Photo: Irene Iron Travels | YouTube screenshot
If you're someone who likes to travel across the United States in a trailer, camper, or a huge fifth wheel, then you know that there are some roads that just aren't taken. Well, this time, let's explore the story of a couple who made their way to New York City.
Ladies and gentlemen, lovers of all things mobile, I recently came across a YouTube video that tells the story of a couple with a fifth wheel towed behind their truck. While this isn’t news to most of us, the Irene Iron Travels channel documents this group’s experiences with their massive Alliance Paradigm.
Well, this time their journey takes them to New York, but when you're towing a trailer that's at least 33 feet long (the smallest fifth wheel the Alliance Paradigm has in their lineup), you can bet your bottom dollar that you're going to run into some problems, and they did.
It all starts with a desire to go to New York and get a feel for the sights and sounds of this ever-bustling metropolis. So the main question is where the hell are they going to park the unit once they get to New York.
Photo: Irene Iron Travels | YouTube screenshot
Like most other cities, New York can accommodate RVs and trailers, but there aren't as many options as you might think. For example, judging by the footage in the video below, this gang ended up in a pretty industrial area and not exactly New York.
We're guessing you're wondering where they went. If so, the place is Liberty Harbor RV Park, one of the best-known and longest-running RV parks in the New York area, with the added bonus of being on the New Jersey side of the river, right across from Liberty State Park.
However, getting to New York City with just your own vehicle or the subway is a solid option. Irene Iron Travels also mentions Skyline RV Camp in Brooklyn, but it may not be the easiest destination to get to.
Problem number two is cost. If there’s one thing you can expect from NYC, it’s higher nightly rates. According to Irene Iron Travels, they ended up spending $170 a night to park their unit in a designated RV park. So if you’re traveling to NYC with an RV, be prepared for some costs.
Photo: Irene Iron Travels | YouTube screenshot
Now, if you’ve ever taken something this big on the road, you know that you’ll have to plan your trip around road laws and regulations, and the truth is that some roads and streets are off-limits to such large machines; it almost goes without saying. So, the first thing you’ll have to do is actually plan your itinerary.
According to Irene Iron Travels, they planned the route to the RV park, but according to one of the hosts on the channel, Chris, it took them days to find the best route to the destination. They also used GPS and directions from the land hosts to find the clearest route to successfully reach their destination. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, don’t be shy about asking the campground managers for help, including contacting RV discussion groups.
Along the way, the number one issue is the presence of some fairly low bridges along the East Coast, which means that some of the more massive RVs in the business really need some extra care and attention in the trip planning department. The route Irene and Chris took was along the Garden State Parkway, and RVs do well on that road. Make sure you have some extra cash ready for toll booths.
But as they entered the city on Columbus Drive, you could already see the streets starting to get narrower. Then you see buildings, streetlights, power lines, low trees, and pedestrians. All of these are potential hazards for a large mobile habitat and vice versa.
Photo: Irene Iron Travels | YouTube screenshot
So, to navigate the narrow city streets and those low power lines we see, the GPS was a valuable tool and, as I said, more directions from the park staff. That last part makes the most sense, as the campground managers and staff definitely know the area better than anyone else.
So, with careful maneuvering, the good faith of all drivers on the road, and information (power), you should have no problem getting to Liberty Harbor RV Park with a fifth wheel or even a huge RV; some of which are visible in the video below.
Now, for the rest of their time in New York, Irene and Chris get along just fine without a huge trailer in tow, because otherwise, well, let's just say their names would end up in the papers for all the wrong reasons.
That said, there is a lesson to be learned, and it is really simple: plan, plan, plan. This includes researching routes, height and weight restrictions, asking questions and discussion groups, and hopefully you can still find a solution that will get you within minutes of New York City.