Trip coming up and all the sites are gone..... really?

[SHANEA]

La Noria #1 or #2 - it's a great campsite off the main Old Ore road, and reasonably close to the main drag in case you want to take a nightly dip in the Hot Springs.  #2 is better, but #1 will work.

[Texan4life]

I've never booked a backcountry campsite, its always been at RGV or the Basin. All backcountry sites must be reserved at PJ, right? If so I guess you can't reserve these in advance. Thanks for the site advice guys :D  I have seen Fresno while at Mariscal Mines a few times and I liked how secluded it was, but its pretty far away from a bathroom(gotta keep my wife happy :D ). La Noria 1 and 2 are both fairly close to the main road, is there a view of the chisos from those sites? Hopefully in a few more days I will have a general idea of where we are staying and then I can post a pre-trip report for some polishing up from ya'll.

[bdann]

You can get your permit 24 hours in advance.  I usually go to PJ, but I've also reserved sites from the Basin.  I'm pretty sure during busy times you have to go to PJ.

[Texan4life]

Anybody know what kind of gas mileage I can expect if I tow a jeep behind my truck? We take I-10 most of the way and I'll prob cruise at about 65-70mph. I hope to get at least 14mpg, does that sound about right? Or... is it even worth the trouble?

[presidio]

Anybody know what kind of gas mileage I can expect if I tow a jeep behind my truck? We take I-10 most of the way and I'll prob cruise at about 65-70mph. I hope to get at least 14mpg, does that sound about right? Or... is it even worth the trouble?

On mileage, there isn't any rule of thumb. It's going to depend on your vehicle and how you drive it. Whanging along at 70 mph is going to cost you, not to mention change your handling, response and braking conditions. When you tow, slow down...for economy and safety.

A relative once had a travel trailer that broke an axle right at the wheel mount, due to age/fatigue. It had been zooming along the interstate at 70 mph. When the axle broke, it sucked the full size pickup into the median, spun it around and slammed it into the opposite lanes against the outside guard rail, facing the opposite direction of travel. No one was hurt, the pickup was surprisingly only moderately damaged...mostly cosmetic. However, the trailer was totally destroyed and it was only through the greatest of fortune that no oncoming traffic was in the way. Why the whole rig did not overturn is anybody's guess. It just must not have been their day for that to happen.

I went up to Denver to help them out, so I got a first hand look. I think about that accident every time I tow. They didn't drive so fast after that. Me neither.

When I towed a 2,000 pound pop-up trailer (no wind resistance) behind my POC Ford F250, I got 9 mpg, every time. I got maybe 13 mpg without towing. I saw 14 mpg ONCE the entire time I owned this POS.

When I towed a 6,000 travel trailer, sticking well up in the wind with my Toyota Tundra, I got 10 mpg. When I bought the travel trailer I was expecting to be well down in the single digits based on my experience with the POC Ford. The Tundra has ranged from 8-14 mpg while towing this trailer. Without a trailer it consistently gets 18-19 mpg and has gone as high as 23.

Same speeds and the mpgs are averages over lots of miles and wind/weather conditions.

How can they be so different? Probably has something to do with better engineering and drivetrain design. The POC Ford had a very slightly larger engine and the vehicle weighed a little, but not significantly more, but it was pulling a vastly lighter load. Go figure. The combination gross was certainly considerably higher with the Toyota than the POC Ford.

[01ACRViper]

with an f150? i'd imagine in the 7-8 mpg range. you'd be amazed how much aerodynamics affects gas mileage. your truck will be able to do every road, and could manage black gap if you're good. it won't be worth it with the extra time/gas money to haul an extra car just to drive the black gap road.

[Daryl]

...if I tow a jeep behind my truck ... is it even worth the trouble?

Another option would be to rent a jeep down here.  Terlingua Auto Service (432-371-2223) has a 4WD Jeep Liberty that they rent out for $125 per day.  I'm not sure if any of the local outfitters rent jeeps.

[SHANEA]

but its pretty far away from a bathroom(gotta keep my wife happy :D ).

About $10 from Campmor or BassProShop.

Might want to consider one of these, less than $50 @ BassProshop.

 
http://tinyurl.com/pl3d7
http://tinyurl.com/2rolux

[Texan4life]

Great idea Shane!!! I didn't even think about one of those!!!! On my way home I'll check out Cabelas :D

[Texan4life]

i'd imagine in the 7-8 mpg range. .

I normally get about 17-18 on the interstate, I am not about to drive 8 hrs getting 7-8 :?  The truck will work just fine. This truck is fairly new, never towed with it before. I had an old ext cab f-150 with a 5.4 V8, that got really bad mpg, on average 12-13 in town. This one is a little better, but I'm really jealous of presidio's 18 to 19 8)

And another problem would be if we could only get a single car campsite. Where would we put the jeep while not using it? I am very quickly deciding against the jeep.

Thanks for all the input everybody :D  This board is such a great resource!

[Texan4life]

7 days and counting....... We decided to just take my truck and save money on gas. This will be the last trip I'll be able to take to the Bend for at least a year(new job), I'm really looking forward to it :D I'm hoping that after the recent rains out there all the plants and flowers will make for some great pictures.

[rebelusmc65]

according to the daily report for the aprk we have not been havingt he camp groupdn filling every day  the only tiem we did have them full was the 2nd and 3rd week of march hope this helps

[Desertwalker]

Not all the sites at the Basin can be reserved. The rest are on a first come basis. It may be possible that all the reserved sites are taken. If you get up there on Thursday, you should not have a problem getting a site at the Basin.

I agree it's important to make the wife happy on a camping trip, otherwise,....

[Texan4life]

Has anybody been in the chisos in the lasty week or so? I'm wondering if the springs are flowing. I'd like to show my friends the pour off in pine canyon.

[jeffblaylock]

I'm wondering if the springs are flowing. I'd like to show my friends the pour off in pine canyon.

The waterfall at the Pine Canyon pouroff is driven purely by runoff from locally heavy rain in that drainage, not from the output of springs. You have to catch it just right ....

It is nonetheless a great hike and a great destination even when it's dry as a bone.