Towing west to midwest. Need ideas

[BIGNASTY]

I dont wish for ANYTHING!!!!! I have what I really WANT and NEED just listen. Wife liked it the last time we went out to dinner and someone let me out of my cage to do some howling :-laf



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hry1zgushrw&list=AL94UKMTqg-9DDN_svLI0m_Jgnfce1hQ9q



BIG

Leaving to go to Shaky to get rid of an anchor that belongs to the state of Calif. (our last property) I can hardly wait to be rid of the septic tank of Calif. Stopping in Lav Vegas to see our BIL in action. He's a guitarist in a band and performing there in a lounge show. Not the big time but close enough to make a few bucks and do what he loves MAKE MUSIC that is an envy that I have, I would have liked to give a try but had a family and house payment to make. Dreams are for sleep I guess.

 

[JR]

"Later that evening after his epic performance, BIG was spotted on the side of the road trying to prove his talents to the local sherriff... . " https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziNvB-JV9k&feature=youtube_gdata_player



:-laf:-laf:-laf

 

[JR]

Leaving to go to Shaky to get rid of an anchor that belongs to the state of Calif. (our last property) I can hardly wait to be rid of the septic tank of Calif. Stopping in Lav Vegas to see our BIL in action. He's a guitarist in a band and performing there in a lounge show. Not the big time but close enough to make a few bucks and do what he loves MAKE MUSIC that is an envy that I have, I would have liked to give a try but had a family and house payment to make. Dreams are for sleep I guess.

Ive never been to Calif but remember seeing some pics of my grandfather in northern Calif when he did his 4 month tour of the country after retirement. He had a motorhome and took me all over the eastern half of the country when I was young. Had a lot of good times with him in that ol camper. He was planning one last trip to the west coast before selling it and was going to take me with him but his health took a turn for the worse and we never went.

 

[BIGNASTY]

"Later that evening after his epic performance, BIG was spotted on the side of the road trying to prove his talents to the local sherriff... . " https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziNvB-JV9k&feature=youtube_gdata_player



:-laf:-laf:-laf

You posted that one time before its funny that he F's himself.

Thats one thing I dont do is drink and drive. Before we go out on the town, Its always made clear who is driving. I had to have a waitress take back a beer and bring bottled water cause the girl was going to do some drinking.



If I plan to sing that night IM NOT THE DESEGNATED DRIVER cause I have to get at least a few beers down, to let down any fear, but cant drink to many cause I forget the lyrics so there is a fine line to drinking for me :-laf

 

[BIGNASTY]

Ive never been to Calif but remember seeing some pics of my grandfather in northern Calif when he did his 4 month tour of the country after retirement. He had a motorhome and took me all over the eastern half of the country when I was young. Had a lot of good times with him in that ol camper. He was planning one last trip to the west coast before selling it and was going to take me with him but his health took a turn for the worse and we never went.

Im going to catch HELL for this but WHAT'S NEW Northern Calif is NOT Calif its not like the rest of the I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER HOLE even central Calif isn't to bad but if its below Bakersfield and even Bakersfield its self ITS A SEPTIC TANK. The only problem with Northern Calif is that the people up there are so FRIGGIN PLASTIC that they cant go to a campfire they will melt. They have there own agenda and be damned with anyone else unless they are GAY/LESBEIAN/FRUIT or what ever you what to call them. If it weren't FOR southern Calif Northern Calif WOULD NOT EXSIST They are the beggar's that have their hand out for welfare and unemployment cause the tree huggers took the only industries away, Lumber people lost a way of life homes were lost employment left. WHY because of a spotted owl THAT only lived in Northern Calif. :-laf They found out latter that the plastic people convinced the plastic politicians that it was true. Low and behold after they closed everything THEY FOUND THAT THE FRIGGING OWL LIVED ALLOT OF PLACES but the damage was done.

 

[JR]

Whooo!! Thanks for the xplanation of how California came to be, um, California I guess :-laf. And this whole time I thought their economy was in the toilet because they closed the Neverland Ranch

 

[BIGNASTY]

Mikey was a fantastic singer and musical composer but NEEDED A BUNCH OF WORK WITH LIFE.

 

[RVTRKN]

On I70, at Green River UT, is a three run-a-way truck ramp grade. Not only is it long, but steep, when I went through there I was with truck only and was awed at the grade. If you get snow in that pass with a trailer, you can expect a ride of your life.

MZhan

I think and (really dont give a I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER) but where you may have gone off track with my posts were NOT INTENDED TO YOUR TRIP!!

Post #6 RVTRKN said that the grade on I 70 was bad my response was NOT directed toward you I have still have to talk to RVRTKN and make sure we are in fact talking about the same I 70 cause not even the wife can remember there being a bad grade.

Post # 17 was where Nick (who I have fun ribbing eachother at times) said I need to get up to date!!! well maybe so I dont avoid things on the hwy like hills or down grades its a skill thing with me and Im not ashamed to admit it im NOT WORTH A I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER at many things BUT I CAN DRIVE ANYTHING WITH MORE THAT 2 FRIGGING WHEELS AND PRETTY DAMN GOOD AT IT.

Post # 22 was me again talking to NICK about when the time comes that I cant drive worth a I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER I will step out in front of a Roadway truck because they cant drive either being a road driver for the better part of my life I have seen alot of truck companies come and go and cant remember a bunch of worst drivers that ROADWAY TRUCKING.

So if you think I was jumping up you A** with golf spikes on think again!!!!! excuse me but its TEE TIME!!

Hey Big, first things first, MZahn was asking for advise for a specific time of year, and the high deserts can have snow even in late spring. The grade in and out is not the same as up and over, so you wont have steep edges. When I went through there, I was empty and never got a true feel of the percentage of the grade so I'm sorry if I misrepresented that grade. But if in the early part of spring you can get snow, and correct me if I'm wrong, there are three run-a-way truck ramps each way, so add snow and a long descent in, then the climb out with snow on the road. I thought it would be a good recommendation to avoid it, if possible, if a threat of snow was present.

If I was planning the trip, it would be the shortest route possible and plan for the worst, I would have chains for the truck and trailer, and drive with common sense. The Eisenhower grade is really fun on the descent traveling towards Denver on snow covered roads and snowing without a bed on my 3500 C&C, that rear end broke loose a couple of times.

MZhan, you have never been on HSmartash's bad side apparently, he gets nasty and personal if you correct him. I have had several experiences with him about DMV regs and other issues where he becomes an expert on every law, per every State, per DOT in every State, etc, etc, etc. I don't know the laws, but when Ca DMV charges me an extra weight fee because my C&C is considered a true commercial vehicle and not just a Commercial plated truck, he tells me it's not true (every truck in Calif, is considered commercial when registered even when not used as commercial). But the C&C is considered a true commercial truck, even the insurance companies know this, and it almost cost me $2200. 00 a year. Lucky for me my regular insurance allowed it after an appeal and pictures, BTW they go off of VIN number, that is what kicked it back, and AAA does not insure commercial vehicles. BTW,I wish you all the best on your trip, and stay safe.

 

[RVTRKN]

I'm sorry, I revisited the OP's first post and he stated summer time, in that case just make sure your cooling system and AC have been checked and serviced if needed. Your CTD should be able to pull that 27' TT just about anywhere you want to go

 

[BIGNASTY]

Quote



Hey Big, first things first, MZahn was asking for advise for a specific time of year, and the high deserts can have snow even in late spring. The grade in and out is not the same as up and over, so you wont have steep edges. When I went through there, I was empty and never got a true feel of the percentage of the grade so I'm sorry if I misrepresented that grade. But if in the early part of spring you can get snow, and correct me if I'm wrong, there are three run-a-way truck ramps each way, so add snow and a long descent in, then the climb out with snow on the road. I thought it would be a good recommendation to avoid it, if possible, if a threat of snow was present.



If I was planning the trip, it would be the shortest route possible and plan for the worst, I would have chains for the truck and trailer, and drive with common sense. The Eisenhower grade is really fun on the descent traveling towards Denver on snow covered roads and snowing without a bed on my 3500 C&C, that rear end broke loose a couple of times.









Perhaps IM WRONG!!!! I think that if a person is driving anything other than the family grocery getter that they SHOULD BE PREPAIRED to tackle the worse possible scenario. I read in a Independent Truck owners Mag. that the average person dives less than 10k miles a year and then when involved it an accident with a class 8 truck 9 out of 10 times the auto is at fault. How many times in your state of Calif has some old person mistaken the go peddle for the brake and killed others. There should be a test to drive at a certain age NO MATTER IF THEY HAD A PROBLEM OR NOT. Same goes for driving a RV I have sat in campgrounds and laughed my A** off watching someone trying to get a trailer backed in. Yes its a privlage that we have on the road but if a person has to ask what and if then maybe they SHOULDNT. Nothing wrong with asking advice but going a different route in JULY because someone has a problem with hills I dont avoid much of anything I trust my ability and im sure that you dont have a problem that way either. I have pondered the I 70 across UT and for the life of me cant remember any sand box. I think that its a pretty defeating attitude to even give there presents a thought, Again I dont think about them cause im not going to use them JMO. Same goes for the road grade into Grand Junction CO from UT REALLY!!!!!!! is that a grade to wet one's pants over??? In the latter part of your post you used the words common sense well it seems that is in a short supply these days and is not so common any longer.



Im glad we can discuss this like normal guy's and not bring Political Connotations into the equation like so many others do.



BIG

 

[bigceltic]

Does anyone know of a good trip planner for rv travels? I spent an hour online and haven't found much! Thanks

If you are a Good Sam member, they have a trip planner on their website that I have used quite often in the past. I think it notes road grades and such as well.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Ok Big, map it out for me. I want to hit an RV park at night, and leave by 5 am each day. I will be glad to consider your route, wife on the floor or not.

Let's just not get to the "my wife can beat up your wife" level... :-laf

Dont know how you drive im sure that its not like I do from Las Vegas Nv to Denver CO is 749 miles (in my world that's less than a day drive) but if you need to stop I understand that not all beat up on them self like I do. So you want to stop say half way to Denver??? here is a list of RV and campgrounds along I 70 I cant help you with RV parks!! until VERY RESENTLEY we have NEVER thought of there use by us it's just not our style we like the dirt,bugs,down to earth people that are like minded like us.

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/rv-parks-near-i70-exits-colorado-51469.html

If you would rather stay in a National forest campground like we prefer there are Many thru the White River National forest that I 70 runs thru. Take a pick most if not ALL the campgrounds in CO that we have stayed in ARE SOME OF THE BETTER ONES!!!

Now if it were me I would drive From Las Vegas to Rocky Mountain National Park Spend an extra day within the park (the milage is around 800miles) but Rocky Mountain National Park is a MUST SEE IN A LIFE TIME. (you MUST make reservations) to stay within the park (we do) there is a RV campground outside the gate at Moraine Campground entrance to the park. It's open grass with the hook ups NOT THE WAY WE LIKE TO CAMP. Within the Park Moraine campground is WONDERFUL to say the least. Your 27ft trailer will fit in almost any of the spots there are some tent only spots but you wont have a problem.

We would get up rested from Rocky Mount Park because you took an extra day to rest and look at the beautiful park (see Picture) and drive the rest of the way to Omaha NB I dont know of many people that find I 80 going thru Nebraska A MUST SEE DRIVE. flat as a pancake and fields of crops (pretty but not a must see) and finish in Omaha. If you have to stop between Denver and Omaha YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN. We went to Indy a month ago and went to see my Aunt in North Platte NB the wife and my Nephew have never seen that part of the country. They were really impressed that they could actually see the curvature of the earth. :-laf They are born Montanans so what do you want from the western half of MT.

So there you have it travel along I 70 going thru the Glenwood canyon is MAGNIFICENT and well worth a look or even a stop. Rocky Mountain is a premier National Park and like I said a must see. the rest of the trip is BORING and I was born in NB there's not much to look at FOR SURE.

AND ONE OF MY DODGE BECAUSE THIS IS TDR

 

[RVTRKN]

Hey Big, I did a little research and found that it is actually the descent to the San Rafeal River on I70 and that it is a bit of a distance to Green River. Now I know why in my mind it seemed like a long descent. There are two sandboxes on the descent that I could see from a satellite photo and found out it is a 5% grade. It is the stretch of Highway as you drop off of The San Rafeal Swell Plateau.

I feel bad that I started a heated conversation out of my misinformation, and I would like to apologize to you and MZahn for that.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Hey Big, I did a little research and found that it is actually the descent to the San Rafeal River on I70 and that it is a bit of a distance to Green River. Now I know why in my mind it seemed like a long descent. There are two sandboxes on the descent that I could see from a satellite photo and found out it is a 5% grade. It is the stretch of Highway as you drop off of The San Rafeal Swell Plateau.

I feel bad that I started a heated conversation out of my misinformation, and I would like to apologize to you and MZahn for that.

You have NO NEED to apologize to me I find it interesting the different travel ideas of people. A 5 percent grade is not even your Cajon Pass or even Baker grade I guess I dont worry to much about them because of my diving background (the wife told me that I didnt think of it on my own) Of all the things that Harvey Barlow has directed me toward and would advise ALL THAT TOW A TRAILER is the Max Brake Controller I think that maybe IT GIVES me extra courage to conquer the mountain passes with confidence:-laf

 

[RVTRKN]

Love my Brakesmart controller, but with the exhaust brake I hardly even touch my brakes. Dropping down the Grapevine north bound at 22K GCVW, I just stick to the tried and true theory of "stay one gear lower on the descent, than it took you to go up". Your right about Baker Grade, but Cajon is too short to really worry about, but same principal applies. The climb out of SoCal is always fun, then you have Baker Grade and during the Summer can really test your cooling system. My favorite trip down a grade was on the I90 east bound in near blizzard conditions, through Idaho at @70K GCVW and just before the descent there is a NEON sign that crosses the Highway and states "Icy conditions all trucks 25MPH" , you gotta love trucking.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Now that I have a REAL TRANSMISSION in my truck!! Im thinking about a exhaust brake it wont be pulling the weight any longer that I have been doing with it, when I get the International back when we return from Ca (I have you Phone # RVTRKN) and hope to give you a shout when we get the business done. We will be leaving in a few hours to drive to Las Vegas for a few shows and to loose some money and some pool side girl watching or in the case of the wife guy watching. But it would be nice on the Dodge to have a exhaust brake JUST TO PLAY WITH :-laf

 

[BIGNASTY]

This was my wake up call trucking It said at the top TRUCKS NOT RECOMENDED Hell that must be for them sissy la la drivers im ME and ME is invincible,faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a Cat Motor,able to leap (one legged ) over a canyon and by the time I got the SOB stopped I WAS NOT ABLE to break suction from the seat of the truck and my A**

They have fixed it, It was allot worse once you got started there was NO RETURN. :{

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=whit...bnh=178&tbnw=238&start=0&ndsp=15&tx=134&ty=87

AND IT DIDNT HELP THAT I WAS OVER 100K

 

[NIsaacs]

My favorite trip down a grade was on the I90 east bound in near blizzard conditions, through Idaho at @70K GCVW and just before the descent there is a NEON sign that crosses the Highway and states "Icy conditions all trucks 25MPH" , you gotta love trucking.

RV and Big,



I know you guys know this but some may not, so here it is



When going down icy hills, the truck & trailers weight will transfer forward to the drive axles, so use your "Jake" as hard as your traction will allow, only using enough trailer brakes to slightly assist. Remember, the trailer weight has transfered to the drive axles so the trailer axles are now lighter and will lock up at the drop of your hat, then you go sideways:-laf



When going up hill, now the weight has transfered to the trailer and the drive axles are lighter, that is why the highway is black on the steep up hills. The drives are actually slipping a slight amount and leaving rubber on the ground. This becomes very pronounced with doubles and tripples. You are pulling wayyy more weight than you are carrying, so low traction v/s total weight. On a steep hill, if a truck is cross ways, it will be a double



Nick

 

[BIGNASTY]

Nick

I have never had jake or exhaust brake on our little pickup types. But on a set of joints or even a semi in snow or ice and even in AZ monsoon rains I LEAVE THE JAKE ALONE!!!! OFF. If I had to go down a hill real slow so be it.

 

[BIGNASTY]

You know as well as I the Jake brake of yesteryear and the toy exhaust breaks of today are LIGHT YEARS APART. On my 400BC Cummins I had 401C jakes on variable amounts 1 for 2cyl 2 for 4cyl and 3 for all 6 cyl the old Jakes would work. The exhaust breaks on the new trucks and our little trucks is nothing more that putting a stopper in the exhaust system and the work best at high RPM witch on a low RMP motor is confusing at best. The things that the truck and engine manufactures have been made to do by people in the Government THAT CANT DRIVE ONE OF THE TRUCKS is ridiculous put their butt behind the wheel and see how they fare going down hill.