Explorer
Explorer
Go to Walmart and purchase a Walmart Atlas. Has all the Walmarts listed and where they have fuel.
Lonny & Diane
2004 Country Coach Allure 33' "Big Blue"
Towing 2008 Chev Colorado 4x4
Semper Fi