I'm considering a cross-country trip and I would like some advise.

[Ken F]

Greetings all.



I am considering a cross country journey from Michigan to California. I have wanted to see the sights for some time now.



If I decide to go ahead with the trip, I'll be driving the 3500 dually in my signature and pulling a 31' travel trailer.



So what is the drive like between Denver, Vegas and L. A. ? What kind of elevations will I drive through?



The only mountains I have driven through are the Smokies on the way to Florida.



Ken.

 

[klenger]

I-70 from Denver to Utah will take you over some of the places on earth. Consider stopping at Glenwood Spings CO for a soak in their hot springs pool. I have a bunch of Colorado pics in my photo album at http://www.klenger.net/photo_album/index.html.



Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam at Las Vegas is neat too.



Have a great time.

 

[BarryG]

Ken:

If going through colorado about the highest you will get on I-70 is just over 10k at Vail Pass. As Ken mentioned the Hot springs in Glenwood are nice as is the cave tour they have there in town. I would highly recommend taking 70 west to (if you have the time take a quick side trip to Moab and Arches NP, Deadhorse Point and Canyonlands NP, that would take a day to do the sightseeing thing) Green River Utah and just past that take US24 to Loa and hwy12 (right past Capital Reef National Park). Hwy 12 is just incredible scenery. In the mountains there are views that you can see spaces larger than some states and as far as 80-100 miles. Then you drop down into the desert area of Escalante then onwards towards Bryce Canyon NP, then through Red Canyon onto I think it is US 89 down to about Carmel and head west through Zion NP and you can catch I-15 on the other side and off to Vegas. Slower than taking I-70 to I-15 but definitely well worth the extra few hours. All those roads are good paved highways.

 

[SRadke]

You'll be fine on the freeways, just do what the trucks do. You can't go wrong there. I-70 is a great road and it gets up in elevation. Vail pass is about 10,600 ft if I recall correctly. If you've never seen the fir forrests and rocky beaches of western Oregon you should consider swinging through a little north on your way home. Have a great trip.



-Scott

 

[Joe G.]

If you come to CA and don't see the north coast redwood country you will miss some really nice country. If you have plenty of time and go to LA take the Pacific Coast Highway (SR 1 most of the way) north to OR.

 

[klenger]

Eisenhower Tunnel is at about 11,000 feet, or you can go over the top of Loveland Pass at 12,000 feet. I've done that one several times on my bicycle.

 

[Ken F]

The more I read, the more I want to go.



This is still in the planning stage. I am self-employed and my work load right now is KILLER. What if I went in mid-October. I'm thinking I could hit some really bad weather at these high altitudes. Am I right?

 

[BarryG]

Ken:

Can't say it wont snow in Colorado in October but it is infrequent. I was just up in Leadville last week, raining in Leadville but when the sun came up there was snow on the tops of the peaks looked like from about 12500' on up. However most snow that happens in October tends to be the wet heavy stuff and melts fast and unless it really dumps or has been really cold for awhile the road shouldn't be an issue at all. They do a pretty good job on the roads in the mountains here. Once west of say Glenwood Springs snow in October would be very rare as you are starting to drop down into the desert.

 

[jkalchik]

I'll chime in about I-70 west of Denver, but it won't be with a CTD. I've made that trip 3 times now with a modified Jeep Cherokee pulling a 1 ton pop-up. These have all been in October, and the first trip I ran into sleet on the way back east through the Eisenhower and down to Denver at sundown. That was *NOT* fun.



Best advice I can give will be to watch your gauges carefully, water temp and trans temp (if you've got an automatic. )



BTW, the Moab area is wonderful if you're an offroader, mountain biker, rock climber, etc. Tons of stuff to see. Arches National Park can probably be done in a car, although I haven't made it there yet.



jkalchik

 

[bombero]

One of the things you may want to consider is getting a campground membership like Coast to Coast. I dont have one because we dry camp and use USFS campgounds alot. It wouldnt pay unless we someday decide to take a cross country trip then I would diffinetly look at one.

 

[SRadke]

The one time I drove across Vail pass was this spring on my way to Muncie. The 30th of May IIRC and yes, it was snowing.



-Scott

 

[cwsoules]

We just came west on I-70 and I-15. Great roads thru some nice country. At the highest grades you will loose some power, but you will get over the top. I just watched my EGT and kept it at 1200. There are many beautiful sights and we found the RV parks to be nice. St. George UT is worth a stop.

 

[Utah Willie]

I just came back over I-70 with camper and towing my boat. I have a 5-speed manual on my 3500 and an E-brake which was very useful on the western slope dropping through Glenwood Springs and on to Grand Junction. No problems with the altitude, road or traffic. What was said about going over SR12 through Capitol Reef is right on. At Torrey, take a left (south) and go over Boulder Mtn. to Escalante and west through the Red Canyon, et al. Lots of campgrounds in USFS and private hands. You might even hit a little snow in Utah at that time of year... . and cold! But the days are sunny and warm. Zion's east entrance requires an escorted convoy for RVs through the tunnel. It costs $10. 00 but the drive is great and you can stay in the middle of the road. Be prepared to have your passenger(s) look out the "windows" on their side as you drive through. I lived there fo 10 years and pine to return.

 

[ramcam6]

Ken F

One of the most valuable things you could get is an exhaust brake installed before your trip. I have found mine invaluable when coming down passes in the Rocky Mountains.

 

[klenger]

Ken F:



Will you be towing anything on your trip? Are you planning on camping along the way or doing the motel thing? If you are driving the trip with a mostly empty turck, you don't need to do any preperations to the truck other than making sure your routine maintenance is done. You will not have any problems going up or down the hills. If you will be RVing, I can suggest some CG's in CO.

 

[sfritts]

WE just came back from Glacier NP. it was great!!!! I too can recommend a EGT guage and exhaust brake, they might not be a neccessitity but you never have to worry about brakes getting hot or cooking a turbo. Which makes it a worth while purchase for anyone pulling a camper in the mountains.

 

[clem]

I love US 50 from Denver to Reno , It is AWSOME Then come back I-10 and stop in William AZ the Good Sam Campground can put you in touch with a train ride to the Grand Canyon. I think that might be better than Driving my Ram. Have no fear your Ram will love the Tow we have made the trip from Al to Cal to Ms and back to Al more than once. The only bad trip was made with a 2500 GMC. Go and IN JOY.

Clem

 

[Ken F]

I will be towing a 31' travel trailer. I would like to avoid motels.



I have an EGT gage, but no exhaust brake. I am really wishing I had bought a 6 speed instead of the auto. Who knows, maybe by this time next year I'll have one. If not, maybe an ATS or similar trans.



I really appreciate the replies. The train ride into the Grand Canyon sound great. I have a wife and 2 sons. (5 and 7). They would love it. The kids have a train video that was shot in a railroad museum in Arizona. I don't remember the city, but the scenery is incredible.



I may fly the family part way. Maybe pick them up in Colorado or Arizona, depending on my route. Avoiding the flat land with the kids might keep them more interested.



So it would be me and Ozzy (our Jack Russell) for around 1200 miles, and whole family for the remainder. I thought that Ozzy and I would just crash in rest areas. I wouldn't do any real RV'ing until I picked up the family.



Thank you again for all of the replies.



Ken.

 

[EricBu12]

On what barryG said in the area of Zion, you CAN'T take a RV from east to west going through Zion, there is a old low and extremely narrow tunnel. There have been peope that have had an escort by the rangers so the trailer or RV can drive down the middle of the tunnel and I also heard there was a cost for that... . If you want to continue to the west, go on highway 12 and follow to the 15 then go south and go into Zion. there is a RV park in the entrance so you can explore it. Everything else is a great ride and have plenty of film or digital cards to snap away! Utah Redrock and hills and backroads are one of the prettyest places in the US. I know, I drive truck interstate... .