From SF Bay Area to NJ

[mydoghasfleas]

I'm heading back east for my seasonal park ranger gig, leaving may 10th from SF Bay Area. I need to report for duty on may 23 so want to be on station may 21 to get settled in to housing, etc.

I'm driving my 05 158 stealth camper/work van, will be removing the ladder racks for max mpg (and won't be using any ladders during the summer, and putting road and mtb bikes in the tool compartment under the bed in the back).

I figure about 6 days driving time at 500 mi per day (driving 60mph, 2 hrs at a time w breaks)

I want to stop in at a few national parks on the way, for networking purposes and a bit of sightseeing.

Was thinking about I-80 east from SF, then in Utah or Colorado sliding down to I-70. I need to also pass through KC/MO to visit another ranger friend of mine.

Looking for ideas, places of interest, comments from the peanut gallery, good overnight (free!) parking... (My van is plain wrap, looks like a cargo van - roof vents, solar panel, cargo divider w sliding door)

Jonny
(The new guy on the forum)

[Diamondsea]

Walmart parking lots are good free overnights. GPS makes them easy to find.

[autostaretx]

In Utah, there are all sorts of fun things...
Goblin Valley State Park is a delight, 20-odd miles south of I-70 exit 147 on Utah 24.

Not *all* Walmarts allow overnighting... some local munincipalities' laws prevent it.

have fun
--dick
(who will have launched on a slower Seattle->I-84->I-80->Chicago->WashDC->NH->Ottawa->Seattle a week or two earlier)

[mydoghasfleas]

Roger on the Wallys, and Cracker Barrels, Sam's Clubs, Flying J's, etc.

There is a yahoo walmart rv'ing group w lists of parking and non rv parking Wallys..

Dick, will you be in Colorado/I 80 around the 12th? Maybe we can rondy somewhere ..

What u drivin'?

Jonny

[sikwan]

This was our itinerary in October 2008.
31816

The letters are the locations where we either hoteled it or stayed at rest stops. As you can see I underestimated the early part of the trip and had to truck it over to DC fast because of a hotel reservation. :smirk:

It took us 5 days (with a wife and two kids) to get to DC. There is no way in hell you're going to get to NJ in 6 days with a little sightseeing in between. :tongue: :laughing:

Anyways, there are so many things in Utah I don't even know where to start. If you're going to be on I70, you might as well visit St. Louis and go to the Arch.

Most rest stops allow you stay for 24hrs max. There will be signs that tell you that you're not allowed to sleep overnight, but those were a few and far between. Walmarts are ok, but most are off the interstate by a mile or 3. I rather wake up at a rest stop, wash up a bit (not shower), and just drive a few feet and I'm back on the interstate.

[autostaretx]

Dick, will you be in Colorado/I 80 around the 12th? Maybe we can rondy somewhere ..
I'll probably be between/at Chicago or slightly south of Columbus by then.

What u drivin'?
<-- See that blue 118" Sprinter that serves as my icon?

have fun
--dick
p.s. Utah allows 8 hours at rest areas.
p.p.s. visit a Camping World store and buy either their "Next Exit" or "Exit Now" guides. Very handy.
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/the-next-exit-2011-edition/54904
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/exit-now-interstate-exit-directory-2011/54863
(lists all of the WalMarts within a mile or two of the exits, if nothing else... :)

[chris118]

I always wanted to be a park ranger...

Goblin Valley is awesome.
Cool slot canyons just a mile or 2 north of the park and also some decent easily accessible camp spots on BLM land near the canyons, if you don't want to deal with the park campground (but the park does have some nice solar heated showers!).

I remember a state park in Iowa with some really pretty caves not that far off the 80.

It might be too early to go off the main route, but the black rock desert(about an hour and 1/2 north off the 80) is awesome when you are the only ones out there (not during burning man!). You could make a new sprinter land speed record in your rig out on the playa! good hot springs just northwest of the black rock.

unless you are looking for some late night trucker action, sometimes rest areas late at night can be creepy... Lots of time you can find a dirt road off a lonely exit on the interstate. at time it takes some searching but can be worth it. Avoid private roads.

sounds like a fun trip!

[mydoghasfleas]

Cool I checked out Goblin Valley, might hit that up.

About my 6 days to NJ - I mentioned that wanted to be at my duty station may 21, my start date is monday may 23.

At my rate of drive, I predict 6 "actual" days of driving time. So to allow for some sightseeing and national park drop in's, I am shooting for a may 10 (ish) departure, about double the time of my actual driving.

Thanks everybody for the tips - I have an outdated "Next Exit" (prob will freshen it up w a new copy), last years "Free Campgrounds" (mostly too far off the interstate), and a current Rand Mcnally Walmart atlas.

Now I'm thinking to get a "constant idle" switch installed, I have a powered roof vent, but I think there is a definite need for some cool air sleeping...

My Sprinter has 4 agm batteries into a 3kw inverter, 80w solar, charge controller, 250a alternator, microwave, closet, sink, 40 gal fresh, and a porta potty (or a Thetford cassette c400 if I get around to installing it).

I am thinking to install a few of those small "flip vents" like they sell on MillSupply.com for the rear side walls of step vans. That way I can turn the Maxxaire vent on to suck air in thru the vents - if I install one near my bed head, I can get a breeze at night.

My van is insulated, but has no windows in the rear (because it looks like a work van from the outside).

I did purchase a Heki Midi roof skylight w roller screen and blind, (about 28" x 18") , but don't know if I will get around to installing it before I go. If I don't, I will install another standard 14x14 white opaque roof vent.

Here's a link to my Sprinter , as it looked the day I bought it.

http://s1176.photobucket.com/albums/x331/tomccart/?albumview=slideshow

I am re configuring the bed, removing the bench seat (and installing a small dinette), and a few other mods.

Jonny
ps How hard is it to install a constant idle switch? I guess I have to have somebody program it in after the install
.

[autostaretx]

How hard is it to install a constant idle switch? I guess I have to have somebody program it in after the install
The switch itself shouldn't be too hard... but you will have to pay to have the ECM programmed to respond to it.
You might compare (and report) the full "they do it" to the "buy parts, self-install, pay for programming" pricing.
I'm sure there are threads here on "high idle" self-installation.

have fun
--dick
p.s. my old arm-wave for after-market option installation was twice the price of "ordered with Sprinter" pricing.

[Type2Teach]

Where in NJ are going to be stationed?

Joel in Philly

[mydoghasfleas]

Gateway NRA

Jonny