Jump to content

First "extended" trip, last minute planning...


DaveandKarin

Recommended Posts

Not a great combination, admitted. My wife and I are planning a trip from the Cincinnati area to Southern Utah (Brice, Moab, etc). Time frame is end of April through May. This wasn't planned month in advance so obviously the National and State Parks are booked. I'm seeking advice on where we might park the Ollie to stage trips into the parks and surrounding beautiful area.

Thank you for any words of advice!

Dave

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderators

From what I've heard - there is a ton of boondocking in and around that area.  You might go on over to YouTube and type in the search box something like Moab boondocking.

Good luck!

Bill

  • Thanks 1
  • Like 2

2023 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5EB FX4 Max Towing, Max Payload, 2016 Oliver Elite II - Hull #117 "Twist"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dave, are you OK with gravel and rough back roads? Do you have rock protection? Do you mind dust?

That early in the season, camping is all about elevation. The lower desert attractions are perfect that time of year, but the USFS sites up high and anything up on the Colorado Plateau will most likely still be snowed in.  Make sure you have maps that include topgraphic features (elevation contours). You cannot rely on cell phones, you need a stand alone navigator that is better than your lame factory nav system. I use an iPad Mini 6 loaded with several mapping programs. If that sounds agreeable, search the forum, we have discussed this many times.

I really love the Moab area, my wife and I have specified in our wills that our ashes be distributed near the White Rim Road (Arches). If you want to drive that road, it requires a back country permit and you may not be able to acquire one, unless your dates are very flexible. You would need a short wheelbase 4wd rental, ATVs are not allowed. Mountain bikes are OK.

https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/whiterimroad.htm

White Crack CG milepost 39 is the one to pick!!! White Rim pics from 2013.

John Davies

Spokane WA

 

9ED11F45-01C1-446A-A267-170B3750FEC6.jpeg

5202D588-E34C-46A4-A518-C03736FC0D73.jpeg

E239BF82-4381-4992-83E6-A827CA850EA4.jpeg

2B586B1A-669D-42AE-A755-7AAB097E0DA6.jpeg

6861D337-8CE1-4EF1-985A-59F768CF8277.jpeg

  • Thanks 1
  • Like 4

SOLD 07/23 "Mouse":  2017 Legacy Elite II Two Beds, Hull Number 218, See my HOW TO threads: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/john-e-davies-how-to-threads-and-tech-articles-links/

Tow Vehicle: 2013 Land Cruiser 200, 32” LT tires, airbags, Safari snorkel, Maggiolina Grand Tour 360 Carbon RTT.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

An example of the GAIA Topo map layer, zoomed out and then way in at Moab. 
 

146B8762-9BF6-4DA1-91B5-3B2EFC4A2681.thumb.png.fdbe1becbdc3bbbf5f5532bb80bb78d7.png

 

987FD3BF-90DB-46E1-9788-87859A17B3B5.thumb.png.d82795e3906462ee03cd79c3673ce091.png

 

John Davies

Spokane WA

 

  • Like 3

SOLD 07/23 "Mouse":  2017 Legacy Elite II Two Beds, Hull Number 218, See my HOW TO threads: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/john-e-davies-how-to-threads-and-tech-articles-links/

Tow Vehicle: 2013 Land Cruiser 200, 32” LT tires, airbags, Safari snorkel, Maggiolina Grand Tour 360 Carbon RTT.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, John E Davies said:

You would need a short wheelbase 4wd rental, ATVs are not allowed. Mountain bikes are OK.

Agree John! On our list to mountain bikes! 
Kirk

 

  • Like 1

Kirk and Carrie Peterson

Twin Falls, Idaho

2018 Ram 3500, with overland conversion: Rooftop tent, water, stove, Battle Born batteries, lockers, onboard air, raised air intake, Warn winch. 

2023 Elite 2, twin beds, delivered December 5, 2022 Truma package, lithium platinum package.
Hull #1305

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, DaveandKarin said:

Not a great combination, admitted. My wife and I are planning a trip from the Cincinnati area to Southern Utah (Brice, Moab, etc). Time frame is end of April through May. This wasn't planned month in advance so obviously the National and State Parks are booked. I'm seeking advice on where we might park the Ollie to stage trips into the parks and surrounding beautiful area.

Thank you for any words of advice!

Dave

 

Planning sites like Hipcamp are great to find private land sites at ok cost. Below is an example of a small place we stayed just outside the gates of Monument Valley. It is the backyard of a Native American family.

Around Moab we stayed on BLM campsites along the river....first come first serve....boondocking. I believe we paid $10/night.

image.png.ff6685dbfaa80e94994052db223a4421.png

 

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Be very aware that almost all Native American reservations prohibit having any firearm in your vehicle or trailer, even if empty and locked up. This also applies to Indian buildings on a through State or Federal highway, for example a gas station convenience store. Be careful, don’t walk in to pay while carrying a concealed pistol.

I avoid reservations for this reason, if I did find myself on one, I would be sure to secure them really well inside the Ollie and not drive recklessly!

John Davies

Spokane WA

  • Like 8

SOLD 07/23 "Mouse":  2017 Legacy Elite II Two Beds, Hull Number 218, See my HOW TO threads: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/john-e-davies-how-to-threads-and-tech-articles-links/

Tow Vehicle: 2013 Land Cruiser 200, 32” LT tires, airbags, Safari snorkel, Maggiolina Grand Tour 360 Carbon RTT.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This site will list the many BLM campsites around Moab. You can make multiple alternative plans. We camped at Goldbar on hwy 279. It was a side of the road along the river. Across the road was a very nice hiking trail that led to some special arches. At one point the trail went up a 12 foot alum ladder!

image.png.73e40c9dacd36f20aa1f888ff41a05c9.png

  • Thanks 1
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A couple of things we have discovered about first-come/first-serve BLM campgrounds...

  • In some cases (we encountered this with some of the smaller sites along the Colorado River near Moab) you might want to pull over at the entrance first and walk the campground looking for open site(s) and sufficient space for a trailer turn-around before you drive in. This should not be a problem with larger / more open sites.
  • For the BLM areas that charge a (usually small) fee and have identified sites - just because there is a "ticket stub" hanging on the site's post doesn't necessarily mean the site is currently occupied. Some campers will leave the site in the morning without taking down their stub from the clip on the post, even though that stub is now "expired". Check the actual dates written on the ticket stub.
  • Like 5

Tom & Holly

2018 Oliver Legacy Elite I #409 - 2017 Silverado 1500, 5.3L Gas, 4x4 Z71, Dbl Cab, Std Bed

 

2023-10-16OliverCampedStates(medium).jpg.8e9964c26c7927a0077806565b9dcfc2.jpg

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderators

This link is to a member who has sold their Oliver, but they were based around Salt Lake City, Utah.  Read the post "Seeing Ollie in the Best Possible Light" for Utah camping inspiration.

https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/profile/807-davids/content/

Mossey

  • Like 3

Mike and Krunch   Lutz, FL  
2017 LEII #193 “the dog house”

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...