Workamping 2017 - RV-Dreams Community Forum

carolinakids · RV-Dreams Family Member

Workamping 2017

GeorgiaKS · RV-Dreams Community Member

We are considering workamping in Washington state, we would be heading there from Florida. Any route suggestions to navigate getting up there through California. Thank you!

carolinakids · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are going to Miami, we will leave it around Feb. 10th and head west. We have been across I-10 once and this time we plan on taking back roads. Just kind of wing it. No hurry just putter along day by day.

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

GeorgiaKS wrote:
We are considering workamping in Washington state, we would be heading there from Florida. Any route suggestions to navigate getting up there through California. Thank you!

The I-5 corridor is the quickest, for sight-seeing take 101.

GeorgiaKS · RV-Dreams Community Member

Any suggestions for getting around LA? Thank you!

jjhoyle · RV-Dreams Community Member

We like to stay east of the Sierras and Cascades by going up through Arizona Nevada and California and Oregon. Just north of Chemult, Oregon highway 58 will take you over the Cascades into the Willamett Valley. You can then just stay on I-5. US 95 in Arizona and Nevada are nice Highways.
395 in California is ok, some hills.

GeorgiaKS · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thank you! It's our first trip out west.

Ann and Steve · RV-Dreams Family Member

The DW and I have made the CA/OR/WA run twice, once north, once south. I suggest putting your RV on a barge and having it shipped. I-5 in CA is a mix of good-to-terrible road surfaces. Traffic through LA is bad - 24/7. I went through San Francisco going north - not recommended. Went around SF coming south on I-5, not bad but road surfaces weren't all that great in spots. We pulled our 40' fiver behind a 22' dually up US-101. I'll not do that ever again. Up, down, tight turns, blind corners, scary drop-offs. A once in a lifetime experience. Signs reading "Units more than 30' between kingpin and axles not recommended" at various locations. The wife enjoyed the scenery while I was white-knuckled most of the way. Next time, I'm thinking I-15 to Salt Lake City then I-84 to Portland. Mountains don't bother me. I-5 in Oregon is a great road and not bad in southern Washington. Around Seattle is a different story.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

GeorgiaKS - to avoid LA, we almost always go across CA 58, as you're coming across I-10, there are multiple options to go north to I-40 which joins CA 58 near Barstow. Personally we HATE the section of I-40 (2 breakdowns in the same area, we're jinxed) in NW AZ near the CA border. So we would take I-10 to the Palm Springs area, I-215 to I-15 to US 395 and up to CA 58. You'll hit a little traffic in the San Bernadino area, but it's not too bad if you can go through there mid day on a weekday or even better on a Sunday morning.

Once you reach Bakersfield CA you can either continue up CA 99 which we don't like due to numerous on/off ramps and crazy CA drivers who think they have to race ahead of the RV's and cut us off just so they aren't stuck behind us for a few seconds. Personally we usually take a side highway to I-5 and keep going north. The only real congestion you might have is Sacramento and as long as you avoid that during rush hour, it's not a bad drive. 101 would definitely be more scenic. Staying on I-5 avoids the Bay area, which in my mind is one of the most unfriendly RV areas we have ever traveled through.

If you don't have it yet, I strong suggest you invest in the Mountain Pass Directory and study your options for the passes, keep an eye on weather and make sure you're not crossing on day with high winds, snow or rain potential.

If you can tell us where in WA you are headed we might have some suggestions on avoiding I-5 Seattle traffic, used to live there and go back each summer, all I can say is if you have to go through in an RV go early AM Saturday or Sunday, avoid rush hour at all costs.

Cindy T · RV-Dreams Family Member

Carolinakids,

When will you be working in the Arapaho National Forest?

GeorgiaKS · RV-Dreams Community Member

Ruth & Dale- Your route advise is so helpful, thank you!!! I've already ordered the mountain pass directory you suggested, thanks again. We are heading south of Olympia.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

GeorgiaKS - one other suggestion, as you go through Portland OR, if you are on I-5, take the I-215 option to avoid downtown Portland. Also advise mid day or weekend, avoid Portland OR at rush hour as you travel.

Have fun, not sure where you are going, but if you are south of Olympia, there's wonderful places to explore around Mt. Rainier, Mt. Saint Helens, etc, etc. Love that part of the state in the summer, won't ever find us there again in the winter.

-- Edited by NWescapee on Tuesday 29th of November 2016 06:25:51 PM

GeorgiaKS · RV-Dreams Community Member

Ruth & Dale - Could you tell me why you won't winter there again? The position we are considering includes the winter months too. Any info you have would help us in making this major decision. Thank you!

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

GeorgiaKS, we no longer want to winter in Western WA because we got sick of the rain. If you are west of the Cascades the rainy season starts in October (sometimes September) and doesn't end until June. We used to joke that summer started July 5th and ended the Friday of Labor Day weekend. Not always true, but we're never surprised by rain on the July 4th weekend or Labor Day. Love the summers, we still go back in late June and most of July to Western WA, August in Eastern WA/ Northern ID, but by the time September hits we're heading south. Just got tired of gray skies.

GeorgiaKS · RV-Dreams Community Member

Ruth & Dale,. Again thank you for your information. I have another question, does all of the rain and lack of sunshine have adverse effects on the Rv? We have slide toppers and a two piece fiberglass roof. As I'm sure you have gathered, we are newbies. Thanks again!

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

I would advise that you just keep it clean and make sure you don't have any leaks. We've seen RV's in Western WA covered in moss or mildew when left unattended for too long. We never had that problem, but each spring and fall we thoroughly clean the roof and treat it with a rubber roof protector.

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

GeorgiaKS wrote:
Ruth & Dale- Your route advise is so helpful, thank you!!! I've already ordered the mountain pass directory you suggested, thanks again. We are heading south of Olympia.

There is an iPad app for mountain passes ... it's called Mountain Directory East and West. More convenient than paper and more likely to be kept current.

carolinakids · RV-Dreams Family Member

May-19th thru Sept. 27th.

Randy-Kathi · RV-Dreams Community Member

Lola and Rush, This is so good to hear....we have hesitated about posting our resume. I think I will get it written this week and up. See what comes our way.

SamK · RV-Dreams Community Member

Good luck to you guys too. It really feels great to do volunteer work.

carolinakids · RV-Dreams Family Member

We visited a SP in Florida and filled out an application and have now gotten a volunteer job for just one month in Dec. 2017. Received phone calls from our reference and thankfully we were approved for the gig. We now know that most of our apps we sent in back in Oct. were not looked at till Jan. We are still amazed at the request for volunteering and calls and emails for positions available. After what we have received this year we will be a little more selective sort of. Once again Howard and Linda thanks for all your help.

carolinakids · RV-Dreams Family Member

Make sure you ask everything you may want to know about the position and camping spot and hookups. Be specific about the hookups. Available washer and dryers if needed, grocery stores and of course wheres Wal-mart haha. What your schedule will be and is this subject to change. Your off days and are they consecutive. Just anything that pops up ask it. Just don't be surprised when you get there and you go oh I didn't get that info. Its all good just passing on what we feel to share.

My Wife has done a good job in picking our location. We are at a small State Park here in SW Colorado. 43 camp sites between 2 of us. Beautiful scenery with the mountain in the area. A lot to see and we have a reservoir to use our new inflatable Kayak. Fishing is good they say and we hope to enjoy it all and more.

Good luck on everyone's venture this season. Got our hopes up next year for an Alaskan adventure.

carolinakids · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our first month at Iron Creek Colorado S.P. has been great. Lola picked a very good spot to experience our first workamping gig. Our fellow camphost are the greatest. We cook together, fish and go on road trips account they have been here 4 yrs. The beauty of Colorado and our fellow host make this a fantastic venture. If anyone is interested keep your eyes on this spot next year, Its a great gig for first time workamping. No bathrooms to clean, there handled by another group. I will say its a gig for those who are people friendly. Lola and I's friendly southern personality fits right in. Our campers pick at us account of our accents.

Happy Trails