Dispersed Camping in a Bus

[Lin]

If you like getting into challenging situations so you can spend the day trying to get out, then just drive down any dirt road you come across.  If not, scout the road with your 4 wheel drive toad before you bring your bus on it.  We live one mile off pavement.  The dirt roads here are combined sand and some clay.  It gets packed down really hard.  I do take the bus in and out on this road.  It is a well maintained dirt road though.  We have a neighborhood road association that takes care of it.  A guy with a tractor scrapes the road after a rain and fills in new holes.    If not for that, this road would become problematic and absolutely require 4 wheel drive.  Even so, after a really heavy rain, it becomes too muddy. And after a long drought could become too sandy. There are signs on many road here that warn you that the county does not maintain the road, and you drive on it at your own risk. Even with our road being maintained, I always consider that first mile out and the last mile in as the worst part of the trip because of all the rattling and shaking. 

I know the Clifford says having to back up 7 miles was worth it, but I question whether he would drive into it again knowing that that was going to be needed. We have even gone into National Forest campgrounds that booked sites for us that they claimed could accommodate our 35 footer.  It was true that the campsite was big enough except that there was really no way to turn around and therefore required backing out through winding, narrow forest roads.  Looking back, I would say it was worth it, but I would not do it again. Just think how happy you'll be when making a close turn on such a road a friendly boulder leans up and kisses the bottom of a bay door.

If those are mostly the places you want to go, a skoolie with good clearance and multi wheel drive would be preferable.

[neoneddy]

Scouting ahead is always part of my plan.

I'm thinking of planning a  truck camping trip to scout out some spots including the road in, turning around area, etc.   Thinking of documenting it all to share with others.  I imagine 1-2 out of 10 spots I've identified might work. 

[dtcerrato]

Our primary Florida residence is a 1/4 mile off the paved road. Until the power company came in last year and trimmed back lots of trees from the power grid - sometimes after a rain we couldn't get the bus in or out due to low hanging trees let alone the 4x4 path off pavement. We like it. Its off the beaten path & really a nice place to be ESPECIALLY NOW... Ironically our other place in Alaska is a lot closer to town but still really laid back. We'd like to dual resident there in summer but couldn't this year if we wanted to...
Strange times.

[Utahclaimjumper]

 Clifford,,the only way to go to Yellowpine is by dropping into Johnson Creek airport with the airplane,, then drive the 4 miles with the airport loaner car... BTDT dozens of times.>>>Dan  ( The harminica contest is a hoot!)

[luvrbus]

Clifford,,the only way to go to Yellowpine is by dropping into Johnson Creek airport with the airplane,, then drive the 4 miles with the airport loaner car... BTDT dozens of times.>>>Dan  ( The harminica contest is a hoot!)

Yep it is shame they no longer have the harmonica contest anylonger ,but the fiddlers contest is still going strong in Weiser 

[Utahclaimjumper]

The wife and I have flown into Johnson Creek many many times for camping and attended the contest from the very first one,, and 4 more until we got disgusted with the under age kids being drunk and rowdy.. The last time I was there was as the director of Maintenance for a helicopter company on a 28 day contract for fire fighting as a result of 11 concurrent fires in the area..>>>Dan