Meet the McCraines - Bob and Lynn

Bob is a senior executive of an accounting firm nearing retirement. He is of medium height, wiry build, and sparkling eyes that just say “energy” when you talk with him. As soon as tax season is over, Bob can take considerable time off and have fun. For the last eight years, “fun” has been driving his 4 wheel drive pickup out West towing a 28” trailer, tandem axle, with a spacious slide out.


His wife, Lynn, is the navigator, reservations clerk, and bill payer. And the meal provider and all the miscellaneous duties that go with keeping house.


This year they are headed back to Utah. They expect to stay 2 months moving from one campground to another every week or two. While at a campground they will visit a number of nearby attractions listed in notebook which they prepared while planning for their trip. Depending on how they feel and the weather, they may ride their motorcycle to some distant attraction. They may rent ATV’s and take an exciting ride beyond normal walking range. Or they may decide on a five-mile hike (no overnight camping). Next year they might take an inflatable kayak with them to get a different view of the scenery. When the spirit moves them, they will move on to another campground, frequently at a National Park.


Planning for a trip happens over the year as ideas about places to visit come to their attention. They use Google, to study National Parks and plan side trips which they enter in a notebook. Not until they agree on a firm departure date and an initial destination do they start collecting maps, making reservations, etc. Lynn has found that an easy way to stay out of trouble with the home utilities is to pay the expected amount due on future bills before they leave. This avoids hassles with late payments and suspended service. The outbound travel can have detailed planning with reservations for camp sites at planned stops. The return trip is frequently subject to unforeseen variations, so plan for contingencies.


On their first two trips West they blew out a tire on their RV. A blown tire is not only a serious delay and costly repair, it frequently damages the vehicle which further complicates the trip. They have avoided further blow outs by going from 8 ply tires to 10 ply tires on the trailer and keeping the load as light as possible. Reduce weight by purchasing groceries at a destination rather then loading up for the entire trip. Reduce the amount of “stuff” (like clothes) that you take. Manage the liquid level in various tanks.


The McCraines have too many other interests to become full time Rv’ers, but the United states is a pretty big place and I’m sure that they will find many more interesting places to go.