Questions from Newbies: SHASTA 1969 LOFLYTE

[Angie Logan]

Good day all from the Heartland, center of Kansas !  So, after looking for a reasonable little fun trailer the last 2 years, we found our Jewel in Buhler, Ks., about 20 miles away. We'd been searching alleys and farms and there are a lot of those around! The Jewel is rough but not terrible in condition, as far as we know :-) We started removing the skin on one side,2 days ago. At this point, we plan to make her nice, for us and see the Grands and kids in Ks., NV, and WA. We've never owned anything like this. We have good common sense, love nature and a budget. There are 2 main requests here. Please help . An OWNERS MANUAL is the first. Second would be ANY GOOD ADVICE for us as beginners. I looked at several sites like this and you all sounded fun and friendly with easy to learn from ! Much appreciated for your trouble !

                      Angieoakleaf and Steve

[Lakota Wolf]

There is plenty of info here and like minded folks here to help you with your project....

[Angie Logan]

Thank you very much for the encouraging message. Oh, and did I tell you I'm computer challenged ? I am self taught and hate to ask for help so I fumble my around. Still, thank you for helping with this ride we've chosen...

[Lakota Wolf]

Dont feel bad, I just search and punch and at times I am even suprised with what I come up with,,,, its all good,,, Most of us here are fluent in Typonese also.

[Angie Logan]

I've seen your name up here several times. And I appreciate your encouragement . Are you the leader of the pack ? :-)  What do you camp with? Have you seen the lower 48 ? For our first long trek we hope to see a lot of nature, trees for me, three grandkids in Ks. Wa. & Vegas ( though our son in Vegas said we might want to keep IT in Ks. She does look rough and he was kidding ! ! 

[Lakota Wolf]

No, Im not the leader of the pack,,  I just have free time on my hands and comment and blog,, Ive been to all the lower 48's several times, criss crossed,diagnal, north,south,east,west,, But slowing down and settled for a bit catching up the health issues, But plan to hit the roads again and visit kids, grandkids, and even a great grand child,,, 

[Dawn Michelle]

Wishing you ENJOYMENT!  I started this ride a year ago when I found my rig, and finally got on the road a couple of weeks ago after a long renovation.  This forum is invaluable!  People are awesome and there is no such thing as a dumb question.  Lots of encouragement, too, as there will be weeks you will be wondering if you are insane.  Although hopefully with a camper you'll have much less aggravation than I have had with a motorhome.  Welcome :-)

Just went through Kansas - Ellis had a particularly LOVELY city campground that I hope to visit again.  It was so cold and windy I didn't go check out the downtown and the museums it offers which is a big regret.  I would have really loved the train museum.

[Angie Logan]

Well, thank you for responding too ! You guys are awesome and inspirational ! Yes! Hays is just a couple of hours northwest. Glad to hear there was a campground there you liked. And the train museum, huh-  We never knew. We were there with our kids going through high school sports years ago. What brought you through Kansas ? How do you pick campgrounds? What would you say is average $$ ? We figured at least a year or more to get Jewel decent. Maybe more if costs slow us down.

 Yes when we found her and the fellow opened her up to show us, I had my first flash of insanity. Then again, no bad odor or "recent" wet spots. I put pics. up somewhere on here. Did you see them? Scary... 

[Dawn Michelle]

I was on  my way from NC to Denver first leg of a trip to Texas, then out to Quartzsite, AZ for the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous in January.  Sadly the morning I was there in Hays (spent the night in Walmart) a poor elderly woman went up the ramp wrong way and didn't survive her tussle with a semi.  Fortunately, the truck driver survived and no one else was hurt as he jumped the median and ran across that intersection down below. 

I use an app called RV Parky and super pleased it with it - there's a website, too.  I know there are other sites and apps like Campendium and Free Campsites dot net - and look at Boondockers Welcome and Harvest Hosts - see if those might be a way of overnighting that you might like.  I have joined the first but so far haven't had a chance to use it.  To be honest I LIKE Walmarts and Travel Centers.  Wax earplugs are your friends.  And Walmarts are great to shop in early in the morning :-)

I will go look for the pics!  I have not seen them!

$$ is all over the board - where I am now, in Denver - you will find it is miserably unfriendly to RVers.  No places to boondock, private parks are both crazy and expensive (and not worth the fees if you ask me - many require your rig be 10 years or younger) so I would go for the state parks.  Unfortunately they get you too - camping fees seem great until you tag on the $7-$9 daily pass that is required and no wifi, and showers require quarters!  So basically plan on high 30s and up here. Beautiful parks, though. 

I'm at the fairgrounds now which is basically a parking lot but great bathrooms/showers and nice folks.  And I have electric.  $30 a night.  Dump and water stations.  Nice grassy areas to walk the dog.  View of the interstate - lol.  Up in Boulder, same option in a fairground for $20 a night but my plans are keeping me close to Denver.

Ellis city was $20 a night, self pay kiosk.  Shower house was clean but certainly not state of the art.  But the gorgeous little river and great wifi made it worth it.  They also have two other museums - I want to say Chrysler and then one for an ethnic german community.  I definitely will make plans to stop there if I go back through that way.

In New Mexico you can buy an annual pass I think for just over $100 and then stay for dirt cheap in all their parks.  They tag on depending on what you want to plug into.  BLM land out west is free but of course no hookups or amenities.  And then parks out west in the desert states I think tend to be cheaper overall.  Monthly rates are always cheaper than weekly which can give you a discount on nightly.  Check out forums and youtubers like Bob Wells who has Cheap RV Living for tips. 

Depending on how you plan travel you might also want to check into the fine print on Passport America and Thousand Trails.  I think if I traveled regionally I would definitely consider the latter.  Escapees also is a nice community (I have heard) with discounted parks. 

Finally, IF hubby is an Elks member many of their lodges have campgrounds that are free to inexpensive but for members only generally.  I've been trying to get Rick to join, I mean for goodness sake, their lodges are built around a bar, but so far no luck - lol.  He's not much of a joiner.

Anyway, I hope this offers a place to start.  How you plan to travel will definitely guide your renovation decisions.  

[Angie Logan]

I am thrilled with the info. You shared on choices in lodging . I appreciate your taking the time / trouble. It is a great start and I'm taking notes ! We are working at what seems to be a snails pace as we begin stripping her down, pulling out windows, etc. We plan to keep plugging away every chance every day. Thank you much. Enjoyed your writing.