California dreamin' - Tips for a summer trip, plz

[Admiral Yi]

You do understand that travelling in an RV will limit your urban mobility quite a bit, right Larchy?

[PDH]

An RV on lombard street would be fun.

[Grinning_Colossus]

I'm imaging an RV on Sunset trying to get onto the 405. Don't do that.

[Barrister]

Coolness indeed. When would you be back from the east coast?

Wedding is on 7th of July, i would rather read all of Lettow's posts then stay on East coast in July so probably be in Cali after 10th.

I have tons of friends and family, not to mention need to spend week on training classes for Cinematographers Guild in Burbank, so would be in Cali most of rest of July.

Great, we'll keep in touch then, and maybe you could show us around LA, which seems to be a monster to navigate.

Also, I bow down to your superior knowledge of yanqui car rentals. For how much would a RV for a party of 4-6 people go? It'd be a couple of weeks plus mileage, right? I've seen estimations on the 3000 $ area.

Buddy of mine was the GM of an RV sales/rental place in Whitehorse.  I talked to him about renting an RV once - it seemed just crazy expensive.  We wound up buying a used one privately for only 2-3x what the single rental would have cost.

Rent an RV if you're set on seeing the countryside and a camping-like atmosphere.  And I don't want to disparage RVing - I love my camper trailer and can't wait to get it out again in the spring.  But If you want to see the urban areas forget an RV.

[katmai]

Too true, if just looking for something big enough for 6-7 people can get a large SUV or Pass Van for cheaper than the RV

[CountDeMoney]

A Boogie Nights custom pedo-van would be perfect for LA.  THOSE ARE GREAT NAMES

[The Larch]

You do understand that travelling in an RV will limit your urban mobility quite a bit, right Larchy?

Yup, totally aware of that, but as I previously said the main focus of the trip will most probably be outdoorsy stuff, with urban tourism being the exception rather than the rule.

[Tonitrus]

I'm not sure I understand the point of coming to California if one wasn't planning on driving.

No shit.  What movie was it in where the guy from New York was out on a street in downtown LA, bitching about how a city this big could have no taxicabs?

They are probably like Seattle, they -have- taxicabs, it's just that you actually have to call on the phone for them. 

[PDH]

Euro-hippies on Highway 1.  They will fit right in.  Remember, when in an RV on a two lane in California to never go faster than 40mph.

[Tonitrus]

People in Cruise America RVs are my sworn enemy.  Especially if they are Germans. 

[The Larch]

Is there even a stereotype for that? 

Over here RV tourism is mstly associated with Germans and Dutchies.

[CountDeMoney]

People in Cruise America RVs are my sworn enemy.  Especially if they are Germans. 

No shit.  It may be an RV, but they still drive those fuckers like they're on the Ukrainian steppes.  PANZERGRUPPE WINNEBAGO

[garbon]

You do understand that travelling in an RV will limit your urban mobility quite a bit, right Larchy?

Yup, totally aware of that, but as I previously said the main focus of the trip will most probably be outdoorsy stuff, with urban tourism being the exception rather than the rule.

Yeah but you'll really be limiting yourself all around at the speed you'll be traveling at.  And won't most places require a large fee for your RV?  I know Muir Woods has a cost even for passenger cars.

[Ed Anger]

People in Cruise America RVs are my sworn enemy.  Especially if they are Germans. 

No shit.  It may be an RV, but they still drive those fuckers like they're on the Ukrainian steppes.  PANZERGRUPPE WINNEBAGO

I want to attach external speakers to mine and play the Panzerlied now going town the road.

[PDH]

We get the Russian RV groups here.  The come in, descend on the local Wal-Mart to buy camp stools and coolers, then head to the national/state parks to dump their waste and get trashed.  Much like how they retook the Ukraine in 1943-44.