Fort Wilderness - Here We Come!!

[eagletoo]

Greetings fellow Streamers,
DW and I will be undertaking our very first long adventure in our new 2018 23CB during the last week in August.

Starting in the NY area and traveling via I-95 and I-4 to meet with the 5 grandkids in the World.

Should we travel with FW in the tank? Any suggestions on safe overnight locations or those to continue past?

Any guidance/advice/cautions you can share would be most appreciated.

Thank you.

[Al and Missy]

I always travel with around 1/4 tank of fresh water. When we stop at rest areas, we use our facilities instead of going inside. We are heading out on a long trip in June and will be staying at some places where there is electricity at the site but no water hookup. It is also handy if for some reason we have to spend a night at a WalMart or Cracker Barrel like we did last year when we couldn't fit in the site we had reserved or the offered alternate.

We typically stay at commercial campgrounds, state, county or city parks, and Corps of Engineer sites. There is a website called Allstays and an associated app that will give you reviews on campsites and also tell you other places like Flying J, rest stops, etc where overnighting is allowed. We have never used a rest stop for overnight, but some do.

Al

[Bill M.]

Yes, travel with fresh water in the tank. Nice to be able to flush and wash your hands and fix lunch. When I am traveling to get somewhere like you are I stay in commercial campgrounds partly for speed and partly for safety. I find KOA to generally be fine for in and out. I might make a reservation during the day for that night if I do not want to stop real early.

[azflycaster]

I always travel with a full or almost full tank for a couple of reasons. My 75 and now my 02 tow more stable with the extra weight and you never know what you will have at your next stop. We have been to campgrounds that have had to turn off the water due to an issue more then a few times and it is nice to know that we can cook, shower and use the other bathroom amenities.

[OTRA15]

Congrats Bruce on the new trailer, and making this trip!

You have asked some very open-ended questions about routing, campgrounds, and so forth, so be prepared for a host of wide-ranging opinions about everything. If you want to focus on any particular item, feel free to start new specific threads IMO.

One general caution is to be aware of limits/prohibitions on taking propane over/through various bridges and tunnels, like the Verrazano and George Washington lower levels, and the Baltimore and Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnels. You will have to bypass the I-95 etc. Baltimore tunnels, even if your propane tanks are turned off -- no propane there.

The new search function in the blue box above works great, and here are some relevant results:

Propane bridges tunnels: https://www.google.com/search?q=prop...=airforums.com

I-95: https://www.google.com/search?q=I-95...=airforums.com

Eastern Shore: https://www.google.com/search?q=East...=airforums.com


We have always gone down the Eastern Shore [including ferries] and avoided I-95, which can be a right mess if you go at the wrong time or day of the week. We carry some fresh water in the tank, depending on intended CG's and weight loading for the rest of the trailer.

Have a great adventure in the new Airstream, Bruce!

Peter

[eagletoo]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Congrats Bruce on the new trailer, and making this trip!

You have asked some very open-ended questions about routing, campgrounds, and so forth, so be prepared for a host of wide-ranging opinions about everything. If you want to focus on any particular item, feel free to start new specific threads IMO.

One general caution is to be aware of limits/prohibitions on taking propane over/through various bridges and tunnels, like the Verrazano and George Washington lower levels, and the Baltimore and Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnels. You will have to bypass the I-95 etc. Baltimore tunnels, even if your propane tanks are turned off -- no propane there.

The new search function in the blue box above works great, and here are some relevant results:

Propane bridges tunnels: https://www.google.com/search?q=prop...=airforums.com

I-95: https://www.google.com/search?q=I-95...=airforums.com

Eastern Shore: https://www.google.com/search?q=East...=airforums.com


We have always gone down the Eastern Shore [including ferries] and avoided I-95, which can be a right mess if you go at the wrong time or day of the week. We carry some fresh water in the tank, depending on intended CG's and weight loading for the rest of the trailer.

Have a great adventure in the new Airstream, Bruce!

Peter

Peter,
Thank you for those links. They are terrific!

[GMFL]

Fort Wilderness is awesome. We will be back there may 27th.
This is a huge campground. Request and try to stay in the 100, 200, or 300 loop

Trailer pulls better with water in the tank, lower center on gravity.

[OTRA15]

You are welcome, Bruce! BTW there is no need to quote someone if your reply is the next in line IMO. Makes for a cleaner thread which is easier to read.

Peter

[eagletoo]

Ok Peter. Fairly new to the forum concept. Thanks for the tip.

Same to you GMFL about the better loops in the Fort. I've heard nothing but good about it. Also, I will travel with some water in the tank.

[GMFL]

Bruce,
Are you following us on the 23D/CB thread

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f142...ad-166085.html

[kswelsh]

We are at Disney now (staying in resort) and toured Fort Wilderness. It is fantastic! You will love it! It is huge and several people rent a golf cart to get around. There is bus service through the park, but those buses can be quite crowded and the gold cart may come in handy. Safe travels!

[eagletoo]

GMFL, yes I am. I took your suggestion and had Colonial install your Dometic 321 two weeks ago. A wonderful upgrade you did and I thank you for the idea.

[GMFL]

Anytime. I am full of crazy ideas.

[Ted S.]

Pedro's Campground at South of the Border is easy, cheap and fun. Full hookups for around $30. Get the Allstays app, check the reviews on the Wallmarts. We typically hit one or two. There is a good one in Fredericksburg, VA. Medoc Mountain State Park in NC is great. Cabelas in Hamburg, PA is great, off of 78.

We never go 95 north of Washington. I will take the beltway, 270/15/81/83/84/90 home to MA. Our first time to FL was 95- never again. Got stoped with the propane, turned around in Baltimore, I think it was 695 loop we got down on our third try. No thanks, I mean I like pop a wheelies on motorcycles but not when they are surrounding me while towing my trailer at 65 mph on the interstate.

The key to traveling 95 is go as long as you can and hit a Walmart, Cracker Barrel or Flying J late night. You won't be alone. Skip the check in and hassle at the campgrounds and just run it hard. Driving is a piece of cake South of Richmond all the way to Jacksonville. 2 1/2 days driving for us Boston to Ft Wilderness. We have done it in 2 as well.

And yes, 1/3 of a tank of water. You won't find decent water unless you hit a campground. If you are at a Walmart, you might be out of level, if you tank is low, it might not get pressure because the pump pickup could be on the high side. Don't ask me how I know.

[eagletoo]

Ted S, great tips. 2 1/2 days you say? Ok. That’ll be our goal if we’re comfortable. Thank you.

[thiel]

I did this trip last year (from just a couple hours north of you).

We swung wide... out to Charlottesville VA, then Virginia Highland Haven, Asheville, then Atlanta, then down to Orlando. On the way back, we came up along the cost (after stopping at Jetty Park/Kennedy Space Center, which is GREAT AND NOT TO BE MISSED!). We followed the coast as far north as Charleston, then ducked west to come up (81?). From there, your route would be different I think....

I liked this route because there was lots to see on the way--and plenty of "lets break for lunch a museum and then get back on the road later" type of diversions.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by eagletoo

Ted S, great tips. 2 1/2 days you say? Ok. That’ll be our goal if we’re comfortable. Thank you.

Will you have two drivers? Anything over 4-500 miles per day is tough, especially for a first trip in a brand new trailer IMO.

Peter

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by thiel

I did this trip last year (from just a couple hours north of you).
. . .

How many days did each way take?

Thanks

[Ted S.]

When we first started we only did 4-500 miles/day. It does take time to get used to the towing. So maybe 3 full days NY to FL.

[eagletoo]

Only 1 driver - me with an excellent navigator ��. I plan to cruise on or very close to 60mph and hug that right lane. I can hear those truckers now! ��