Camping @ Yellowstone
 

Anyone here camped at Yellowstone? Planning to head out there for our two week shutdown at work. Looks like I will stay at Fishing Bridge campground inside the park. Your thoughts?

Bill, I hate you now. Yellowstone is a place that I've wanted to see for decades, but likely won't get to for many more years. It's on my ultimate camping destination list. Ok, I don't really hate you.

Scott, Believe me, I'm torn. This does take away from the Chevelle Fund. But, i've got a 15yr old that will be out soon. Got to do it some time. She already is so busy that we almost never see her, unless she is doing some sport activity. Then there is te 11yr old son that wants to lasso a bison. What will I do:shakehead:
Got to make these memories while they are young.

We were there last year, but not camping, what a beautiful place. We went to Yosemite the year before and loved that too.

A visit to Yellowstone with the family is worth more than the Chevelle, trust me. What an amazing place.

The fishing bridge area is nice because of its location. Depending on how long you plan on staying in the park, you'll be able to see quite a bit. I've been 5-6 times and its amazing every time.

The lodge at Old Faithful is fun to take in and learn about, the hot springs and mineral pools are something I'll never forget. I was going to say I like the north end of he park better but the Tetons in the south are amazing. Mini Grand Canyon, rivers and lakes, woods, wildlife...Yellowstone doesn't disappoint.

Your first trip will be a scouting mission for the next.

Have fun, don't forget to relax! The traffic at certain times of the year can get to some.

Dan

Just a small update. Got site registered in West Yellowstone at Grizzly campground. Funny thing, the guy inside Yellowstone for Fishing Bridge campground said I should have started last May making reservations for this year. Haha. Looks like we will have two ten hour days of driving to get to Rushmore on the way. Going to check that out for a couple of days. So now to get the vehicles and such ready for this trip. It will be here before I know it.

That's great, Bill. Enjoy yourself and take lots of pictures.

we plan on it. Just found out today there is a chance thy will take away one of the weeks of our two week shutdown. That will make it harder as it is really hard to take a week off from work when production is running. I will just have to plan accordingly I guess. Just makes it harder to enjoy time off.

Well, it's getting closer. Been working on the truck and the camper. Just about ready. Had to replace a brake plate on the camper as I have had an issue since we have had it. Still concerned about the brakes in general on the camper. Last time I pulled it, they did not seem to work at all. Hard to stop that much weight with just the truck. Especially when I pull out from where I keep it and head straight down a hill.
I'm wondering if it is the controller, as I have checked the voltage coming out of the controller and only see 2.5v when just applying the brakes. When I turn the pendulum all the way forward I have the correct 12v at the plug. At the axles, I am only getting 7.5v. So i am getting a drop somewhere.
I also had one brake that had no dust inside. Looked like it had never worked since I purchased the trailer. So I need to get these straightened out before we go. If anyone has any ideas, let me know. Just making sure that they work before we leave.

So back to the trip. Laying out the path this week, we already have reservations at Mount Rushmore and west Yellowstone. If you remember, we could not get a site in the park. About to get me park pass tonight.

Woot! I bet you're getting excited. Good luck figuring out the brakes on the camper.

Alright, got the brakes straightened out, we are loading up and getting everything ready. Had to build a hitch for the rear last week so that we can haul the bikes out there and back.
The truck is getting the oil changed and a new fuel filter. Will be ready tomorrow..

Have fun and drive safe, Bill!

I'm just hoping that we don't kill each other before we get back. HAHA

Well, we started about 10:30 today. Drove all day, made a couple of fuel stops and ended up tonight east of St. Louis at a KOA about to hit the sack. We had the freezer come open and some meat defrost but was still good to put in the fridge. We'll eat those first. Haha

Been good so far. No issues other than loosing a couple of straps on the bike rack. So. All is good.

Half the fun is getting there and back.... LOL

Love that place, I have no doubt we will live in Jackson someday. Lots of friends and played and worked there on projects 8-10 times over the past few years.

I like Yellowstone, the Fishing Bridge campground is where alot of Bison hang out. but do yourself a favor and make the trip down to the Grand Teton National Park. WAY LESS crowded and the views are spectacular. Stop into Signal Mountain Lodge and sit out on the deck for a great lunch or dinner. Great food with a breathtaking view of the lake. peek behind the gas station and you will see a '67 Camaro that looks completely out of place with Baer brakes, Rushforths and a rowdy LS engine in it. I updated it for John. He's one of the summer residents there. If you get bored following tour buses through the park head down to Jackson and rent a 4 seater street legal ATV from Scenic Safari and check out the Duramax swap we did in an old military snow rig. See Billy S at Scenic Safari for an amazing off-road tour or fishing trip

way better than following the crowds around the park. Speaking of crowds and wild life. get up way early a beat the crowds around the park when the thermals really show up clearly in the sky and the wild life is out. Then head out around 6 pm when everyone has settled in when wildlife comes back out. Any other ideas give me a call on my cell 253-640-2659- Chris (Can you tell I love that place?)

Chris, thanks for that info. Family is really excited about the atv rental. May have to try that.
We are in Sioux city for dinner right now. Looking to make Sioux Falls tonight before we call it a night. Rushmore tomorrow. Can't wait to see the dead presidents. Haha

Well made it to keystone today after seeing the badlands on the way in. What an awesome place. Everyone should see it. I have an eleven yr old. Oh that wanted to climb them all. Going to the presidents tomorrow. Giving the truck a break.
Ever here of iron mountain rd? Try pulling a 36ft 5th wheel around it. Lol.
Big blue is tired today. Got lost, saw a corn palace and spent $36 for us to see some old building in a place called 1880 town. That was a let down if there ever was one. Well, been a another long day. Got to hit the sack.

I just got back from Wyoming today. Love that state and Colorado. Safe travels, Bill.

Well, we made it. Pulled in today at 10:00am. Mountain time. Got everything set up and noticed I had a tire on the camper that had a bulge. So off we went in search for a tire shop in little west Yellowstone. They got us fixed up in no time. Thanks to jake's tire and automotive here for that help.

So went into the park and low and behold we have bison. Actually saw more wdlife in the couple of hours in the park than we did all day at Custer Park wild life loop. Lol
Cooking supper now and enjoying this great campground Yellowstone Grizzly.

Sooooooo jealous right now. Some day......

Way to go Bill!


Should we now start to refer to you as WILD BILL??



Yellowstone is just a friggin' wonder of wonders.

Took the family on that trip last summer and we had a blast. We stayed at the Grizzly RV park and loved it, then headed to Rushmore from there. My 12 and 14 yr. old had so much fun. Great memories that will live forever. Enjoy and be safe...

Glad you made it, Bill. Enjoy yourself!

The wife and I where there last year and had a blast, have a great holiday.

So today, we went about 25 miles outside of West Yellowstone to ride horses for 3 hours. My butt hurts. we did ride the bikes into town after supper for ice cream. It has been a good day. Starting to kind of plan the ride back to the big city of Chattanooga. We are planning to go to church in the morning, then head out to the last area that we have not seen yet. Then it will be back to camp to start packing up.

Thought I would post a few pics of the hotel and the puller of said hotel. Please say hi to Big Blue, and Laurie.

Here they are in the Badlands
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps46a277eb.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps162ed5be.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps1fc17e47.jpg

Campsite at Spokane Creek Campground @ Rushmore
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psa8c7b062.jpg

Here's a slight problem we had on the way. really glad someone needed to go tot the bathroom.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps0b5a8df6.jpg

and of course the campsite at the Walmart in Bozeman MT.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps4488b227.jpg

Played a little midnight four sguare in the parking lot that night
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psa469662f.jpg

So far, this has been an excellent vacation.

Looks like everything is going good for you and the family Bill!


Please explain the tire under the trailer --- I don't get it other than obviously it shouldn't be there! Where'd it come from? And how'd it get there?

Greg,
That is where the spare is mounted. Like a pickup truck. However, it's supposed to be tight against the frame. For some reason, it has started loosening up. Another few miles, and I would have lost it. I tightened it up, and made sure the son checked it at every stop.

Yes, we are having a great time. The kids are enjoying every minute.

I thought that might be the case but couldn't tell without knowing the mount.... car trailers carry the tire on the outside where the tongue is - or inside on the wall or in a wheel well in the floor... but now I see where the problem is!


Such a great trip for your kids -- they've seen stuff that many never ever get to.

I took Alex to Springfield, Illinois for Bloomington (Corvette show)... when he was 10 and we did your trip from this side of the US. He loved it and we had a blast - did Yellowstone - Jackson Hole - Mt Rushmore - Corn Palace -- spent 9 days getting there in a '67 BB Vette drop top.... my ears are still ringing and he's still talking about the trip.

I bet he is. Son and I are about to take a trip ourselves. Later this month. Not sure exactly where we are going but I know he and I will have a blast.

Well, I never thought I would know another person that has been to the Corn Palace. I thought it was a joke when we heard about it. Then the wife said, we had to see it since we were that close. Got a couple of Christmas ornaments to mark the occasion.

Yes, the tire is normally mounted on the rear very thin bumper. After our first trip in the camper, I noticed that it was really too heavy for it. Bought the under mount, and it has been there every since. Seeing how this has been the first really long trip, I guess, It needed a little tightening up. Never thought it would be a problem. I'll watch it from now on. My daughter said she kept hearing something and was looking back at he hitch. I checked it, and didn't see any issues. I think she may have been hearing the tire slap up against the mount.

Good pictures. Glad you guys are enjoying yourselves, Bill.

Well yes we are having fun. Travelled hwy 14 in Wyoming. Wow, what a road. Don't go that way if you want to make headway down the road. Took me about three hours to get to I90.
Well today we have made it to Sioux city. Just outside of there we had our first flat on the camper. You will not believe the problems we had getting it changed but we did. Then found a place that had a couple of tires and got those replaced. I am down to only one old tire. And a good spare.

As GW said earlier Bill, half the fun is getting there and back. Enjoy the ride!

Scott, GW was correct. The journey has almost been as fun as seeing the sights. My kids will remember this trip the rest of their lives. From getting to climb the rocks at the badlands to standing on the road side waiting on my to figure out how to get the spare out from under the trailer. The tube that you turn to let the tire down with at some point the last two days had broken off.
Here I was taking off lug nuts and jacking the axle when the boy asked what he could do. I said, let the spare down with the lug wrench. A minute went by and he said how? Frustration level was getting up there because we were on the side of I29S. I said it is right in front of you. Wife stated, what is right in front of him. I went around there and........... Where in the world is that bar that stuck out so you could let the tire down? Crap,!!!
So then it was on to figure it out with the tools I had. You know how you think you brought everything you could possibly need? Well I didn't get everything. Two guys stopped to help, one of them had a socket that would let me lower the tire. We were on.
The thing that my daughter noticed most was how the truckers moved over so they would not run up close to us. It amazed her how nice they were. I think she waved at all of them. She will not forget that.
My son will remember for the rest of his life that he prayed for us to be able to get some tires and how we found a place that was still open, and had them in our size and that they were super nice about us coming in so late and close to their closing time.
It's been a long day. I'm going to bed. Stayed in a walmart last night and tonight in the parking lot of the horseshoe casino in Omaha ne. Go figure.

Good to hear that you're still having fun despite the trials along the way. It's an adventure!



One day I was towing the 24' black trailer with my dually.... Trailer is a tandem axle.... BAM! Blow out... no biggie - had it changed in a matter of minutes. All the right tools...

Roll back up the road 30 or so miles --- FLAP FLAP FLAP! Tread is separated from a tire on the other side (mind you these tires were pretty new!).... Well WTF -- I just used the spare for the other side! Now what. Pull over to assess the situation... and look up and there's a truck tire joint back about half a mile -- and the exit is half a mile in front of me. I drop the trailer - take the two pooped out tires to the truck guy and he has ------ TWO tires --- my size. And he's not busy. In an hour I'm back on the road.

Sometimes things work out - sometimes not so much.

Well, we pulled up to the house around 2:30 yesterday. Got the camper backed up in the driveway and everything unloaded. Wow, what a trip. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Actually, we are already planning where we are going next year.
Now, it's time to get everything back in shape. Fix the problems and get the last tire replaced. I've got some time to do this. However, I'm going to do some research on replacement tires. Right now, I've got three China tires on there. All I could find at the time. I'll see what I can do on replacing those. Hate to waste money, but I'm not real sure about them.

I'll get some numbers and pics posted this weekend as to amount of fuel and miles driven. I can't wait to see them.