caranoel
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Re: Getting started....tow vehicle recommendations....PLEASE!
I'll start by saying I know nothing about cars and trucks. And all this spec talk is a foreign language. But here's what we have learned about towing and tow vehicles: *Listen to the people on this forum.* Look at all the opinions, and there are many, and determine which ones you think sound safest. There can be no shortcuts when it comes to towing a vehicle. A dealer at an RV dealership or camper show will tell you "Of course your minivan can tow this 32-foot travel trailer! Just look at the Dry weight!" They say 80 % GVWR is the max. You need to be well under that. When we went out to South Dakota, we had a trailblazer and a pop-up that was well under weight. Pack all the storage boxes, and add a Thule Roof Box on the truck, four people who like to eat, and four bikes, plus everything that we pretty much owned, and that Trailblazer worked incredibly hard. Get more tow vehicle than you need. You need to be able to tow, but more importantly, you need to be able to STOP. Your loved ones in the car need to be safe. And the people on the road deserve to be safe as well. And definitely get the sway bar. As soon as an 18-wheeler buzzes by you, and your trailer starts swaying back and forth, you'll panic.553Views0likes0CommentsRe: camping with kids - traditions/games?
We've been camping with our kids since they were weeks old, so it really depends on the age. My kids will find other kids to play with, and campground people are friendly, but I haven't really seen non-seasonal campers get involved with anything like a Halloween Boo. Check the campground's facebook page or call the office and ask if there's any traditions that you should know about (sometimes, there's Christmas week or Halloween week). As for fun, these are things that our kids have enjoyed through the years: Indestructable tonka trucks Coloring Books Water Color paint or the Just-add-water painting books Army men Bocce Solo cups Cards Books Football Tennis balls Frisbee Ladder ball Don't pack too much, but do have some things available. Don't put it all out at once. And, if it's something you like, and want to keep nice, don't take it. Make sure it can be hosed down or run through the dishwasher. We have a no-electronics rule in the campground, including TV, although we do see many families who set up gigantic televisions. Our kids complain for about ten minutes, until they discover something like the solo cups and golf balls and make a game of it.471Views0likes0CommentsOhio, Kentucky, or West Virginia??
We're from the Boston area. This summer we will be in Detroit one weekend and in Gettysburg the next. Instead of coming all the way back to turn around and go back out, we'd like to take the long way from Detroit to Gettysburg, PA and need your suggestions. Leaving Detroit early Tuesday morning. Arriving in Gettysburg around 3 pm on Saturday. We'll be tenting (although we usually have a pop-up). Love hiking, river or lake swimming, great scenic views, junior ranger programs for the kids (age 13 and 9--both boys), and generally inexpensive outdoor adventures. Also could do some canoeing, kayaking, or rafting. We've never been to any of these states, so we're hoping to put together a plan for those four days. Because we're tenting, we only would like to break camp once midweek, so two days in each in two places is okay. More than three set-ups in four days is too much. What are your favorites? Some places we love (which give you an idea of what we like) are White Mountains in NH, Cape Breton Island, Upper Peninsula in Michigan, "Up North" Michigan, and the Black Hills of South Dakota. We're in good shape, we don't mind driving, and we're always up for something new. Thanks for all of your help!3.4KViews0likes14Comments
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