Don't tow it here

[MyronL]

When on the road we always stop for fast food. We look for places that are trailer friendly. When you tow you don’t have much choice and sometimes we’ve found ourselves almost trapped in a parking lot.

Big problem at a drive-through is not noticing the drive through height limitations. Then, is it a tighter turn than your rig can make? Can you get out as easily as you got in? Backing out never a good idea. Of course now you’re parked, taking up from two to six car spots and there’s always a chance someone will not like that.

Last weekend at a McDonalds the parking lot was filled but the drive through looked doable. Or, whoa, maybe it isn’t. When faced with this dilemma getting out the tape measure isn’t cool. Those nicely painted yellow steel guide posts on both side of a narrow lane can put a pretty trailer in a world of hurt. Best advice is always saying, “Why take a chance?”

This holiday we were at Elephant Butte Lake State Park, which is in southern New Mexico. It’s a very big, very hot spot for party time. My party days might be behind me but I got this swell inner tube and I still want to float. If you like water Elephant Butte Lake is boon docking heaven. Many coves and finger peninsulas. It’s on desolate land but the lake is a monster. Free-range camping is allowed on an endless shoreline. A few thousand were there over the holiday. Pay a cheap vehicle fee and you’re free to drive and park it where ever you want to go. There are several very tightly packed and level normal campgrounds but that’s for family folk and grandpa. Them have hookups but are nowhere near water.

Weather predicted it was going to be a hundred and ten degrees-plus out there. It was. Don’t have a generator. Never been to this lake. I had gone online looking for a reserved camp spot with electricity. Got lucky, two days at site 17, all mine. Safe and sane, ten miles north of the crowds.

Our campground, the South Monticello RV Park – is far from the party but very nice, very wide open, well maintained by a pleasant full time guest host. Check in time was four, check out time was two. We got there at three. A big motor home was hogging our spot, number 17. No owner around, not nice. At four the park ranger I called for help with my problem showed up.

The ranger, being wise, offered to move us to the next available, number 31, until that rude usurper could be found. We took it. Fireworks that night. Next morning saw maroon SUV parked beside the rude rig that took our reserved spot. Their air conditioner was running. But camp host said no one would answer the door. Their two large open garbage bags were about to blow around. I fantasized some delicious, exquisite retaliation ah, but I am a man of peace.

We spent the day touring the boon-docking lake shore, after a drive through the sad town of Elephant Butte Lake (a zillion RV’s for sale or rent) for water and ice. That soft sandy shoreline drive in 4-WD was really great fun. Clearly though, another spot to not tow an Escape trailer. By the way, saw not a single egg. Even with 4-wheel drive I nearly got stuck several times in the deep sand. Can’t imagine doing it towing but people do it. Must be some kind of masochistic rite of aqua de morté. Ever driven the dunes to Race Point?

These people must all be driving Ford or Chevy 350’s when they tow in. I wondered about the many monster military cargo trucks seen on the shore, then was told they are privately owned surplus vehicles guys do a nice business towing RV’s in and out. Ahah.

Last I heard the park ranger might get that Mister the-rules-don’t-apply-to-me Dirtbag towed out, I hope to a nasty salvage yard. We left the next day. Never got into my tube. AC worked great. Fridge not so good. Did I mention it was 110°F?

[rbryan4]

Enjoyed that Myron. You're tougher than me. Won't boondock when it's that hot.

[Loren & Cathy]

The air conditioner on the Escape though being a little noisy does put out cold air. Turn ours down and it will run you out of there.

As for the lot hog, it sure does make you want to let the air out of some tires. But you just have to suck it up. Loren

[alanmalk]

Originally Posted by MyronL

...
AC worked great. Fridge not so good. Did I mention it was 110°F?

While you were down in Elephant Butte we were up in Albuquerque for the NSS Convention. One day the temperature in Old Town hit 111°F. The ice cubes in our RMD8555 freezer began to melt. The dairy had to go into a cooler and we used an estimated 15 pounds of ice per day.

AC sure would have been nice. Maybe someday I'll be blessed with enough common sense to buy one for the trailer. On the other hand, maybe it will never get that hot again?

[float5]

Thank you for the photos of Elephant Butte, Myron. I recognized it and wish I were there! Although I cannot believe those temperatures even in Albuquerque, Alan. Must be an unusually hot year!? Myron, they should have gotten that guy out of your spot!

[cpaharley2008]

Looks like Quartzite with a lake....

[MyronL]

Quartzsite with water? Right on. Our campsite, after adjustments, hard to beat. It was 110 degrees here alright, guys, but that was in the shade. Some time around 2AM I had to turn it off because it got too cold.