The longest trip or stay you've done

[Blue~Go]

I realize we're getting a bit off the original thread topic, but I'm hoping no one minds as it's nice to get a few more posts going.

At any rate, fun to hear more about your plans. I'm another member of the "removed roof Air-Con" club I rarely plug in, and even when I do I really dislike the noise/feel of the air-conditioning. I might feel differently if I spent a summer in Florida (but if that were to happen, I'd likely replace the Air-Con). As it is I have another Fantastic Vent and enjoy the additional light and air flow (plus don't miss the 100+ lbs. and solar-shading AC hump). I tend to move around to areas with more agreeable temps when possible.

I think if I were to make a "one time" type trip to Florida in July or Phoenix in August that I might either go with a portable Air-Con between the front seats (they are shaped sort of like one of those oil-filled radiator heaters), or perhaps buy a cheap 5,000 BTU window air conditioner, cut a plywood "mount" and put it in the driver or passenger door window (have seen someone do this in a Class B van). Then I'd just sell the unit on Craigslist or something upon departure. Typically, I tend to boondock, and my idea of misery would have been to run the generator AND the roof air-conditioner.

To each their own though, and preferences and situations vary widely. The "standard" 14" roof hole for vent or A/C makes it fairly easy to customize, with the option to change back.

I can't say as I've noticed any big jumps in gas mileage without the roof A/C, but I also don't keep that close a track, plus my driving situations aren't that consistent (towing/not-towing/mountains/flat/putzing along/going faster/etc.). I'm sure it can't have hurt though.

[Skillet]

Sounds like you won't be hugging the East Coast, but if you pass through Northern Virginia, give me a heads-up.

[Concourse]

You are starting some trouble, BG!

I love the coach roof AC! I was travelling across Iowa, South Dakota, and Wyoming a couple years ago (in September) and it was 102 degrees out there! I was pumping that quiet AC all the time. Last year in Arkansas and Texas....in September? Most definitely AC! Heck, just had a 93 degree day with humidity here at home in New England and was miserable in the house (no AC). Yep, plugged the Chinook in and spent some cool refreshing quality time in the RV!!

[hwhankins]

I figure with the removal of the a/c and satellite dish I've removed over 200 pounds weight and a lot of drag. The three 100 watt solar panels are flat and hug the roof so I don't think they'll be much drag. When I purchased the Chinook in 2006 the dealer had just tuned it up and it got almost 11 mpg towing a friend's 18' concession trailer on a 1000 mile trip. Over the years it's gradually dropped down to 9 mpg or so. That's one of the reasons I'm doing a tune-up. It starts and runs great but hasn't had a tune-up in 6 or 7 years and I'm hoping the combination of removing the drag and doing the tune-up will get it back up to around 11 mpg.

I spend most of my time boondocking in the dry heat of the South-west. It doesn't really bother me that much. I tend to park near lakes and swim to cool off. I'm having more trouble with the lower temperatures but higher humidity here in NJ. If I were in the South-east where the humidity is high I'd probably need an a/c.

Skillet, my path West does pass through Northern VA on the I81. I'm taking I81 - I40 - I30 - I20 - I10 to get across the country. That's the first time I've looked at all the Interstates I'm taking and realized I'm counting down by 10. 40 - 30 - 20 - 10.

[Manitou]

Does a particular place come to
Mind in the south west? I drive through there a few times a year and this last was 111 degrees. A lake would be a much welcomed event.

[hwhankins]

I spend a lot of time at Lake Mead. In the mid-to-late 2000s I worked for the concessionaire that runs Callville Bay, Forever Resorts. After that I stayed in the Lake Mead area and volunteered as a campground host and later as a water safety volunteer. The water safety gig is lots of fun, they gave us the keys to a Boston Whaler and a government gas card. Our job was to cruse around the more remote areas of the lake looking for people in trouble. People like jet skiers who think they can cruise up the lake using 3/4 of their gas and then make it back on the remaining 1/4 tank. Lake Mead is big, around 110 miles of shoreline and only about a half dozen spots where there are people on shore. We did more serious search and rescue sometimes but mostly we just cruised around the lake enjoying ourselves. Unfortunately only locals can volunteer for these positions because of the months of training required. Our SAR training was one evening of classroom a week for four months plus practical work on the lake. With all the budget cuts the park service doesn't have as many rangers and having us do the routine safety and visitor assistance patrols freed up the rangers for better law enforcement coverage.

For general boondocking there are two main areas, Government Wash and Stewart's Point. Govt Wash is down near Vegas and fairly convenient to town, around a half hour away. Stewart's is about an hour further out but better in some ways because you don't have locals coming out on weekends and partying. These are the main areas that people tend to gather at. In theory you can park almost anywhere you can drive to that's not near a built up area or official campground. I liked to camp at Crawdad cove but my Chinook isn't a 4x4 and the road got too soft for me to risk it. It's only about 10 minutes further from town than Govt Wash but most people don't know it's there. The last time I was there I was lucky the road was soft sand, my brakes self destructed and the sand stopped me. Something in the rear driver's side came loose and everything inside the brake drum was ground up. That included the brake cylinder so all the brakes failed including the emergency brake. It was funny, I called Good Sam ERS for a tow truck and even reminded them I was a small Class-B RV. They still got confused and sent out one of those huge tractor trailer tow trucks. The driver almost couldn't figure out how to hook up the Class-B to his huge truck.

[Skillet]

Skillet, my path West does pass through Northern VA on the I81. I'm taking I81 - I40 - I30 - I20 - I10 to get across the country.

If you know when you're coming through, shoot me a message. If I'm off I'd gladly come out to see ya. It's about 45miles away from where I live. But if you're making good time and don't want to stop, don't worry about it and keep on truck'n!