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Crossing USA in PU

Started by teachjp, May 16, 2006, 03:08 PM

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teachjp

It thought I read in the RV Enthusiast magazine that there was going to be a thread about crossing the USA in our pop-ups, or at least about long trips.  I wanted to put my .02 in.  We have crossed the country at least 4 times, 3 times in a pop-up (88 Jayco, loved it), twice with kids and now without the children.  We gave up the pop-up for a hybrid because of the time and trouble of putting up and putting down the pop-up.  When we had the kids and lots of hands to help, it was not problem, but now, just the two of us....
The hybrid, a 17' TrailLite, is easy to tow (although not as good with the gas milage) and easy to store, but best of all, we flip one bed up and we are on the road.  We often are up at 5:00 AM to be on the road before the heat of the day, and I think that the people around us also appreciate not hearing the crank, crank of the pop-up.
Long and short of it, while we miss the lightness and gas milage of the pop-up, the TrailLite has made our journey.
P.S. despite the price of petrol, we will be crossing the USA again this year, our daughter (and two grandsons) will be moving east next year when she finishes her degree at Univ. of Cal.

tlhdoc

Have a great trip.  If I had the time and the money I would travel cross country in the PU no doubt.  There are some places I really want to camp.:)

Billy Bob

We have a Great USA Tour also planned this summer. Leaving WNY on June 30th and will be camping in MI, MN, ND, SD, WY, UT, AZ  and CO before heading east towards home. Hope to be back by August 1st but if not, Oh Well, we get there when we get there. I figured we will see about 6,000 miles of our GREAT COUNTRY :usflag: .

Can't wait ! ! ! :)

teachjp

Quote from: tlhdocHave a great trip.  If I had the time and the money I would travel cross country in the PU no doubt.  There are some places I really want to camp.:)

If you were going to do it, where would you want to visit?  We are leaving from eastern PA (Philly area) in mid-July and must in CA for my daughters birthday on the 26th, but are pretty open on the return trip.  Looking for some new suggestions.

tlhdoc

Quote from: teachjpIf you were going to do it, where would you want to visit? We are leaving from eastern PA (Philly area) in mid-July and must in CA for my daughters birthday on the 26th, but are pretty open on the return trip. Looking for some new suggestions.
I would hit South Dakota (Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, etc) and Wyoming and Colorado (Yellowstone, Grand Tetons)for sure.  Then drop down and hit the Grand Canyon.  Everyone should see that at least once in their life.  It gives you some perspective of how old the earth is.  There are so many wonderful places it is hard to narrow it down.  Even in CA there are so many places to visit, Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon.  I will stop now.  Have a great trip.  What part of CA are you headed for?:)

DK&3kids

Quote from: tlhdocI would hit South Dakota (Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, etc) and Wyoming and Colorado (Yellowstone, Grand Tetons)for sure.  Then drop down and hit the Grand Canyon.  Everyone should see that at least once in their life.  It gives you some perspective of how old the earth is.  There are so many wonderful places it is hard to narrow it down.  Even in CA there are so many places to visit, Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon.  I will stop now.  Have a great trip.  What part of CA are you headed for?:)
We did a big trip last summer in our PU...I second the vote on the Black Hills, SD - it was AWESOME!!!  We also really, really loved Yellowstone and Glacier NP.  To see Glacier, we camped in Kalispell, MT.  If you don't mind heading North from CA on the way home, the coast of Oregon has some amazing scenery and great state campgrounds - esp. in Florence and Astoria.

jxn4

Glad to see this thread started.  I also read that same statement in RVE and joined this forum after reading that.

We have made 2 trips from Wisconsin, only halfway cross country, one to Black Hills SD and one to Rocky Mountain Natl Park (they still had snow in June).  Both trips stayed in the same CG for a week as basecamp, went with friends, and did day trips and had a blast!  This was done in a 1999 Dutchman popup, it was not meant to be popped up and down daily. Too putzy.  We now have a 2006 Starcraft Centennial 3608 popup and are planning 17 day trip to Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon in June.  Most are one nighters, with 3 nights each at yellowstone and GT.  Then on to Phoenix for 2 nights to visit family, then back to Wisconsin the southern route.  DH has the cordless drill/socket genie to popup more easily, and the highwall style makes very short setup time. Am looking forward to how this is with a lot of one night stays.  If all goes well are planning a month long trip to Alaska next summer.  Anyone interested?  We always eat so much better when camping than at home, more time to cook. :)

Looking forward to reading the other posts...

Thank you kindly
Mary Jo (jxn4 mom)
Bob (jxn2 dad)
DS age 10
DD age 9

Billy Bob

VERY much interested in Alaska. But how are the roads to Alaska now. Years ago they said your vehicle was almost destroyed by the time you got to Alaska.

4campinfoxes

I get so jealous reading about these great trips!!!  I really wish we could do that too.  We have been to the Black Hills, in our smaller Jayco when the kids were smaller too.  We've had several trips to Rocky Mountain NP planned, only to have to cancel due to my DH's crazy work schedule.  (Owning your own business really stinks sometimes!).

Some of the places I'd love to see have been mentioned already - Yosemite, Glacier NP, Grand Canyon.  I keep thinking - maybe next year.... But that never seems to come!  I guess I'll have to be content with weekend camping trips & maybe a long weekend here & there.

Sharon

jxn4

Quote from: Billy BobVERY much interested in Alaska. But how are the roads to Alaska now. Years ago they said your vehicle was almost destroyed by the time you got to Alaska.

Glad someone is interested.  DH said the roads he was on in Alaska previously were paved, it was the Canadian trip that did the damage!  We are hoping that has changed in the last 30 years... We will be researching the trip/route this summer to plan for next year.  I can let you know.
Mary Jo (jxn4 mom)

jimlinalf

With any luck this next year we will be spending about 4 months camping around the country next spring and summer.  Leaving the southeast and going west, then up across the northern states to new england and back down to florida.  We've called it the "trip of our lifetime" and loof forward to it.

Jim

GeneF

Okay it might be pretty hot but if you can work it in, I would suggest Zion, Bryce, CanyonLands and Arches National Parks.

Drivng up or down the coast of CA is a beautiful but tiring drive.  Washington State and Seattle are really nice places plus Vancouver is right there.  Yosemeti is also a great park.  San Francisco is one of our favorite cities.

I would also have to agree with the South Dakota, Yellowstone areas plus I would add in the Badlands.  And our favorite, Crazy Horse monument.

There is just so so so so so so much to see and do out there that I would suggest you plan to see what is important to you without just driving through.  Leave yourself an extra day or two to stay someplace longer than you planned too because you really like the area.


Planning, dreaming about and actually doing the trip is a lot of fun.  DW and I have been lucky in that we have been able to do these kinds of trips more than once.  

Enjoy and happy campoing.