Hello from a first time RV newbie (Updated 1/21/09)

Looks like a Canon EF 100-400 USM IS in your avatar ??? Is that correct -- if so, been using one for years. Very versatile lens ...

Welcome aboard! I echo everyone's comments and look forward to reading as your journey progresses. Also looking forward to your reviews of the military campgrounds you visit and any updated information.

Looks like a Canon EF 100-400 USM IS in your avatar ??? Is that correct -- if so, been using one for years. Very versatile lens ...

You are correct. Good eye. I've used this lens for over 2 years now. I really want to get the EF 500 USM. Maybe someday.

Welcome aboard! I echo everyone's comments and look forward to reading as your journey progresses. Also looking forward to your reviews of the military campgrounds you visit and any updated information.

Thanks Larry and all the others for your comments. I would like you to explain what is meant by "Big Rig Friendly." Does that include up to 41 feet? Also, when specifying electrical, do all sites have 50 amp hookup? As a newbie I'm looking for additional details.

Amy and I stopped by the RV dealer today to check on the status of my RV. Looks like I'll be able to pick it up Tuesday. I've got a lot of work to do and things to buy to get it ready. We are going to take some short trips near home at first to learn as much as we can before heading east. After leaving the dealer I saw a older Chevy pulling a trailer about the size of mine pull into a service station. His truck wasn't any bigger than mine. So I pulled in to talk to him. Well I feel more confident my Ram will do the job.

Thanks Larry and all the others for your comments. I would like you to explain what is meant by "Big Rig Friendly." Does that include up to 41 feet? Also, when specifying electrical, do all sites have 50 amp hookup? As a newbie I'm looking for additional details.

Amy and I stopped by the RV dealer today to check on the status of my RV. Looks like I'll be able to pick it up Tuesday. I've got a lot of work to do and things to buy to get it ready. We are going to take some short trips near home at first to learn as much as we can before heading east. After leaving the dealer I saw a older Chevy pulling a trailer about the size of mine pull into a service station. His truck wasn't any bigger than mine. So I pulled in to talk to him. Well I feel more confident my Ram will do the job.

Full hookups does not always mean 50 amp service. Many older parks will only have 30 amp service so make sure the dealer puts a 50 to 30 pigtail in your rig. Some parks will have both 30 and 50 but not at the same site. If only a few of their sites have 50 amp then they will usually charge more for them.

As to "things to buy" my recommendation is to go slow. When we bought our first motorhome, having never done the RV thing before, we went out and bought all the stuff we thought we'd need. We hauled a bunch of stuff around the four years we drove that coach. When we traded we had a week between making the deal and picking the new one up. We unloaded everything into our garage at home. When we brought in the new coach we only put back in what we actually had been using. Everything else went into the attic or was given away. (My bride had even bought a beautiful set of ironstone dishes, a setting of 8, for the coach. After the first year they were pushed to the back of the cabinet to make room for the plastic stuff we got a Wal-Mart. That set never went into the second coach and eventually were given to a daughter-in-law.) I also tried to carry extra filters, engine belts and hoses, etc. When we traded the second coach, a gas rig, for a bigger diesel one I wound up giving that all away also, having never used them. Now I only carry extra fuel filters.

Enjoy your new rig and keep us posted on your trip. Sounds like fun.

Thanks Larry and all the others for your comments. I would like you to explain what is meant by "Big Rig Friendly." Does that include up to 41 feet? Also, when specifying electrical, do all sites have 50 amp hookup? As a newbie I'm looking for additional details.

On this site, almost all of the descriptions for military campgrounds state if the electric is 20Amp, 30Amp, 50Amp, or any combination. On the Site Details for a specific campground, "W/20,30,50A/S/C" means that site has Water, 20Amp, 30Amp, and 50Amp electric, Sewer, and Cable TV. On some campgrounds, we don't know the amperage, so you'll just see E for electric (let me know if you know the amperage for these few locations). For commercial campgrounds, FHU will mean W/E/S. Usuall, there's at least 30amp electric at a FHU site. Unless we NEED to run two air conditioners, we can get by with 30amp electric. We just don't run 2 high power devices at the same time.

"Big Rig Friendly" usually means RV sites, roads and maneavuering space for at least a 40' motorhome.