Trip Planning AUS - US

[Alanymarce]

How did you find it renting when you went to Iceland and Argentina? Was it difficult to organise?

Cheers

Renting in Iceland needed some planning, although there are lots of agencies, there are also lots of visitors. We did some investigation online fairly early and found a vehicle, with RTT, kitchen kit, etc., for a reasonable rate (in Iceland terms). When we were there we talked to people who were paying 50% more than we were for the same type of vehicle/kit.

In Argentina we left it fairly late however found a 4x4 pick-up at a fair rate. Having said that, when we arrived the agency told us that the vehicle was missing (previous renter hadn't shown up as planned). We ended up with a 2x4 car for the first 5 days, however we were staying in posadas so it didn;t really matter - it did a better job on the unsurfaced roads than I would have expected. We replaced it with the promised 4x4 after 5 days. This was appropriate for the next couple of weeks, after which we switched to an AWD GM Tracker (AWD but with diff lock) which was fine for the rest of the trip.

It seems that the major shortage of rental vehicles a year ago, when agencies were selling off their fleets to make ends meet, is recovering, however it's a good idea to book early.

 

[OVRLNDCBR]

Quick update to the planning: Shipping is getting more difficult by the day with the omicron increasing time delays and driving uncertainty through the roof. Some companies aren't taking any orders that aren't business related due to already being behind and they need to catch up, and a few are saying 'yes we can do that however the date of vehicle may shift by weeks' for both outbound and return trip/s. Given all of that and then there is the price increase discussions going on.
At the going rate, I am now seriously thinking of pushing this to 2024.
Ive also been looking into the renting options as mentioned earlier in this thread however currently on the fence about it but leaning towards bringing own truck - something about bringing your own vehicle and doing it with all the dollars we sink into our trucks. In addition to this, its also getting the right setup to do this, some places just don't have the stock/supply through no fault of their own, just the way it is atm.

Current line of thinking - Change the time of season to visit given @smritte advice on Mojave and perhaps aiming for sept/oct timelines in 2024. Would change the trip to head north first and knock over the "to be covered in snow" areas first such as Vancouver down to Denver before winter rocks up, and as the days tick by closer to December, we will head south covering Utah (south), New Mexico, Arizona and Cali.

Would the change in time of year be suitable from a "Roads are generally open" POV from Vancouver through Seattle/Bozeman/Billings/Rapid City down into Denver? Or would I find myself better suited to go from Vancouver, south to Portland and come into Denver through Salt Lake City? It'd be roughly the first 10 days of October this would occur as we leave Canada make our way south through the northern states of the US.
Once we have a week or so in Denver, I'd prefer to make my way to Big Bend Nation Park and begin the trek west over the coming weeks.

With regard to the route and trails, I obviously don't want to be in the cityscapes the whole trip however not looking to climb rocks and sides of cliffs lol. Will probably bring the camper on-tow as this will allow extra storage with clothes in the camper, leaving the harder items in the tray bed plus food in the fridge with overflow in the rear seats.

Hopefully I'm making sense and the community's advice for a shift in time of year and what roads will generally be open would be appreciated.

Cheers

 

[old_man]

Rather than spend time in Denver, you might want to go to Buena Vista. Tons of great scenery and trails. Away from the hustle and bustle and a great place to stay 10 days and never run the same trail twice. Arrowhead campground is a nice base camp with full amenities where you can leave your trailer for day trips. Head down to Natrona and spend some time in the hot springs before/after wheeling.

 

[OVRLNDCBR]

Rather than spend time in Denver, you might want to go to Buena Vista. Tons of great scenery and trails. Away from the hustle and bustle and a great place to stay 10 days and never run the same trail twice. Arrowhead campground is a nice base camp with full amenities where you can leave your trailer for day trips. Head down to Natrona and spend some time in the hot springs before/after wheeling.

Hot springs after a day on the trails sounds bliss mate, I'll definetly be wanting to stay away from the hustle and bustle (I meant Denver as a rough area on a map, not really the city actual) so the suggestion of Buena Vista and Arrowhead is great. I will do some specific research on those areas and whats where to familarise myself with it, and you think 10days is a good amount of time to do that area? Ive had a super quick look at the map and it is pretty much exactly where I want to be heading.
Is a swing past Denver Springs area worth it to drop into the Cheyenna Mountain Zoo?

 

[old_man]

Hot springs after a day on the trails sounds bliss mate, I'll definetly be wanting to stay away from the hustle and bustle (I meant Denver as a rough area on a map, not really the city actual) so the suggestion of Buena Vista and Arrowhead is great. I will do some specific research on those areas and whats where to familarise myself with it, and you think 10days is a good amount of time to do that area? Ive had a super quick look at the map and it is pretty much exactly where I want to be heading.
Is a swing past Denver Springs area worth it to drop into the Cheyenna Mountain Zoo?

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is cool, but after seeing dozens of zoos, it is a zoo in a pretty location. You might want to go up Mount Evans or Pikes Peak to experience the altitude and view. From Buena Vista, I would head to Ouray/Silverton. You can easily spend a week there. I might cut back to 5 days in BV and make sure to do the Alpine Loop.

There are community hot springs just north of Ouray. If you are adventuresome, there are clothing optional hot springs a few miles further north.

 

[Kent R]

Hi Everyone! hope you all have a great week/weekend. Today is my last day of work before going on Christmas break until mid Jan and Im taking this time to start rough planning including transport logistics as I want to bring my truck over to the west coast and take to the road for 3-4 months as a combination of camping and overlanding to R&R in the odd hotel/motel.

I've driven over there a few times for work and holidays however a hire car and never enough time makes me want to plan a solid adventure.
At this stage I am looking at the following:
- Transport my Ranger in a self contained cargo container from SYD to LA (San Diego if I can) and drive:
SD to Phoenix, Albuquerque, Denver, Salt Lake City, Great Falls, Calgary, Vancouver, Seattle, SF, and back to San Diego (or LA dependant on shipping port).
Not necessarily will I stay in the cities or metro areas however need a starting point to aim at on a map. Ill probably spend a fair time in SD area and Colorado as I love these locations, and there are a few places on my map where I have never been such as Calgary, Great Falls, Albuquerque so I cant wait to see what's in those areas.

Hopefully the US into Canada and back shouldn't complicate the adventure too much with passports or purpose for crossing into and back out with camping gear.

Aiming to ship the car from SYD in July 2023, itll arrive start of AUG and my rough return date to the shipping port would be 12-14 weeks later give or take.

If there are some areas roughly where I am headed which are a must see, please do let me know as there are a lot of locals on this forum and it'd be great to hear some your thoughts. Are these places good to see at this time of year etc, I have a few in mind however too many to list here. A big attraction will be a deviation to both Grand Canyon and Yellowstone NP.

Thanks all :)

You might contact @RodP who has done just what you are planing, he will have some stories about shipping to the US.

 

[caj13]

It may be out of the range of your agenda - but in my mind - the best drive in the USA is from Ely Nevada to Tonapah, then Benton on the California border. from there you climb up into the high desert, get to Mono lake - and from there - over the top through Yosemite. Then you can continue out to Hiway 1 and drive the coast south back to San Diego. absolutely spectacular scenery - remarkable area for history, geology . i have never driven that route without seeing wild horses. I also routinely see big horn sheep, eagle other raptors, i've even seen a family of badgers running down the road. I love that drive. and you will rarely see another vehicle in Nevada to Lee Vining in California, remote !