RV Trip Planning: Situational Awareness

It’s crucial to combine your RV trip planning with situational awareness.

It wasn’t all that long ago when social media and the news (western states) were requesting help locating an elderly couple on a road trip – Ron & Beverly Barker and their Class C motorhome towing a Kia sedan. Sadly, it didn’t end well. Ron passed away as they waited for someone to find them.

This is so sad, but it’s also a teaching opportunity or at the very least, a reminder to help other RVers avoid what turned into a life-or-death situation.

Below I am sharing a video that shed some insight as to what might have happened to them. The folks in the video volunteered to recover the RV, tow dolly and car from where they were found.

Purple Pansy & Black Rock – Abandoned Arizona Mines

Beyond the Pavement – 4 Wheeling Arizona

A short distance south of Aguila, Arizona along Eagle Eye Road, we arrived at the trailhead for visiting two abandoned Arizona mines. We were with a contingent of off-roading enthusiasts, like ourselves. We were the only Jeep; the rest were side-by-sides but we’re all members of the North Ranch Outdoors Club, from the RV park where we winter.

We always look forward to any trips with the group that are suitable for our Jeep Wrangler. This particular run to the Purple Pansy and Black Rock Mines was just such a ride. Sadly, it would be our last ride with the group this season. But for good reason … soon we’ll be starting our migration back north … if the weather across the plains and the upper mid-west cooperates. Otherwise, we’ll have to hold up somewhere along the way.

Our first stop will be in Cottonwood, Arizona to meet up with friends and spend a few days riding trails in the surrounding area including Sedona. More on those treks will come later, for now let’s focus on the two abandoned Arizona mines we visited.

COMMUNICATIONS Should Be Your Number 1 Priority

Last evening a familiar sound filled the air, a helicopter making its way towards the park. This isn’t unusual as we are in a direct line of flight between the Greater Phoenix area and Kingman, AZ / Las Vegas, NV. Medical evacuation helicopters travel this corridor transferring patients to and from along with those they might need to pick up in the surrounding area.

On occasion, one will land here at the Escapees North Ranch RV Park to pickup someone. Sometimes they are residents/guest of the park or trauma patients involved in an accident nearby.

Beyond The Pavement- A Short Ride To Shiprock

Arizona isn’t just a big flat desert sprinkled with cactus and rattlesnakes and you don’t have to travel very far from where we are staying to see some pretty spectacular scenery.

Our last trail ride was a group ride with the local off-road club here at North Ranch in Congress AZ. Four rigs, two side-by-sides, our Jeep Wrangler and a vintage International Scout. After arriving at the trailhead parking area, while the side-by-sides unloaded off their trailers, the two of us aired down and readied for the ride.

To Tote Water Or Not

We prefer to carry a full tank of fresh water as possible as we travel and I’ll tell you why in a bit. I’m asked often do we andhow much water we carry while traveling. Every RVer has their reasons why they do or do not. I have met RV’ers who have never put water into their freshwater tank, some say its because they only travel park to park and never boondock so there is no need.

Like any mechanical device or system, if you don’t use it, it will likely fail or not work properly when you do try to use it. Think about this as it applies to when you want to trade it in or sell the unit.

Some have said they don’t want to have to deal with the sanitation process. Most report that they just don’t want to pay for the additional gas/fuel it takes to carry the weight it adds to their RV going down the road. For some, those being bumper pulled trailers it is also a matter of weight distribution. Too much weight on the hitch or too much weight aft of the axle(s) can cause control issues, the latter causing uncontrollable oscillation.