Jump to content

First Big Trip Advice Please


Vegas Teacher

Recommended Posts

My first big trip across country will be this summer. I am going to be driving across the Midwest from Vegas to Michigan and South back to my home state of Kansas. Route will be 15 north to 80 east, will take 80 west back to Chicago where I will head south and the head toward 70, 70 to K.C. and 69 south to Pittsburg Kansas. Then 44 to Tulsa then drop south to Oklahoma city catching 40 all the way to Flagstaff then 95 back into Vegas. The whole way I will be running bobtail and staying at truck stops when we get tired.

Would really like any and all advice anybody can give me. I am a little nervous. 

Later, 

Cory Ossana - Vegas Teacher

P.S. Schools out for summer!!

Edited by Vegas Teacher
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't know those routes individually, but if its interstate or US highway, you'll see lots of country.  Since you got the truck all fixed, it should be a none event for ya.  Take pictures, take time to go see the historic sites alone the way. How many miles a day are you planning? And how many days is this trip taking?

Alie & Jim + 8 paws

2017 DRV Memphis 

BART- 1998 Volvo 610

Lil'ole 6cyl Cummins

Link to comment
Share on other sites

40 minutes ago, Alie&Jim's Carrilite said:

I don't know those routes individually, but if its interstate or US highway, you'll see lots of country.  Since you got the truck all fixed, it should be a none event for ya.  Take pictures, take time to go see the historic sites alone the way. How many miles a day are you planning? And how many days is this trip taking?

First day would be from Vegas to Salt Lake City. Second would be Salt Lake to Omaha. Third would be Omaha to Morley Michigan, it is about 75 miles north of Grand Rapids Michigan in the Southwest part of the state. We would stay with my wife's family for a while. The trip from Michigan down to Kansas takes about a day. My home town is Pittsburg Kansas, I grew up about 45 miles from where Jack has RVH life styles. I am about 150 from where the National HDT rally takes place. Going back to Vegas my first leg would be to Gallup New Mexico then into Vegas. That is how we drove with a normal trip, but I have not recalculated with semi. We have also done straight through trips rotating drivers and sleeping in the back of my 4 door tundra or with the seats down in my outback too. But I am not sure if the big truck will slow me down or how much it might.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If it were me, I would avoid 80 either way around Chicago and NW Indiana. You will most likely hit bad traffic there unless you can time it go thru late at night. On our trip that we are currently on that will take us to Grand Rapids MI and then to Madison WI, I am purposely heading around Lake Michigan thru the Upper Peninsula just to miss Chicago, plus it will be a much more scenic drive and we get to visit some nice state parks. I do not see a good alternative route for you heading east but heading south and west, I would probably run US 31 south from Michigan to Indy, then I465 around the west side of Indy to I70 and then head west. 

Enjoy your trip! 

 

2005 Freightliner Century S/T, Singled, Air ride ET Jr. hitch
2019 46'+ Dune Sport Man Cave custom 5th wheel toy hauler
Owner of the 1978 Custom Van "Star Dreamer" which might be seen at a local car show near you!

 

Check out http://www.hhrvresource.com/

for much more info on HDT's.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

30 minutes ago, Star Dreamer said:

If it were me, I would avoid 80 either way around Chicago and NW Indiana. You will most likely hit bad traffic there unless you can time it go thru late at night. On our trip that we are currently on that will take us to Grand Rapids MI and then to Madison WI, I am purposely heading around Lake Michigan thru the Upper Peninsula just to miss Chicago, plus it will be a much more scenic drive and we get to visit some nice state parks. I do not see a good alternative route for you heading east but heading south and west, I would probably run US 31 south from Michigan to Indy, then I465 around the west side of Indy to I70 and then head west. 

Enjoy your trip! 

 

I would second the motion to avoid I 80 as much as possible, especially east of Des Moines, Iowa. I haven't traveled through Chicago in a long time, but if my trips south through St. Louis are any thing like Chicago I'd rather drive 300 miles out of the way to avoid, even taking  two lane roads.

Since you are not pulling a trailer you should be fine keeping the time frame you had with your previous vehicles. Remember you can go   1000  miles or more  before having to stop for fuel. Bathroom breaks usually come before the need for fuel, but if you get fuel and bathrooms at the same times you can put a lot of miles on your tires. 

Good luck with the trip. Have fun. 

 

Rod

White 2000/2010Volvo VNL 770 with 7' Drom box with opposing doors,  JOST slider hitch. 600 HP Cummins Signature 18 Speed three pedal auto shift.

1999 Isuzu VehiCross retired to a sticks and bricks garage. Brought out of storage the summer of 2022

2022 Jeep Wrangler Sport S Two door hard top.

2007 Honda GL 1800

2013 Space Craft Mfg S420 Custom built Toyhauler

The Gold Volvo is still running and being emptied in July. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Vegas Teacher said:

First day would be from Vegas to Salt Lake City. Second would be Salt Lake to Omaha. Third would be Omaha to Morley Michigan, it is about 75 miles north of Grand Rapids Michigan in the Southwest part of the state. We would stay with my wife's family for a while. The trip from Michigan down to Kansas takes about a day. My home town is Pittsburg Kansas, I grew up about 45 miles from where Jack has RVH life styles. I am about 150 from where the National HDT rally takes place. Going back to Vegas my first leg would be to Gallup New Mexico then into Vegas. That is how we drove with a normal trip, but I have not recalculated with semi. We have also done straight through trips rotating drivers and sleeping in the back of my 4 door tundra or with the seats down in my outback too. But I am not sure if the big truck will slow me down or how much it might.

Morley ... Our Daughter and her family live a few miles east of the blinker . DW and I are about half an hour north . 

Be advised : Do not speed in Morley . The 'law' will take it's toll . ;)

Like Star Dreamer , we avoid the Chicago asylum . 

You might consider dropping down to Illinois 18 via US39 ( Peru ) . Illinois 18 east through Streator until it meets Illinois 17 east to Momence , IL . Then Illinois 114 , which turns to Indiana 10 at the state line . Take Indiana 10 to US31 . North to US 20 . East to Indiana 13 North , which turns into US131 at the state line . North to exit 125 . 

We've traveled that route in our Monaco more than once . It's a bit longer , but , much more relaxing and pleasurable drive .

 

 

Edited by Pat & Pete

Goes around , comes around .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

29 minutes ago, Pat & Pete said:

Morley ... Our Daughter and her family live a few miles east of the blinker . DW and I are about half an hour north . 

Be advised : Do not speed in Morley . The 'law' will take it's toll . ;)

Like Star Dreamer , we avoid the Chicago asylum . 

You might consider dropping down to Illinois 18 via US39 ( Peru ) . Illinois 18 east through Streator until it meets Illinois 17 east to Momence , IL . Then Illinois 114 , which turns to Indiana 10 at the state line . Take Indiana 10 to US31 . North to US 20 . East to Indiana 13 North , which turns into US131 at the state line . North to exit 125 . 

We've traveled that route in our Monaco more than once . It's a bit longer , but , much more relaxing and pleasurable drive .

 

 

Are you close to big rapids, my wife graduated from Ferris State.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From Michigan to Pittsburg, I would take I94 and 94/80 it is a short bit of I80 to I57 to Effingham then pick up I70.    I 70 in Indiana is some of the worst road in the country.    I have visited friends in Saginaw and find rest stops better than truck stops for layovers IF bobtail park in the RV parking.   

 

Steve   

Edited by Steve from SoCal

2005 Peterbilt 387-112 Baby Cat 9 speed U-shift

1996/2016 remod Teton Royal Atlanta

1996 Kentucky 48 single drop stacker garage project

 catdiesellogo.jpg.e96e571c41096ef39b447f78b9c2027c.jpg Pulls like a train, sounds like a plane....faster than a Cheetah sniffin cocaine.   

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"I would second the motion to avoid I-80 as much as possible, especially east of Des Moines, Iowa".

We live south of Grand Rapids Mi. and spent a Month in Co. and Utah last year.  On the way back we went I 70 to 470 around Denver and picked up US 36 just East of Denver.  HWY 36 was awesome, cruise set at 65 with no traffic all the way to Hannibal MO., then I-72 in Hannibal, north on I-57 to Hwy 24  in Gilman IN.  Once on Hwy 24 you can take Hwy 421 or Hwy 31 north to I-94.  It might take a little longer this way......but all it takes is a traffic jam in Chicago to make it up.  Hwy 36 is a great way to avoid St. Louis and Kansas City and some of it is a limited access Hwy.

We travel to Ryan Park WY. from West Michigan a couple times a year.  We are unable to avoid Chicago, so we travel through Chicago between 11 pm-4 am Central time or Sunday early morning. 

Bob

Bob&Kay
2012 VNL730 I Shift D13 2.47 ratio
2018 Mobile Suites 40 kssb4

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, Vegas Teacher said:

Are you close to big rapids, my wife graduated from Ferris State.

We're originally from the Grand Rapids , Mi area . Currently in a camp north of Big Rapids for the summer .

West Michigan is the stomping grounds of my younger days . :)

Goes around , comes around .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Howdy Cory,

As others have said I strongly suggest avoiding ANY major city traffic if possible, why deal with the stress and greater possibility of a wreak if you don't have to.

I know that freeways are the quickest way to get somewhere but they are also BORING and driving them won't give you the skill set needed to drag your trailer on the two lane roads that must be used to get to most scenic and camping areas.  I would suggest taking the back roads from time to time and learn how your truck handles curves and grades that your not going to find on the freeways.

Most of all, slow down, count the cows, SEE the county your traveling through and ENJOY the trip as well as the destination.

Dave

2001 Peterbilt, 379, Known As "Semi-Sane II", towing a 2014 Voltage 3818, 45 foot long toy hauler crammed full of motorcycles of all types.  Visit my photo web site where you will find thousands of photos of my motorcycle wanderings and other aspects of my life, click this link. http://mr-cob.smugmug.com/

IMG_4282-600x310.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree with Mr. COB on avoiding cities when practical.  When we're looking for ways to avoid big towns, I even count the number of entrance/exit points.  Each one is a potential conflict as folks merge, or try to.

 

KW T-680, POPEMOBILE
Newmar X-Aire, VATICAN
Lots of old motorcycles, Moto Guzzi Griso and Spyder F3 currently in the front row
Young enough to play in the dirt as a retired farmer.
contact me at rickeieio1@comcast.net

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, Pat & Pete said:

When we have little choice but to go through a big town , I always run the center lane of the E-way .

That works best as the on - off traffic can do as they please and I can be done with it the quickest . ;)

If you are not in a hurry, then run the right lane and get over if needed, but if you can't it's up to the entering vehicle to increase their speed to get in front of you or for them to stop on the ramp if they cannot merge  in. I HATE to see people Slam on their brakes to allow a very slow moving vehicle to get in front of them merging in. If you don't know how to merge you have no business on that type of highway. JMHO. 

 

Rod

White 2000/2010Volvo VNL 770 with 7' Drom box with opposing doors,  JOST slider hitch. 600 HP Cummins Signature 18 Speed three pedal auto shift.

1999 Isuzu VehiCross retired to a sticks and bricks garage. Brought out of storage the summer of 2022

2022 Jeep Wrangler Sport S Two door hard top.

2007 Honda GL 1800

2013 Space Craft Mfg S420 Custom built Toyhauler

The Gold Volvo is still running and being emptied in July. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 5/31/2021 at 9:01 AM, Pat & Pete said:

We're originally from the Grand Rapids , Mi area . 

We're from the Grand Rapids area too... still have our house back in Rockford.   Howdy, neighbor!   As a matter of fact, just arrived back in Grand Rapids staying for a while, driving our toad.... New grandchild coming and home to help.

2007 Dolphin

  • Safe-T-Plus Steering Bar

Our Blog: Click Here

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, lappir said:

If you are not in a hurry, then run the right lane and get over if needed, but if you can't it's up to the entering vehicle to increase their speed to get in front of you or for them to stop on the ramp if they cannot merge  in. I HATE to see people Slam on their brakes to allow a very slow moving vehicle to get in front of them merging in. If you don't know how to merge you have no business on that type of highway. JMHO. 

 

Rod

The ones that irritate me are the ones who never look--they just come down the ramp and right into traffic whether or not there is space for them. Apparently we are all supposed to move over to make room for them even if we plan to take the next exit. I was taught my job as the one already there is to maintain a steady speed so those on the ramp know how to adjust. I just wish everyone else had been taught that. One of the problems, I think, is that driving tests happen on city streets so new drivers don't have to show they know how to merge into traffic. But, some testers are to blame as well; when Dave's father had to take a driving test after his stroke the tester noted that his reactions were slow. I guess you could call it that since by the time he stopped for a stop sign he was in the middle of the intersection. But, that didn't result in any restrictions!

Linda

Blog: http://sandcastle.sandsys.org/

Former Rigs: Liesure Travel van, Winnebago View 24H, Winnebago Journey 34Y, Sportsmobile Sprinter conversion van

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, sandsys said:

The ones that irritate me are the ones who never look--they just come down the ramp and right into traffic whether or not there is space for them. Apparently we are all supposed to move over to make room for them even if we plan to take the next exit. I was taught my job as the one already there is to maintain a steady speed so those on the ramp know how to adjust. I just wish everyone else had been taught that. One of the problems, I think, is that driving tests happen on city streets so new drivers don't have to show they know how to merge into traffic. But, some testers are to blame as well; when Dave's father had to take a driving test after his stroke the tester noted that his reactions were slow. I guess you could call it that since by the time he stopped for a stop sign he was in the middle of the intersection. But, that didn't result in any restrictions!

Linda

I was so disappointed with my youngest child's drivers education in the late 1990's. It was in South Florida where there are multiple merge areas, multilane roads and lots of distracted drivers all over. Her required time in the car was registered in minutes, don't remember the exact numbers, but her behind the wheel time was 1/3 of that since there were two other students in the car at the same time.  They didn't go very far away from the school, since they had to be back in an hour and the school was on the western edge of the metropolis. 

Thankfully I had spent a summer in Iowa teaching her how to handle motorized vehicles. It started with a Riding lawn mower and backing up to hook up to a wagon or something else. Then it was mowing the large lawn and keeping straight lines. We progressed to a 1970's Jeep Pickup with a manual transmission and headed out on the country roads I grew up driving. We put lots of miles on the gravel, the hills, the mud and then started on the highway to town and finally running around town a bit. She is now comfortable driving a manual transmission unlike many of her friends. 

We also spent a lot of time in locations around where she lived in South Florida after returning for the school year. One time we were out in the "Acreage" and it seemed like she was going in circles. I let it go for a while before asking 'Do you know where you are and where are you wanting to go'. Her response was "Home", and the lesson began in earnest. I hadn't planned it, but it came at the perfect time. It was starting to get dark, she was in an unfamiliar place and it was time to use her Iowa skills to find her way home. 

When we first started out in Iowa, I said pick a direction, I don't care which way it is, but make sure you can find your way back to your starting spot we will be in the truck for an hour and I don't want to just go in a circle for an hour, we have to do multiple turns and several miles. We found landmarks and such that would get her home. I told her she could not get me lost in the area. 

In South Florida it was a different animal. I had gotten lost one day looking for a home to purchase, in the "Acreage". I was on my motorcycle with a low fuel tank. Thankfully what my Grandfather had taught me when I was very young in Iowa kicked in. He was the one that started me driving when I was about 10 and in the large pasture with no roads. Long story short we got home and she is now the best navigator I have ever seen. She also used to fall asleep on all of our long road trips and just the other day I asked about a recent trip with her roommate and who drove, and how her road nap was. She remarked I don't nap much in the car now. It's sort of rude to the driver. Proud Dad moment right there. 

I know this was long, but it's not the responsibility for the schools to teach our children, it's ours. The schools responsibility is to act as the impartial testing center where all the families hard work really pays off. I wish I had realized that a long time ago. Think about it. 

 

 

Rod

 

White 2000/2010Volvo VNL 770 with 7' Drom box with opposing doors,  JOST slider hitch. 600 HP Cummins Signature 18 Speed three pedal auto shift.

1999 Isuzu VehiCross retired to a sticks and bricks garage. Brought out of storage the summer of 2022

2022 Jeep Wrangler Sport S Two door hard top.

2007 Honda GL 1800

2013 Space Craft Mfg S420 Custom built Toyhauler

The Gold Volvo is still running and being emptied in July. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, lappir said:

I know this was long, but it's not the responsibility for the schools to teach our children, it's ours. The schools responsibility is to act as the impartial testing center where all the families hard work really pays off. I wish I had realized that a long time ago. Think about it. 

Well stated.

KW T-680, POPEMOBILE
Newmar X-Aire, VATICAN
Lots of old motorcycles, Moto Guzzi Griso and Spyder F3 currently in the front row
Young enough to play in the dirt as a retired farmer.
contact me at rickeieio1@comcast.net

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, lappir said:

If you are not in a hurry, then run the right lane and get over if needed, but if you can't it's up to the entering vehicle to increase their speed to get in front of you or for them to stop on the ramp if they cannot merge  in. I HATE to see people Slam on their brakes to allow a very slow moving vehicle to get in front of them merging in. If you don't know how to merge you have no business on that type of highway. JMHO. 

 

Rod

 Almost always , I run the right lane and most everyone passes us , except when there are 3 or more lanes in big towns . 

Then it's center lane . I've experienced way too many 'not knowing how to merge' incidents to increase the chance of a mishap with our home . I guess it's kinda like an insurance policy . ;)

I agree on parents teaching responsibilities . Even supposed 'dumb' animals teach their young . 

Goes around , comes around .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, Jim & Alice said:

We're from the Grand Rapids area too... still have our house back in Rockford.   Howdy, neighbor!   As a matter of fact, just arrived back in Grand Rapids staying for a while, driving our toad.... New grandchild coming and home to help.

Hi Jim .

DW lived in Cedar Springs and Rockford before buying a place on the Northeast end of GR . 

 We came back when our twin grand-girls were born . 

Similarities . :)

Goes around , comes around .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, Jim & Alice said:

We're from the Grand Rapids area too... still have our house back in Rockford.   Howdy, neighbor!   As a matter of fact, just arrived back in Grand Rapids staying for a while, driving our toad.... New grandchild coming and home to help.

I know where Rockford is!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Pat & Pete said:

Similarities . :)

Yes, Similarities!   One of he joys of Fulltiming for us have been encountering folks from 'home'.   A few years ago, I actually ran into a guy that I had worked with closely for years, but due to dispersed campus (Butterworth) rarely encountered.   He was at a gas pump in South Dakota, I arrived and saw the license plate... and after exchanging names we 'clicked'. 

2007 Dolphin

  • Safe-T-Plus Steering Bar

Our Blog: Click Here

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...