Go Big and Get Home

[Ironbutt]

In November we bought our first RV, a 2012 X17Z. We just returned from our first trip which covered 9798 miles. Our TV is a 2009 Ram 1500 w/ 5.7 Hemi engine. Here are some of the places we went and some reflections.

Left Emerald Isle, NC on 4/30/214
San Marcos, TX
Carlsbad, NM (Carlsbad Caverns)
Holbrook AZ (Winslow, Petrified Forest, Painted Desert)
Gouldings UT (Monument Valley, Natural Bridges, Canyon DeChelly, Hovenweep NM, Navaho NM)
Page, AZ ( Rafting Colorado River, Glen Canyon Dam)
Jacob Lake, AZ (Grand Canyon North Rim)
Tusayan, AZ (Grand Canyon South Rim)
Sedona, AZ (Jeep Tour)
Boulder City, NV (Flightlinez Bootleg Canyon 8500 ft Zip Line, Hoover Dam)
Furnace Creek Ranch (Death Valley, Badwater, Scotty’s Castle, 113 degrees!!!)
Weldon, CA (Lake Isabella)
Three Rivers, CA (Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP)
Lee Vining, CA (Yosemite NP, Bodie Ghost Town, Mono Lake, Mammoth Lakes/Devils Post Pile)
Great Basin NP
Arches NP
Littleton , CO
Home to NY on 6/19 (3 days driving)

Lessons Learned
Trailer Tires don’t last but it was easy to get replacements on the road (D rated @$69 each installed). Tire pressure is critical and 12 volt compressors don’t make the grade. Bought a 1 gallon pancake unit. Much Better.

The LP furnace uses a lot of LP. Bought a 750/1500W electric heater. Excellent , as were the goose down queen sized sleeping bag in keeping us warm on some 35 degree nights.

Equalizer WDH/Anti Sway…Don’t leave home without it!!

30 MPH Head winds = 7MPG. Otherwise we averaged 11MPG. Better MPG using my right foot as opposed to CC.

If it’s really HOT turn on AC and wait to open tent ends.
Screws get loose. stuff breaks….so what, fix it and move on.

Reflections
RV camping is the way to go. We had a great trip. What we spent in gas we saved in not eating in restaurants and paying an average of $35 per night for full hook up sites. We met so many great people from our own country and many other countries, including couple from Holland and a young man bicycling across America who willingly accepted my wife’s invitation to dinner.

The X17Z is a wonderful camper. Certainly big enough for the two of us. We slept in it, showered in it and cooked and ate in it every night of the trip except the last night on the road home. Our only complaint…. the tent ends tend to wake you up early either by early morning sun light or campground/road noise.

We’re planning two more trips. Northern National Parks/Vancouver next year and Canada/Alaska in 2016. We’ll decide if we’re going to keep the 17z for these two trips only on account of being in grizzly country.

America the Beautiful….No truer words were ever said!! Enjoy.

[Threebutchers]

Very jealous....thanks for sharing your experience! It gives me hope, yet.

[SecretCoveDave]

Keep on having fun!
Hope you enjoy BC when you get here.

[Ela1948]

Way to go!!! Sounds like you are young enough to really get the most out of that kind a trip.. And you are so right about America the beautiful!!!!

[Camper_bob]

Wow! That's impressive! I'm very jealous.

[Brownie]

What a trip!!! I, too, am jealous. Hope to be doing a little of that myself in the coming months. Just not all at once. Glad you enjoyed your lodgings, too. That sure makes the trip more comfortable. I think I'd go hard sides for the trips into Grizz Country. I'll bet you'll enjoy them just as much as this last one.

Happy camping!

[Bikester]

Great trip and great readout! Thanks for sharing!

[Tunce the traveler]

WoW, that sounds like such a great trip across the country. My usual trip is around 4K miles and 6-7 weeks from just Washington to LA all along the coast with my dog and we feel so free and hate to return to home base.

[glsimms]

So I just got home from my daughter and son-in-law and they are in the middle of planning a 2 week trip next year out west with their TT. Then I see this thread and it is very inspirational. I really enjoyed reading it!

Thanks for sharing!!

[dhinkle57]

Really jealous. Looking forward to trips like that in a few years(have to finish the work thing). Probably need a little more truck to tackle those hills out west too. Welcome to the site.

[roving legrands]

Thank you for the reflection, as I read it I'm sitting at Mammoth cave park, your right America the beautiful! Just keep the tent ends up to go camping in bear country!

[Allamuchy Joe]

Love the post!

My wife and I did a 3 1/2 weeker out from NJ to Colorado & Utah in our X17Z (about 6,000 miles) a couple of years ago. Lots of mountain biking, sight seeing and, of course, camping. Really enjoyed ourselves and we are planning on going again during September of 2015.

The X17Z is easy to tow, easy to set up and very comfortable. However, it is not so comfortable that you don't want to enjoy the outdoors when you are camping. A great combination of traits.

Joe

[Ironbutt]

Roving Legrands,

Mammoth Cave is great. I was there several years ago. As I'm sure you'll find out, the correct term is "caving" not "spelunking". As a ranger who led our 5 hour caving trip stated "cavers are the people who rescue spelunkers! Have a great trip.
Ironbutt