Anyone gonna be at the Fort the week of Dec 7? plea for help!

[nelle]

My DH can't get off of work for our Dec vacation so it's either cancel or drive the MH myselfso I picked drive it myself...
My mother is coming along to help take care of the kids while I drive.
Now comes my plea for help:
Anyone wanna help back the bus(it's 38') into the site? I've seen some of the loops at the fort and know they are kinda tight and I know I will draw a crowd of and while I try to go it alone.. I can just see ya'all standing around doing this and with a little bit of this as I try to back it in.
I will offer: Beer, Baked goodies, Beer, oh and more beer(anything else you might want??).
I'm not sure what day we are gonna check-in it depends on the weather and how far we make it each day and how many kids I kick out each day.
We are coming from WI.
Anyone want to share their preferred route from WI or IL or anywhere around us (preferably around mountains)? Anyone going down in Dec and want to caravan??
Thanks,
Janelle

 

[kaguilbeau]

I won't be there until the week after - and I couldn't help you back the bus in even if I was there - but I've often imagined myself doing the same thing.

I wondered if they didn't have cast members working at the fort that could help?

Regardless, I hope you have a wonderful adventure down!

 

[becky1960]

Just tell them at checkin that you would need help backing in and they will send someone to help you, they might do it for you. We had problems getting into a site because of a fence and they gave me another site, that site had a car parked directly across in the road and they sent me to another site along with two CM's. I guess they thought I couldnt back up. It was not a problem. My storage area gives me 6" either side and I make it ok..

 

[Shan-man]

I will be there on the 7th, but yes, the Fort will send assistance. What kind of site are you in? I assume you have a backup camera? If so and you are on a Premium site (other than 1400) I bet you can handle it fine by yourself. Probably won't have a problem on most Fulls either. There are quite a few Preferreds that might be a challenge. Our morning is open on the 7th until about 3pm when Mom arrives, so if you think you might need my help before then PM me and I'll send you my cell.

 

[Memph1s]

Just wanted to add that if you haven't, you should add a note on your resi with the size of your rig and request a site that has easy access. I would not worry at all about getting on your site. Almost anyone around would be happy to give you a hand getting settled. Put up a free beer sign and you will have to beat them away with a stick.

 

[motherwild]

Maybe between now and then you could practice driving and backing the MH. I want to take lessons to learn to drive the MH. We should be arriving at the Fort on Dec 12. I am sure you will do fine. Just take your time ask for help. I believe people will help when asked. Maybe we will see you down there
Terry

 

[nelle]

Thanks for the advice!
We are booked in a preferred site so I will definitely call and let them know I need a very easy site to get into.
We just bought the MH two weeks ago so it's fairly new to both of us (although DH has driven fire trucks and ambulances so he's better prepared at driving it than me)we plan on taking it out every weekend we can from now until then to practice.

Shan, I'm not sure what day we will be arriving on our reservation starts on the 7th but we might have to knock off a few days at the beginning due to work and my mom's schedule.

I still need one night 12/19 in the reservation to hook up the two ressies that I have but if I get it we would be there from 12-7ish to 1-2
The only sites they are showing avail is a tent/pop-up and I'm pretty sure I don't want to back into one of those sites.

I'll be sure to have my free beer sign ready when we pull in heck maybe I should just start out with it and then I won't have to drive it down at all...

Thanks again,
Janelle

 

[CampingBandit]

Won't be there then, can't help ya - but you'll be fine...I've towed sans DH and I had a gentleman back her in for me. Someone will assist...

As for the route - we are going down I-57 in Illinois and thru Tennessee on 24 - I don't know what mountains we'll encounter... since we haven't driven there before. At anyrate, u coming from WI - thru Madison?

If you are coming down I-39, stay on 39 as far south as you can go....pick up 74 and either take I57 or I65 from there and connect with 24 that way...where stopping in Clarksville, TN.

 

[docbrown]

believe me when I say it is easier then it looks.
I am the official driver of our MH (40 ft) and also pull behind
a Tahoe. DH has to pry or bribe me off the driver seat!! LOL
After you have done it a few times and learned the spacial of your bus
you will be fine.
Good travel!

 

[kimsdreamvacation]

Hi Nelle. We are also from Wisconsin and we are leaving on Dec. 3rd to drive down, we are from Green Bay and my DH has a CDL and he can back up anything into anywhere !! LOL We would be happy to help you.

 

[manning]

Won't be there then, can't help ya - but you'll be fine...I've towed sans DH and I had a gentleman back her in for me. Someone will assist...

As for the route - we are going down I-57 in Illinois and thru Tennessee on 24 - I don't know what mountains we'll encounter... since we haven't driven there before. At anyrate, u coming from WI - thru Madison?

If you are coming down I-39, stay on 39 as far south as you can go....pick up 74 and either take I57 or I65 from there and connect with 24 that way...where stopping in Clarksville, TN.

Just west of chattanooga on I-24 at a place called Monteagle you will encounter a 6% grade.



Here is a video of that stretch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WQDbrQk7tI&feature=related

 

[retired and happy]

If you haven't driven it on the road before, pick your fuel stations carefully. Be sure you have room to get in and to get out.

 

[CampingBandit]

Just west of chattanooga on I-24 at a place called Monteagle you will encounter a 6% grade.



Here is a video of that stretch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WQDbrQk7tI&feature=related

Looks like our truck will get a work out... LOL

 

[manning]

Looks like our truck will get a work out... LOL

It isn't that bad if you follow the speed limit and have good brakes.

I first drove that stretch in a car in 1972 when the speed limit was 75 MPH.

I do remember one time when a big rig came roaring down that hill horn blaring and a woman (assume his wife) sitting where the hood ornament is waving her arms and yelling "get out of our way we don't have brakes"

 

[clkelley]

HATE Monteagle, especially that stretch where anything 6 axles or more required to stay in the right lane. Little ol me with a semi in front and a semi in back of me. Don't like being a T@B sandwich!!

However, I go camping a North Carolina a couple of times a year, and can't avoid it

 

[nelle]

Just west of chattanooga on I-24 at a place called Monteagle you will encounter a 6% grade.



Here is a video of that stretch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WQDbrQk7tI&feature=related

Thanks for the videoI now need to go clean out my shorts.
Is that the only one or are there more like it? I'm gonna sound real dumb here but I'll ask anywaydo I have to come back up that on our way home??
Ok now that you have finished laughing at me is there anything else on the way down I need to worry about? What about diesel are there plenty of places to stop?
We are taking her(yes I call it a her) to spartan on thursday so she will have a inspection and make sure everything looks ok.
I am so ready to go I would leave tomorrow if I could
Thanks,
Janelle