Some are free, some come with a fee. We typically buy the multi month permit for $180 which is good for multiple LTVA’s as you travel around. Shorter term 14 day permits can be purchased for $40.
You can get information on BLM campgrounds at their BLM Website.
So what is coming to an LTVA near you? In just a few short weeks we are! We are headed to Quartzsite Arizona for a much needed break. Our favorite LTVA down there is La Posa South mainly because that is where all of our friends stay but we also like the fact that it has fresh water and a dump station.
When we bought our rig in 2014 we did so specifically with boondocking in mind. Which is why we equipped it with 900 watts of solar as well as dual pane windows and the arctic package. We run everything we need on the solar except run the air conditioner and fireplace. We also carry (2) Honda 2000 generators in case we need to run the AC or it is cloudy for multiple days but we have found that we rarely use them.
We had originally planned on taking our Lance pick up camper on this journey but since we listed our Cardinal 5th wheel for sale we thought this would be the perfect place to show it off to like-minded RV’ers and hopefully sell it.
The dilemma was that we wanted to bring our Ranger UTV with us as well as there are so many good trails down there. We had a couple of choices….
- Drive the 5th wheel down from South Dakota (19 hours/1300 miles) to Quartzsite Arizona drop it off and turn around and go get the UTV. Seems ridiculous but we were seriously considering it.
- Drive the 5th wheel and the Jeep pulling the trailer with the Ranger.
- Not bring the 5th wheel, just take the camper and pull the trailer with the Ranger in it.
- Forget the Ranger altogether and just take the 5th wheel and try to sell it.
We had taken the Jeep/Ranger combo unit in the past with a smaller Ranger and trailer so that was an option. But a quick test drive on the roads in the Black Hills showed that that was not really feasible. Just not enough power to pull the bigger Ranger/Trailer set up so option #2 was out.
We also decided that we really wanted to bring the 5th wheel as there is probably no better place to sell a set up like ours. So that eliminated option #3.
That left only option #1; Drive the 5th wheel down from South Dakota, drop it off and turn around and go get the UTV. Ugh! I really did not want to do that! That would be 2,600 additional miles, almost 40 additional hours and about $1,000 in extra fuel.
That’s when we came up with option #5. Tow the Ranger/trailer behind the 5th wheel! Crazy I know but we have seen lots of people do it. A quick check of the states we would be going through showed that it was legal plus it accomplishes everything we want. Problem is our hitch on the 5th wheel is not big enough. Well, $500 later and a visit from a custom welding shop in Custer and we are ready to double tow saving us both time and money!
We will take it slow and easy and I am sure it will be fine. Plus, with luck it will only be one way. We plan on getting flyers made, posting them on the LTVA bulletin boards as well as others throughout town. If anyone has additional suggestions let us know and if you know anyone looking for an awesome rig give them this link and send them to La Posa South! We are very motivated sellers!
On the home front, we are still plugging away on getting things buttoned up.
The insulation is all done and we are working on the vapor barrier. For anyone wondering putting a 20'x30' sheet of plastic on the ceiling is not a 2 person job, but we got it done!
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| Barb hiding behind the ladder |
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| Me getting frustrated |
And the heat? They said they would be back this week to finish up. Today is Friday and they called this morning to say they would be out tomorrow, we shall see!
I have a really cute trail cam picture to share …. Plus I got a deer! (warning dead deer picture below really cute bunny picture!)
Hope to see you in Q! We're leaving Q tomorrow, back for the first 3 weeks of December and then returning mid-February after the big show madness has died down. We've decided to skip Q for all of January this year, so hoping we don't miss you!
ReplyDeleteLooks like it should probably work out, we hope to get there in mid December and stay into February.
DeleteYou're making us jealous that you'll be back in Quartzsite this winter and we won't. Definitely the place to sell your Rig. Say hello to our neighbours Wayne and Sue for us.
ReplyDeleteGlad the house is coming along and you got your Buck. I prefer the Camera.
Be Safe and Enjoy the warmth.
It's about time.
Bummer you are not going to be in Q this year, what is your plan? Now that I have gotten my deer I am still going out to the blind with just the camera, just as enjoyable!
DeleteHope the Cardinal sells BEFORE you leave!
ReplyDeleteSo do we but the market in South Dakota is a little cold right now....literally!
DeleteGlad for you that things are coming along in the house. Hopefully the heating guy actually shows up. We will be in Q as of December 27th for a few weeks so hopefully are able to see you both. We will be near the Colibabas of course. lol
ReplyDeleteThe timing looks good, we should be able to have a happy hour or two, or three, or more!
DeleteWe hope to run into you in Q. It all depends on how the Sasquatch hunting is going. That hitch looks heavy duty. Should have done that years ago.
ReplyDeleteHopefully it works out, we probably won't park next to you though, we like a lot of peace and quiet. You two tend to get a little rowdy!
DeleteThat's if we make it to Q. We don't like to telegraph our locations in advance. There is the option of turning left at Texas that is still on the table.
DeleteTotally understand, with Lisa's open warrants you don't want to telegraph where you can be found.
DeleteYou won't be sleeping in quaint little state parks on the way to Az! You'll be what, 70+ feet long. Should be an interesting pull but you'll handle it. Vapour barrier looks like fun haha, maybe not. Those are big pieces. Nice picture of Bambi and Thumper on a trail cam. We plan to try to be in Q first week of Feb, see you there hopefully.
ReplyDeleteProbably not, looks like we will have a few Walmart sleep overs on our trip south!
DeleteSo who are you guys bunking with if you sell your rig? That vapor barrier looks like a very frustrating job.
ReplyDeleteGreat picture of the deer and bunny. Congrats on the buck! Looking forward to some venison at our beer tasting. Safe travels and see you in Q!
We were thinking of asking some of our good friends! If that does not work, we will become desert tent people....
DeleteCongrats on the deer. Hope my kids get equally lucky with an elk. Enjoy your winter in AZ and out of the cold! I know you guys need a break from the build.
ReplyDeleteLet us know how they do elk hunting!
DeleteNine Hundred Watts...I bow to you.
ReplyDeleteWe really like the solar, we can do pretty much anything we need to on a daily basis.
DeleteCongrats on the Buck!
ReplyDeleteEveryone needs a break from time to time and it would be easier to sell your rig with all those RV'ers around. Keep in mind those fuel fill ups, much bigger now with the extra tow. Good luck!! Be safe.
Good point, it will be interesting to see how it impacts our fuel mileage!
DeleteThe Q sounds like the perfect place to sell your 5er. Being able to see it first hand should be a big plus. While I can't imagine triple towing that much, it sure beats driving that route twice for 19 hours.
ReplyDeleteWe are going to pick our route and watch the weather. We don't like traveling in snow to begin with, we definitely will not do it towing the UTV trailer!
DeleteNice buck! I can't wait to hear how the double towing goes.
ReplyDeleteThanks, there is a bigger one still out there!
DeleteVery cute game cam pic! Good luck with the triple tow, it definitely seems the best way to go and hopefully you sell your unit in Quartzite.
ReplyDeleteNext up I have to make up a wiring harness so it has lights and brakes!
DeleteGreat decision to bring the fifth wheel down to that area..sure it will sell there! Congrats on the deer and all that work on the home! WOW you guys are good!
ReplyDeleteThanks, we sure hope it sells down there!
DeleteNice buck!! Hope I get to taste some of that sausage. (hint hint)
ReplyDeleteGood decision to double tow. Lots of folks do it. Would also make the 5th more attractive to sell. Did you check e-trailer? They sell a variety of hitches for 5th's. Too late now anyway but they might have wiring harnesses.
We have used e-trailer before but for this job we wanted someone who could come out and do all the work. They had to grind off the old one that was too small, take some measurements and weld on the new one. I will check out the wiring harnesses there though!
DeleteGood luck towing down to Q. We'll be there with the Lowreys the first part of February. Hope the heating guy made it out and you're all warm now. Nice buck!
ReplyDeleteAwesome, we should be there at the same time, see you then!
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