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TXBart · 03-17-2013, 06:14 AM

We will be taking 2-3 trips a year pulling a toad from North Texas to southwest Idaho, 1700 miles.

We can go east or west of the Rockies. West of the Rockies means 2-lane from Albuquerque to Provo but it also avoids Raton Pass and the winds of Wyoming.

There are 2 options east of the Rockies, one is up Raton Pass on I-25 and is all interstate, the other is thru Limon, CO and is a couple hundred miles of wide 2-lane but no big hills.

The east side route includes a day's drive cross Wyoming on I-84. We made that trek in January in a car and had wind warnings of gusts of 65+. My son just made the drive and said is was very windy even in a VW Jetta wagon.

Which is wisest to avoid, hills or wind or 2-lane?

palehorse89 · 03-17-2013, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXBart

Which is wisest to avoid, hills or wind or 2-lane?

The hills would not bother me nor the 2 lane (usually more senic) but if I knew of windy area's on my route I would avoid the windy route at all costs. Driving a auto in windy conditions is bad enough let alone a Motor Coach.(or semi's was really bad in my driving career)

pcurt23 · 03-17-2013, 09:15 AM

You did not identify your vehicle. I only travel on roads that have the proper height clearance. They are usually identified in red on a map. I do not worry about wind, you can always slow down. I would not like to travel in ice and snow very far other than that the destination is more important that the route. I travel 2 lanes all the time. Some of them are very narrow but no more narrow than all the orange barrels.

TXBart · 03-17-2013, 10:02 AM

My coach is a Thor Challenger, 38' gasser. I am towing a Cadillac SRX.

Also, I have less than 600 total miles of RV driving experience; 1 trip of about 475 miles and a trip back to the dealer. About 45 miles of RV towing experience (lots of miles pulling boats, stock trailers and grain trailers behind cars and pickups but very little pulling with an RV)

Dutch Star David · 03-17-2013, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXBart

We will be taking 2-3 trips a year pulling a toad from North Texas to southwest Idaho, 1700 miles.

We can go east or west of the Rockies. West of the Rockies means 2-lane from Albuquerque to Provo but it also avoids Raton Pass and the winds of Wyoming.

There are 2 options east of the Rockies, one is up Raton Pass on I-25 and is all interstate, the other is thru Limon, CO and is a couple hundred miles of wide 2-lane but no big hills.

The east side route includes a day's drive cross Wyoming on I-84. We made that trek in January in a car and had wind warnings of gusts of 65+. My son just made the drive and said is was very windy even in a VW Jetta wagon.

Which is wisest to avoid, hills or wind or 2-lane?

Our son is a volunteer fireman in Wheatland, WY (75 miles north of Cheyenne on I-25). A great number of their calls are overturned semis just south of town near the Bordeau, WY exit. If high wind warnings are in effect, I just pull over and wait them out.

kirk7678 · 03-17-2013, 10:41 AM

We live in Utah and have been on all the roads you're talking about, mostly on motorcycles -- and we DON'T LIKE WIND. If it was me, I'd take 40 west to I 15 then north. Better scenery and less chance of bad winds. I have never driven through Wyoming when it wasn't windy. You didn't say what time of the year you are planning your trip, but Apr and May are generally our windiest months as the fronts from the Northwest pass thru. The good news is they usually only last a day or so then nice again, so if you get caught, find a nice place to pull over and relax. They are also pretty good at predicting the winds in local forcasts, so just pay attention. Good luck and enjoy the ride!

wb7auk · 03-17-2013, 11:05 AM

I think Kirk7678 has the best idea one thing for sure forget I-70 bad news.

rgvtexan · 03-17-2013, 11:12 AM

We make that jaunt twice a year. I prefer the west side, from ALQ. Thru the 4 corner area to Moab. 191/6 to Spanish Fork. Tried all the routes around 4 corners they are all good roads for RVs. You can take 550 out of Bernalillo NM or 491 out of Gallup. Nice RV park at the casino in Towaoc CO. Or on the W side of 4 corners up 191. These are all in range of some great places (Arches NP, Mesa Verde NP, Monument Valley, Canyon Lands NP) In the fall we spend 2 weeks in ALQ. Volunteering at the Balloon Fiesta.
Two years ago we took the East side, I25 was closed at the WY border. We holed up at N. FT. Collins KOA for the night crossed I80 in the early AM.
Enjoy the trip.

charlie 62 · 03-17-2013, 05:56 PM

If you have not done the " cheap handling fix " I would recomend that. It makes a windy day liveable. I sure like your Challenger!!

wb7auk · 03-17-2013, 06:08 PM

One thing about Utah, look for the highest ground and that is where they put the
roads.
Unless they have done some major changes the route Norm suggest is no fun either.
I will agree that you will see some wonderful country.

Ramzfan · 03-17-2013, 09:33 PM

I'll take the hills rather than the wind any day...!

Gormleys · 03-18-2013, 06:01 PM

Hey, it's all about the journey anyways. Why not go part way through Utah then sneak across the Rockies like through US-40 and Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park and then on up I-25? Or how about up through the middle going US-285 past the sand dunes and do some fly fishing? You got the motorhome to enjoy the ride. Pick a new route and spend a day or two more on the road if the winds get bad or the DW gets scared of the hills! Vary the route and see more of America!

TXBart · 03-18-2013, 07:19 PM

I like that approach. That is what we intend our coach to be all about, the journey is as important and the destination, maybe more if the grandkids aren't at the end!

Tony Lee · 03-18-2013, 07:26 PM

I'd suggest many people overplan their trips and would be probably happier in the end if they just followed the Nike slogan - "just do it". The worst that can happen is you might have to select "R" once in a while

Or if you need something a bit more philosophically-expressed, this takes some beating

Quote:

"No matter how deep a study you make, what you really have to rely on is your own intuition, and when it comes down to it, you really don't know what's going to happen until you do it."
Konosuke Matsushita