Touring - Using a Motor Home as a SAG

First thanks to all who responded to my poll, it was a huge success.

Now I need to ask another favor, can you let me know your opinion about having your mother and mother in law (or anyone else except a rider)drive a motor home for a SAG on a cross country trip. I read Gladys Sims journal and she really convinced me that is the way to go.

This is for a Persuasive paper, and my goal is to convince my husband that it is in our best interest to have our 75+ year old moms drive an RV (keep in mind our trip is about 5 years off) for support and to sleep in at night.

Thanks,
Diane

The idea of each of you having your mother-in-law along for the trip seems to be it's own argument against the idea.

:)

Originally posted by Bluestreak2
my goal is to convince my husband that it is in our best interest to have our 75+ year old moms drive an RV (keep in mind our trip is about 5 years off) for support and to sleep in at night.



Your mom's are 75+ now and you are planning 5 years ahead when they are 80+ to drive a big RV for a SAG?

You are quite the optimist!!

Have they ever driven an RV before? RV's are typically dreaded by bikers (particularly tourers) because most of their drivers have no clue as to the width of the RV, and on two lane roads it is not unusual foor the RV driver to hit the biker.

How about a van and a motel?

The ultimate sag wagon... Fulltiming since May 2002.

We're investigating the same possibilities (but with younger drivers) vs. touring self-contained. With the RV SAG we would plan to take the same amount of time (75-90 days) to accomplish the TransAm trail. We feel the ride will be easier (of course) and that we can take more time to smell the roses on route.

In the event we do go with an RV SAG we hope to open up space for five or six other riders to come along and of course help with expenses.

Overall we think this will be more expensive than self contained but less expensive than riding with an "outfitter" such as Adventure Cyclist etc.

Sounds like you have a pretty good idea.
:)

In my figuring of statistics for my previous paper, I found it would cost about 10000 more to go with an RV than with out. I based it on 2.00 a gallon for gas, and 70.00 a day for food, 18.36 a day for campground fees, plus 4.50 per day for entry fees to parks. My estimated mileage was 4315 at an average of 10mpg which I have been told is too high it will be more like 7 or 8 miles to the gallon.

I didn't do a lot of checking and proofing of calculations, but they could be close to reality I hope. It would cost about 6151.18 for a couple sharing accomodations on a 71 day ride pulling a bicycle trailer, with a tandem. This is allowing for 12 rest days and averaging about 50 miles a day of riding.

I'm not a pro, but hope this helps you with planning.

Diane

Who pays for it? Who would enjoy it?

If your parents or in-laws (or motorized friends) like the idea of doing a cross-country tour with a travel trailer or a motor home, and if they like the idea of doing only 150 km per day, it's great for you. But don't expect them to ride with you on the road -- besides, it would be dangerous to you and to others -- and expect them to do other activities you won't have too much time for, like reading, fishing, sightseeing.

The above strategy might also be a way to connect with your non-cycling spouse at some points along the trip.

On the other hand, if you strictly consider the motor home as SAG support, as I see by the last message where you think of paying their costs, you should look into other options and especially in credit-card touring (i.e. sleep in motels and eat in restaurants).

Regards,