Getting to the RTR,

[Oopslala]

I'm not completely sure if this thread belongs here, but I couldn't find anywhere that fit the bill better.

I was planning on going to work at Amazon for their busy time of the year, but I acquired a job in my home town, making about $400 a week without having to pay rent or much of the bill for food I eat.  My dad is letting my stay at his place, in return I'm working for him (he owns a dairy and crop farm, fun stuff right?!).

Anyways, I'm planning to keep my job here until the first week of January.  Then I'll start my trek to the RTR.  This is where a slight problem arises.  I drive a 2003 2 door Silverado half ton.  I will be pulling a fifth wheel trailer weighing roughly 4500lbs, not that much, but in winter weather in mountains, I fear it could be quite dangerous.  Which is why I'm here, posting this thread.

The majority of you have more traveling experiences than I do, and know routes and ways to avoid certain landmarks, such as mountains.  I live in Michigan, and I'm looking for the path of least resistance to Arizona.  I'm okay with traveling an extra few hundred miles to avoid the dangers of pulling a trailer in mountains.

I'm about 10 miles from US-127, so that'll be my starting point.

Any rough route to get there will be greatly appreciated!

 

[akrvbob]

The key thing is to NOT take I-40 across, it has lots of hills as you climb up into New Mexico and Arizona plus you are at 7500 feet and snowstorms and cold are always a risk.

Both New Mexico and Arizona have mountain ranges that run north south through them and you do not want to try to climb them with that load, you need to go south below them.

You'll want to come up through El Paso, Texas into New Mexico on I-10, how you get there is really up to you. Some years it's very cold then and dropping all the way down to I-10 to cross Louisiana and Texas would be warmest, but taking I-20 would be a little shorter if it's not cold.
Bob

 

[Almost There]

South on I69, take east side of Indianapolis, pick up 65 south to Nashville. Take the Briley west around Nashville, I40 to Memphis, take the northern route on 40 around Memphis, I40 W towards Little Rock, take the 440 southern bypass around Little Rock (hint - it starts way out of town on 40) to I 30.

I30 will take you into northern Texas headed west. From there some of our Texas residents will have to help you out with a route that will avoid Dallas Fort Worth.

The trick is to get south as fast as you can before swinging west. Anything south of Nashville is usually pretty clear.

I got holed up in Nashville two Januarys' ago with bad roads between there and Lansing.

I'm used to winter driving as you no doubt are but the guys from Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee are NOT! They're scary

I'll be doing the northern part of this route in November. Once I get past Nashville my sightseeing starts.

 

[highdesertranger]

no matter what route you take carry chains, you never know. is your truck 4x4? highdesertranger

 

[Almost There]

no matter what route you take carry chains,  you never know.  is your truck 4x4?  highdesertranger

HDR, you're used to high mountain passes and winters in places like Montana.

There really is no need for chains. As a matter of fact, Michigan doesn't even allow metal studded tires (only rubber) on the road. Ontario, for example, only allows metal studs in the northern parts of the province.

The only reason I stayed in Nashville was because it was a freezing rain/ice storm that was predicted and with 2 more days of driving to do, I decided to wait it out where the weather was good. Good thing too because citidiots had the interstate jammed with accidents.

 

[highdesertranger]

well I have seen snow at very low elevations out west. they will stop you with no chains and not let you proceed. in the winter I always carry chains, if I don't need them great but if I do I have them. highdesertranger

 

[Patrick46]

I drove cross country semi trucks for many years, (in the 80's) and I NEVER carried chains. (but now, you are required to)

I figured, that if it got that bad out, and I couldn't find my way around the snow (like when I used to skirt my way around Donner Pass, and go through the Feather River Canyon)....well then it's time to park the bus and sleep it out! (or party it up like we did in Boomtown!!)

The big secret to diving in the snow & ice, is simply TAKE YOUR TIME! You're in a boat, and you're driving on water...so you never really start, and you never really stop. You just kinda 'float' around. (albeit the water is frozen in this case.)

Leave yourself LOTS of elbo-room, take your time, and you should be just fine.

oh, carry some chains too!

 

[WriterMs]

The only reason I stayed in Nashville was because it was a freezing rain/ice storm that was predicted and with 2 more days of driving to do, I decided to wait it out where the weather was good. Good thing too because citidiots had the interstate jammed with accidents.

I've lived in Nashville off and on for about 13 years. Ice or slick snow means it is demolition derby time there!

I'm very interested in these routes to get south and avoid the big TX cities, too. This January will be my 3rd try at getting to RTR and I'm determined!

 

[Marie]

I'm glad you mentioned this stuff about winter driving, Oops. I've been worrying about getting to the RTR from Montana (Missoula area). I've got a slippy-slidy van that HATES ice and snow!

 

[Almost There]

I'm glad you mentioned this stuff about winter driving, Oops. I've been worrying about getting to the RTR from Montana (Missoula area). I've got a slippy-slidy van that HATES ice and snow!

Marie, what are you driving that's so slippy-slidy? What tires do you have on it for winter driving?

A lot of vehicles like vans and pick up trucks benefit from some extra weight over the rear axle during winter (this is somewhat controversial but I'm not the first person for whom it worked).

You might also want to consider some rubber studs for your winter tires.

Here's a link to the winter tire rules for various states.

http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/laws/studded-tires/

 

[Marie]

Almost There, thanks for the info on studded tires. That actually ought to help! (I feel kinda dumb for not thinking of that!!!)

I have a 1995 full size Dodge van (passenger type) fixed up for long term camping. Not professionally done, it's "Mickey-mouse" as they say, but works real well for me. Thinking ahead, I have stored heavy type stuff - spare tire, extra water, etc. - over the rear wheels.

 

[Almost There]

Almost There, thanks for the info on studded tires. That actually ought to help!  (I feel kinda dumb for not thinking of that!!!)

I have a 1995 full size Dodge van (passenger type) fixed up for long term camping. Not professionally done, it's "Mickey-mouse" as they say, but works real well for me. Thinking ahead, I have stored heavy type stuff - spare tire, extra water, etc. - over the rear wheels.

Good snow tires with rubber studs will help immensely - all season tires are NOT (all season that is) - okay for Georgia but not Montana...

The other thing to do, that I highly recommend, is to take your van out to a completely empty parking lot (no light standards) and deliberately put it in to skids and learn to steer it out of the skids. Do donuts in it! Even better if you can get there before they clear the parking lot. It takes courage yes, but very worthwhile.

Just like backing up a trailer, not getting in to skids in the first place and steering out of them is a learned skill!

 

[Marie]

Almost There, thanks again! You've got GREAT ideas! I might be able to do a TINY bit of the practice skids - but at 70 years old, the risk taking ability is just not what it used to be! I have become a chicken in my old, well, OLDER age. (Used to have a 240Z - high risk. Now have a 4WD Jeep Patriot - low risk). Thanks again!

 

[Oopslala]

The truck is a 4x4 so that will most definitely give me peace of mind when the roads get a little messy. I'm used to driving in less than ideal conditions with the truck, but the trailer will be a new one for me. I'm more worried about other peoples capabilities (or lack there of), when it comes to driving in the snow. Apart from obvious mountains I'll do my best to avoid.

I'm pretty terrible when it comes to sense of direction and using maps and everything, so I'll likely end up punching in landmarks on the GPS to get me to certain points and avoid the big cities and mountains. I'm sure once I'm a year or so into the my traveling I'll become more familiar with the atlas and maps, but for now I'll probably depend mostly on the GPS.

Marie, if you do go the winter tire/studded route you definitely need to read up on the laws, because they can change state by state. Another thing to note about winter tires is that they can only be used up to a certain temp. They're great in the winter, but once you cross that line from the snowy cold conditions to weather that is consistently 40-50 degrees, the tires will be damage because they're not made for high temperatures. That will most definitely be a key factor if you're to buy winter tires, you'll probably have to stop and get your all season tires put back on.

 

[travlinman and wife]

don't forget in the south snow is different then it is up north. up north you get just snow and down south almost all storms start out as rain and then turn to snow. thus you have snow on ice . thus a whole different set of problems

 

[highdesertranger]

carry chains, cheap insurance. oh and know how to install them. highdesertranger

 

[Marie]

Boy, nothing worthwhile is easy, is it???

 

[SoulRaven]

Hello there, in my humble opinion the best route and the flattest is;

I-69 To Indianapolis
I-70 To St Louis and pick up
I44, 44 will be an inexpensive toll road thru Oklahoma but well maintained 
Stay on I-44 to Wichita Falls Tx

If you want or need to get to I-20 as quickly as you can take US 82 from Wichita and go to US 283 south which will drop you to I-20, turn right.
I-20 will dead end into  I-10 around Kent Tx.

No guarantees but I ran the frozen north for many years and this is a decent route. 

BUT since we here in Texas only have one snow plow and one salt truck, or so it seems, be advised weather in texas can change with a quickness.  

There are a couple of small hills on I-44  in Mo. but small and nothing to worry about. A couple much the same as you approach  El Paso.

As far as chains go.... If the weather on any of those roads is so bad you think you need chains, Park. 

If you choose this route be careful in the rest areas as you get close to El Paso, stop where there are others. 

Most of all, be safe and have fun, it ain't rocket science, I did for many years which proves that point. 

Bob J.

 

[Theadyn]

Crap... I literally live in seeing distance of I-40... Now I have no idea how to get to the RTR, lol

 

[cyndi]

Crap...   I literally live in seeing distance of I-40...   Now I have no idea how to get to the RTR, lol

Theadyn, as long as you drop down to I-10 before you get close to Flagstaff, you should be ok. Frequently, when it snows, I-40 is closed up around the Flagstaff area.

I've driven from MA to AZ in the fall and early winter many times. I find getting down to I-10 ASAP is the best way to to avoid nasty weather. Although, in 2013 I followed and was chased by an ice storm from TN through NM. It was a horrible experience. Such a relief to see the temps rise when I hit AZ.

That was unusual. Places that hadn't seen snow or ice in many years were buried with ice and/or snow.  It didn't matter how far south I went. I was in my 2005 Vibe, that year.

I find I can drive in about anything. but, the other people on the road make it scary. Ha! They probably feel the same way about me.