Crossing the Rockies with a 24' trailer and fear of heights

[Tractorat]

BTW, I have an automatic. What is top speed for 3rd gear in a 6 speed ?

 

[NIsaacs]

BTW, I have an automatic. What is top speed for 3rd gear in a 6 speed ?

Depends on your rear axle ratio, 4. 10's about 25mph with 3. 73's about 30 mph.



Nick

 

[BIGNASTY]

I have never worried about HOW FAST or HOW SLOW im going DOWN a hill, I do it at My pace. if people don't like it GO THE *F* AROUND!!!!!!!! most times there are a few lanes more than the ONE im in.

If not they can wait, If they were in that big a hurry that im holding them up, THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE LEFT HOME SOONER!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tractorat]

Thanks, then thats the gear I would use coming down the really steep passes such as 4th of July or Lookout. It will be fast enough. Especially for a flat lander who hasn't done a lot of mountain driving. And dont worry about getting run over. Just try not to run over the semis that might be going slower than that.

 

[richardcoxid]

If you have an exhaust brake just gear down one gear or maybe 2 ( depending on downgrade %), engage the e-brake and enjoy the scenery!

 

[BIGNASTY]

Sure glad this thread wasn't on site before we took the in-laws Motorhome to Yellowstone!!!!! At 54k I might have had to let someone else more qualified than I drive it, seen MANY!!!!!!!! Orientals that looked up to the task driving along the hwy.

 

[Dl5treez]

I've been back n forth across this great country many times in everything from bobtail pickup trucks to heavy haul lowboys.

When about are you planning this trip? Depending on a plane ticket, etc I could be available to fly out your way and drive back with you.

 

[Blu-meanie]

The wife has your problem with shear drops and heights she gets in the floor of the truck when she gets scared but its not a good practice for the driver to do this. Just two words are all you'll need in this scenario



COMMON SENSE

Big, you're kidding right? On the floorboards?

 

[BIGNASTY]

Big, you're kidding right? On the floorboards?

I POOP YOU NOT!!!!!!!!!!

First time she went with me on a BIG TRUCK road trip in mine, she got off work it was dark, like anyone else that has never been in a big truck its pretty intimidating at first sight. I was REALLY into running lights, the cab lights were purple had every gauge know to man kind (and they worked) the shifting tower with beer tapper on top with light of course, air lines and switches 2 kinds of CB's with kickers stereo that would make your ears bleed (AT HALF VOLUME) She got in with her little overnight bag and asked where do I put my things? I hit a switch for the sleeper lights I said your closet is on the side behind you. WOW!!!!!!!!! a TV and VHS do you live in this thing? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH ya!! seems like it sometimes We were heading to SEATAC then down I 5 to LA and drop and then Home to the IE. About 100 miles from home she admits that she has a problem, OK I WILL FIND A CLEAN PLACE TO LET YOU ???????? OH No not that !!!!!!!!!!! are we going over any bridges? Bridges like over water type right? ya I REALLY DONT LIKE THEM!!!!!!!! OH CHRIST WHY ME!!!! NO NO NONE AT ALL Cant remember where exactly but someplace in SEATAC area she came out of the sleeper from a nap she seen that we were on a bridge over water (not a big one either) she got of the floor in the sleeper. OK I HAVE AN epileptic on board having a seizure. I asked are you ok? ya im fine I just don't like bridges over water or just bridges for that matter!!!!! Well we are going to have a problem in WA and in Northern Calif. Can you take me home? like to Montana? Ya im really not feeling so well, THERES A TRASH BAG OR TWO BACK THERE, WE ARE GOING TO SO CALIF. :-laf



She has gotten over that pretty much but in my Dodge there is a dent in the passenger floor and finger grip in the A pillar hand grab and a hand print on the console I have the SLT model and cant remember ordering them on my truck.

 

[Blu-meanie]

How does she drive anywhere? I know there are mountains in MT, don't remember many bridges.

 

[jwduke]

That is a whole lot of long way around to get to central washington. Then you would have to go over Snoqulamie to stay on the intersate and that sucks worse than anything in MT. :-laf



I80 to SLC and then I84 thru the Snake river valley is not bad but you still have some ups and downs. You have to pull thru Larmie, 3 sisters, and a big drop into Utah. I84 does some pretty good grades north of SLC then you have Huntington and Pleasant Valley passes before you hit the Blues in Oregon. The Montana route I think has less passes albeit one longer\higher one but it is compressed in a smaller area From Butte to Kellog. Montana is for sure a LOT cooler than Utah and Idaho in the summer time. I-80 is a bit more attractive in the dead of winter.

You can get on I84 (West), E of SLC & miss SLC and Parley's Summit, E of SLC. Really a beautiful drive on I84 thru the canyon.

 

[jwduke]

Cerberusiam, she doesn't like crossing the Illinois River, she is going to have to close her eyes crossing the Snake River at Glens Ferry, ID plus the Malad River west of the Tuttle, ID exit...

 

[cerberusiam]

You can get on I84 (West), E of SLC & miss SLC and Parley's Summit, E of SLC. Really a beautiful drive on I84 thru the canyon.

For height and grade challenged people 3 sisters east of Evanston and Devils Gate are going to be errr, challenging.

A lot of people freak when they hit the top of cabbage in the Blues and fall off the edge of the world. That is steep and winding dropping into Pendenlton and getting into WA crossing the Columbia at Umatilla can be daunting on that narrow bridge with the wind and trucks.

I personally think the interstates are boring. The grades never exceed 6% and the road bed is contructed to be able to maintain 50 mph in most situations. Boring!!! Other roads don't have that restriction with 8% grades hugging the walls of canyons.

A much more scenic and intersting route is 95 from Payette ID to Lewiston ID. Want to test your rig? Run Whitebird hill as fast as you can. The drive up the Salmon river is definitely scenic.

Another good route is LaGrande OR to Clarkston WA on the Lewiston hiway thru the Wallowa mtns and Enterprise OR. Absolutely stunning scenery thru multiple climate zones and challenges on the switch backs thru canyons.

I-90 is by far the easiest route into the northwest. There are only 3 passes with any grade an length with wide lanes and decent curves.

 

[Dl5treez]

Gotta do the middle of Wyoming to hit Powder River Pass..... really only fun in the winter. heehee

 

[cerberusiam]

Gotta do the middle of Wyoming to hit Powder River Pass..... really only fun in the winter. heehee

Yessir!!! Burgess Junction from Greybull and fall of the Bighorns to Sheridan. With a long enough trailer I think you can read the trailer plate on some of the western switch backs.

 

[BIGNASTY]

How does she drive anywhere? I know there are mountains in MT, don't remember many bridges.

She's gotten better over the years, cause she knows that im not going to NOT go over the bridges and im NOT going out of my way to go around them, She just hangs on and hopes for the best. She wont do this either but most have a problem with looking OVER THE EDGE.

 

[Dl5treez]

Man what gorgeous country!!!

This thread is gonna either A) get me to do another trip thru the mountains or B) scare the OP into staying in Illinois. :-laf

 

[BIGNASTY]

To the point of this post the Public Hwy System is nothing to be afraid of, it may not be as good as some of the other country's roads but safe none the less, you shouldn't give the drive by yourself a thought. Plan your path and take to the road, that has always been the fun of driving for me. Make sure your truck is in good shape take some extra supplies like food and something to stay safe with, there are places in Montana, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada that I have driven and thought to myself MAN I HOPE That nothing happens here!!!!!!!!!! and it didn't, had I broke down someone would have happened along in a day or so. Just let someone responsible know of your route and time of arrival and if anything changes CALL THEM AND LET THEM KNOW!!!! before making the change.

BIG

PS Just thought of another option, Drive at night only!!!!!!!!! cant see the drops that way, and the hills wont look as steep cause you cant see whats in front of you!!!!!!!!!

 

[Grizzly]

PS Just thought of another option, Drive at night only!!!!!!!!! cant see the drops that way, and the hills wont look as steep cause you cant see whats in front of you!!!!!!!!!

... but you can't enjoy the seanery of the magnifican Rocky's at night.



grizz

 

[Mark31]

Got a new job out West - very West. As in Central Washington. Seeing has how the 1969 Coronet R/T I've been restoring is not quite yet running, it looks like I will be pulling it out in my 24' Haulmark trailer from IL. The trailer has two 5000 pound axles, and I think my car should come in under 4000 pounds. Just had the brakes done on the trailer. Truck should have enough power, and the trailer has stabilizer bars and a Reese sway controller. I'm happy to provide pics if anyone wants more details. I'm guessing declines will be the roughest part.



I've been pulling gravity boxes on the farm for 20+ years, but after driving through the Rockies with my wife a couple weeks ago (already dropped a car off) I'm beginning to get concerned how much stomach I have for heights. We took 90/94 out and it wasn't really bad until we hit the Idaho area. Being a flatlander most of my life, it was a bit hard to stomach - and that was in a car that was low to the ground. I can see a lot more peering out the cab of my RAM. Add in a trailer and even crossing the Illinois River gets my panties in a bunch.



Anyone got any suggestions for someone new to dealing with this. Or any experienced puller want a free trip out West to help me during the bridges and heights :-laf



Any idea how much weight I can throw in the back of the truck if I'm pulling that trailer? I'm guestimating I will be pulling between 8000 to 10000 pounds with just the trailer and car. Obviously there are lots of things to move and I might like my tools and a few other things out there with me before we get the rest of the stuff moved, but I certainly don't want to over do it.





2005 LWB 4x4 Quad Cab RAM HD manual 6 speed, Smarty Jr.

JT, I can sympathize with you. I have to deal with motion sickness from time to time and it's cousin not liking heights. I have gotten better with age, just turned 67. I believe your truck will be better than a car because it will sit firmer in the road and not wallow around like a standard car. I knew of someone that could ride in the mountains in an old Dodge Dart (with no suspension and a buckboard ride), but would barf in a 98 Olds. Get a Maxbrake or stay home. Those other things Harvey Barlow says need to decorate the bottom of a trash bin. Those inertia things will either "jerk your bumper off" or have you wondering if it ever will engage your brakes, depending on the grade and how smoothly you brake. They will keep a knot in your stomach. A Pacbrake would be REAL nice if you can afford it. To deal with stress, (1) eat right staying away from sugar and sugar subs, caffiene, and any stimulates. (2) Eat light-- don't eat too much at the time trying to stay away from fried and greasy. (3) Keep your windshield (outside and inside), glasses and sunglasses, headlights clean. (3) Stop frequently and give yourself an honest assessment of how you are coping. Real important before you get to a high stress area to help get your mind clear. A 10 minute "power nap" does wonders for me. (4) Assuming your wife will be with you, don't talk about stressful things while driving---waiting for a rest stop or even better the end of the day. Stay positive and upbeat to keep her happy, which will keep you happy (as in no stress). (5) Assuming there are no physical limitations, your limitations are mental and emotional challenges. The "boring" Interstates will not get you in over your head. You CAN do this!! Mark