|
|
09-26-2020, 07:26 PM
|
#1
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 3
|
East Coast to West Coast route with No Mountains?
Hello!
My family and I are moving from New York to Los Angeles, California in March. We decided to Take a road trip so we’re going to drive with a trailer attached to our car with all of our stuff in it. We’ve never done anything like this. Never went on a road trip and never towed a trailer on a vehicle.
What would be the best route to take?
I would assume the least amount of mountains would be best. We don’t mind a long route as long as it’s the safest. Please help!
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
09-26-2020, 07:37 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Chicago Metro
Posts: 3,963
|
"mountains" <> unsafe but if you want the flattest route i'd head south to I-10.
__________________
Rich, Ham Radio, Sport Pilot
Retired 9-1-1 Admin.
|
|
|
09-26-2020, 07:47 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Vancouver Wash
Posts: 7,227
|
X2.....
|
|
|
09-27-2020, 12:32 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Enjoying the Western States!
Posts: 19,774
|
You said you've never towed a trailer with a car and you'll have all your stuff in it..... make sure your trailer isn't overloaded for the specs on what your car can tow. That could be more dangerous than driving mountains.
You're going in March which is still winter in some states so I'd advise heading south at an angle to I-10 and taking it across.
I-40 can get snow in the western states. We encountered a blizzard the end of April around Albuquerque, NM.
Have a good trip!
__________________
Full-timed for 16 Years . . .
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Diesel
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th wheel
|
|
|
09-27-2020, 12:45 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SW Louisiana
Posts: 8,939
|
Keep in mind it is not so much about elevation change, as it is about sudden elevation change, crossing Wyoming on I-80 is generally a much easier drive than crossing Colorado on I-70, as it tends to be longer, gentler slopes. Of course that assumes you time it right and don't get hit with strong cross winds, which seem to be more common on I-80 than I70. Time of year is another big factor, and I too have seen blizzard like conditions close I-40 in New Mexico in late March for 48 hours or more.
__________________
2002 Safari Trek 2830 on P32 Chassis with 8.1L w/ 400 watts solar 420Ah LiFePo4
2017 Jeep Cherokee Overland & 2007 Toyota Yaris TOADs with Even Brake,
Demco Commander tow bar and Blue Ox / Roadmaster base plates
|
|
|
09-27-2020, 01:23 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
|
March. Least steep grades. Go south to I10, and follow it west to San Diego, then north into LA area.
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
|
|
|
09-27-2020, 01:28 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,442
|
JMHO: U Haul trailers are thief magnets , ship your stuff you'll enjoy the drive much more.
As twogypsies mentioned you don't want to be overloaded either , family and luggage for a 6/7 day trip will probably be all the load your vehicle can handle .
BTW: You haven't mentioned the car , modern front wheel drive cars don't have much of a tow rating, some depending on engine /trans combinations, may say not to tow anything , have you checked your owners manual.
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
|
|
|
09-27-2020, 09:35 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Chicago Metro
Posts: 3,963
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by vsheetz
March. Least steep grades. Go south to I10, and follow it west to San Diego, then north into LA area.
|
i-10 goes direct into LA. i-8 branches off i-10 and goes to san diego.
__________________
Rich, Ham Radio, Sport Pilot
Retired 9-1-1 Admin.
|
|
|
09-27-2020, 09:43 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 5,819
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by KulJ
Hello!
My family and I are moving ... to Los Angeles, California
|
Ouch. I'm sorry for you.
|
|
|
09-27-2020, 09:58 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Dallas,OR
Posts: 4,584
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by CountryB
Ouch. I'm sorry for you.
|
X2. Sure hope you have a electric car!
NY to CA is like jumping from the frying pan into the fire
|
|
|
09-27-2020, 12:06 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2000
Location: California Central Coast
Posts: 2,034
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rk911
i-10 goes direct into LA. i-8 branches off i-10 and goes to san diego.
|
And you don't want to take I8 to SD as there is a long steep climb about halfway across California just west of El Centro.
Glenn
__________________
2006 Sea Breeze LX 8341 on a Workhorse W22 Chassis with 22.5 Alcoa Alum wheels,
2011 Chevy Colorado 4X4 with Ready Brake
|
|
|
09-27-2020, 12:28 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,329
|
East Coast to West Coast route with No Mountains?
I10 to be sure. You’ll miss almost all the beautiful west but You say all your stuff in a trailer behind your “car”. You either have no stuff or your car is a truck? No “car” made today can tow more than a small uhaul with a mattress a chair and a bicycle inside [emoji6]
I exaggerate but hopefully you get the point. Ship the stuff and drive the car if you have “any” stuff
__________________
2023 Coachmen Encore 325SS
|
|
|
09-27-2020, 12:45 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Foretravel Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Home is Where WE PARK IT...
Posts: 6,051
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by BillJinOR
I10 to be sure. You’ll miss almost all the beautiful west but You say all your stuff in a trailer behind your “car”. You either have no stuff or your car is a truck? No “car” made today can tow more than a small uhaul with a mattress a chair and a bicycle inside [emoji6]
I exaggerate but hopefully you get the point. Ship the stuff and drive the car if you have “any” stuff
|
I Concur..Ship your possessions..
From NYC area.. I-78 to I-81, to I-40w to I-30 (Little Rock AR.), to I-20, to I-10 and west to Cali.
__________________
Retired truckdriver,
'02 Foretravel... "This Shack will do"
being pushed by an '06 Scion xB
SKP's of Box Elder, South Dakota
|
|
|
09-27-2020, 12:51 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SW Louisiana
Posts: 8,939
|
If the 7-9 day forecast looks unseasonably warm, follow the above directions, and substitute I-40 west From Little Rock, AR to Flagstaff, AZ, then I-17 to Phoenix, and I-10 on across to CA. I-40 is mostly a gentle climb going west, though you will have a fairly significant descent on I-17, but downhill is less stress on the engine and transmission than climbing is. It is more scenic, and there are some interest roadside stops that are RV / towing accessible, Meteor Crater, etc. to brake up the drive.
__________________
2002 Safari Trek 2830 on P32 Chassis with 8.1L w/ 400 watts solar 420Ah LiFePo4
2017 Jeep Cherokee Overland & 2007 Toyota Yaris TOADs with Even Brake,
Demco Commander tow bar and Blue Ox / Roadmaster base plates
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|