How far do you drive?

[lrrowe]

Curtains, heck, I have not cut the opening for my window yet.

[Socal Tom]

For those who stop in hot weather for a quick nap, how do you handle the heat? I do not think you can run your AC if you have it, leaving the doors open mightnot be wise and I guess that only leaves open windows and vents.

It depends, I'll go where it is most comfortable. If its not excessively hot in the TD, then open the windows, and turn on the fan. If its screaming hot in there, then I might just lay back the seat and let the AC run in the car, or pull under some shade. I might even throw a blanket under a tree and crash there if its a cool quiet place.
Tom

[Wolffarmer]

I like to think I would do about 300-500 miles a day. Some stops for sights and such. But I get behind the wheel and I often do 600 miles or more. One time I drove from New Jersey to Central Washington State in about 66-70 some hours. I would drive and take little naps in the car. Probably less than 5 minutes for most of them. When I got to South Dakota things started to get weired. In Montana it was very weired.

Then one time I did 1000 miles in less than 24 hours on a motorcycle. The bike was a 1963 BMW that needed restoration. It got so it hurt worse to stop and get off the bike than to keep going.

Then there was the time I did not sleep for 4 days and 3 nights. From experience I do not recommend sleep deprivation to any one. Not even for recreation.

But my ideal is to try 300-500 miles a day for about a week some time.

[Vedette]

Sandi and I have stopped a number of times with Miss Piggy to have a nap at a day use area of a State Park while travelling home from an event.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[KennethW]

One of the nice things of a TD is if you feel yourself getting tired. You can stop and nap. Please be safe and do that. If not for yourself for the other driver on the road. Some times 1000 miles is easy, other times 200 miles is tough. Just go with you gut and be safe. Please don't try to make it to the next stop if you are tired, just take a nap or Walmart it until morning.

[SteveE]

I like to drive 10 hours a day leaving at first light. Had been doing this in three to four day stretches in the past from West Coast to Midwest. Since I don't have my pup anymore (he passed away last year) I will be able to stop along the way and sight see this year which could give me a break or two each day which will be nice.

Stacie,
I'm so sorry to hear about your pup. I just finished reading your blog when you picked up your trailer and loved your pictures of your dog. They are great travelling companions and gives you someone to talk to while on the road.

Steve

[bc555af]

I wasn't camping, but while I was in tech school in Biloxi, MS, the Air Force rules stated that if you were driving home for Christmas or driving to your first duty station after graduation, you could drive no more than 500 miles a day and the instructors there said it was strictly enforced. Got stationed in San Antonio, so when I graduated I decided to take leave to go home for a week. Home was 508 miles from Biloxi.

At first, it seemed stupid and everyone wanted to push it to get home or to their next base, but a long drive like that will take a lot out of ya!

[2bits]

I've done 12 hour trips to Chicago and Alabama and back before but it was not something I would do any longer, I didn't have a camper then, nor vacation time. Now I would camp stop camp to break it up. Typical camping for me is a long weekend and for that my limit is around 4 hours but will do 5 to 6 for the hill country or th egulf once in a while.

I am planning my first ever "tour" of extended camping in Oct-Nov which will be an adventure and I'll be planning my destinations within the 4-5 hour range for state parks to stay at for a few days at a time making a loop north through OK, then East and South through AR, then South, then west through LA and finally North through Texas until I arrive back home in East Texas. I have my rig for a quick set up and tear down to keep the fun high and the work low!

[daveesl77]

When much younger I would not think twice about doing 1,000 to 1,300 mile runs. Wife and I did two non-stops from Colorado to Florida. Yes, I was an idiot. Heck, I even did 2 round trips from Ft. Lauderdale to Denver in 6 days total. Again, idiot.

Now that I'm retired I take things much slower. We like to go somewhere between 250-400 miles on average. We also enjoy doing the non-interstates as much as possible. Yes, it is slower, but it is so much more enjoyable. I love little two lane roads that go through little towns. When we go out west, we often take a week or 3 to get out to our desired region, then spend a month or so just going around. Driving at night does not matter to me, I have just found that I prefer to be relaxed and kicking back come nightfall. Which is why we almost never, ever, ever do a commercial campground. Give me Muley Point any day!

dave

[mustangcats]

Driving 400-500 miles is about my limit when pulling my trailer since I try not to go faster than 60, and drive almost exclusively on two lane roads (I don't like interstates...so boring...nothing to see). I like to make frequent stops and try to stop at most of the historical markers along the highway. Slow down and enjoy the drive...there's so much to see out there.

[2bits]

I love driving the small country roads but hated it when I got my bigger vintage campers, pedal to the metal downshifting all the time just to keep it above 60... Now that I am back down to a small Scotty which is like a standup teardrop and only 975lbs, I am loving the country roads again! I truly love the journey and stopping off any time I like to take a photo or take in a view. I have a hard time driving at night with my eyes, the oncoming headlights seem to pierce into my brain like razorblades so I just drive during the day.

[lrrowe]

I love driving the small country roads but hated it when I got my bigger vintage campers, pedal to the metal downshifting all the time just to keep it above 60... Now that I am back down to a small Scotty which is like a standup teardrop and only 975lbs, I am loving the country roads again! I truly love the journey and stopping off any time I like to take a photo or take in a view. I have a hard time driving at night with my eyes, the oncoming headlights seem to pierce into my brain like razorblades so I just drive during the day.

I am with you 2bits.. Love the back or side roads. Night lights can be a pain for me also. I have not traveled much yet with my trailer, but I think I will be in the 200-300 mile range club. I have to learn to stop and enjoy the sites, something I do not do today. I always say, "tomorrow or next time". But as I get older, I realize that my tomorrow's are getting fewer and I had better start stopping.

[2bits]

bob, I have a couple of freind on this forum that have cargo conversions that do quite well towing. One says he focuses on keeping it around 2k RPM and not around keeping at a steady speed which I thought made alot of sense. Having a tow mode helps all that downshifting too. My old truck had a small V-8 which made even tougher compared to my new truck which drinks gas like I drink beer

[lrrowe]

I have a few miles on it already and I can pretty much keep it at any speed I want with my
Turbo F150. But I think I will keep the speed down. It justs makes sense to me to do that. Slow down and enjoy.