I'm planning travel from Winston-Salem, NC to Vancouver Washington this summer, towing a 28' enclosed tag car hauler. Total weight including trailer around 9k lbs. I would like to know the best route for me to take making it as easy a commuite as possible, without making it so long. This is a one way trip as I'm moving. I'm a newbe at towing this length and weight. I've tried several of the map/directions websites, but am not sure what kind of mountain travel that will send me through. A website for towers would be great, but couldn't find one.

98.5 2500, auto with edge EZ, Hawk break pads. Everything else stock/standard.

Thanks!

 

Well, once you get on I70, you can stay on that until St Louis, then get on 64 through WV, then go down to WS from there, I think it's 77 or 81. I can't remember without looking at the map. It might even be State Hwy 52. Someone else can help you with that portion. The I70-I64 drives are relatively easy except going through St Louis.

 

Gawd.. Time your trip through St Louis outside of morning and afternoon rush hour! I've hauled a loaded 24 foot horse trailer through there during afternoon rush. I do NOT want to experience that again!

 

Well you could take I40 west to Nashville, then I24 west to I 57 north to I 64 west to I 70 west to Kansas City then take I 29 north to I 90 west to US 395 south (west of Spokane) to I 82 south to I 80 west to I 205 north. It sounds like a round about way to go, but there are only a couple of mountains to go over that way.
Tom

 

You want to go thru the Rocky Mountains on I-80. This is the easiest crossing of 'em, NO severe passes to cross.

 

Till you hit Parleys Canyon on I-80 just outside of Salt Lake City.

The Ford commercials call it the longest 6% grade in North America. (or something like that).

Semi's go 20 mph up and are smoking their brakes coming down.

I'd say stay on 70 till you hit I-15, then turn north to Idaho.
15 will split into 84 which will take you right into Vancouver.

Not sure on grades past Idaho though, I don't get out much.


phox

 

This is the way I would do it too.

 

Been there, done that. Would rather take 80 across the mountains than 70 across Missouri!

 

I've been through that stretch twice pulling an 8,000lb travel trailer with a Powerstroke. I never dropped below 55MPH uphill. Downhill wasn't a problem even with no E-brake.

We'll see what my Dodge does this fall with the same trailer.

Brian Elfert

 

It's been about 3 yrs & most of it's a blur bc I drove from FL to Portland, OR in less than 3 days but I don't remember any steep climbs btwn Cheyenne, WY & Ogden, UT. There was, it seemed, a heck of a long downhill out of WY into UT tho. Remember more long downhills coming off various plateaus in OR but again no steep climbs.

This is the route I'd take from Mt Airy, NC:

I-77N to I-81S to I-40W to I-24W to I-57N to I-64W to I-70W (to Denver -- boring) to I-25N to I-80W to I-84W to I-82W to I-90W to I-5N to (new) home.

For those who don't know, odd-#ed interstates are N/S & even-#ed E/W.

Don't know whether this is relevant but my only 2 regrets in taking the I-80 section on my trip out west was the construction & the wind. Construction should, hopefully, be completed by now. Unless of course, construction is the norm in the summer months (made the trip in late July). Don't know which was worst, the construction or the wind? That wind ... it just comes howling across pretty desolate land from north to south & I could swear that at times it was actually blowing hard enuf to bend the van antenna to the south!

If you're not already a member it might be worthwhile getting a Deluxe AAA mbrshp or equivalent. Only suggest the deluxe version bc it offers 100 miles of free towing vs ?? miles with a std mbrshp. Also, free lockout & 5(?) gallons of free gas (diesel, in your case). Hopefully you'd never need it but ...?

Good luck & safe driving.

 

I've driven all these roads a fair amount. My choice is always I-80 to cross the Rockies. Then I would make my way to I-84 through Boise all the way to either the I-205 or I-5 in Portland, depending on what part of Vancouver you want to end up in.

You will pass through the Blue Mountains in Eastern Oregon. It's all pretty easy ups and downs through them untill Cabbage Hill just outside of Pendleton. It is a long, steep down grade, much like the one dropping into Salt Lake on I-80.

You'll do fine on all of these long down grades IF you take your time and don't ride the brakes . Be sure and downshift and let your engine help you with the speed control.

Have a good trip!

100 Proof

 

If you take the I-80 across (and in my opinion it is the best way) the only problems will be A) boredom and B) cabbage hill in Oregon on I-84 when you get to it just go slow and use you brakes as little as possible.
That’s where I got my tee shirt for being stupid. (Another story)