New guy heading to AZ

[dogear52]

Hello folks. I'm soon (by Aug 1) leaving Kansas City for AZ and the plan is after arrival look for a suitable camper/trailer to tow or sell/trade my Nissan Frontier 4x4 and get a used motor home. In the meantime I'll be tent camping with my 2 Pit mix dogs and 3 cats. I understand the risks to the cats re wild life and they'll be closely guarded and confined to the tent or outside in a makeshift steel wire "play pen" with roof and I'll be around all the time and always well armed. If anyone has had to deal with a tent/cat issue I welcome any suggestions. Unfortunately this is the way it has to be temporarily.....they'll be ok. The big question is where is a good starting point to begin camping where I can get a good signal for the web and cell phone. I've been researching the free campsites site and saw a few prospects in the cooler higher elevations around Camp Verde but thought some of you might have recently camped some decent sites. My long term plan is to live off my VA pension on the road after I nail down the essentials esp shelter/travel mode. I haven't camped since I was in my 20's, so I'm a bit shaky but I'm a survivor and quick study. Any guidance will be much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

Don't know but welcome to the forum. Sounds like a good experience and a new life.

 

[Patrick46]

Hello and Welcome from Oregon!!

Lotsa great RV's out there available, and I'm sure you'd be able to find someone willing to trade for a good running 4x4 truck!

but a nice thing about a TT, is that you can leave it parked and hooked up somewhere, and still be able to go exploring in the truck. (that's probably what I'd do.)

 

[wagoneer]

Welcome aboard BLM land is plentiful but wifi sketchy at best I have tried different antennas but none were a solution 50 dollar Per month hot spots work or a cheap trailer park I basically go without. I have camped for 125 per month about 8 miles west of YUMA Az a bit warm but I got used to the heat. water, laundry, showers and casino in walking distance.

 

[dogear52]

Thanks for the welcomes/replies.
Yes a new life for sure, dragonflyinthesky....hoping for a decent start.
Good advice on the 4x4 tow option, Patrick46. If I went with a MH I'd probably tow a small 4x4 auto or ATV or dirt bike. Always a trade off of some sort.
Is that $125 spot in AZ or CA, Wagoneer? Sounds very reasonable.....is it a campground?
Thanks again.

 

[akrvbob]

I know of several great spots near Williams and Flagstaff, AZ with great internet. I'll send a map along later.

The Frontier is a great truck but limited on towing. Do you think you could all live in a tear-drop trailer? It could tow one of those easy. Another option is an enclosed 5x7 trailer. They are usually fairly low, but bearable and better than a tear drop. It should be light enough for the Frontier and they are pretty cheap. You could easily add a vent and some windows. Your best bet is a combination of camping and being inside your vehicle. Most of the times you're fine in a tent, but there are times when you just can't be outside in AZ so you need somewhere to go in those times. At the very least you will want a shell on the Frontier, then the shell could be for sleeping and the 5x7 trailer for cooking, relaxing.

I have a van and a 6x10 trailer and I think it is ideal!

I was near Flagstaff all last summer and I would have loved to have helped you out, but I don't know when I will get back to AZ this year. Maybe not until December.

When I get there, you are always welcome in my camp!!!!
Bob

 

[dogear52]

Thanks, Bob. This is a fantastic site! A map would come in handy. I have a shell on the Frontier which will be bottom 1/2 loaded with belongings covered with cardboard and blanket and on that the cats and their carriers and litter box, and the dogs will ride with me (king cab) as we travel. The truck cab and shell front window will stay open so cool air can go back to the cats and they can move into the cab if they want. When I set up camp most of the time the cats will stay in the tent and dogs will be outside with me, and we'll stick close by within eye sight, until I can get a more secure dwelling. I'm itching to do some hiking with the dogs. As far as I know, this truck's 3.3 L V6 will tow 5K lbs max, but I wouldn't want to go past 3K or 3,500 lbs max esp up and down mountains, so I could probably pull an older 18' single axle @ 2500lbs or less? I could deal with a 5x7 trailer fine but I think the cats would be miserable if stuck in there for a few hours, but maybe not. It's worth consideration. I'll have to play around with my limited options but only for a short time I hope. It sounds like you have figured out the best combination. Probably where I'm headed. Simplicity is a beautiful thing. Hope to visit when you get to AZ. Thanks for the welcome. I'll be checking back now and then here. Happy Trails. Chris

 

[compassrose]

Your dogs are considered snack food as well. DO NOT let them out at night. Keep them very close. They might do okay one on one but not with a pack of hungry wild animals.

Lookon Craigslist to see what things are selling for. I know 4X4's and trucks are precious out here. If your truck is able to be towed 4 down I would hang onto it. Have you considered a popup. This is is for sale in Belen (ABQ) We used to own one and lived in it fulltime for over a year.
http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/rvd/4566793757.html

 

[dogear52]

Thanks for the heads up, compassrose. My dogs and I are joined at the hip.....always with me on a leash except when at a fenced in dog park where they can run. Here in the city I have to be wary of dog thieves so I'm with them inside and outside. We're a solid pack.
I'll be checking Craigslist almost hourly once I get there.....good deals go fast here so I'm sure there too. I'll check out the for sale ad....thanks. My truck is an automatic so drive shaft would have to be disengaged I believe to tow 4 down. I'll probably keep it. Paid for a lot of work to be done on it since buying last Nov. It's pretty solid now (knock on wood). Thanks again.

 

[akrvbob]

Generally speaking, if it's a 4x4 with a transfer case it can be towed 4 down. Just put the transfer case in neutral. If it has hubs even better, put them in free. But, check with the dealer first because they are doing a lot of weird things with 4x4 anymore.
Bob

 

[dogear52]

Bob,
It's a 99. The manual says put transfer case lever in 2H and trans shifter in N but if going over 500 miles remove front and rear propeller shafts beforehand. Not a problem then for my plans. Thanks.

 

[Sameer]

Flagstaff and Williams are fantastic! Great internet and cell and even TV. Cooler than Camp Verde area. Camp Verde/Cottonwood are in the triple digits. Here in Williams it was 48 degrees this morning and will be 83 today. Great weather for dogs and cats!

 

[dogear52]

Thanks Sameer. Any good campgrounds you know of? With temps like those I'm tempted to leave now. It's going to feel like 100 here in KC and humid after a cool spell.

 

[blkjak]

welcome....blkjak

 

[Sameer]

This place is also listed on freecampsites and is a great place to camp and be very close to Flagstaff. About 3 miles to Home Depot and Walmart. Good internet, phone and 18 TV stations. You can camp here 14 days as it is Ranger enforced. Interstate 40...Exit 191...follow signs for Naval Observatory. Lots of people camp here. I call it a 'social' camping area. Bob is going to send you a map to Williams...Fantastic camping spot! Just came from Williams to Flagstaff this morning. "Get ready for the best times of your life!"

 

[akrvbob]

Sorry, I forgot the map. Here is is, better late than never:

Here is a review of this camp:
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/review-of-williams-camp-and-e-bike-update/

Bob

 

[dogear52]

Thanks for the welcome, blkjak.
Thanks for the description and directions, Sameer.
Thanks for the map and review, Bob.
Looks like a good place to start.
I'm hoping to head out soon.....still trying to get the bed cargo weight down below max, which I believe is 1400lbs. Trying for 1200lbs max and trying to avoid renting a uhaul or getting stuck here for another month. Sacrifice is in order I fear.

 

[HarmonicaBruce]

I'll be tent camping with my 2 Pit mix dogs and 3 cats.

I'll probably catch some flak for saying this, but is it really a good idea to camp with 2 pit bulls and 3 cats in a tent? Also, is it fair to the people you'll be camping near, or to the animals themselves? It wouldn't surprise me if the animal police had an issue with it.

 

[akrvbob]

It's very easy to boondock all alone without anyone nearby. That map I sent won't have anyone else there.

You'll never see a Ranger and certainly no animal police.

However, coyotes are everywhere. They won't come into camp after the cats, especially with the dogs, but if the cats roam free they are at great risk to be dinner. However, I know a guy who full-time boondocks in an RV and his cat has run free for years without problem. So it's not a certainty.
Bob

 

[dogear52]

Not to worry, HarmonicaBruce. I got this....