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Old 05-02-2016, 11:15 AM   #1
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Traveling from NJ to FL - Feedback please

Ok, so I am picking up my new (to me) 2014 30' Flying Cloud on Monday, May 23rd. A big thanks to Patrick Boticelli from Colonial Airstream for hooking me up. I am driving up the weekend before and showing up Monday for pickup, and spending the night Monday at Colonial in my new trailer.

So, Tuesday May 24th I start the trip home. I went crazy booking sites online on the way back and using Google maps and the Good Sam website. Any tips or comments welcome. First couple of legs are small, the last couple a little longer. I selected pull through sites whenever I could. I still don't have a lot in Florida to call home, so this may be going into storage while I sort that out.

Here's what I worked out so far.

@ Colonial on May 23rd

Cherry Hill Park
9800 Cherry Hill Road, College Park, MD 20740
http://www.cherryhillpark.com/
800-801-6449
May 24th

Americamps RV Resort
11322 Air Park Rd., Ashland, VA
http://americamps.com/
May 25th
804.798.5298

Fayetteville RV Resort
6250 Wade-Stedman Road Wade, NC 28395
910-484-5500
http://fayettevillervresort.com/
May 26th

Pecan Park RV Resort
650 Pecan Park Rd
Jacksonville, FL 32218
http://www.pecanparkrvresort.com/
(904) 751-6770
May 27th

River Ranch RV Resort
May 28th - Forever

OR

Plan B
Tampa South RV Resort
2900 HWY 41 South
Ruskin , Florida 33570
Phone: 813.645.1202
Fax: 813.645.0204
May28-June 4 and then into storage
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Old 05-02-2016, 11:33 AM   #2
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Americamps to Fayetteville is a pretty short hop with nothing to do at either end. Americamps is a nice waypoint for 1 night, though. Why not go as far as South of the Border the next night? It is a dumb looking place but the campground is nice. You can walk over to the food options. Don't bother to pay to see the reptiles, though....

Larry
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Old 05-02-2016, 12:01 PM   #3
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Yes, I planned a short hop to give me time to unhook the TV and go do a supply run to the local market. The latter two hops are a bit longer, thinking I was going to be feeling a bit more "experienced'.
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Old 05-02-2016, 12:25 PM   #4
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Are you "just driving" or sightseeing along the way. If this is merely a quick trip to get home you might think about stopping at places like Walmart, Cracker Barrel, and the like. Or Harvest Hosts could work depending on where they have them. Camping Worlds usually allow overnight stays if you are a Good Sam member as well.

BTW, congrats!
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Old 05-02-2016, 12:27 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SCOTTinNJ View Post
Are you "just driving" or sightseeing along the way. If this is merely a quick trip to get home you might think about stopping at places like Walmart, Cracker Barrel, and the like. Or Harvest Hosts could work depending on where they have them. Camping Worlds usually allow overnight stays if you are a Good Sam member as well.

BTW, congrats!
Well, the main objective is to get the trailer home, but we decided to "take the week" and do it nice and slow. So we may do some sightseeing, shopping, and want to do our traveling during daylight hours.

So I could have made that trip a lot more "efficient". Just didn't want to.
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Old 05-02-2016, 12:27 PM   #6
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I get the idea that towing is not your forte'. With that in mind I strongly suggest you change your route to bypass Baltimore and WDC. You can not go through the tunnel in Baltimore and you do not want to go any wheres near WDC with a trailer.

Look at the maps and consider getting off route 95 in Del. and using route 301 south all the way to 295 near Richmond. Take 295 east around Richmond to 95 south. There is a campground at exit 41 in Va.

If you have trouble following the route PM me for deatails.
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Old 05-02-2016, 12:36 PM   #7
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I told Google to avoid toll roads and this is what I got.
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Old 05-02-2016, 12:52 PM   #8
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Welcome to the forum, and congratulations on the new trailer! Patrick and Colonial are good resources indeed. Are they setting you up with a weight-distributing hitch?

You may find useful information in this earlier thread for a similar route:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...fl-144724.html

especially regarding tunnels/propane issues as well as taking the Cape Lewes MD ferry and going down The Eastern Shore via the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.

In my personal opinion, and as a general overview, your schedule seems too tight for someone new to towing a large trailer (if I have read things right -- sorry if I am missing something).

Also, with such an expensive rig, avoiding toll roads may be short-sighted?

Good luck!

PS -- I just noticed the specs of your trailer and tow vehicle. Are the weight limits compatible?

PS2 -- Also just saw the quote below from the thread linked above [Post #53]:

Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaLevel View Post
Oh how I wish this thread had been here before we picked up our AS and towed it back to South Florida from Colonial. We made it okay, but it was not stress free, and we ran into some serious traffic delays.
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Old 05-02-2016, 01:00 PM   #9
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My advise for a new tow'er would be to get out to I 81 as soon as practical.

It will be a little out of your way but the traffic is more manageable and generally more friendly than driving down the coast.

FWIW....


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Old 05-02-2016, 01:04 PM   #10
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IMHO That tow vehicle will do fine with a good hitch..


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Old 05-02-2016, 01:13 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OTRA15 View Post
PS -- I just noticed the specs of your trailer and tow vehicle. Are the weight limits compatible?
Yes. i can tow 8300. Dry weight is 6400. I am not putting 1 ton of stuff. A ton, maybe, but not 2000 lbs. Between water and clothes and groceries and some kick knacks, I'd be lucky if I hit 7500.

I told Google to avoid tolls to avoid the city centers and the tunnels. It did a good job in routing me around Baltimore and DC. I am also doing this during the week so I won't be able to avoid rush hour. So I'll just take it slow and enjoy my iPod tunes...

Colonial is hooking me up with an Equalizer hitch and an orientation. Both which I think I need!
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2014 Airstream Flying Cloud 30' Recliner: Base weight 6422, GVWR 8800
2013 Cadillac Escalade Tow Vehicle: 6.2L, 403hp, 417 ft-lb., 4x2, 3.42 axle ratio, Max Payload 1573, Max Towing 8300.
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Old 05-02-2016, 01:28 PM   #12
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I just made a trip in my 4,760 pound half ton truck towing my 7,880 pound airstream with 1,160 pounds of tools and stuff in the bed....

Over 1,000 trouble free miles....

You will be fine.


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Old 05-02-2016, 01:34 PM   #13
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Google does not always tell the truth. The Del Memorial Bridge, or any bridge you take to get out of Jersey is a toll. 95 In Del is toll. The Key bridge is the shorter way around Baltimore but is also a toll but not sure it is one way or both.

Now be for warned. Do not use any form of Easy Pass on the Delaware bridge. They will charge you by the axle at commercial rates. Pay with cash.

The route I suggested down 301 is the cheapest as far as tolls. You will pay at the Nice bridge over the Potomac and it is $25.00 fro my tri axle but you should be $20.00. The Annapolis bridge is free south bound.

I have made this trip probably 50+ times.

81 will take you far west of Fl. and if you cross back to 95 in Va. NC.or SC, you will have to cross the Smokies. Save that till you know how to drive in the mountains.
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Old 05-02-2016, 01:34 PM   #14
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I-95 is one of those roads where people think 95 is the speed limit, not the route number. Once you get south of Petersburg VA it turns civilized - well relatively - until you get south of Savannah.

I just recently came home to Virginia Beach via 695 EAST around most of Baltimore and 301 South - During the right time of the day 695 on the eastern leg is fairly decent - and 301 outside of rush hour is nice too.

I really prefer 301 and route 17 in Virginia any time I'm going northwest within Virginia. Pretty country - but being built up more every year.

The loop around Baltimore has scared the wits out of me more than once, but you cannot go through the tunnel in downtown unless you want to risk major fines (no propane bottles allowed.) It's "scenic" to take the east loop but expensive because of the Key Bridge - huge and high and imposing - as are the tolls when you have more than two axles. (I cried when I took my tri-axle Avion home that way). And then I got on route 301 which I like because there are lots of towns with RV friendly parking lots where you can grab lunch or a coffee.

But then you come to a "confidence builder" - Kind of like the "Crucible" for Marine recruits! It is the Potomac River Bridge. Again a high toll for extra axles - southbound only - which you'll completely forget about as your eyebrows reach your hairline at first sight of the bridge. Old, Rusty, STEEP grade going real high for ocean going ships to pass under... and built BARELY 2 lanes wide. 7 minutes of terror focused between your right rearview mirror and the oncoming traffic - to avoid sideswipes. After that life is a picnic for 100 miles. IF you can catch the bridge at the first hint of dawn traffic can be light, and you might actually enjoy the scenery until you look at the bridge structure and see how rusty it is.

Now, you'll feel better about I-95. eh?

Paula
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Old 05-02-2016, 01:46 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by J. Morgan View Post
My advise for a new tow'er would be to get out to I 81 as soon as practical.
. . .
Excellent advice as discussed in that other earlier thread also. I-81 is a joy compared to the coastal routes.
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Old 05-02-2016, 02:06 PM   #16
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I always would go west to I-81 when I could, it is a lot less stressful than I-95, and not much further into FLA via I-77, I-26, and back to I-95 above Savannah.

I HATE DC traffic. Just missing DC makes it worth the detour for me.


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Old 05-02-2016, 02:19 PM   #17
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If you do consider 77 or 26 over the Smokes keep this is mind. You Always go down a mountain in the same gear you went up the mountain in. That is not a joke and why they have run off ramps along the road for those who do not follow that suggestion. You do that so you will not have to use, and possibly lose, your brakes
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Old 05-02-2016, 03:59 PM   #18
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one more vote for I-81.
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Old 05-02-2016, 05:00 PM   #19
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I see you have Tampa South RV Resort as your Plan B. We stayed there last June and are doing so next week. We really like it -- very clean with a new pool and the bathhouses are as nice as we have ever seen. Great people, too, and not very busy this time of year. The lots are kind of small and plain unless you can wrangle a spot overlooking the River.
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Old 05-02-2016, 05:01 PM   #20
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I notice you are taking I 95 most of the way so I was wondering have you given any thought after crossing the Delaware Bridge to taking Route 1 /13 over the cheseapeake baybridge tunnel to Virginia Beach around Norfolk to route 58 to Emporium VA and get on 95 from there. IMO it has a lot less traffic then going around DC and through Richmond.
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