Hiking trips with a Foretravel

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Hiking trips with a Foretravel

May 07, 2015, 03:40:54 pm

Hi everyone, we recently replaced our LazyDaze with a 36' Foretravel. My other half got real upset because she wanted to go hiking, visiting waterfalls, etc out west and said we couldn't go to some places because we moved up from a 26' class C to a 36' class A. Any of you know of places we can or cannot take the Foretravel because we want to do these things Thanks for your input.

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #1 – May 07, 2015, 03:46:10 pm

We just take our Jeep to the trail head. I have a 24 foot Bornfree and I could not take that most places I want to go but the Jeep gets there fine.

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #2 – May 07, 2015, 04:25:33 pm

We rarely use private RV Parks. If you mean camp sites. I have never had an issue finding a camping spot with Forrest (The 34 ft. Foretravel). Most National Forests, Parks as well as State Parks, Lakes, US Army Corps camps will fit the 36 ft. motorhome. If you want to go off road...I would not suggest it even with a Lazy Daze.

e.g. We met with a Foretravel owner of a 42 footer parked at Glacier NP's St. Mary's campground when we stayed there in 2005.

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #3 – May 07, 2015, 05:05:31 pm

While it gets crowded, there are sites in Apgar campground (near West Glacier MT ) inside Glacier National Park. Many are too small, but there are quite a few large enough. I have stayed there several times. There are a number of commercial campgrounds within a few miles of West Glacier. There are commercial campgrounds in St Mary's and East Glacier.

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #4 – May 07, 2015, 05:13:24 pm

Use the search feature to locate a previous thread which was for National Parks campgrounds for 40' motorhomes. If a 40 will fit, a 36 should be a breeze.

Larry

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #5 – May 07, 2015, 05:17:39 pm

I have a Suzuki Samurai that will probably go most anywhere

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #6 – May 07, 2015, 05:42:03 pm

Sam, I would say your wife is right on with her observation. It is just a tradeoff, with the benefits of a larger diesel pusher vs not being able to park in small campsites in interesting places that you used to visit.

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #7 – May 07, 2015, 05:55:31 pm

Barry is right and you will find new and interesting places to camp too.

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #8 – May 07, 2015, 06:24:50 pm

Our 36' FT is much bigger than our prior class B. We do find places where we won't fit but that just makes us look harder for interesting places where we will fit. Get an app like All Stays Camp and RV to help you hunt. We love to fi Corps of Engineering campgrounds, city and county campgrounds and places we wouldn't have even looked at before. We fit into almost every state park we want to visit. You will find something in almost every National Park and monuments that have campgrounds. We look for campgrounds that have nearby hiking and biking trails. There are a lot of them. Yes, your FT is different but it will open up many new adventures to enjoy. Do so.

Roger

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #9 – May 07, 2015, 08:00:08 pm

Quote

I have a Suzuki Samurai that will probably go most anywhere

Yea, as long as it's not uphill! Just kiddin'. We used to have a Samarai toad and would carry our two airedales in the back along with the rest of our junk.

I think you will both enjoy the extra space in your new rig and that sammy will continue to get you where you need to go.
jor

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #10 – May 08, 2015, 12:12:30 am

We had 29.5' Minnie Winnie before our 36' U300. I wouldn't hesitate to go anywhere we went in the Winnebago with the U300. You just have to adjust your driving habits to the longer wheelbase and make allowances when turning, parking, etc. The difference in comfort and drivability is where it makes it all worthwhile!

jor,
Love my Sidekick and that tin top Sammy too!

Jerry

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #11 – May 08, 2015, 12:51:13 am

Quote from: MrIrishSam – May 07, 2015, 03:40:54 pm

Hi everyone, we recently replaced our LazyDaze with a 36' Foretravel. My other half got real upset because she wanted to go hiking, visiting waterfalls, etc out west and said we couldn't go to some places because we moved up from a 26' class C to a 36' class A. Any of you know of places we can or cannot take the Foretravel because we want to do these things Thanks for your input.

I think you are referring to national parks and maybe state parks. Some of them specify 35 ft as maximum length but most of the time they have some spots large enough for 36 ft. I know that they say the road to the basin in Big Bend is limited to 25 ft, but I found out that the tour buses use it to get to the hotel, however the campground in the basin only had 2 sites that were large enough for us. Been to most of the parks east of CA, OR, & WA in the western area without much problem. State Parks tend to have larger and better equipped sites than our national parks.

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #12 – May 08, 2015, 10:18:26 am

We tow a Jeep Wrangler (the two-door version with a soft top) and have two mountain bikes on the Jeep. And we're going to put a rack on top of the Jeep (not easy with a soft top) for two kayaks. We can always find a place to park the FT (36') and then use that as a home base to explore. The Jeep is perfect for exploring and where the Jeep won't go we just unload the MTBs and keep on going with them. When they stop, we walk.

The smaller 4wd toads are perfect if you like to explore. No need to take the coach to every trail head.

We don't even have an expensive towing system for our Jeep. We have a sturdy "push" bumper with a winch on it and that bumper is all steel and securely attached directly to the frame. So we bought a Harbor Freight $79 tow bar, welded AND bolted the tow bar fittings to the bumper, bought the LED magnetic tail lights ($39 or so) and a craigslist BrakeBuddy ($300), two security chains from HF ($20) and we've towed that Jeep for a couple of years. Including a 2,000+ trip last winter headed south.

We usually stay at SKP parks (http://www.escapees.com) or find COE (Corps of Engineers), BLM (Bureau of Land Managment), NFS (Natl. Forest Service), BuRec (Bureau of Reclamation), NP (Natl. Parks) or just boondock (with solar panels). We find that the best time to find a good spot is Sunday evening or Monday morning since the vast majority of campers are there on weekends. (Escapee parks almost always have a very cheap "boondock" spot if they're full or you get there after the office has closed.)

You will also find that the 35-foot spots often have room behind the curb at the back of the spot where you can put a couple feet of your motor home without any issues.

West of the Rockies is the best place to have a big rig (although 36' is no longer considered a "big rig").

And welcome to the forum.

Craig

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #13 – May 08, 2015, 11:10:48 am

We live full time 7 years in our 36 ft FT and we tow a Subaru Outback. We use the coach as a base and then explore in the Subbie, which will go most places we want to go. Have fun and enjoy.

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #14 – May 08, 2015, 04:32:09 pm

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – May 07, 2015, 05:42:03 pm

It is just a tradeoff, with the benefits of a larger diesel pusher vs not being able to park in small campsites in interesting places that you used to visit.

Are there campsites that really are so small that 10' increase in length makes a huge difference?

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #15 – May 08, 2015, 05:54:31 pm

Lots of CGs in Glacier and Yellowstone have 30' length limits. Mather CG at the Grand Canyon has a 30' limit. When we are searching for campsites there can be many fewer sites listed for 36' than there are for 35'. At one Yellowstone CG they told us there was no flex on lengths and that if they measured and you were too long they would not let you in or "request" that you leave.

We have not felt limited by our 36' FT rather energized to travel more. Roger

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #16 – May 08, 2015, 05:56:40 pm

I have 40' coach and have stayed in Yellowstone with no issues

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #17 – May 08, 2015, 07:50:45 pm

We had a 27' sob , it was easier to get into small towns and CG but the interstate was a white knuckle affair .
DW keeps suggesting a smaller coach but I couldn't take more than a couple of weeks in a smaller coach and she would have to do all the driving !!!

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #18 – May 08, 2015, 08:22:17 pm

Quote from: krush – May 08, 2015, 04:32:09 pm

Are there campsites that really are so small that 10' increase in length makes a huge difference?

Well, I'm glad we weren't any longer than 40' at this one in upstate NY

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #19 – May 08, 2015, 08:45:51 pm

We have been in many CG's just like that one. One that comes to mind is Gennessee CG in CO. TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT, but we got in.
Gary B

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #20 – May 08, 2015, 08:58:19 pm

We have found it a problem with our 40 footer in the older National Parks around Mt Rainier and some places in Montana. We decided to handle that issue by purchasing a Chrysler Town & Country van with a transmission pump and equipped it with a attachable van tent from Amazon, an full size Arrow Bed mattress and a 5 gallon pail potty. It's kinda fun to get back to basics once in a while. FWIW

Re: Hiking trips with a Foretravel

Reply #21 – May 08, 2015, 10:41:44 pm

Quote from: Kent Speers – May 08, 2015, 08:58:19 pm

Chrysler Town & Country van with a transmission pump

Kent,

We are at that decision point now; transmission pump or tow dolly.

We have a 2007 T&C (also a 2000 T&C, but the A/C needs expensive work, so will probably sell it as a fishing/hunting vehicle or a workingman's vehicle). When I looked into it earlier, it was about a coach buck for the pump and another buck to have it installed. And then we have to purchase and install a brake system.

Since you use one, what has to be done to prepare it for a trip? Any other requirements during or after the trip?

Thanks,

Trent

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