GAFortFans..Shawn

Started off this past Monday night and trying to find a place to go camping for my oldest daughter's 13th bday. She throws out the fort as her top pick but said I know we can't pull that off this weekend. So she makes some other choices. I immediately start trying to find an available site at the fort for this weekend. We already have a September reservation and have tossed around annual passes so I call WDW no sites available, I watch the website nothing. Tuesday night around 9-10 a site pops up and I get it for Thursday through Sunday. I call get AAA discount and we are set for a huge surprise for the kids, 13, 8, and 6 all of their bdays are within a month of each other so we decide the trip is for everyone. So I call back Wednesday and pull the trigger on annual passes so the surprise gets bigger! They come home from school Wednesday and I put three Mickey balloons in a box that is (from Disney store no less), with a note taped to the streamers that says we are going to disney.... tomorrow! Needless to say they went crazy! Oldest busted out in tears! Was a priceless moment for sure! We loaded up the camper and were on the road the next morning at 4:30am. We arrived at the fort and somehow scored a upgrade to a premium site. Went to MK their favorite and they had a ball, went swimming yesterday and beaches and cream last night. It was by far one of the greatest memories seeing them totally stunned going spur of the moment like we did! We just arrived home unloaded some stuff and I am trying to plan another trip, get a golf cart, and clarification on double towing to the fort from GA!

Shawn

GAFortFans..Shawn

We don't have any signs. We are at

845. Headed over to Mk right now.

We booked a site last night! Coming in tomorrow and staying till Sunday! My kids don't know it yet and will be finding out in about an hour! 

Shawn

GAFortFans..Shawn

I have always just booked through the Ga State Park website www.gastateparks.org they do not assign specific sites so not sure how getting close together will work.

I am interested I would like to go ahead and book too Cloudland will sell out fast in the spring! 

I would be up for either! We like Cloudland but have been wanting to visit Desoto as well. 

We need to fix that!

Yeah sounds like a plan perfect camping weather is on the way!! But then again I like camping in any weather! 

We usually always stop at red top mountain state park which is north of Atlanta every yer on the way to the smokies. I think it's on Altoona lake. The park is so nice along with he lake. The sites are vey wooded and different elevations. IMHO you wont find anything like ft wilderness. Welcome to the bunch

Totally agree with Starbuc71 our first Fort trip was just a week ago to be exact and there is NOTHING like it! That is why I am currently making arrangements to get back ASAP! LOL! 

Another fellow Atlantan here! We live north of Marietta and camp at Lake Allatoona a good bit (Mckinney is a good one ran by Army Corp) Stone Mountain is nice as well, and we really enjoy Cloudland Canyon up near Chattanooga. I had a pop up years ago and really enjoyed it, we now have a 5th wheel and 3 kids and the extra room is needed and nice! Welcome to the site there are some great people here! 

Well we spent today 'swimming' around Hollywood studios and doing a lot of the inside things we have not done in the past. Still had a good time! May be hanging around the fort tomorrow rain looks it may be here for a while. We have 2 days worth of park tickets and sea world tickets too! I bought some ponchos so I am hoping with the way my luck runs that it will stop the rain. I figured out what started the rain... I washed the love bugs off my truck and camper! I wash a vehicle rain follows within a day or so! 

Hey Marilyn! Will do! 

Any fiends here at the Fort? We are at 1435! Just got here today around 1pm. Got setup went over to the trading post then took kids to Walmart for some more reasonably priced initial souvenirs and then some pool time! Loooooonnnngggg day! we have been up since 3am!! Headed to MK for the rope drop early! Everyone but me is already in the bed! We will be here till Saturday the 28th.

GAFortFans..Shawn

Well we have been needing tires and after reading the reviews I went with the Maxxis M8008's! E rated 225/75/15. We are heading to the Fort in September and the tires that were on the camper would not have made that trip I am afraid! Sidewalls were cracking pretty bad and didn't want to risk it! Anyone else running the M8008's? What do you think after you have put some miles on the?

Thanks,

GAFortFans..Shawn

I tried a lot of stuff before I tried Awesome from the dollar store and obviously wasted lots of money.  I even cleaned the enclosed trailer that our church uses that everyone had taken turns trying to clean the heavy black streaks off of with all kinds of cleaners and polishes and they all kept saying you will not get it off. It took one cleaning the grime came right off with no effort. For any second guessers try it it's only a dollar. You will be surprised. I use it all around the house. 

Have you tried Awesome from the Dollar Store and a Mr. Clean eraser sponge? Are you sure you don't have oxidation too? If so, that will probably require a different cleaner, lots of elbow grease and then a good sealer with UV inhibitor.

I will second Awesome! I have used it many times. If you have stubborn stains spray it undiluted on the dry area and let sit for a minute then I usually have a bucket and brush with some diluted and I scrub the area and it usually doesn't take much effort for the black streaks or what ever to just wash right off! It is the best black streak remover I have ever seen. A LOT LESS ELBOW GREASE! 

Kids wanted to walk around the Kmart next door to the restaurant where we ate tonight and we found a couple of things for decorating around the campsite. Wife was not leaving without these and there were several other items she wanted. There was a tinkerbell lantern like the Mickey and a clear version of the solar light globe. And they were both on sale. I think they were around $23 each.

Great info everyone! Everything I had seen online looks way too pricey just curious if there was something I had not seen yet. I was also concerned about that much weight on the back of the 5er too. Looks like rental would be in order. 

Thanks,

Shawn

I have been looking around the net and different types of haulers that supposedly do not count as typical trailer. Any one hauling theirs on the back of a 5th wheel? I see there are states that don't allow towing two things at once. I have a slide out platform on the back of my 5er already but only rated for 200lbs. I haul bikes, grills, etc. Wondering if that platform could be reinforced and add the swivel wheels.

Thanks,

Shawn

Kim sent you a pm. Well doesn't look like we are going to be able to go. Wife has to work and oldest daughter will be on a girl scout trip. Was looking forward to meeting every one!  :-

But if it's a wet ditch my Ford 4x4 diesel would have to pull that dodge out. I like ram trucks but the crew cab was to small in the back seat for us. We liked the mega cab but couldn't find one with a 4:10 rear end so I bought a ford. Oh and I love my Ford 400 h.p. it's a beast. I can average 16 mpg around town and 19 mpg on the highway running 75 mph.

Yeah 4x4s are too overrated been there had 4 or 5 not enough need for me only used 4x4 4-5 times on the chevy 2500 and the transfer case grenaded. I stay out of the ditches so i'm good! The 2012 has a bigger crew cab than previous years but not as big as a mega. Yeah 800ft of torque and 21750 towing capacity works for me so I could pull my camper your truck and your camper too probably. Still get 15mpg. Its all personal preference. I've had em all.  

All you Dodge and Chevy guys need to stop spending so much time worrying about what's behind you and look in front. That would be my f150 pulling you out of the ditch.

I have a 2012 Dodge 3500 crew cab dually long bed 2wd  6.7 diesel and I can promise you ftwildernessguy you would not be pulling me out of a ditch. I could use your f150 for a spare tire! LOL! Just upgraded from a 2005 Chevy 2500 4x4 crew cab short bed 6.0 gas. HUGE difference. O yeah I have had a F250 7.3 diesel too. Dodge is the BEAST! 

Just checked and there are no sites available at for the SMGG weekend. 

I will be at the SMGG, but you can pm me about the decal.

I sent you a pm about the decal! 

I prefer Bald Ridge and the redone parts of Shady Grove. Shoal Creek is close to Lake Lanier Islands though, and I think you can get packages that include tickets, etc.

I would take your advise over theirs they are not campers! LOL! 

Not sure how accurate it is, but that park lets you book online. When I checked, they only had tent sites and RV sites with water/cable/power but no sewer.

Thanks Brent I will check.