Bama5150
Alabaster, AL
New Member
Joined: 10/07/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
 Offline
|
I should have been more clear. I have no intention of pulling the RV into New York at all. And hopefully wont need to use my TV either. I will be pulling it to the Liberty Harbor RV Park in New Jersey. This is as close to NYC as the 5th will get.
They won't have water so I need to figure out some options if we winterize the unit. They do have hot showers which is a plus.
This is the proposed route so far.
New York Trip Route
|
Bama5150
Alabaster, AL
New Member
Joined: 10/07/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Vulcaneer wrote:robertbick wrote:I would not bring my 5er to NYC. Stay in a hotel!
You might also consider installing a CB radio. So you can talk 18 wheelers into letting you in to change lanes as you get close to the city. And also get a GPS that will warn you ahead of time as to which lane you need to be in before a turn comes up. Mine is a Garmin.
Thanks for the tips. Luckily I have already installed a great GPS unit in my truck. The CB idea interests me.
|
dww8
Upstate New York
New Member
Joined: 07/11/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
OMG if you can leave the camper at home. After 60 years in upstate NY December is the time to hunker down. The roads are bad, the weather is bad, everyone is cranky. We use salt on the roads which will disolve you pretty camper. Take the other folks advice get a hotel...
Doug and Karen
2008 Chevy Silverado 3500HD 4X4 LTZ Dually Duramax/ Allison
2008 Newmar Cypress 35' with made in USA Goodyear Tires
Reese 16k
Midnite the wonder dog
|
Chinook
Missouri
Senior Member
Joined: 03/09/2004
View Profile
|
The mention of NYC or Liberty Harbor often provokes doom and gloom and your life being in peril.
I have stayed at Liberty Harbor during the winter. (Thanksgiving & Christmas)
The water was turned off and the rate dropped by $20.00.
A single 1500 Watt electric heater was sufficient to keep the unit warm.
Propane furnace was not used.
Shower house is adequate. Use it and keep your unit winterized. Enjoy your trip and don’t worry about the weather.
I keep several bottles of water available for drinking and cooking.
There are traps in my gray water lines that could freeze, so if I run water in to the gray tank in freezing weather, I follow it with some antifreeze.
You are going to New York City; Liberty Harbor is simply a convenient place to stay not a resort destination. You will not be spending much time there. There is a lot to see in NYC and in two days you will see little of it but could still be a great time. Christmas is a fun time with the store windows and other decorations.
There are those who want to be alarmists about safety but I never felt unsafe while in the campground or the area going to the Grove Street Path Station. I have noticed however, if you spend more than a minute looking at a subway map, someone will always offer to help you find your destination and best route.
On weekdays, you can take a water taxi from the campground to Manhattan. Ferry travels between Liberty Harbor in Jersey City, NJ and Pier 11, Wall Street in Downtown Manhattan. Not really cheap but you should do it once during the day and once at night for the view. Once you get to Manhattan, the Staten Island ferry is free and also offers a good view.
Ferry
The PATH (subway to Manhattan) is a short walk (0.6 mile) from campground. Buy the QuickCard and save time and money crossing over to Manhattan. (1 card can be used by several people)
Use the Grove Street Station
PATH
You can get a Metrocard, good for unlimited subway and local bus rides. A 1-Day Fun Pass ($8.00) or a 7 day pass ($24.00) (old prices, may be more now) will get you around the city (NOT VALID on PATH) (each passenger will need own card)
MTA
Go. Enjoy your trip.
|
Bama5150
Alabaster, AL
New Member
Joined: 10/07/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Ah, I was hoping that someone that has actually done it would chime in! I appreciate your time and tips. I figure I will keep an eye on the weather and winterize if i need to. Apparently the winterizing process does not take long and I may go through it as a dry run just so i don't run into any suprises.
Your right, we plan to spend very little time at the campground. Just a place to sleep. The wife and I have done a long weekend in NYC for our anniversary a couple years back and loved it. We know that 2 days are not enough to see it all. My children really want to see the Statue of Liberty and 2 days will be plenty for my nerves.
Thanks again!
Chinook wrote:The mention of NYC or Liberty Harbor often provokes doom and gloom and your life being in peril.
I have stayed at Liberty Harbor during the winter. (Thanksgiving & Christmas)
The water was turned off and the rate dropped by $20.00.
A single 1500 Watt electric heater was sufficient to keep the unit warm.
Propane furnace was not used.
Shower house is adequate. Use it and keep your unit winterized. Enjoy your trip and don’t worry about the weather.
I keep several bottles of water available for drinking and cooking.
There are traps in my gray water lines that could freeze, so if I run water in to the gray tank in freezing weather, I follow it with some antifreeze.
Go. Enjoy your trip.
|
|
|
gestanton
Rotterdam, NY
Senior Member
Joined: 07/03/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Stay in Alabama and seek professional help! 
George Stanton
- '06 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD Dually QC LB
- '09 Jayco Eagle 28.5 RLS
- Camping with DW of 40 years and three Therapy Dogs (SmallDog, Oliver & Ted)+Sis
|
RRinNFla
Northeast Florida
New Member
Joined: 07/11/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
I frequently travel to NYC on business, but I don't consider myself mature enough to drive in the city.
You might consider a campground in NJ somewhere close to a NJ Transit train line. NJ Transit will take you into Penn Station which is 8 blocks from Times Square and a couple of blocks from Macy's where you can begin a walking tour of the store windows, ending up on 5th Avenue. A good subway map is also useful.
As for the weather, like anywhere else in the NE, you could have anything from blizzard to Indian Summer.
Richard
2007 Keystone Cougar 291RLS
2008 Ford F250 V10 (Gas), EC, SB, 4X4
|
cooksvillewildcat
Cooksville, MD, USA
Full Member
Joined: 02/01/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
NYC and Baltimore are similar as far as December weather. December is usually fairly mild during the day (40's to 50's degrees during the day, upper 20's to low 30's at the peak of night). We rarely get snow in Baltimore in December, if we do it is usually a dusting (or every 10 years we do get a November or December 'blizzard' = anything over 7" of snow 
I-95 North of Baltimore is fine except during rush hour times .... except for the tolls - they were more expensive for a vehicle pulling a camper than what I recall being quoted here ...). What part of the Baltimore will you visit - if you are going west of the City, then you can take the Beltway counter-clockwise towards I-70 avoiding the tunnels and the Francis Scott Key bridge.
Mark
'05 Chevy Silverado 3500 D/A CC LB
New Open Range Forum
'10 Open Range 399 BHS has arrived!
'05 Wildcat 29BHBP - Sold recently
Reese 18K Signature Hitch
Prodigy brake controller
|
Bama5150
Alabaster, AL
New Member
Joined: 10/07/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Actually, my cousin has moved out of the city south to Odenton. Was gonna stay in a KOA near there, but it is closed at that time. So will be staying at Cherry Hill RV. We are planning to do New Years Eve in DC.
cooksvillewildcat wrote:
I-95 North of Baltimore is fine except during rush hour times .... except for the tolls - they were more expensive for a vehicle pulling a camper than what I recall being quoted here ...). What part of the Baltimore will you visit - if you are going west of the City, then you can take the Beltway counter-clockwise towards I-70 avoiding the tunnels and the Francis Scott Key bridge.
|
Lantley
Ellicott City, Maryland
Senior Member
Joined: 08/23/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
In general your idea is not as bad as some make it. December will have some freezing nights but if you have a heated enclosed underbelly you should be OK.
Plan to use lots of propane. Does Liberty Harbor sell Propane? Liberty Harbor is basically a parking lot with connections but it makes a great base camp for seeing NYC. I was there during the summer.
The cold will be an issue but as your researched revealed December is not bitter cold. I would not try your trip in Jan. or Feb. but December is doable.
If you encounter snow or bad weather, just be prepared to pull over and wait it out. Enjoy your trip it can be done without destroying your rig or risking your life.
01 PSD X,06 Trailvision 31BHDS Edge Evolution
4"exhaust,AFE,C-Betr,Tornado
Bodiak,air bags,TomTom,Atwood 3500
Hensley,Prodigy,exhaust brake,Swift Hitch
14'PortaBote9.9hp,6"PVC,Thule,Combi-Cam
Toppoprails,16"wheels,Sherline,Maxx Air
Subaru 4300is w/Gen Box
|
|
|
