Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!
We're finally back from our Phoenix to Seattle journey. Our FIRST trip in a motorhome!
It wasn't a come on. We drove a 25' Cruise America Motorhome from Phoenix Arizona to Seattle, Washington. They charged us $24 per day with free insurance and 2000 free miles for 7 nights. We decided that we needed an additional night, so we paid full price for that. The catch is, we had to pick it up and drop it off in a narrow window of time.
We both LOVED the trip. We stopped at:
Zion National Park (narrows walk) Capitol Reef National Park Goblin Valley State Park Scenic drive through the Twin Falls area Craters of the Moon National Monument Hells Canyon National Recreation Area Mt. Ranier National Park Some Seattle-area state parks
Hells Canyon was the highlight of our trip! You wouldn't think so with a name like that, but the mountain valley views along the Snake River were gorgeous. And the campgrounds were beautiful and cheap too ($16). They were run by the Idaho power company. You parked on the pavement (with electric and water hookups), surrounding hugh grassy common areas in a park-like setting. They watered the lawns every night. Too bad we didn't have time for a boat trip, but I'm not sure my back could take it anyway.
This was a 5 year old reconditioned motorhome destined for resale in Seattle. I was very surprised with how much it rattled on all but the smoothest roads. I tried to drive down a gravel road and turned around in several miles! I wonder if this is typical for all motorhomes?
I was too optimistic about how far we would drive per day. I just didn't feel safe driving the speed limit. I usually drove 65 when the limit was 75. I also got a good scare or two when hugh gusts of wind shook the unit, or when passed by semis.
Glad I read the posts about gas mileage! At least I was warned about the 8-10 mpg that I averaged per tank. Actually, with all the mountain driving I don't think that was so bad after all.
I wasn't sure how we would do, but after the second day my wife surprised me by always wanting to DRIVE the motorhome! (Except on the steepest mountains). We were surprised at how easy it was to drive as long as we didn't go too fast; much like driving our van actually.
Half-way through our vacation she told me she wants to do this again next summer, so it looks like our dream of retiring to a full-time life on the road is one step closer to reality.
HOORAY!!!
-- Edited by michigansnorkelers on Saturday 19th of September 2009 04:53:56 PM
Congratulations on your first adventure! Our first was also a Cruise America, in 2004. We loved the adventure and bought a class B (we called it RV 101), later a 40' class A for fulltiming. Anyway, trust me, a quality RV DOES NOT shake, rattle and roll like the rental unit. These companies offer the basics only, because they know the renters will not take care of them. I think they are built to self-destruct in 1-2 years. We actually made a few repairs while on the road and returned the unit in much better shape than when we picked it up!!!!! I'm glad to see that you had a good time in spite of the somewhat inferior motorhome. It can only get better from here!
