Towing thru PA

[plntmgr]

We will be towing our rig through PA by mid April from I-71 in Ohio to Stroudsberg PA. I see I-80 and the I-76 Turnpike. Which is the better road for traffic and less hills to pull? The return trip is planned south on I-81 and I-270 to MD. You guys always came through befroe so all comments are appreciated.



'98. 5 Turbo Diesel 2500 CC 3:54 ( redone by Dunnrite Conv. ) 60 gal Aerotank 3. 54



'01 Alpenlite 32RL

 

[LMautone]

i travel both and both are the same for hills and traffic. it really depends where your going. i would not go out of my way to use any particular one.

 

[MD500E]

I prefer I-80 to I-76. 76 has a few less hills because of tunnels, but it is a toll road and has quite a bit more traffic, especially as it gets close to philadelphia.

 

[Dean Upson]

I-81 wasn't bad the last time I was on it (a year ago), plenty of traffic near the cities just like any where else. Enjoy your trip.



Dean

 

[TowPro]

Do you mean Stroudsburg? up below Scranton? If so I would take 80. To use 76 you will end up in Phila rush hour traffic, then you will have to go up 476 or the NE extention of the turnpike, just more rush hour traffic.



80 is Nice. There is a couple hills in the middle of the state, but nothing your TD can't handle. You may run into some construction near RT 11-15, but I hear this was cleaned up last fall.

Originally posted by plntmgr

We will be towing our rig through PA by mid April from I-71 in Ohio to Stroudsberg PA. I see I-80 and the I-76 Turnpike. Which is the better road for traffic and less hills to pull? The return trip is planned south on I-81 and I-270 to MD. You guys always came through befroe so all comments are appreciated.



'98. 5 Turbo Diesel 2500 CC 3:54 ( redone by Dunnrite Conv. ) 60 gal Aerotank 3. 54



'01 Alpenlite 32RL

 

[QRTRHRS]

If you care to let us know a bit more about your itinerary, that would help. Like TowPro said, the North East I-476 extention is busy. North to Allentown would bite with a trailer if your trying to enjoy yourself.



Also, I don't know the pike regualtions on propane and RV's. Anyone? There are tunnels to go through.



Stroudsburg is my old stumping ground, having grown up in that area.

 

[Udaloy]

IMHO, I80 is the only way to go. I used to drive to N. J. a lot and this is the preferred route for time. I80 is pretty straight whereas 76 is more winding. If scenary is a priority, I would go 76 though as I80 gets awful boring after a while.

 

[Fireman Dave]

We towed across I-76 last August. No problems with propane regs. We did get to spend 3 hours stopped on the turnpike near Harrisburg after a truck crashed in the double tunnels. That was a drag to sit there from 8:30-11:30pm, but at least we had a bathroom and access to food, etc... with our trailer. 76 was good for us on that trip because we were heading for the Jersey shore, but I remember I-80 as being a nice drive and quite scenic - especially around State College. The tolls on 76 can mount up with the trailer, too.

 

[SSchoenfelder]

Go Rt 80

Rt 80 is by far the best way to the Stroudsburg area. The construction near 11-15 is completed-no bottleneck. The route is hilly, but scenery is great! I doubt that you would save much going on the PA turnpike. Have a great tow! Oo.

 

[TowPro]

Dave, if you had of been right between the 2 tunnels, you could have pulled off and parked. Then get out your fly rod and drop off the turnpike to the west side, down in that vally is one of PA's best kept secrets for native Trout. The only way to get to it is horse, a 5 mile walk, or right off the turnpike (but the turnpike don't allow people to park there)

Originally posted by Fireman Dave

We towed across I-76 last August. No problems with propane regs. We did get to spend 3 hours stopped on the turnpike near Harrisburg after a truck crashed in the double tunnels. That was a drag to sit there from 8:30-11:30pm, but at least we had a bathroom and access to food, etc... with our trailer. 76 was good for us on that trip because we were heading for the Jersey shore, but I remember I-80 as being a nice drive and quite scenic - especially around State College. The tolls on 76 can mount up with the trailer, too.

 

[Fireman Dave]

Fishin' off the pike - sounds good! We were quite a ways from the tunnels, I think. It was backed up for a long ways - as you can imagine with over 3 hours worth of turnpike traffic. Even after the 3 hours when we got going again it was only to be detoured off the turnpike and on narrow country roads through Amish country. (What are they doing out in their buggies at Midnight?) We were originally planning to camp in Hershey, but we scrapped that plan and pulled into a rest stop for the night at 12:30am. This is where the trailer really pays off - we were all in bed in 10 minutes. With water on board, we were able to shower in the morning with no inconvenience at all. Ended up being a free night of camping.

 

[plntmgr]

Thanks guys. At first glance we plan on staying at Pocono Vacation Park in(around) Stroudsburg and moteling it in the White Plains area for a wedding.

After that is a trip south on I-270, south of frederick MD. Any road suggestions there?

 

[Cobra]

In my opinion its a no brainer. Although I haven't used I-80 for about a year, I do drive the pike quite often. The Pa pike is a lousy road and you will pay the piper (tolls) when towing a trailer. In case of break down you'll pay double the piper (wrecker) because only certain wreckers are permitted to tow on the pike.

Route I-80 is more scenic and less traffic and paid for with your taxes. Hope this helps.

 

[TowPro]

Its called Corting. Good bet it was Saturday night. The boys go calling on the girls late at night, when they sneak out of there homes (thinking the old man don't hear them, but he knows who is calling! )



Then Sunday after Church, the guys go crusing with the girls in the daylight. You can always tell the kids buggies as they have many reflectors on the back, and most times the kid is running the horse to hard. The rest of the time there supposed to be working all day, sleeping all night (ya right).



I have to admite, I am 3rd generation removed, but I still have family doing the Amish thing.

Originally posted by Fireman Dave

only to be detoured off the turnpike and on narrow country roads through Amish country.



(What are they doing out in their buggies at Midnight?) .

 

[Fireman Dave]

I think it was Sun night - it was the night we left Columbus after the TDR Nationals. Anyway, it was a little tight trying to miss them towing through all the traffic and on the narrow road. We have quite an Amish community around here too, but we live about 30 minutes away from their area, so we don't see them much unless we get down that way. They do really dig the fire department, though.

 

[SJRsCUMMINS]

I would definitely take I-80. There is a lot of construction on I-76, plus, as it has been mentioned already, you can get off I-80 and go south down the hills to Stroudsburg rather than take I-76 and having to go UP the hills. Just my two cents - have a nice trip!!!