Stocking up


marstrings

New Member
Hi folks

This is very exciting. Our plans for our trip to the USA and Canada are progressing. We've put a deposit down on a motorhome. Yaay! Thanks to advice here, and resources recommended by people here, I've worked my way through the huge choice in RVs. We're getting a 1997 Born Free 24RB Class C motorhome. We'll be picking it up at the end of March from Born Free motorcoach in Humboldt, Iowa.

We have to start thinking about stocking it up for our trip. Does anybody have any recommendations as to where we can get stuff? We'll need bedding, cutlery, crockery, LPG for the heater. Food... Two bicycles and a bicycle rack. Err.. what else?

M.
 

rjf7g

Senior Member
Re: Stocking up

Congrats on your new camper! Most everything in both of my campers (except for the Pillsbury Doughboy stuff that we bought on eBay) came from Wal-Mart...LP is limited, but out there. The tank should be full when you pick up your rig and you can keep your eyes open to find filling stations when you're out and about.

I have found a few things at West Marine and Boater's World as well as Target and Bed, Bath, and Beyond. For the camper specific stuff, I buy from the forum's GTS, CampingWorld, or a RV store between my house and my seasonal site.

Have fun imagining all of the possibilities!
 

H2H1

Senior Member
Re: Stocking up

well congratulation on your purchase. I would take everything in my kitchen and put it your MH. when you get back buy new things for the kitchen .You can also go the yard sell and pick up some good things. you can go to wal mart once you get here in the good old USA and get thing really nice. but enjoy your time here and be careful our driving is different than what you are use to.
 

marstrings

New Member
Re: Stocking up

Thanks for the pointers. We'll have to get everything we need in the US, as we're limited in the amount of luggage we can bring with us on the flight. Yard sales sound like a good idea. Where to you get to know about them?

I have driven in France and Canada where they drive on the 'wrong' side of the road, so I'll get used to that. What we could do with, is the US equivalent of the UK's 'Highway Code', which sets out all the rules for driving, and explains the meaning of all the road signs. Does anyone know where we can get one of these?

M.
 

rjf7g

Senior Member
Re: Stocking up

Well, there are some traffic laws that are set by the state. When you enter a new state and see a visitor's center, see if you can get an official state map. Not only will this be a fun collection for you, but they sometimes have a summary of the traffic laws for that state.

In Virginia, we have a Division of Motor Vehicles and a Department of Transportation that provide all of the info you need - http://www.dmvnow.com/ and http://www.virginiadot.org/default_noflash.asp. Virginia's publication "Driver's Manual" is probably pretty typical. No doubt, there are some silly laws - http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/12/26/unusual.laws/index.html and I don't know a place other than http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004918.html that gives reasonably easy access to the driving laws - scroll down and look for a link on the left for each state.

I am not much on yard sales, so I can't really give you any pointers there. Have fun on your adventure!
 

H2H1

Senior Member
Re: Stocking up

WELL once you get here buy a news paper from each city you are in they have a listing of yard sell within that city. Also you can go on line as Becky has stated for each states you are going to driving in and down load driving regulation plus you have all the road signs to review.
 

PattieAM

New Member
Re: Stocking up

Wal-mart has a camping/RV section, so your essentials may be purchased there (white water hose, sewer hose/connectors, electric adaptors). In addition, you may purchase your bedding, cuttlery, dishes, cookware and even basic groceries there.

Specialty RV/camping items not carried at Wal-mart may be obtained at Camping World. Both Wal-mart and Camping World have websites and one can purchase via online. You might check the websites out for an idea of what's available and it's approximate cost.

Trailer Life Directory (publication by Good Sam, but available at many bookstores - i.e., Borders) has some 'rules of the road' (towing speeds, dump station locations, etc.), and retails for about $25.00. This publication also has very extensive listings of the campgrounds nationwide, and approximate costs, phone numbers, etc.

Motor Vehicle Administrations (aka Division of Motor Vehicles) of each state (generally each county has an office), have a drivers handbook for their state, with the various road signs, procedures, rules/regulations. You might contact AAA (American Automobile Association) for a broader (nationwide) pamphlet.

Your unit should have pre-filled propane tanks, and one can generally re-fill them at many campgrounds, or possibly trade in at Wal-mart (depends upon your tanks) (mentioned Wal-mart as it's trade-in program is slightly less expensive than private vendors/Blue Rhino trade in). Beware, some propane refill stations charge a set fee for say an entire tank, vs. what you actually get.

Wow - I've been following your posts and am tickled to see things coming together for you!
 

TexasClodhopper

Senior Member
Re: Stocking up



Oh, boy look out; Pattie's done got tickled again! :clown:

M., since you'll be coming into Iowa to get your MH, they might still have some regular Wal-Marts there. You want to look for a SUPER Wal-Mart. They have a FOOD store side.

You can't forget the food! You might even run across some frozen fish-n-chips! :laugh:

PS. You want to get some PACE brand picante sauce. That other stuff is made in NEW YORK CITY! :dead: (Get a rope ...)
 

krautdog

Member
RE: Stocking up

Don't forget a case or two of beer. Whenever I travel, I always seek out micro breweries or brewpubs to visit but then again, beer is my business so I look at it as field research.

Cheers!
 

marstrings

New Member
Re: Stocking up

TexasClodhopper - 2/22/2008 1:42 PM



Oh, boy look out; Pattie's done got tickled again! :clown:

M., since you'll be coming into Iowa to get your MH, they might still have some regular Wal-Marts there. You want to look for a SUPER Wal-Mart. They have a FOOD store side.

You can't forget the food! You might even run across some frozen fish-n-chips! :laugh:

PS. You want to get some PACE brand picante sauce. That other stuff is made in NEW YORK CITY! :dead: (Get a rope ...)

We won't forget food, but we'll be more interested in curry than fish and chips I think. A recent survey in the UK showed that curry is now the nation's favourite food!

Super Wal-Mart is then.
M.
 

marstrings

New Member
Re: Stocking up

PattieAM - 2/22/2008 1:27 PM

Wal-mart has a camping/RV section, so your essentials may be purchased there (white water hose, sewer hose/connectors, electric adaptors). In addition, you may purchase your bedding, cuttlery, dishes, cookware and even basic groceries there.

Specialty RV/camping items not carried at Wal-mart may be obtained at Camping World. Both Wal-mart and Camping World have websites and one can purchase via online. You might check the websites out for an idea of what's available and it's approximate cost.

Trailer Life Directory (publication by Good Sam, but available at many bookstores - i.e., Borders) has some 'rules of the road' (towing speeds, dump station locations, etc.), and retails for about $25.00. This publication also has very extensive listings of the campgrounds nationwide, and approximate costs, phone numbers, etc.

Motor Vehicle Administrations (aka Division of Motor Vehicles) of each state (generally each county has an office), have a drivers handbook for their state, with the various road signs, procedures, rules/regulations. You might contact AAA (American Automobile Association) for a broader (nationwide) pamphlet.

Your unit should have pre-filled propane tanks, and one can generally re-fill them at many campgrounds, or possibly trade in at Wal-mart (depends upon your tanks) (mentioned Wal-mart as it's trade-in program is slightly less expensive than private vendors/Blue Rhino trade in). Beware, some propane refill stations charge a set fee for say an entire tank, vs. what you actually get.

Wow - I've been following your posts and am tickled to see things coming together for you!

Hi Pattie

Thanks for all the good advice. Duly noted. Yes, I'm beginning to get excited about it all now. For ages, it just seemed like a bit of a dream and/or a just huge pile of things to be arranged. Having got this far, it's finally starting to feel a bit more like reality.

My last week at work this coming week. My partner finishes at the end of the first week in March. Visa interview at the US Embassy in London next Monday. Flight to Massachusetts to stay initially with a friend in the middle of March.

Yaay!

M.
 

aussie Keith

New Member
Re: Stocking up

WalMart is certainly the first stop for anyone wanting the basics for the RV. Much more reasonable cost than the specialist camping outlets and you can get just about everything in one trip. Whatever you do add a SatNav to your shopping list. It will give you unbelievable assistance in finding everything and probably save your marriage.
 

DL Rupper

Senior Member
Re: Stocking up

Make sure you get a TrailerLife Campground Directory. It has lots of good info on RVing and where to stay. If you bring a laptop computer, check the campgrounds you are thinking of staying at online at www.RVparkreviews.com.

Wal-Mart Supercenters are located just about everywhere. Buy your Rand McNally Road Atlas at Wal-Mart. It is cheaper there and has a section that will tell you where every Wal-Mart is located in each State. Also, if you use a GPS the points of interest will locate any Wal-mart, close by, under Shopping (General Merchandise). Wal-mart will save you a bundle of $$$$$$$.. ;)
 
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