So we're going to take a trip, camping for the first time. It'll be the the wife and our two teenagers. We're going to rent a travel trailer and see how we like it. Our plan is to head to Estes Park for a few days, and then out to Cripple Creek or Colorado Springs for a few more. We'll be leaving from the Chicago area. So here's the questions:

Any advice for a first time rv'r?
Where to stay in those destinations?
Any advice for a first time rv'r?
Any advice for a firxt time rv'r?
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Thanks,

Brett

 

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Bret -
What kind of travel trailer (IE: pop up, length, etc.) ?

 

The first thing I hook up is the electric then go inside and start the air conditioners so when your done out side it will already be cool inside. I unhook the sewer last, before I move, once I jack the trailer up to hook back onto the truck, I go back inside the trailer and flush the potty real good then shut the valve and disconnect the sewer line its gross no matter how you do it but this works the best for me. I know these are simple things but I didn't know to do it this way when I started. Hope you have alot of fun.

 

put some water in your fresh water tank, but don't fill it. you want to be ablr to flush the toilet if you need w/out pulling the extra weight of a full tank. use germex or some waterless hand sanitizer instead of washing your hands all the time. 1 st thing u find, unless u stay at a campground w/full hookups, is the gray water tank fills up quickly because we don't realize how much water we normally use during the course of a normal day. same thing for dishes, use foam plates and plastic utensils to avoid having to wash dishes.
go to maniyou springs. it's close to colorado springs and it;s very cool. theres pikes peak. you can take a tram to the top, the zoo's beautiful and theres lots to see and do. good luck. have fun

read shortbread rv's thread under 1st camping trip. other things i didn't think of.

 

I have found this(http://www.coloradodirectory.com/Tents/TentSearch.html) to be a good site for finding camp grounds. If you have time to order it, their printed directory is very handy.

 

When you get ready to clean out the holding tanks....make sure you do the blackwater tank first......then shut the valve when empty....then release the the gray water tank. That water will help flush out your hose from the BW tank waste.


The biggest thing, until you get experience, is just take your time and allow for extra time for everything. Once you have experience with it, you will get quicker over time with everything related to RVing.

You may also want to go to www.rv.net and look around. It's a great website with categories for different types of RVing....fulltimers, travel trailers, tow vehicles....etc. etc. They have a forum for beginners too.

 

Been a while since we were out there but 2 things I remember....
Weather changes fast out there. Was in Cripple creak August day 80 degrees started raining then hail the size of golf *****. The whole thing lasted about an hour. Sun came out and started warming back up. We crossed the street and my mom looked down to find a chunk of turkoise (sp) half as big as a golf ball.

at a later trip we went to a shaft style gold mine called "The Molly Kathlene". They put you into the shaft cart and send you down 1200 feet to see how it was done.

 

Great info guys! It looks like we're going to end up with a 27 ft Zinger. It didn't look like it is too heavy, so I imagine hauling it should be a breeze. I'm used to towing, just never an rv before. The hook ups thing is good advice, the whole hook up electricity thing is really unknown to me. I've never been in one before, so I'll read rv.net and such.

 

First thing is to make sure you get the right size RV for your trip. Many camping sites have size limitations. If size is not a factor, go for the 27 footer. The truck will pull it without issue.

 

On your way out to CO, & back, if you want to save a few bucks on camping, Walmarts, generally, don't mind you spending the night in their lots. If you are just going to park, go to bed & get up in the morning & leave, that works well. They don't like you putting out the awning, lawn chairs & start bar-b-gueing in their lot.

If you see a Walmart with a number of RV's parked in the lot, you should be OK to spend the night. Otherwise, ask the store mgr. for permission. this works if you don't need to dump or need electricity. I've done it many times all across the country. Some towns have instituted laws that outlaw "parking lot camping". But, many have not.

If you have the time, the highway between Durango, Silverton & Ouray is sensational. Great towns, also. Just north of Durango is a Haviland Lake & a campground. It is the most beautiful campground area that I have ever seen.

There is "No Ugly" in Western CO. It's a beautiful state & almost anywhere you go will not be dissappointing.

While in Estes Park, go west through Rocky Mtn. Nat'l. Park to Grand Lake (town & lake). Nice little town right on the lake. Keep an eye out for moose in Rocky Mtn. N.P. Lots of elk right in the town of Estes Park.

If you get to Durango, there is an old time steam locomotive trip up to Silverton. The ride lasts most of the day, with a lay-over of a couple of hours in Silverton. If pressed for time, you can take a bus back to Durango but, I would take the train. It's on the same tracks but, you get a different prespective & it's well worth the time.

Ouray is called the "Little Switzerland" of the US. It lives up to its name, also. Spend some time walking around. The town is in a box canyon & is a beautiful setting.

Remember, trailer tires are only rated for 65 mph. Pump them up to close to their maximum pressure.

Use the "white" rv hoses to fill your fresh water tanks. Rubber garden hoses often leave that "rubber' taste to the water.

Use "RV Type" toilet paper. It disolves, whereas, the home type does not. You don't want to have "plugs" in the black water tank (toilet).

If you like the "RV experience" ask around at the campgrounds to see what other RV'ers like with their trailers. Most probably, you will be shopping for one when you get back.

Try not to have your wife have to do ALL the cooking & cleaning. Remember, it's HER vacation, too. (I don't have a wife but, have heard this often.) If she doesn't like the "experience", nobody will like it! If the rest of the family does like it, & she doesn't, you will go through hell trying to convince her that buying an RV is a good idea. To her, it will just be something else to clean & cook, in.

I wish you & your family a wonderful trip. You, certainly, did not make a mistake by choosing CO for your inaugural RV trip. If it's not the most beautiful State, in the Union, it's very near the top. However, many of the mountain States offer spectacular scenery. CO is just an introduction to some of the most beautiful country you can imagine.

Joe F.(Buffalo)

 

Best thing I EVER purchased for camping is a set of walkie talkies.

That way when you are backing the trailer in, your not SCREAMING at the wife and kids on which way you need to go.

Also if you rent a popup make sure you dont pack the things you might need when ariving at the campground: raincoats, lantern, flashlight, etc.
Take it from me I have gone from a tent to a pop-up to a 23' travel trailer to my current 27' travel trailer.
We are currently looking for a 5th wheel around the 30'-33' range with bunkbeds.

Oh yeah, make sure you have a heavy set of gloves for when you have to hook up or un hook the sewer line, or when you have to go to the dump station. Not pretty what comes out of that hose.

Also,
The most IMPORTANT thing to remember is to,



HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Just remeber you're at high altitude. Expect anything form about 15% to more than 25% power loss at altutude. Just plan your passing distances and watch your EGT's on long uphill grades. One think you will enjoy is the sound of your CTD passing all those gassers on the way up!! Have a great trip! Oh yea, expect to see all 4 seasons in one day in some of those places!

 

Places to stay, best to worst IMO:
1. State Parks
2. Private Campgounds
3. National Parks
4. Interstate Rest Stops
5. RV Parks

 

X2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!