Hi we are new to the forum and just love the open honest people here. We Purchased a very well taken care of 1992 32' Itasca motorhome this fall and have spent about three weeks traveling the UP of Michigan. We plan to be snow birds and leave northern Michigan in the winters. We live in Traverse City and love this area in the summer. We would like to visit the National Parks our first few years out. We plan on leaving in September and returning in April to Michigan. What are the best times to visit the parks when there are camp site available? Are there boondocking sites near the Natioal Parks?
I have so many questions. I will post just a few at a time.
We seem to run out of potable water first. How do you fetch water without moving the rig?
How do you get local ABC, NBC, CBS channels on Direct TV?
Thanks Rodger
NorCal Dan said
10:21 AM Nov 8, 2009
Hello Roger, welcome to the forum.
For the networks on directv you subscribe to their DNS service. Costs about $12/month and you will get the networks from east and/or west coast.
If you want local channels then you can either use your crankup batwing antenna, or if you can't pick them up then call directv and tell them where you are located and they will program your receiver. Each time I call them they remind me not to call to often, like once or twice (or more) a month as you move around. I asked them if 4-6 times a year would be ok and they said yes that was fine.
Make sure you tell them you live in an RV and they will have you fill out a waiver and send them a copy of your registration on the MH.
-- Edited by NorCal Dan on Sunday 8th of November 2009 10:21:48 AM
53 Merc said
10:22 AM Nov 8, 2009
Depending on your length of stay in an area, DirecTV will open the port for local TV if you call them and get a change of location. You do not need help, you just need connection.
Other than that, you can get either East or West Coast feeds of the networks, takes a bit of doing, something about the feeds have to issue a waiver.
Glad to have you here, don't hesitate to ask questions. There is a lot of experience here that will gladly share.
Howard said
12:09 PM Nov 8, 2009
The National Park campgrounds stay pretty busy, but your best shot is in "shoulder" seasons. Shoulder seasons vary by park and location, but that usually means when the weather is not the best or worst and when kids are in school.
There is much more boondocking around National Parks in the west. No much at all in the east. Of course, in many National Parks, you will be boondocking as several have no hook-ups and that makes finding a spot a little easier.
As for getting potable water to the rig without moving it - lots and lots of hose. Seriously, we carry about 125 ft. of white hose so we can hook-up to area water spigots without having to move. If there are no spigots within hose range, lots of boondockers have a water bladder like this one at Camping World.
Though the picture on Camping World's site shows the bladder on a vehicle roof (for gravity fill, I suppose), I personally wouldn't do that. Most folks get a small water pump to pump the water into the fresh tank from the bladder so gravity isn't necessary.
Roz said
07:32 AM Nov 9, 2009
Greetings, Rodger!
We love the area northwest of you up near Northport and on up to Christmas Cove. We have stayed at Lake Leelanau for a week the first of June. Love it.
Understand your desire (actually need) to head south for the winter. We, too, have an Itasca MH. Love it! Best wishes onyour travels.
Also, be sure and check on Corps of Engineer campgrounds. They are awesome! One of our favorites is Percy Preist Lake just east of Nashville, TN.
Speedhitch said
09:34 AM Nov 9, 2009
Welcome to the forum. We too love the National Parks and like ROZ says COE parks are great too. Check into Howard and Linda's Campground Review...they stay at National Parks COE and State parks. They have some good information about many parks that might help you out.
I have so many questions. I will post just a few at a time.
We seem to run out of potable water first. How do you fetch water without moving the rig?
How do you get local ABC, NBC, CBS channels on Direct TV?
Thanks Rodger
For the networks on directv you subscribe to their DNS service. Costs about $12/month and you will get the networks from east and/or west coast.
If you want local channels then you can either use your crankup batwing antenna, or if you can't pick them up then call directv and tell them where you are located and they will program your receiver. Each time I call them they remind me not to call to often, like once or twice (or more) a month as you move around. I asked them if 4-6 times a year would be ok and they said yes that was fine.
Make sure you tell them you live in an RV and they will have you fill out a waiver and send them a copy of your registration on the MH.
-- Edited by NorCal Dan on Sunday 8th of November 2009 10:21:48 AM
Other than that, you can get either East or West Coast feeds of the networks, takes a bit of doing, something about the feeds have to issue a waiver.
Glad to have you here, don't hesitate to ask questions. There is a lot of experience here that will gladly share.
The National Park campgrounds stay pretty busy, but your best shot is in "shoulder" seasons. Shoulder seasons vary by park and location, but that usually means when the weather is not the best or worst and when kids are in school.
Seriously, we carry about 125 ft. of white hose so we can hook-up to area water spigots without having to move. If there are no spigots within hose range, lots of boondockers have a water bladder like this one at Camping World.
45-Gallon Water BladderThere is much more boondocking around National Parks in the west. No much at all in the east. Of course, in many National Parks, you will be boondocking as several have no hook-ups and that makes finding a spot a little easier.
As for getting potable water to the rig without moving it - lots and lots of hose.
Though the picture on Camping World's site shows the bladder on a vehicle roof (for gravity fill, I suppose), I personally wouldn't do that. Most folks get a small water pump to pump the water into the fresh tank from the bladder so gravity isn't necessary.
Greetings, Rodger!
We love the area northwest of you up near Northport and on up to Christmas Cove. We have stayed at Lake Leelanau for a week the first of June. Love it.
Understand your desire (actually need) to head south for the winter. We, too, have an Itasca MH. Love it! Best wishes onyour travels.
Also, be sure and check on Corps of Engineer campgrounds. They are awesome! One of our favorites is Percy Preist Lake just east of Nashville, TN.