(07-01-2026 11:02 AM)Redwingtom Wrote: If you're out that way, DO NOT miss going to Devil's Tower. It's the coolest place in America that I've ever visited. I went just before sundown and watched the setting sun behind it which was very cool and made for great photos. Since it was later in the day, there weren't many people there so it was incredibly serene. You could hear the wind blowing past it and it make a spiritual sound that filled me with an amazing peace. It was easy to see why the natives used it as a spiritual retreat.
That's definitely on my list, as is all of the Black Hills and Badlands NP. I am likely going to create my domicile in South Dakota, so that area will be the very first place I visit.
Its pretty cool.
Warning. Hail is common in South Dakota in the summer. We got in a big storm near Custer State Park, but didn't get the worst of it, merely about 5 minutes of golf ball size. The next town looked like it had snowed. We saw a couple cars in the parking lot at our hotel that looked like golf balls with all the dimples. There was a couple on motorcycles stopping in a tunnel and the woman looked pretty dazed.
Probably said this in the original thread, but Wind Caves NP and Custer State Park are really worth it for the buffalo herds. And if its hot, it will feel GREAT being in the cave. Don't miss Wall Drug Store when you go to Badlands. Its not possible to miss all the billboards! The MinuteMan Missile NHS near Badlands is also worth the stop.
We went in the summer of 2021 just after all the quarantines were lifted. We flew into Rapid City and rented a car and of course did Badlands and Mt. Rushmore. Didn't get to Crazy Horse. Didn't have time to do the Deadwood old West Town. Then we went on to Glacier NP and did Teddy Roosevelt NP in North Dakota. Teddy Roosevelt was nice, but the buffalo herds paled in comparison to Wind Caves and Custer.
And in case you haven't already, you need to figure out the restrictions on the National Parks. We had to get into Glacier before 6 am. There were supposedly daily reservations freed every day at 8am, but we could never get through the phone line. It wasn't bad since it was less crowded. After we did Going to the Sun Road, we tried to enter the east side of the park in one of the unrestricted entrances. But it was closed for an undetermined amount of time because they had no parking. It was 4 or 5 at that point, so we headed back to Whitefish where we were staying. And if you are planning on eating out at a restaurant, Whitefish was completely booked up. We drove down to Kalispell to eat.
I haven't been anywhere near the Black Hills at all, so this visit will be great fun for me.
I worry about hail. Best action is to get under a roof or a giant tree, if possible. Hail that big would destroy my solar panels and the fiberglass roof. I would be SOL if I were in Badlands NP.
I'm on no schedule, other than dying, lol, so I will stay at each area location until I have seen all I want to see. As for restrictions, since the time you visited, almost all NPs have dropped restrictions, per my searches.
At Glacier, I plan to park my RV and ride one of the old motor cars across GTTS Road and back.
I will eat out now and then, but most of the time plan to grill outside the RV, so as not to stink up the joint. Anybody have suggestions for a grill? I would like a combo gas grill and griddle but haven't found one with the right price and reviews yet.
In my previous lifetime of travel, I find that I should aim for weeknights, and skip trying to eat out on weekends or holidays.
(07-01-2026 07:35 PM)bullet Wrote: I've been trying since 1990 to eventually do all the continental national parks. I've done 34 since 1990 and 5 others before that (a half dozen I did before 1990 but have done again since then. The problem is they keep adding new parks! I've got 14 to go, but 10 of them are relatively new.
When you have time, could you give me a list of your favorites, and why? Not long ago, they were up to 63, but they have added some since then.
(07-01-2026 07:39 PM)stinkfist Wrote: 2 pages and ya haven't left the driveway ... and you were 'concerned' about "interest" ...
I see this thread turning into the old dudes enjoying coffee and sharing stories in the morning - americana style...
after what you've gone thru, Trips, I don't think you'd find a better version of pro bono aroma therapy ... and you get to drive the bus!!!
what's not to like...
#GumpOnBBSwheels
Yes my brother, you were absolutely right, especially since I may be months from starting.
If it takes too long, we might talk ourselves out until something actually happens. We'll see. I'm trying to be patient, so as not to get down if the house sale takes a while.
You're also right about this being therapy. It takes my mind off why I'm doing this in the first place. It's something I have wanted to do for a long time, just wasn't sure it would ever come. And I sure as hell wasn't wishing my wife dead.
But here we are. I would have preferred to do this with her, but she was a home body, even when doing better than normal.
(This post was last modified: 07-01-2026 08:24 PM by TripleA.)
Btw, there is another model identical to this one. They have different names but the floor plans are identical. Both are made in the same plant, and on the same assembly line.
The second one is the Jayco Redhawk SE 20LF. The prices are essentially identical, although like any typical vehicle dealer, different dealers play different silly games.
The only real differences are the trims, and obviously the badges, but they are minor.
(07-01-2026 08:30 PM)TripleA Wrote: Here is a really good review of the model I want. Shows everything. The lady doing the video is a bit goofy, but she is easy on the eyes.
I want "her" ... I'll bet she can make more than a sammich ...
(07-01-2026 11:02 AM)Redwingtom Wrote: If you're out that way, DO NOT miss going to Devil's Tower. It's the coolest place in America that I've ever visited. I went just before sundown and watched the setting sun behind it which was very cool and made for great photos. Since it was later in the day, there weren't many people there so it was incredibly serene. You could hear the wind blowing past it and it make a spiritual sound that filled me with an amazing peace. It was easy to see why the natives used it as a spiritual retreat.
That's definitely on my list, as is all of the Black Hills and Badlands NP. I am likely going to create my domicile in South Dakota, so that area will be the very first place I visit.
Its pretty cool.
Warning. Hail is common in South Dakota in the summer. We got in a big storm near Custer State Park, but didn't get the worst of it, merely about 5 minutes of golf ball size. The next town looked like it had snowed. We saw a couple cars in the parking lot at our hotel that looked like golf balls with all the dimples. There was a couple on motorcycles stopping in a tunnel and the woman looked pretty dazed.
Probably said this in the original thread, but Wind Caves NP and Custer State Park are really worth it for the buffalo herds. And if its hot, it will feel GREAT being in the cave. Don't miss Wall Drug Store when you go to Badlands. Its not possible to miss all the billboards! The MinuteMan Missile NHS near Badlands is also worth the stop.
We went in the summer of 2021 just after all the quarantines were lifted. We flew into Rapid City and rented a car and of course did Badlands and Mt. Rushmore. Didn't get to Crazy Horse. Didn't have time to do the Deadwood old West Town. Then we went on to Glacier NP and did Teddy Roosevelt NP in North Dakota. Teddy Roosevelt was nice, but the buffalo herds paled in comparison to Wind Caves and Custer.
And in case you haven't already, you need to figure out the restrictions on the National Parks. We had to get into Glacier before 6 am. There were supposedly daily reservations freed every day at 8am, but we could never get through the phone line. It wasn't bad since it was less crowded. After we did Going to the Sun Road, we tried to enter the east side of the park in one of the unrestricted entrances. But it was closed for an undetermined amount of time because they had no parking. It was 4 or 5 at that point, so we headed back to Whitefish where we were staying. And if you are planning on eating out at a restaurant, Whitefish was completely booked up. We drove down to Kalispell to eat.
I haven't been anywhere near the Black Hills at all, so this visit will be great fun for me.
I worry about hail. Best action is to get under a roof or a giant tree, if possible. Hail that big would destroy my solar panels and the fiberglass roof. I would be SOL if I were in Badlands NP.
I'm on no schedule, other than dying, lol, so I will stay at each area location until I have seen all I want to see. As for restrictions, since the time you visited, almost all NPs have dropped restrictions, per my searches.
At Glacier, I plan to park my RV and ride one of the old motor cars across GTTS Road and back.
I will eat out now and then, but most of the time plan to grill outside the RV, so as not to stink up the joint. Anybody have suggestions for a grill? I would like a combo gas grill and griddle but haven't found one with the right price and reviews yet.
In my previous lifetime of travel, I find that I should aim for weeknights, and skip trying to eat out on weekends or holidays.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
The hail was in the hills near Mt. Rushmore. Shouldn't be an issue out in the Badlands.
(07-01-2026 07:35 PM)bullet Wrote: I've been trying since 1990 to eventually do all the continental national parks. I've done 34 since 1990 and 5 others before that (a half dozen I did before 1990 but have done again since then. The problem is they keep adding new parks! I've got 14 to go, but 10 of them are relatively new.
When you have time, could you give me a list of your favorites, and why? Not long ago, they were up to 63, but they have added some since then.
There are currently 63. Eight are in Alaska, one in American Samoa, two in Hawaii (I've been to Haekalea), one in the Virgin Islands (which I've been to).
These are the ones I haven't been to that I want to eventually get to. I also want to get back to Sequoia and King's Canyon which we kind of blitzed through with my family back in 1976.
Channel Islands
Death Valley
Mojave/Saguaro
Great Basin
Great Sand Dunes
Pinnacles
Indiana Dunes
Cuyahoga Valley
Congaree
Dry Tortugas (Ft. Jefferson)
Isle Royale
Voyageurs
Hawaii volcanoes
New River Gorge
White Sands
(that's actually 15, not 14).
(07-01-2026 07:35 PM)bullet Wrote: I've been trying since 1990 to eventually do all the continental national parks. I've done 34 since 1990 and 5 others before that (a half dozen I did before 1990 but have done again since then. The problem is they keep adding new parks! I've got 14 to go, but 10 of them are relatively new.
When you have time, could you give me a list of your favorites, and why? Not long ago, they were up to 63, but they have added some since then.
Quick quintile ranking, 1 for top down to 5 for the bottom quintile. No particular order within each category. Enjoyed all of them. Of the 5s: Great Smoky was way too crowded. Joshua Tree was way too hot (they were telling people NOT to do anything but short hikes) and while interesting, wasn't that scenic. We also got aggressive bees in the car which freaked out the family. Teddy Roosevelt was mainly known for its buffalo herds, but after Wind Caves was kind of disappointing. Hot Springs pretty crowded, but worth seeing once like Joshua Tree.
Shenendoah, Gateway Arch, Guadalupe Mountains, Petrified Forest-just tough competition, like being in the SEC-somebody had to be a 5!
Arches 1
Glacier 1
Zion 1
Grand Canyon 1
Mt. Rainier 1
Yellowstone 1
Rocky Mountain 1
Yosemite 1
Badlands 2
Wind Cave 2
Grand Teton 2
Mammoth Cave 2
Haekalea 2
Big Bend 2
Carlsbad Caverns 2
Sequoia 2
Everglades 3
Olympic 3
Redwood 3
Crater Lake 3
Virgin Islands 3
Kings Canyon 3
Mesa Verde 3
Canyonlands 4
Capitol Reef 4
Bryce Canyon 4
Biscayne 4
Lassen Volcanic 4
Black Canyon of the Gunnison 4
North Cascades 4
Acadia 4
Shenandoah 5
Theodore Roosevelt 5
Joshua Tree 5
Gateway Arch 5
Great Smoky Mtns. 5
Guadalupe Mtns. 5
Hot Springs 5
Petrified Forest 5
I love Rocky Mountain. Its probably my favorite. I've been there 3 times. Love Trail Ridge Road. Of course the first time my Father was driving and the rest were looking. My sister or Mother would say look at that! I would say, "Don't look Father!!!" Favorite place in all the national parks is the short 3/4 mile hike to Dream Lake and Emerald Lake. Only made it to Emerald Lake the first time. The 2nd time it snowed and we couldn't even see the trail at Dream Lake. The 3rd time I was with my 3 and 4 year olds and we didn't even make it to Dream Lake. Son was whining. Daughter somehow picked up a nail in her shoe.
Mt. Ranier. Beautiful mountain. Love how the clouds surround it. First time we saw a bear cub about 30 feet in front of us. My Father had to tell my Mother very sternly to get in the car. He had hiked through the woods to meet us and thought he heard the mom rooting around. We didn't want her to think her cub was threatened. Been there 3 times.
With Yellowstone, you understand why it created the idea of a national park. There's so much amazing, different stuff in such a small area (huge park, but small for the amazing variety). Beautiful lake, snow covered mountains, wildlife (I've seen a moose, elk, wolf and buffalo up close. Like right in front of the car--missed the bear, people were parked a half mile away trying to see it) and then all the geothermal features-geysers, hot springs, travertine terraces, mudpots. If you head out the east entrance beyond the lake, its really interesting terrain. I've been there twice. Last time we spent a night in Cody, Wyoming, about an hour east, and watched a rodeo.
(07-01-2026 07:37 PM)TripleA Wrote: Btw I will have a 4000W generator that comes standard, plus the 12V battery standard, plus 400W of solar on the roof.
Not to freak you out, but any time I hear someone say generator along with a camper, I think back to this tragedy. So I'd recommend a CO sensor for sure!
Quote:Five people were found unresponsive on Saturday afternoon inside a travel trailer at a campground near the Faster Horses Festival, according to a statement from the Lenawee County Sheriff's Department.
Deputies from the sheriff's department found the five men and immediately began to administer CPR treatment to the victims, the statement said.
Three of the men died on site. Two of the men remain in critical condition and are being treated for acute carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the sheriff's office.
Authorities were responding to a 911 call from a friend of the five men who became concerned when he had not heard from them, the statement said.
Officials are investigating the deaths and injuries as the result of a suspected carbon monoxide leak from a generator located near the trailer.
Travel trailers generally don’t have built in generators, so your safety is in your own hands on setup and getting the exhaust away. They probably had the exhaust going under the trailer.
Class C RVs have packaged generators from companies like Onan factory installed, so a little more engineering goes into it.
CO detector is never a bad idea. All new RVs are I believe required to have them, and most also detect propane although the propane tank should be sealed in an airtight locker that vents outside.
(07-01-2026 07:37 PM)TripleA Wrote: Btw I will have a 4000W generator that comes standard, plus the 12V battery standard, plus 400W of solar on the roof.
Not to freak you out, but any time I hear someone say generator along with a camper, I think back to this tragedy. So I'd recommend a CO sensor for sure!
Quote:Five people were found unresponsive on Saturday afternoon inside a travel trailer at a campground near the Faster Horses Festival, according to a statement from the Lenawee County Sheriff's Department.
Deputies from the sheriff's department found the five men and immediately began to administer CPR treatment to the victims, the statement said.
Three of the men died on site. Two of the men remain in critical condition and are being treated for acute carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the sheriff's office.
Authorities were responding to a 911 call from a friend of the five men who became concerned when he had not heard from them, the statement said.
Officials are investigating the deaths and injuries as the result of a suspected carbon monoxide leak from a generator located near the trailer.
Travel trailers generally don’t have built in generators, so your safety is in your own hands on setup and getting the exhaust away. They probably had the exhaust going under the trailer.
Class C RVs have packaged generators from companies like Onan factory installed, so a little more engineering goes into it.
CO detector is never a bad idea. All new RVs are I believe required to have them, and most also detect propane although the propane tank should be sealed in an airtight locker that vents outside.
I'm looking at a motorhome, not a travel trailer. And it's a new RV. The generator is absolutely built in, along with the detectors. But I'm going to see it next Tuesday, so I will ask lots of questions. Thanks.
(This post was last modified: 07-02-2026 09:53 AM by TripleA.)
(07-02-2026 12:10 AM)TripleA Wrote: I personally liked Rocky Mountain, but we didn't stop much. The Trail Ridge Road scared Edy so bad that I just needed to get her down off those mountains as quickly as possible. But now in an RV, even a small one, I still won't do Trail Ridge again, b/c I'm not yet familiar enough with driving an RV there.
I hated seeing RVs on that road! But it is a little wider than it was back in the 70s/80s. Still hated to see RVs.
One time a friend and I went camping. He had all the gear. We stayed near Bear Lake and it snowed overnight. Did a 7 mile round trip hike from the campground over to Dream Lake (there's a spot on the road to Bear Lake where you can park and do an easy mile round trip-best payoff for effort of any place in the national parks). There was only one set of footprints in the snow. After a while we passed the two girls, whose prints they were, coming back. Soon there were no tracks. It was beautiful and pristine. We had to turn around at Dream Lake because the snow was so deep, we had no idea where the trail was and where the lake was.
(This post was last modified: 07-02-2026 10:24 AM by bullet.)
07-02-2026 10:13 AM
bill dazzle
Craft beer and urban living enthusiast
Posts: 18,540
Joined: Aug 2016
Reputation: 2023
I Root For: Vanderbilt
Location: Nashville
(07-01-2026 04:58 PM)bill dazzle Wrote: Check the license plates of vehicles as you drive. If you spot a collective three from Alaska and Hawaii within the first 1,000 miles ... you know you are in for a special experience.
(07-01-2026 07:37 PM)TripleA Wrote: Btw I will have a 4000W generator that comes standard, plus the 12V battery standard, plus 400W of solar on the roof.
Not to freak you out, but any time I hear someone say generator along with a camper, I think back to this tragedy. So I'd recommend a CO sensor for sure!
Quote:Five people were found unresponsive on Saturday afternoon inside a travel trailer at a campground near the Faster Horses Festival, according to a statement from the Lenawee County Sheriff's Department.
Deputies from the sheriff's department found the five men and immediately began to administer CPR treatment to the victims, the statement said.
Three of the men died on site. Two of the men remain in critical condition and are being treated for acute carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the sheriff's office.
Authorities were responding to a 911 call from a friend of the five men who became concerned when he had not heard from them, the statement said.
Officials are investigating the deaths and injuries as the result of a suspected carbon monoxide leak from a generator located near the trailer.
Travel trailers generally don’t have built in generators, so your safety is in your own hands on setup and getting the exhaust away. They probably had the exhaust going under the trailer.
Class C RVs have packaged generators from companies like Onan factory installed, so a little more engineering goes into it.
CO detector is never a bad idea. All new RVs are I believe required to have them, and most also detect propane although the propane tank should be sealed in an airtight locker that vents outside.
I'm looking at a motorhome, not a travel trailer. And it's a new RV. The generator is absolutely built in, along with the detectors. But I'm going to see it next Tuesday, so I will ask lots of questions. Thanks.
Yeah, I addressed travel trailers because of Tom’s article, then compared them to the Class C RV you are looking at with a packaged generator.
