What would you do?

[jennifer293]

We are leaving for WDW in 16 days and have reservations at POP and have the dining plan. We are going to buy a 26 ft. TT tomorrow because it is a GREAT DEAL. Would you keep the ressies at Pop and go camping after you return or would you change the reservation (with penalty fee of $50.00) and camp at Fort Wilderness (providing they have space)? I know we would be saving money still if we change the ressie, but DH has never pulled something so big behind our car and I am not sure an 11 hour drive is a good way to start!!!


What would you do?

 

[F4disneyfan]

We are leaving for WDW in 16 days and have reservations at POP and have the dining plan. We are going to buy a 26 ft. TT tomorrow because it is a GREAT DEAL. Would you keep the ressies at Pop and go camping after you return or would you change the reservation (with penalty fee of $50.00) and camp at Fort Wilderness (providing they have space)? I know we would be saving money still if we change the ressie, but DH has never pulled something so big behind our car and I am not sure an 11 hour drive is a good way to start!!!


What would you do?

What type of car do you plan on pulling the trailer with I hope it is a truck because a car shouldn't ever pull a 26 FT TT. My wife is only going 2 and a half hours away for her first time pulling her new trailer behind the van and she is stressed about that short drive.

 

[clkelley]

Well, I'm surprised, I just checked disneyworld.com and they do show availability for all types of sites starting July 15th for 9 nights.

You didn't say how long you were staying, but I guessed at a week.

A full hookup site would be $588.80
A preferred site would be $642.24
A partial site would be $490.72.

This is rack rate, campsite only. You would need to add the cost of the dining plan and park tickets.

However, if this is the first time driving for that distance OR using this TT, I wouldn't do it.

I would take the TT on a couple of trial runs closer to home to
1) make sure everything works on the TT
2) make sure your vehicle handles the stress of the TT
3) make sure you are comfortable driving on the highways with the TT

 

[jennifer293]

What type of car do you plan on pulling the trailer with I hope it is a truck because a car shouldn't ever pull a 26 FT TT. My wife is only going 2 and a half hours away for her first time pulling her new trailer behind the van and she is stressed about that short drive.

It is a Ford Expedition that we will be pulling with. The dealer showed us the TT he pulls with his and his is a 28 ft, and weighs over 6200 lbs. The one we are buying is 26 ft. and weighs 4800 lbs.

 

[jennifer293]

Well, I'm surprised, I just checked disneyworld.com and they do show availability for all types of sites starting July 15th for 9 nights.

You didn't say how long you were staying, but I guessed at a week.

A full hookup site would be $588.80
A preferred site would be $642.24
A partial site would be $490.72.

This is rack rate, campsite only. You would need to add the cost of the dining plan and park tickets.

However, if this is the first time driving for that distance OR using this TT, I wouldn't do it.

I would take the TT on a couple of trial runs closer to home to
1) make sure everything works on the TT
2) make sure your vehicle handles the stress of the TT
3) make sure you are comfortable driving on the highways with the TT

We will be there 9 nights. we are paying 99.00 a night at Pop vs. 66.00 a night at FW.

We drove last year just not with a TT behind us. I too am afraid of the drive with something so big behind us.

I think we might just wait and go to the river once we get back. If something happens there is it just a 30 minute drive from home..

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Remember that 4800 is probaly your unloaded weight, make sure you account for things like full propane tanks, holding(fresh water...), camping supplies, TV's and anything else you put in it. I live in Knoxville and would probably not recomend such a long drive for your first trip, if you run into any problems being close to home and your RV dealer is nice when you first start camping. There are some very nice campgrounds in Townsend near the Smokeys and Stone Mtn GA is a good place to camp and an easy drive from here.

 

[F4disneyfan]

It is a Ford Expedition that we will be pulling with. The dealer showed us the TT he pulls with his and his is a 28 ft, and weighs over 6200 lbs. The one we are buying is 26 ft. and weighs 4800 lbs.

Ok good I would just hate to see you trying to pull that with a car because teh RV dealer said you would have no problem I have heard of this happening and it wasn't a pretty sight. My wifes trailer is a whopping 1600 pounds dry/unloaded and 2600 pounds fully loaded it should be an interesting drive for her up to MacGregor Point near Tobermory Ontario with 3 kids and herself doing the driving. The kids are great in teh car but she has never pulled anything bikker than a small 200LB utility trailer.

 

[breebell]

I would wait and get use to your new TT first. Take it on a couple quick weekend trips near your home, get use to driving with it and make sure there aren't going to be any problems with it. That's a long way away and a long time for a first outing.

 

[jennifer293]

Remember that 4800 is probaly your unloaded weight, make sure you account for things like full propane tanks, holding(fresh water...), camping supplies, TV's and anything else you put in it. I live in Knoxville and would probably not recomend such a long drive for your first trip, if you run into any problems being close to home and your RV dealer is nice when you first start camping. There are some very nice campgrounds in Townsend near the Smokeys and Stone Mtn GA is a good place to camp and an easy drive from here.

Yeah the loaded weight is like 7000 lbs or something!! Our Expedition towing capacity according to the owners manual is 8100 lbs.

We will probably go somewhere up the Ocoee River or Gee Creek for our first outing, maybe Harrison Bay. I have tent camped at all of those so I know they are nice and have bathrooms and showers and such (in case ours is occupied..LOL)...

I think in October we may try to go to Pirateland in Myrtle Beach. I hear it is a very nice place.

 

[T. Lynn]

I think I'd wait and do some more traveling close to home. Regarding the weight, one thing is that you normally don't have to drive with the water tanks full. The campgrounds we stay at have a water station upon entering and we see everyone filling up while coming in. That's what we will be doing with our new TT. Don't want to travel with the extra weight if we don't have too. Especially since it will be our first trip. Then again, we'll only be 2 1/2 hours away at Knoebels.

PS - sorry to be OT but how do you find the true weight of the trailer?

Our title shows:
Unladen weight: 3,695
GVWR: 5,000

TT plate shows:
GVWR: 5,430

We're new to TT's so not sure what to go by. We purchased it privately as well. I'd like to hook it up and go to a scale station but until then, what do you go by?

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

We will probably go somewhere up the Ocoee River or Gee Creek for our first outing, maybe Harrison Bay. I have tent camped at all of those so I know they are nice and have bathrooms and showers and such (in case ours is occupied..LOL)....

My DH, dad, brother and SIL just went white water rafting on the Ocoee 2 weeks ago. I prefer the quiet tubing we did in Townsend though.

 

[jennifer293]

My DH, dad, brother and SIL just went white water rafting on the Ocoee 2 weeks ago. I prefer the quiet tubing we did in Townsend though.

I REFUSE to raft down the Ocoee. It scares me to death. I am not a water person anyway especially if I cannot see the bottom...I just like to WATCH!!!!

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

I REFUSE to raft down the Ocoee. It scares me to death. I am not a water person anyway especially if I cannot see the bottom...I just like to WATCH!!!!

Me too!!

 

[kmccain]

I think I'd wait and do some more traveling close to home. Regarding the weight, one thing is that you normally don't have to drive with the water tanks full. The campgrounds we stay at have a water station upon entering and we see everyone filling up while coming in. That's what we will be doing with our new TT. Don't want to travel with the extra weight if we don't have too. Especially since it will be our first trip. Then again, we'll only be 2 1/2 hours away at Knoebels.

PS - sorry to be OT but how do you find the true weight of the trailer?

Our title shows:
Unladen weight: 3,695
GVWR: 5,000

TT plate shows:
GVWR: 5,430

We're new to TT's so not sure what to go by. We purchased it privately as well. I'd like to hook it up and go to a scale station but until then, what do you go by?

Try looking inside your cupboard door above your sink for a sticker that tells you the weight.

You will really like Knoebels! It is a great place!

Have a great time!

 

[T. Lynn]

Try looking inside your cupboard door above your sink for a sticker that tells you the weight.

You will really like Knoebels! It is a great place!

Have a great time!

We go to Knoebels every year since my daughter was 2. It's a must....

I remember going there many times as a child as well.

I love to hear the rides and the excitement from the park. We have a great campsite and I told my DH that I refuse to ever cancel and loose our weekend and site. We can walk down to the park without taking the drunk bus...oh, I mean the shuttle bus (hehe). It will be even better this year with a nice sized TT and not the pop-up. I can actually put our clothes in the cabinets instead of the car being weighed down and taking 1/2 hour unloading everything. Gives me more fun/play time.

According to the website, Knoebels is flooded at the moment and their closed. I hope it will be back up and running by the time we go. If not, I will be crying for the whole week. I'm such a kid and LOVE knoebels. Check out their website for the flood pictures.

http://www.knoebels.com/flood.htm

 

[magicforever]

You have to raft the Ocoee once. I did it and loved it. I was a little scared also. I was glad I did it. I have seen TT up at Chilhowee also. What a great place to camp. I believe they opened it back up a few weeks ago. If you get used to everything quickly, by all means, go to FW. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT.
You sound like you live close to me. I am not far from a few of the places that you mentioned.

 

[jennifer293]

I don't raft, I don't swim. I WADE!!!! and if I cannot see the things below me I don't get in. Also my cousin was a raft guide at High Country and one of her passengers fell out and got wedged under between rocks and drowned even one of the raft guides drowned last year..NO THANKS!!!!

I don't want to camp at Chilhowee for a few reasons. I don't think bears are cute animals..and I sure don't want to meet one. Also DH is the CC and track coach at the high school and he takes the kids to Chilhowee every weekend to run..(when it was open) he boots them out at the ranger station and they run to the top of the mountain...10 MILES!!! STRAIGHT UP!!! NO BREAKS!! They love it!! So if the kids knew we were there they would want to make it a training weekend and while I LOVE all of those kids I would like to have my DH to myself for once.. I think Harrison Bay is my best bet. It has a pool!!! and I can SEE THE BOTTOM!!!! WOOHOO!!

 

[clkelley]

Me too!!

Rafting down the Ocoee is a thrill!! We go at least once every couple of years and LOVE it!!!

 

[christinou]

We just love camping at FW so my advice would be camp if you possibly can, you might also be able to save more money by having some of your meals at the site, and not getting the dining plan, we always have breakfast and lunch in our motorhome, by lunch time we are hot and ready for a break.
Have fun with your new "toy".

 

[jennifer293]

We just love camping at FW so my advice would be camp if you possibly can, you might also be able to save more money by having some of your meals at the site, and not getting the dining plan, we always have breakfast and lunch in our motorhome, by lunch time we are hot and ready for a break.
Have fun with your new "toy".

I BOUGHT IT TODAY!!!! WOOHOOOOOOOO We pick it up in the morning, they had to hook up the weight distributors and such on it....

We have decided against taking it to FL this trip, but will definitely take it on the next one. Thanks so much for everyone's advice you guys and gals are AWESOME!!!


I will post pics of it as soon as I can and can figure out how..LOL