Advice needed: first trip in TC: honeymoon to Smoky Mtns

Fiancé and I will be honeymooning at smoky mtns in less than 3 weeks and our maiden voyage in our 1973 Amerigo TC. I grew up in a '78 Steury pop up and last year owned a 1998 Starcraft 33' TT. We have only a black tank; no gray. Going to open valve and have cap on elbow to allow gray to back drain into black tank. Obviously a lot less capacity than I was used to in the TT. She intends to use bath houses when clean and available. I somewhat prefer my own bathroom and shower. The campground we will be staying at most of the time has sewer hookup but we aren't sure if we will be staying anywhere else part of the time and unsure if I should take a blue toter tank along or just wasted luggage. Do truck stops or rest stops typically have dump stations or should I plan to stop at campgrounds and pay a dump fee if not staying there?

Will be packing along a small lightweight generator (1500W) in case of need this seems more of a necessity. Common sense and proper planning can avoid or prolong inconvenient tank dumps.

We plan to take a wide assortment of clothing.

I haven't done much mountain driving. My truck is plenty for the camper, dodge diesel dually with exhaust brake. A co worker doesn't think we will be able to get up some of the mountain roads there. Any word on that? How limited will out travels be?

Anything I may need to know about mountain driving besides pay attention take my time and be smart? I'm a smart driver when it comes to towing and pull trailers regularly all my life so not that concerned. Just wondering if I may be missing something.

I know with a TC sometimes less is more and I tend to overpack to be prepared for everything and not make emergency trips to the store. I may need help with this as with a 33' trailer you can take everything and then some...

We are from Indiana and will likely be traveling down through Lexington. Mostly staying in Gatlinburg but also planning to visit Chattanooga.

I wouldn't mind to do one or two nights of dry docking away from everyone else but not sure where you can typically be permitted to do this at especially in an unfamiliar area.

Any help would be fantastic! Any general tips on safe/smart travel items and techniques would be appreciated as well. The previous TT was just used for weekend trips within a couple hours from home to well known destinations. I will probably add more as I think of it.

Thanks!
Eric

Truck Campers

realter
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
Dick_B wrote:
Slightly off topic but my parents spent their honeymoon in the Smokies more than 75 years ago...

I spent my honeymoon in Gatlanburg 35 years ago this week.:B Good thing we didn't plan on camping, she probably wouldn't have married me, lol. Pretty place this time of year. We always talk about going back, but never have. The Rockies are a lot closer.
Driftwood132
Explorer
Oct 02, 2013
Maybe by the time you come down here the government will be back in business but most all federal camp grounds are closed now. I live within a few miles from the GSNP . Love it here Smoke Mont campground is nice, Standing Indian I think is open . If you go to Chattanooga maybe try the Cherohala Skyway. Near Robbinsville NC. Watch for bikers also its a beautiful place to visit in Western North Carolina ,East Tennessee . Just watch out for all the other leaf lookers ! Enjoy your stay! Oh you should have no problem with your truck if you get off the beaten path watch out for low tree branches is all . Be careful of the GPS some will lead you astray ..you might even hear banjo music! Have fun!
Bigblue12v
Explorer
Oct 02, 2013
Hi Mote, thank you! We aren't too far from ya, just southwest of Columbus! Will post up how trip went!

Good to hear about the roads and will keep an eye out for the cycles. Thanks for the info on all that.

After more thinking I believe I may just get a porta potty and use the black tank as a gray. Should be the simplest and cost effective solution. Would like to remove original toilet to gain space in shower anyway. I made a post about this... Just seems to make most sense, simple an much less******to pack along. Unless there is a good reason not to do it this way, it's how I will proceed.

Thanks!!!
Bigblue12v
Explorer
Oct 02, 2013
Hi Mote, thank you! We aren't too far from ya, just southwest of Columbus! Will post up how trip went!

Good to hear about the roads and will keep an eye out for the cycles. Thanks for the info on all that.

After more thinking I believe I may just get a porta potty and use the black tank as a gray. Should be the simplest and cost effective solution. Would like to remove original toilet to gain space in shower anyway. I made a post about this... Just seems to make most sense, simple an much less******to pack along. Unless there is a good reason not to do it this way, it's how I will proceed.

Thanks!!!
JumboJet
Explorer
Oct 01, 2013
The roads are fine for your truck.

Don't forget to hang the sign "When the camper's rockin', don't come a knockin'!" :o

Have a great trip. There are some nice campgrounds just across the border in North Carolina also.
schlep1967
Nomad
Oct 01, 2013
We all like camping ..... but. There are a lot of cabins in that area that are reasonable in price. Especially if you drive down in a car that gets decent mileage. Then factor in the cost of a campsite, the comfort factor on the Honeymoon level of being able to shower properly after "activities" ....
LakeN
Explorer
Oct 01, 2013
NRALIFR wrote:
Rather than allowing the gray to back drain into the black tank, buy a cap that has a garden hose connection in it, and get yourself one of those small blue tanks with wheels to catch your gray water. Leave the black tank valve closed, and the gray will flow into the blue tank.

:):)

If you will have full hkups most of the time, you might add the cap with hose connection and buy a 5 gal water jug. Requires more emptying but takes up less space, cheaper, and you can get the job done. We use both a tote and 5 gal container (gray) for extended trips. Yes, watch for BIKERS!
Dick_B
Explorer
Oct 01, 2013
Slightly off topic but my parents spent their honeymoon in the Smokies more than 75 years ago...
FreeLanceing
Explorer II
Oct 01, 2013
I just got back saterday. I went alone trailered my harley. I stayed a week. I never took the camper off and used the bike as my transporter. I only have have an 11 gallon black and never had to dump till I got back home. I stayed in Townsend at mountianeer rv park, nice place. There are a few others in that strip. Its very quiet not much traffic. I never went to Gatlinburg not my thing. The roads are very narrow with lots of curves and steep grade. 7-9 % was common. I would not want to drive a dually around but its doable. WHATCH OUT FOR BIKERS. They are everywhere its like biker mecca. I had many old timers half in my lane coming around tight corners. There is construction in the park from the landslides last spring. I once waited 20 minutes standing still. I finally turned around and went back down. It will be a lot busier as the leaves change. You can easily drive that in a day from anywhere in IN. I saw lots of wildlife, 2 bears, elk, turkey, lots of deer, in the 5 days I stayed. For me the coolest road was the Blue ridge parkway. I took it from the s entrance out about 75 miles nice road. One day I ended up in Ga, SC is a short jump as well. You can PM if you need anymore fresh info.
NRALIFR
Explorer
Oct 01, 2013
Rather than allowing the gray to back drain into the black tank, buy a cap that has a garden hose connection in it, and get yourself one of those small blue tanks with wheels to catch your gray water. Leave the black tank valve closed, and the gray will flow into the blue tank.

Doing it the way you describe will force you to have to find dump stations more often, and at some point you're going to have to take that cap off to connect the slinky hose.

As far as making it up the mountain roads, I see no reason why you wouldn't be able to make it up or down any of the paved roads there.

:):)

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Advice needed: first trip in TC: honeymoon to Smoky Mtns

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