TRavel cAMPING=TRAMPING

[wuzwiz]

FWIW, 
Took the 6.0 out for a trip up to Minneapolis for a family get together.  Another 3000 miles on the rig:
Rend Lake, IL - HOT & HUMID w/ thundershowers.  COE parks have yet to disappoint us. Gun Creek Campground was very nice.  Met a couple on H-D's from NC pulling a 2.0. He offered us the Softail Classic for our A/C. No Deal! This was the cheapest site of the trip @ $8.00 w/ my Access Pass
Weston Bend State Park, MO - Another nice, quiet campground. Just off I-29, N of Kansas City.  Wash house has been updated since we were there last. This was the highest cost site at $31.00. 
Stayed w/ other family members at a casino campsite outside Minneapolis.  Not our kind of "camping".
Smithville Lake, MO - This is a nice big COE lake but administrated by Clay County, Mo.  Nice clean sites, pretty lake views but not all have amenities. Another t'storm, no big deal.
Bull Shoals State Park, AR - Beautiful river side sites w/ decent facilities. Fish from your site! We're not fond of sardine style campsites but there is only so much river to go around. Another t'storm and, of course, the morning fog/dew was wicked but a very unique place.
JP Coleman State Park, MS - Hard to find and hard to get to; near Iuka, MS if you're inclined to Google Earth. We're kind of partial to this place because it was our shakedown for the 6.0 back in '11 when we started to camp off the ground. It was also our first experience with a pop-up we could leave attached to the Jeep for the thunderstorm.  Nice feature in our book! Like the a/c in the wash house. Pickwick Lake is pretty busy in August, we're used to spring and fall camping.
Tims Ford State Park, TN - Facilities were old and in need of attention.  Tenters and basic popper-uppers w/o amenities might be disappointed.  Nice sites, bike trail, lake nearby but no more than 2 stars for this one. 
As it was Saturday when we left to get back to N. Georgia, we did some red line highways and arrived home safe and sound.   The last day of every outing is the one in the driveway with everything pulled out for washing, drying, vacuum cleaner, etc.  Sun shine and fresh air will cure anything! We're loaded up and ready to pull out at a moments notice.  As I pushed the chock under the wheel to finish up, i noticed a shiny spot on the tire.  We had a picked up a roofing nail right through the tread.  As soon as I moved it the tire went flat.  Best place ever to have a flat:  HOME!  
Tomorrow I'll have to go about replacing it.  At $25 to repair it correctly, I'd rather replace it.  
Wiz

[leslie]

Excellent trip report. I am always interested in hearing first-hand accounts of stays at COE Campgrounds.

[sandyu]

Just curious how did you deal with the storms. Did you ride them out in the camper or get in tow vehicle. I have a 10.0 and I have done both. Storms are a lot more exciting in the camper.

[wuzwiz]

Depends on the storm; usually in the camper. That way I don't have to watch!  We really feel better with it attached to the Jeep. The awning is a bit of a worry.  I'll have to work in that.

[sandyu]

Once in Shelby Montana the wind got so bad I thought the canvas might rip, pop a button, or bend the bars however it held tuff. That was the only time the bars that hold the beds up were used to hold the beds down. No joke.