caravans

[Tiffensdad]

Out of curiosity, have you done any of the Caravan trips that Good Sam and others offer? Are they worth the expense and time. How well organized etc. As I get ready to start the good life I am looking at things to do and places to go, and these appear to be a way seeing some areas without having to do all the planning etc. Would like to hear of others experience with these trips.

[adelmoll]

We met and talked to many of the caravaneers while we were in Alaska.. It is something that we would never do ourselves because of the tight schedules etc since we are the type that stop for a night and stay a week instead if we really like the place, but the people that we talked with seemed to love going that way... We know some that have gone on several of the trips.

I would love to go on that train caravan to the Copper Canyon though but they haven't called my lottery numbers yet.

Helen

[stiles watson]

We took the Good Sam caravan to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Isle. It was worth the money. We did not find the schedules too tight. We had useable free time. There was no strick caravaning. We were given a next place to be by a given time and then let go to travel as we wished with some suggested side trips if we wanted. The advantages were that all reservations made for us, several very good meals as part of the package, tours were prearranged with comfortable tour busses when called for as part of the package, and knowledgeable and entertaining guides to enhance the experience.

Size of the group would be another factor for me. I would not want more than about 2 dozen rigs on a caravan. Any more get unwieldy.

These factors plus developing some significant comradery with other RVers made the experience enjoyable. It requires a cooperative spirit and a teamwork attitude. If those characteristics are not present then I would recommend against doing it. It would spoil your type of "fun" and you would ruin it for others. Bickering and complaining is counter productive and antisocial.

Not everything went perfectly, but the anomalies were related to weather, not poor planning or lack of effort. I, personally, don't want to a caravan longer than about 2 weeks. Some companies do up to 45 days. That would be much longer than I would enjoy.

[capn chris]

We, too, have met a bunch of carvaners, but have not participated. On the plus side, they take care of all of the logistics/arrangements, and you have a built in group/social/support network when traveling in such. Downside is if you like to be flexible or impromptu. Schedules and reservations are there. Whatever works for you??!! All of the caravan folks we've met were very nice and having a god time.

[Bob Pasternak]

We made the Copper Canyon trip in March & April of this year. The caravan consisted of 24 units including the wagonmaster. 2 were conversion vans, about 5 class Cs, 5 5ers (of which 3 were Montys) the rest class As. It was an interesting trip but we would not go again with such a large number. We were told months in advance what was required for paperwork, etc.. When we got to Mexican customs, a couple units didn't have vehicle registration and/or insurance which led to a delay. A couple units had hideous mileage and when one stopped, everybody stopped. Made for parking problems in some of the Mexican fueling stops. Our Mexican guide was outstanding. Well educated and spoke excellent english. We were required to have radios, CBs or FRS and he kept up a running commentary on the history or interesting facts about the area we were in. We drove from El Paso to Chihuahua, then to Creel, then to LaJunta where we put the units on the train. Rode the train to Las Moches, unloaded and drove to Mazatlan. From Mazatlan we drove up the west coast along the Sea Of Cortez to Nogales. The whole trip was 27 days. And 2200 miles on the truck, not counting miles on the train. We would not go in any caravan with more than about 12 units.
This was not a Good Sam trip. We got it through the Presidents Club of CW.

[DnDatGrdJct]

We have been on three caravans each lasting 30 to 45 days. In each case we were pleased and thought we received our moneys worth. Could we have gone on our own at less expense? Probably, but it was also nice to have support if anything goes wrong. Traveled in caravans to Alaska, Eastern Canadian Provinces and the Mexico Copper Canyon. All the caravans had at least 22 units and we found that to be no problem. We traveled to areas and did things we probably would not have done on our own or even been aware of how interesting they were. The schedules are generally built with days of downtime so you can explore or relax on your own. On the Alaska caravan we checked out for 4 days and went on our own because the caravan was going to an area that we have previously visited. Our leaving and rejoining was no problem at that time. Did everything go perfectly, no, but we were well taken care of and the organization and accommodations were fine. You need to be able to show some flexibility not get uptight with small changes in schedules.There were some places we would have spent more time but that was offset by going to areas we probably would not gone on our own. You can pretty much travel at your own speed and sight see as you go along at your own pace. You know were to be each evening and also know that things will be waiting for you when you arrive. We have found RV folks nice to travel with. We have also developed some strong and lasting friendships because of our trips. In each case it was the staff and their experience that were big factors in the success and enjoyment of the trip.

[snfexpress]

DnDatGrdJct,

When you were on the Copper Canyon trip, were you on rail cars? Or should I ask, was your rig on rail cars and were you in a nice Pullman car while traveling?

We have been looking at the rail car tour, but with our 3400, we would only be on the bed (well, not such a bad thing, but...) while on the rail car as we can't sit in our living room without our slides out.

[TLightning]

We've done caravaning, but only with friends. We decide ahead of time a basic itinerary and play it by ear from there.

[Bob Pasternak]

Snfexpress: When we took the trip we were dry camping on the train 5 nights. I would start the truck for an hour each day we were on the train to keep the trailer battery charged. We had stayed a couple days in Creel then drove to La Junta where we loaded on the train. We went back to Creel and spent the night there. You stay in your unit. They put you on a siding at night and you can run your slides out. There are also armed guards on the train all the time. During the day while you're traveling, you can sit in your unit, in the truck cab, or what ever suits your fancy. The train never gets over 15 or 20 MPH. The rail cars are 60' long so some people put out lawn chairs at the ends of their units and sit there. We sat in the truck 'cause our OAL is 52', only leaves 4' at each end. The left side of your unit will be even with the edge of the flat car and there is room and a rail on the right side so you can get out of your unit while the train is moving. You'll need to fold in the left mirror or it will hit tunnel walls and rock faces when you're moving. If you make the trip and you drive a Duramax or Powerstroke, it would behoove you to take a fuel filter with you. No body down there buys the "V"s, only Cummins. Also take a large bag of wrapped candy. Going into Los Moches you will be traveling 5 to 8 MPH for about an hour or so and the little beggars stand by the tracks and if you don't throw candy, they chuck rocks.

[VanMan]

snfexpress, We have friends who made the Copper Canyon trip. They said they used conduit brackets to fasten their lawn chairs to the flatbed with deck screws !!