Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
My wife mentioned she wanted a “camper” about three years ago. So, we looked and found a used 1995 Jayco Eagle bunkhouse model –as it turns out, it was a very nice camper and I really enjoyed it. We needed a truck to pull it with, and after some internet searching and a couple of test drives, settled on a 2012 Ram 2500. I was very pleased with how the truck drove, and I figured you couldn’t go wrong with a Cummins. So, I bought a new truck at the beginning of March, 2013.
Some more internet searching landed me at the TDR. I saw the CMEP promotion for June of 2013 and my older son (14 years old at the time) said he would like to go. So, I joined the TDR, started reading the magazine and forum, and he and I went to CMEP in Columbus, Indiana in 2013.
We got another travel trailer – it was clear my sons would soon be longer than the bunk beds in the one we had, despite how much I liked it – and I set everything up in the new trailer based upon what I had learned here. Last summer (in 2014), we decided on a trip west; I asked and received many good suggestions from the folks here on the forum.
Being the CDO type (that is Compulsive Disorder: Obsessive, which is nothing more than your normal obsessive compulsive disorder, but with the acronym in the proper alphabetical order, as it should be!
) I very carefully planned the trip and route, again with good suggestions from folks here on the forum.
The trip is 52 days in length. There are 12 travel days of between 300 miles and 350 miles each day. Roughly 8 days are devoted to the Badlands and Black Hills areas of South Dakota, roughly 18 days are devoted to the Yellowstone area, and roughly 14 days are devoted to the Grand Teton area. While travel has been meticulously planned, the time spent at each area is fairly unscheduled. The only planning done outside of travel was to try to make a list of things to be sure to experience. The list is long, and I am certain only a small portion of the list will be accomplished.
My wife and older son (16 years old now) are doing the entire trip. I will be at work except for a two week period during which I, my younger son (14 years old), and my step-father will be joining the rest of the family by plane in Wyoming. We spent quite a few evenings this past winter researching routing, learning and practicing first-aid, and discussing, planning, and rehearsing safety on the road and on the trail.
We spent quite a few Saturday and Sunday afternoons in practice driving sessions. This is one thing I would not do again – I should have found someone else to work with my wife on the driving – when all is said and done, I think my wife is doing well, but it was not the right way to go about it. She continues to find backing up challenging – so do I – but I figure if you wait until you are perfect at something then you will probably never do more than that one thing - do some learning by doing
.
I want to extend a big “thank you” to the many folks here on the forum and at the TDR. I have learned a lot about my truck, RVs, and towing from the TDR magazine and especially from helpful folks here on the forum. I appreciate the help and suggestions I received while planning this trip. If you suggested we do something on this trip and we end up not doing so, please do not be offended – there is so much I think I could do this trip ten times and not get everything in.
DAY 1
The trip began today – not much to say, as it is a travel day. I will update with the results of this first day of travel tomorrow. Here are pictures of our rig, my wife, and my older son, ready to go.
Some more internet searching landed me at the TDR. I saw the CMEP promotion for June of 2013 and my older son (14 years old at the time) said he would like to go. So, I joined the TDR, started reading the magazine and forum, and he and I went to CMEP in Columbus, Indiana in 2013.
We got another travel trailer – it was clear my sons would soon be longer than the bunk beds in the one we had, despite how much I liked it – and I set everything up in the new trailer based upon what I had learned here. Last summer (in 2014), we decided on a trip west; I asked and received many good suggestions from the folks here on the forum.
Being the CDO type (that is Compulsive Disorder: Obsessive, which is nothing more than your normal obsessive compulsive disorder, but with the acronym in the proper alphabetical order, as it should be!
) I very carefully planned the trip and route, again with good suggestions from folks here on the forum.The trip is 52 days in length. There are 12 travel days of between 300 miles and 350 miles each day. Roughly 8 days are devoted to the Badlands and Black Hills areas of South Dakota, roughly 18 days are devoted to the Yellowstone area, and roughly 14 days are devoted to the Grand Teton area. While travel has been meticulously planned, the time spent at each area is fairly unscheduled. The only planning done outside of travel was to try to make a list of things to be sure to experience. The list is long, and I am certain only a small portion of the list will be accomplished.
My wife and older son (16 years old now) are doing the entire trip. I will be at work except for a two week period during which I, my younger son (14 years old), and my step-father will be joining the rest of the family by plane in Wyoming. We spent quite a few evenings this past winter researching routing, learning and practicing first-aid, and discussing, planning, and rehearsing safety on the road and on the trail.
We spent quite a few Saturday and Sunday afternoons in practice driving sessions. This is one thing I would not do again – I should have found someone else to work with my wife on the driving – when all is said and done, I think my wife is doing well, but it was not the right way to go about it. She continues to find backing up challenging – so do I – but I figure if you wait until you are perfect at something then you will probably never do more than that one thing - do some learning by doing
.I want to extend a big “thank you” to the many folks here on the forum and at the TDR. I have learned a lot about my truck, RVs, and towing from the TDR magazine and especially from helpful folks here on the forum. I appreciate the help and suggestions I received while planning this trip. If you suggested we do something on this trip and we end up not doing so, please do not be offended – there is so much I think I could do this trip ten times and not get everything in.
DAY 1
The trip began today – not much to say, as it is a travel day. I will update with the results of this first day of travel tomorrow. Here are pictures of our rig, my wife, and my older son, ready to go.
