**Mentor Needed** 3-5 Day Trip Planning For New Overland Family

[Whytiptoe]

Hello, I have an opportunity to rent an off-road trailer that I’d like to buy. It‘s a Patriot camper.

I am looking for some help in the way of a mentor for trip planning. Needed due to city girl and one chance to make it successful. Also needed since I have zero clue how to plan.

Background - I have done quite a bit of off road with some tent camping for one night. However, that has only been done with me and my son, who is nine. This trip, I am looking to bring my wonderful city girl wife who I tried to take tent camping one time, key word there is one. The trailer is what I am hoping will keep her comfortable enough to enjoy the trip. Her two major concerns are sleep and a restroom. She has always had sleeping issues and I am hoping the camper will provide enough comfort for her to be able to sleep. And the other make sense due to bathroom requirements.

What I need - I am looking for a Mentor to help me ensure that the 3-5 day trip is planned as much as possible to be successful. I have never planned a 3-5 day off grid trip and have always had access to some type of store for supplies. I would love to plan some sites and have some history so I could share it with the family on the trip. Would love to have camping spots that are outside the sphere that are affected by light pollution.

Location - This one is somewhat strange. Due to the specifics of the trailer, it is located in Tampa and I live in Nashville. The trip could could start from FL or end in FL or be around TN. Any of those are a good option for me.

I am sure there is a lot that I am not providing that is needed, and that is partially why I am asking for a mentor.

Thank you in advance for your time and help you could provide.

 

[freak4life]

Hello, I have an opportunity to rent an off-road trailer that I’d like to buy. It‘s a Patriot camper.

I am looking for some help in the way of a mentor for trip planning. Needed due to city girl and one chance to make it successful. Also needed since I have zero clue how to plan.

Background - I have done quite a bit of off road with some tent camping for one night. However, that has only been done with me and my son, who is nine. This trip, I am looking to bring my wonderful city girl wife who I tried to take tent camping one time, key word there is one. The trailer is what I am hoping will keep her comfortable enough to enjoy the trip. Her two major concerns are sleep and a restroom. She has always had sleeping issues and I am hoping the camper will provide enough comfort for her to be able to sleep. And the other make sense due to bathroom requirements.

What I need - I am looking for a Mentor to help me ensure that the 3-5 day trip is planned as much as possible to be successful. I have never planned a 3-5 day off grid trip and have always had access to some type of store for supplies. I would love to plan some sites and have some history so I could share it with the family on the trip. Would love to have camping spots that are outside the sphere that are affected by light pollution.

Location - This one is somewhat strange. Due to the specifics of the trailer, it is located in Tampa and I live in Nashville. The trip could could start from FL or end in FL or be around TN. Any of those are a good option for me.

I am sure there is a lot that I am not providing that is needed, and that is partially why I am asking for a mentor.

Thank you in advance for your time and help you could provide.

Bless your heart for wanting to be sure of the comfort of your wife. Be meticulous in planning. Each meal and how you will prepare it, have enough water plus extra for everyone. Be sure if you are eating cooked foods you have cooking fuel. Have a method for heating up water for clean up. Have activities for her and kids for the down time when you all are not on the move. Having an app that allows learning the constellations and if possible a small telescope might be fun for them. You are on the right path as if she is not comfortable it may be a hobby/activity that she will do only once. There are many other issues I’m sure others will help you with. Don’t forget first-aid and medicines. Make lists and check/update them often.
Blessings Rich

 

[Whytiptoe]

Bless your heart for wanting to be sure of the comfort of your wife. Be meticulous in planning. Each meal and how you will prepare it, have enough water plus extra for everyone. Be sure if you are eating cooked foods you have cooking fuel. Have a method for heating up water for clean up. Have activities for her and kids for the down time when you all are not on the move. Having an app that allows learning the constellations and if possible a small telescope might be fun for them. You are on the right path as if she is not comfortable it may be a hobby/activity that she will do only once. There are many other issues I’m sure others will help you with. Don’t forget first-aid and medicines. Make lists and check/update them often.
Blessings Rich

Thank you. Everything you stated is well accepted and will for sure keep them in mind. Love the idea for the constellation and why I want to camp outside the light pollution if we can. I have an extensive first aid kit, that I need to go thru and replace any expired items, and yes, checklists galore I would think is what would be needed to ensure we have everything.

Thank you for blessing me, as I know it’s a long shot and stupid. However, I have to try everything I can to try and take family trips. If it was up to her we would sit on the beach for 4-5 days and spend way to much money and not enjoy a “vacation”. At the same time though, the overlanding might be the same to her unless I can show her what its really about.

Thankfully the trailer will provide much of the requirements for cooking, clean water, food and belongings storage. Why I want one of these trailers.

 

[Neal A. Tew]

What time of year?

 

[ZombieCat]

“Off grid” in the southeast U.S. may be tricky. We have nowhere near the amount of public lands that the western states enjoy. You have only 3-5 days, so don’t spend all of it driving. Choose one location and spend the entire trip there. Less chaos, more relaxation.
It appears your wife is not too keen on rugged living, so start with baby steps. I’d recommend staying in a campground or HipCamp site with access to a shower/restrooms, so she can warm up to the idea of camping. If your site has power, bring an extension cord and surge protector for charging electronics. If she likes the beach, maybe one of the shoreline communities in either Florida or Georgia, such as Tybee Island, would work. However, go before summer heat sets in and the biting bugs get bad.
As for food, you can cook some items ahead of time and freeze them. Chili is good. Freeze it and reheat on your camp stove, serve it with tortilla chips/fritos. You can precook fajita-seasoned, diced chicken, freeze it, then defrost to make ultimate nachos. Breakfast is easy - either oatmeal/cereal with fruit, or scrambled eggs and sausage (I love bacon, but it’s really messy…). PBJ or grilled cheese sandwiches. Remember paper towels, dish soap and garbage bags!
Look for unique historical sites and local museums to visit; rent/bring bikes and also board games/cards for evening entertainment, along with the previously suggested sky gazing items. Solicit input from all family members, so it’s not “your” trip but “our” trip.
Pack light. I travel for months with one pot and one frying pan, a few plastics dishes/cups and some utensils. I can even bake cinnamon rolls in a frying pan!
Most importantly, if things go off track, stop and BREATHE. The weather is often uncooperative, tires go flat, gear breaks, bugs bite and you make mistakes. Stay calm, evaluate the situation and turn lemons into lemon meringue pie. It will make for a great story and memories later!

 

[highboy4x4]

Check out the “Georgia Traverse.” 4 day, 400 mile, easy rated track with many different opportunities to validate your plan.

 

[Whytiptoe]

What time of year?

We currently do not have a specific timeframe, so I would want the best timeframe for us to go.

 

[MOAK]

In order to pick your timeframe, pick where you will be going first, then immediately, like yesterday, start watching and studying up on the temps. If the average temps are tolerable in April or May, 45 at night- 75 in the day, then go then. If you want your best half to enjoy it, you do not want to be out in the fridged cold, nor in the sweltering heat. Years ago I used to lead a tour in July. 90 f and high humidity are not good conditions at all. Neither is pouring down rain. So, ya- pick a place you want to go and familiarize yourself with the weather. The southeast, or any of the gulf coast, for us, is a no go in the summer. Too damn hot equals no fun and your wife will be miserable- guaranteed! Good luck