About to embark on a 3,200 mile RV trip!

[bcoldpro]

There's a world of difference traveling with a couple of guys and taking the wife on a 3,200+ mile trip in an RV.
Everything has to be absolutely perfect! I'mm probably spending twice the amount of hours getting everything squared
away as I will be spending time behind the wheel for this trip.

 

[Wmlunt-WO]

Did 9k miles last year, 2-1/2 months, $4k in gas.
Few hiccups but went well overall.
Bill

 

[bcoldpro]

I have to say, I am a little uneased about this 25 day, 3,200 mile trip with my wife of 45+ years. The longest trip we've taken is 10 days and that generally went well. I was talking to a buddy of mine about RVing with
the spouse, he said his wife acts like the engine fell out if a lightbulb goes out.
I have been spending countless hours working our route on RV Parky, making lists of stuff to do before we head out. It will be an actual relief when we finally hit the road. I'll then start to get some rest! Gas prices!
I have to readjust the price of gas on RVParky from what I had projected at $3 a gallon 6 months ago!

 

[be happy]

Traveling is a wonderful world to be in. It almost sounds to me that you may be over thinking the trip. Keep your driving down to 4 or 5 hours, stop relax and see the country. With that said there is always something that will come up that you have not thought about. For me some of the smallest things will give me the most concern when traveling. When the motor is stopped and the meal is over with both of you can look at each other and say what a great life this is.

 

[creativepart]

The only thing certain is that “stuff” will go wrong. It’s how you handle it that will make the most difference to your trip.

Go slow. Make time for fun. Blow off anything that becomes too much of a chore. It not a job… don’t make it one.

 

[Cooperhawk]

The DW and I have been on the road together for 30 years now and we're still both alive and still married.

We started with a Scamp trailer and now that and three motorhomes later we're still going and enjoying ourselves. We are not full timers, but we do spend a couple of months a year living in the RV on the road.

The secret I guess, is delineation of responsibilities. I do the driving, she plans the trips. I do the repair work on the RV, she handles everything having to do with food, clothing, and reservations.

Once we get to a location I park the MH, hook up electric and get it level. She then runs out the slides and sets up the interior and starts dinner while I do the rest of the hookups.

When we leave she runs in the slides and when everything is put away I run up the jacks and unhook from utilities. Then it's engine start and off we go. I will quite often ask her help in hooking up or unhooking the toad.

Each of us knows what's expected and go about it without being told.

I think that's key. We work as a team, not against one another. That makes it fun. We pull into a site and withing twenty minutes I have a cocktail and she has dinner cooking.

 

[wyocamper-WO]

This is the way.

 

[bcoldpro]

Traveling is a wonderful world to be in. It almost sounds to me that you may be over thinking the trip. Keep your driving down to 4 or 5 hours, stop relax and see the country. With that said there is always something that will come up that you have not thought about. For me some of the smallest things will give me the most concern when traveling. When the motor is stopped and the meal is over with both of you can look at each other and say what a great life this is.

Plan has been laid out for max 4-5 hours of driving.

 

[James Myers]

My wife and I have taken a 30+ day, 3500+ mile trip every summer for the last 10 years. it has been great! Below are the reasons why:

1. We have been married 45+ years and are still best friends. Some of best times are when it is just us and the dogs.
2. We know that everything is not going to be "absolutely perfect" and know how to roll with the punches. Like Creativepart says, "stuff will go wrong".
3. We plan ahead of time knowing that our plans will change during the trip.

Good luck on your adventure!

 

[Bnystrom]

Plan has been laid out for max 4-5 hours of driving.

Do you have any non-driving days?
We prefer to drive to an interesting area and spend 2-3 days there doing activities we enjoy and/or exploring. The only time we have consecutive driving days is when we have to split the driving between distant destinations, and we'll typically boondock at a Harvest Hosts location on those nights. It's never about the mileage, it's about the experiences outside of the RV.

 

[ldfeat]

We live in Titusville, Florrida and have been RVing since 1999. Had 2 trailers and three motorhomes. Still traveling today with 4 or 5 trips per year. In 2017, we RVed to Alaska. Took a month to get to Anchorage because of a few stateside family/friend stops along the way. Spent six weeks in Alaska then headed back down through California and over to Airziona visiting family. After 5.5 months on the road in our 25' Reyo P motorhome, towing our Subaru we finally made it back to Florida! A great trip, but we were glad to be home! Traveling in the RV has been a great adventure. Highly recommend it.
But beware of mechanical issues. They seem to happen for more often than cars. Carry a decent toolbox, and learn everything you can about your RV. We also recommend road-sIde assistance in case of breakdowns on the road. We have been towed three times in 26 years. And for us it's not just the destination, it's also the journey.
Be safe and enjoy! Happy trails! Larry, Deb and Max the Pug...

 

[Journey39n]

Its 3200 miles from our winter place to the grandkids, do it both ways. We have been all over the country, this particular loop is going to be the 7th year in a row. Yep, you do all the prep, you do all the planning, and then you just go. I lay out our trip, try a little different route each time, but more or less the same. Sometimes just the old RV parks, mixed with a few new ones. I make most reservations a few days in advance for the overnighters, more advance for longer stays.

Do things go wrong, sure. You just take a bit of time, think about it, and do what needs to be done. We have cut our driving time to 3-4 hours per day, stay an extra day or two occasionally, and a few longer stays along the way to break up the routine. Time zones can be tricky, but always new things to see on the way.

We live on wheels, so we are adaptable. We were to leave the 1st of March, then the 1st of April, now, perhaps the 1st of May. We just don't worry too much about it, just keep rolling along.

Best advice, have fun, it's an adventure.

 

[Grapehound]

We try not to drive more than two days in a row. We take these trips to see and do things, not just to drive. We try to pick scenic or interesting spots along the way to stay a couple days. On our trips from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin we often spend a week in Mackinaw City Michigan. When It's 90 degrees in Chicago, it's 75 in northern Michigan.

We try to make the trip along the way as much fun as the destination.

 

[jdkbrooks]

I have to say, I am a little uneased about this 25 day, 3,200 mile trip with my wife of 45+ years. The longest trip we've taken is 10 days and that generally went well. I was talking to a buddy of mine about RVing with
the spouse, he said his wife acts like the engine fell out if a lightbulb goes out.
I have been spending countless hours working our route on RV Parky, making lists of stuff to do before we head out. It will be an actual relief when we finally hit the road. I'll then start to get some rest! Gas prices!
I have to readjust the price of gas on RVParky from what I had projected at $3 a gallon 6 months ago!

We just left for a 5 month East Coast trip today and if I see something interesting I say wow look at that and wife will look up from her book and say " What! What wrong!" It just brought back memories from the last every trip we've taken. Good luck hang in there

 

[bcoldpro]

We live in Titusville, Florrida and have been RVing since 1999. Had 2 trailers and three motorhomes. Still traveling today with 4 or 5 trips per year. In 2017, we RVed to Alaska. Took a month to get to Anchorage because of a few stateside family/friend stops along the way. Spent six weeks in Alaska then headed back down through California and over to Airziona visiting family. After 5.5 months on the road in our 25' Reyo P motorhome, towing our Subaru we finally made it back to Florida! A great trip, but we were glad to be home! Traveling in the RV has been a great adventure. Highly recommend it.
But beware of mechanical issues. They seem to happen for more often than cars. Carry a decent toolbox, and learn everything you can about your RV. We also recommend road-sIde assistance in case of breakdowns on the road. We have been towed three times in 26 years. And for us it's not just the destination, it's also the journey.
Be safe and enjoy! Happy trails! Larry, Deb and Max the Pug...

Which Road Side Assistance do you recommend? Good Sam Club?

 

[Bnystrom]

Coach-Net seems to have the best reputation. Not so much for Good Sam.

 

[bcoldpro]

Do you have any non-driving days?
We prefer to drive to an interesting area and spend 2-3 days there doing activities we enjoy and/or exploring. The only time we have consecutive driving days is when we have to split the driving between distant destinations, and we'll typically boondock at a Harvest Hosts location on those nights. It's never about the mileage, it's about the experiences outside of the RV.

Yes, we have several non driving days. Most of our stops are at least 2 days, a couple 3 days. First 4 stops are with friends caravanning. Then to visit a school friend of the wife, next stop a visit to her brother. Then on to Yellowstone for 3 nights. Following that looping back south, last stop Las Vegas for 2 nights.