Need your help....

[anut4disney]

to convience my dh it is no big deal to pull a travel trailer from VA to WDW.

We are very new at camping and he has reservations about this. It is a 26' lite travel trailer. In my opinion a "travel trailer" means just that "travel". I am ready to take it all over the country He still won't even go to a gas station with it, must fill up the truck before we leave. He says it's because the twins are so young (turned 2 on August 17th), but I think he is just plan nervous.

One of the reasons I wanted the trailer was so we could stay longer at WDW. The only way that could happen is if we camp. (Poor people here).

So any help and or advice that you could give us would be greatly appreciated. I will have him reading all your advise so we can do some major camping.


Thanks

 

[wildernessfamily]

On good thing about travel trailers, is you can take some of your kids toys...We stop at rest stops and try to tire the kids out. (my daughter has even slept in our camper while we were at a rest stop)I take blow up beach balls and bubbles, of course we play FAR away from the road, You will have to make more frequent stops with you little ones, but you'll have a bathroom(just remember to fill the potable water tank ahead). My family always enjoys Point South KOA in SC, you can get there in about 10 hours and it'll get you to WDW in the middle of the next day. We tow with an Expedtion with a 30 gallon gas tank. We get about 10-12 miles while towing, so your husband will have to gas up..look for truck stops if he is not sure about pulling up to the pumps, truck stops have ample room. Also NEVER gas up with your propane tanks on..big safety hazard. Actually we have camped all over the east coast and some mid west..to tell you the truth 95 for the most part has good on ramps where you can accelerate..if that is a concern. Also we go around Jacksonville on 295 and around Richmond..just so we don't have to deal with inner city traffic. I would wrap things(snacks, even some old favorite action figues-matchbox car) in wrapping paper and give one out every few hours..just for something different. Hope it helps...If your husband is unsure go on some short trips even if it is over night it will give him the experience of towing..

 

[Rhonda]

We just pulled our pop-up trailer to WDW from Minnesota last winter! We didn't have any problems at all. We just made sure we had a spare tire before we left (we never needed it, but it was nice to have just in case).

That's what they're made for!

 

[Disney Campers]

Towing a trailer can be very intimidating at first, when we bought our first trailer (25 Foot) I was nervous as heck pulling out of the dealer ship on the way home i had my sister follow me just in case. the trailer looked so big hooked up to the van compared to sitting in the dealers lot next to all the other trailers,

After a few trips it gets very easy, we also bought a hensley arrow hitch which makes for a smooth and safe ride, backing up can be nerve racking but gets easy in time, i now have no problem backing up, we have one person guide and look out for trees and objects and have not had a problem.

Tell your husband to hook up the trailer on a Sunday afternoon and just drive - go to the mall practice backing and makeing wide turns, its not as bad as he may think and its such a fun way to travel.

 

[We4mickey]

We have pulled are trailer to wdw six times now.
Once we had a flate no problem changed it and away we went.
We pull are from Wisconsin..

 

[ALostBoy]

Hi anut4disney,

I agree with Disney Campers that towing
a trailer can be intimidating at first and
that he should practice with it before you
go on a long trip.

We used my father's 24 foot trailer for
years until we out grew it. We bought
a 28 foot model. I have been towing
the 28' for a while and just moved his
last week for him and the difference
was unreal. The 24' seemed so small
now. It used to seem so big.

Experience is the key to this. The
more you have the easier it will be.

Good luck.

 

[welovemickey]

We pull our pop-up every year from Massachusetts. We try and get a lot of driving in at night so there's not a lot of traffic on the highways.

We bought ours for the same reason, to be able to spend more time at WDW. Now we won't go and stay at a hotel at all. The kids would rather be camping. Our youngest was 6 weeks old the first time he made the trip to WDW - so 2 is not too young!!

 

[kingdomqueen]

We have traveled from VA several times pulling a trailer. Coming from VA Beach we take 58 to 95, but from there it is clear sailing. 95 is a great road for traveling. There are lots of easy off and easy on places to stop for both gas and food. also several places to pull over and stop. It takes us 2 hours to get to Emporia and 13-14 hours to get to Orlando. This includes a couple of stops for gas and lunch and supper.. We have been traveling with our twins since they were 13 months old. they are 9 now, and I think harder to travel with now than when they were little. Really not a bad trip at all. KQ

Just got back. We had to come home so that we can go back again.

 

[kilroys]

Yes!! The first time with a TT can be intimidating. I agree with Disney Camper. Hook it up and drive it around one day. A big parking lot is great for backing and learning how well the trailer tracks. We have a 30 foot TT which I pull with a van (55 ft all togeather). Had no problem pulling down and back even in the rain. Make doulbe sure you have a your hitch is set up corrently and you have good sway control. The biggest scare I ever had was a truck passing me on going downhill. The tt began to fishtail. Know what to do when this happen. Just take is eazy and have a good time.


Kilroys

FW 03??
FW 01
FW 76
FW 72

 

[moneypit85]

Confidence in yourself is the main key. My second major trip was to WDW from Jersey. Tried to travel during to off hours and most of all at your own pace. For me the scariest places for pulling was from home to just below Richmond. From there to DIS is just mainly a straight run. Have been in most resort hotels and the CG and honestly I prefer the CG. Good luck to you.

 

[Magickndm]

We have a 21' TT and go camping often in Orlando which gets expensive. We found a wonderful camping resort in Kissimee called Tropical Palms about 2-3 mi. from Disney with great rates.

 

[TinkerbellRules]

I still get nervous, but I'm not the one towing My DH isn't a nervous as he used to be. First trip was to the Panhandle (from Indiana). Not a little trip We've since stayed at WDW and another trip to the Panhandle. It's really nerve racking when there is construction! Make sure to plan your gas stops. Look for Flying J's and Williams Travel Center. Gas stations are the worst! WE almost took out the side of the TT (25') at a gas station. It was late and we had been driving for about 8 hrs. My sister and I were watching the side of the camper to the post at the pumps. Both of us went "stop, stop, STOP!!" We were an INCH away from the post! I had to get out and have a person move so we could back up and get the heck out of there. Planning gas stops really helps and we do that now. Make sure there is plenty of room to get the camper in and, as I say to my DH, "watch your side"

I haven't seen the book, but a fellow camper recommended, oh gosh, what's the name.... something like the "Next Exit". I thought I'd remember it. It contained ALL the info on every exit. Maybe someone else knows.

http://www.flyingj.com
http://www.tatravelcenters.com
http://www.williamstravelcenters.com

Some even give you gas prices!

 

[Disney Campers]

Exit Source

 

[TinkerbellRules]

Scott: I should have known you know

Thanks for the link. Have you used it? The camper I talked with loved it. They drove from CA to IN in a new, huge MH.

 

[anut4disney]

Thank ya'll so much for all your help.

DH says that we will go with the tt, I just can't wait.

I am also scared of the gas stations, for one thing I am not good at giving directions (getting a little better) maybe by next year I will have it down. I am so afraid I will have us setting on a gas pump instead of next to a pump or into a tree instead of beside one.

I will definitely take all your suggestions and study them well. Thanks for the links and the book, will check them out as soon as possible.

I do have the site that tells you what kind of construction is happening on I95 and will keep an eye on that.

 

[kilroys]

The one signel that my wife and I always agree on BEFORE we start is "stop". I start looking for a gas station at about a 1/4 tank. This gives me a while to find a staton that I can get in and out. Look for Flying J's , Travel America (TA), and Pilot's. They have big lots and eazy access. Some have fast food so you can make one stop. The Exit Source is very good. I have one too along with a Woodall's Camping Dir. Don't leave home without them.


Enjoy
Kilroys

FW 03??
FW 01
FW 76
FW 72

 

[TinkerbellRules]

Be careful of the Pilots. Not all are big. I forget which one we were at but it wasn't a travel center like most. It had to be on the way to WDW or the Panhandle.