How to transport the ST on a Motorcoach

[Nir]

This is a FWIW. I have owned large 5th wheels and our lower fuel costs and retiring baby boomers has changed RVing. There is no spontaneous 'oh lets do a trip to Alabama next month'. You need to book out months if not a year in advance. The east coast has smaller RV parks and a smaller coach makes sense. You have something come up and it's almost impossible to adjust plans.

I now own a 20' tin can toy hauler that my S10 fits in and I hike one day and ride the next and stay in BLM or National parks and love RVing.

From your posts you sound like a nice couple or I would not have meddled. But rent a coach and take a trip and see if it's for you. Try booking some places and see about availability.

It's big money and work to do all the outfitting your talking about.

I would definitely go for the lift on the back of diesel pusher and a four down tote. That will be enough work as it is.

All of that is why I tent camp. It seems most people don't do it anymore so I can in some cases just show up and grab a spot. If there aren't any apps available, I can always find a patch of dirt.
I'm going to be really sad when I get to old and beat up to camp like that. I already miss being able to just use a sleeping bag and a tarp.

 

[14kmtnman]

More good points to ponder. Unfortunately my wife's idea of camping is no room service. The older my wife gets, the more she wants to be pampered. Then when my doctor ordered me to be on a cpap, that changed my thoughts about ever camping in the wilds again without electricity.

Renting a coach unit first sounds like a wise idea. We have talked about doing that, but have not pursued it. For a few of the areas we wanted to travel, we would have several months to play with, reservations wise. But the info about the east coast is good to know.

I wish I could do what my 86 year old neighbor keeps telling me to do - "don't grow old".

 

[2talltoo]

As long as you can say,'it beats the alternative' your still in good shape.

 

[14kmtnman]

LOL - I do say that a lot...

 

[Panman]

More good points to ponder. Unfortunately my wife's idea of camping is no room service. The older my wife gets, the more she wants to be pampered. Then when my doctor ordered me to be on a cpap, that changed my thoughts about ever camping in the wilds again without electricity.

Renting a coach unit first sounds like a wise idea. We have talked about doing that, but have not pursued it. For a few of the areas we wanted to travel, we would have several months to play with, reservations wise. But the info about the east coast is good to know.

I wish I could do what my 86 year old neighbor keeps telling me to do - "don't grow old".

I had a few nights camping on my Alaska trip this year, I dropped the water chamber on my Bi-Pap and have this battery set up. I can charge the battery while traveling with a 12V charger.

I carry a small battery to charge the Sena, I can also charge it on the fly


Never say never, I was gone 2/25 to 5/10 with the wife in the M/H home just long enough to unload the M/H and pack the 10 and leave again on 5/25 and was gone another 20 days and 6,600 miles and made it to the north side of Atigun Pass. I'll be 68 before the end of the year. I'm the big goofy guy on the right.

 

[2talltoo]

But would you do it again? Alaska that is. I have met guys who have done it and said it was an adventure but wouldn't do it again. They say 'top of the world' and Ice Field Parkway were the highlights if you hit the weather right.

 

[Flat lander]

You could tow a truck with the ST in the back
My ST easily fits in the back of my Tacoma.
I can load/unload it by myself after some practice.

View attachment 60127

I used to ride my 250yz into the the back of my truck using a 2x4 ramp.
I have a metal ramp for s10 but haven't been brave enough to try the same technique yet. LOL

 

[AVGeek]

AVGeek - I just sold my truck, because my wife developed mobility issues after our last trip. It has been very difficult for her to get in, and not able to drive the truck for the past 3 months. That is why the Outback purchase. The original plan was to get a trailer, but after looking at the DP's, I'm now sold on them. We thought about getting a big 5th wheel and having it moved to where we were going to be. That would be fine if were just going to be in 1 spot all of the time. We are still planning on traveling around, depending on my wifes health of course. I have heard that there are sites out there that list the campgrounds and max dimensions. We might have to get more picky on the where to stay sites.

Health issues are not something to be taken lightly, so I see where you're coming from. With the aging Boomer population, there are more products coming out everyday to help with mobility, since climbing stairs in and out of any RV can be taxing.

Take a look for camping apps, there are plenty out there. There's also the Thousand Trails system of campgrounds, which tend to cater to the higher end DP market.

 

[Panman]

But would you do it again? Alaska that is. I have met guys who have done it and said it was an adventure but wouldn't do it again. They say 'top of the world' and Ice Field Parkway were the highlights if you hit the weather right.

Yes, my son purchased a S-10 and wants to go and hoping I can talk George into going again, missed to much and need to go again!

 

[14kmtnman]

I have seen battery operated cpap's, but have not priced them out. I would go back to Alaska but do more actual site seeing, rather than just riding all day. The south part by Anchorage and up by Dawson. Maybe just pick a spot and base out of there.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Yes, my son purchased a S-10 and wants to go and hoping I can talk George into going again, missed to much and need to go again!

We'll go again and hit all those spots we missed the first time!

~G

 

[escapefjrtist]

But would you do it again? Alaska that is. I have met guys who have done it and said it was an adventure but wouldn't do it again. They say 'top of the world' and Ice Field Parkway were the highlights if you hit the weather right.

Dalton Highway was ok, don't think I'd specifically make the trip just for it. Panman and I did it once so we can check that box off now. TOW and Dawson City were highlights of the trip. Hit the weather just right with little rain and clear skis, other than a serious hail storm at Poker Creek.

We're fortunate to live within an easy day-ride to Ice Fields Pkwy. well worth the ride if you catch a nice clear day. FWIW, in the Atigun pic, I'm second from left with camera around my neck!

~G

 

[Checkswrecks]

Renting the RV for a couple of test rides is the best thing I've heard here. I'v known people deciding to go RV full time when they retired and most are back in 3-5 years. The ones who committed to sell their house and most of their possessions are usually hurt.
outdoorsy.com
rvshare.com

 

[Panman]

I have seen battery operated cpap's, but have not priced them out. I would go back to Alaska but do more actual site seeing, rather than just riding all day. The south part by Anchorage and up by Dawson. Maybe just pick a spot and base out of there.

That is a regular old Bi-Pap (same as a C-Pap but for folks that need relief from the High Pressure). The big white battery pictured will run the machine all night. It will not run the humidifier, on this model you can separate the humidifier from the blower so I take it off and use the space to carry the battery and charging stuff. I carry bottles of saline spray to help with keeping moisture in the old nose.
I had just bought the battery pictured above just before we left, I used to carry a extra M/C battery and had purchased a different adapter specific to my machine. I ran a charging wire up into the top box on my FJR to charge it, it also couldn't run the humidifier, I like this new set up better. It was very spendy, but worth it as it's smaller.
I have a Bushtec trailer I can pull behind the FJR, but space was limited on the S-10 so hence the search for a smaller battery set up.

I wish I could go back next year but I think the war department may start complaining. My son won't be ready next year as he will need more riding time before that big of an adventure. Although in one of the ride magazines I did see a ride up into the NW Territories that might be fun??

 

[Don in Lodi]

Renting the RV for a couple of test rides is the best thing I've heard here. I'v known people deciding to go RV full time when they retired and most are back in 3-5 years. The ones who committed to sell their house and most of their possessions are usually hurt.
outdoorsy.com
rvshare.com

I know a couple that did that exactly. They rent now and he's back to working full time. Kind of a shame.

 

[14kmtnman]

Panman - is that a cpap specific battery or a generic do all? What brand part # etc?

 

[Panman]

Battery set up is called; Freedom CPAP Battery Kit by Battery Power Solutions Model # FD.1.KIT and is a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery
It does have a USB out port and I have charged the Sena also, we have power outages here so I keep it in the bedroom closet just in case. The one thing you have to remember is to shut the heater off on the humidifier as it will blow the fuse on my other power set-up and this set-up it would kill the battery quickly.

 

[rydfly]

I took this pic myself a few years ago while returning home from our own first RV experience. This guy figured out how to bring along all the toys! Imagine what his insurance guy might have to say if he pile up all these vehicles in one accident!

 

[Bigbore4]

View attachment 60575

Well now, don't that look familiar! I'm the bigger goofier guy on the left!

OP The rental idea is a great way to try it out. Rent a mid sized class C. Maneuverable enough you could get by without towing a car along for a trip or 2 as you decide if the RV thing is for you.

FWIW I have a 5er toy hauler. Bike when it's nice truck when it's not. Doesn't sound like it would work for you though. For others trying to figure this out, a 5th wheel generally is more maneuverable than a large class A. And some of the newer ones are really quite nice.