Hi

[Marsh]

like your site,  joined so i can see the pictures and learn more ... peace

 

[Theadyn]

Hi and Welcome!!

 

[rvpopeye]

Welcome aboard Marsh
I hope you enjoy the pics and get a case of "I wanna do this" !
Ask any questions that pop up as you read......

 

[WriterMs]

HI Marsh,
Pics make a big difference in sharing ideas and knowledge.

Many of us "regulars" often get nosy and ask if you currently live in a rig or want to city dwell or boondock.... that sort of thing. But then again, many on here are very reserved. So welcome either way!

 

[Marsh]

ok, i share a bit.  many moons ago when jobs were plentiful i would jump in whatever i was driving at the time (car or truck, never owned a van) and just drove around america and worked construction jobs, and i loved it, but then one day it all suddenly stopped.

flash forward 20 years, with 1 marriage, 2 kids and 1 divorce along the way.

so, couple years ago i rent a car for trip from indy to denver. 2 adults, 2 young adults and a 10yr old in an uncomfortable pos dodge charger with a steering issue (a pull to the left). i get half way through kansas (in the middle of fricken nowhere) and cant take it anymore, so i found this tiny enterprise office and tell them that this car has issues and i would like a different car, their super cool about it and say ok but all we have is 1 car available and its a dodge grand caravan, so i say ok with me just as long as it was safe to drive.

within seconds of loading up and hitting the road everyone (me included) started talking about the night and day difference of comfort between the car and the van. this was my 1st time driving a van and i immediately fell in love with it.

currently planning the big kahuna (by our standards). a 17 day 6000mi trip from indy to seattle, down the pacific coast then over to vegas, off from there to the grand canyon then onto santa fe, finish the trip in denver before hell day and the straight shot back to indy.

so far im thinking about setting up a 2 passenger, lower mile, 03 to 05 awd astro/safari road tripper. upgraded w/ 300w renogy kit, 2 nice cushy captains seats, bed, bath, tv, small fridge.  need storage for outdoor cooking, a table, 2 nice folding lawn chairs and a quick set screen tent.

my biggest concern is the bath tub, i did a test run in my real bath tub using 2 - 5 gal buckets, i put 3gal of hot water in 1 and sat on the other (with a small towel folded over for a cushion).  used a cup to dip and pour on me. i just drenched down, shampooed and soaped, then used the rest for the rinse and it worked well.  

im thinking i can find one of those decent size busser tubs they use in restaurants, rig some type of drain hook up w/a quick set shower curtain.  

i plan on cooking in city parks under shelters if possible, but a shady tree will work nice also. hoping to also be able to procure my daily water needs at parks also. plan on sleeping at major truck stops or maybe a walmart as 2nd choice, and lastly a hotel room if absolutely necessary.

ok, there ya have it. please feel free offer any advice about any aspect of my current plan.

thanks ... RM

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the CRVL forums Marsh!  Thanks for adding the additional information. Have you considered cutting your trip down a little? You'll be driving so much that you won't have a lot of time to enjoy all of those great places.

 A garden sprayer works well  for a shower - https://www.google.com/#q=shower+with+garden+sprayer
 Be sure to catch your shower water rather than letting it drain onto the ground. If you're camping on public land you can distribute it over a larger area but keep in mind that it may be illegal to do that in some areas.

 You probably won't need to go as high as 300 watts of solar for a just TV, lights and a 12 volt fridge.

 This is a great site for free campsites - https://freecampsites.net/usa/

  Keep us updated on your plans!

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started.   We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[ilovemyvan]

Hello and welcome Marsh,

I love your enthusiasm, road trips are great. I'm sure you did the calculation already but just in case...6,000 miles in 17 days = 352 miles a day if you average 60 miles an hour you will be driving almost 6 hours a day. Some people love to drive. It sounds like you're one of them.

You mentioned that you were going to stay at truck stops. Did you know that you can have a shower for about $10.00 at truck stop? It also can be shared at no extra charge. We don't have shower facilities in the van so we sponge bath one day and used the shower at the truck stop the next. They have soap, facecloths and clean towels and....wait for it...unlimited HOT WATER!!!!

What time of year are you planning your trip.

Have a great time.

Nicole

 

[Marsh]

thanks for the posts and tips everyone

heres better detail of my drive schedule, sorry for not adding this to other post

plan A rough est. - day 1 (indy/rapid city) and the last day (denver/indy) are both hell days, 1100mi nonstop @ appox 18hrs each

so 2200mi will be done in a day and a half which leaves 3800mi to be traveled in 15.5 days
or approx 4hrs per day @ 60mph

 

[rvpopeye]

It sounds like a fun adventure. I think you'll have fun!
Those 2 days will be rough but the rest sounds like you'll have some time to explore , just not a lot !
The showers in the truck stops will be a treat but your plan is very do-able too.
Sounds like you'll be driving enough to maybe not need the solar ????

 

[Marsh]

i need solar, will be camping at the coke lot for 4 days during the 500 and 3 days for the brickyard. also camp at some other tracks too. race season starts sunday w/ arca at salem speedway (my home track whoop whoop)

so what wattage would you recommend for this setup

small fridge, small microwave, tv, ps4, laptop, 4 cup coffee maker, a few led light strings, and now a hairdryer has also been requested, i told her she could just stick her head out the window, but she didnt seem to like that idea? so need to include that too 

 

[nobodyG17]

Hello and welcome.

I don't think you mentioned it but is the whole family coming with this time as well or just you and the significant other?