I'm planning a trip later this year (in Sept.) and part of the trip will take me out of the Lake Tahoe area and across Nevada and Utah on US-50 Hwy, picking up I-70 ending in Moab, UT. I'll be towing a 22' lowboy gooseneck with a 5500 to 6000 pound truck on it. For those familiar with that stretch of highway, what's it like? Should I seriously reconsider my route to head across I-80 and down I-15 to I-70? I know the I-80, I-15 route will probably be faster, but I'm not concerned with that. Part of the purpose of the trip to see some of the country. I'm just wondering if the US-50 route will be a roller coaster ride and not very enjoyable with a trailer in tow.

I'd like to hear your opinion of US-50 across Nevada if you've driven that route.

 

I have not been on it but I hear it is called the loneliest hiway in the country.

 

If that's the case.... it sounds perfect. I want to see the country.... not a bunch of people.

 

they call it the death strip cause there are so many wrecks on it, personally ive never been on it for more than 50 miles, but i think there is some pretty country to see traveling on it.

 

It has been a few years since I crossed it, but I have done it several times. No problems, good road, pretty desolate in places. I actually stopped in the middle of the road, took a leak, walked around a little and stretched my legs, (you can see for miles in either direction in a lot of places) and took back off. I was there for maybe ten minutes and never saw another car. If you like seeing a long ways you will enjoy the scenery.

 

We rode bicycles across Nevada on hiway 50 a few years ago. There's a reason they call it the loneliest hiway in America. After Lake Tahoe the only hill I recall was in Austin. Very flat till the Rockies. Lots of sagebrush. We turned north at Ely because of favorable tail winds to Windover then across the Great Salt Lake to Provo. Stayed in a campground on the lake in downtown Provo. The next day we rode up the mountain to Heber City and stayed in a State campground outside of town which was the very nice, next to a stream. Stayed at a KOA in Steamboat Springs.We didn't find another campground after that. We slept in city parks, churches, roadside, under bridges or motels.

 

It's kind of like Texas. You can look farther and see less than anywhere else in the country.

 

Sounds perfect then.... Thanks guys.

 

Carry spare fuel if you plan on running at night, it is the lonliest stretch of highway , it is getting better but most gas stations are closed early and open late 10pm-6am youre on your own usually sometimes 7am or 8am so keep that in mind

Head winds used to eat my mileage right down with a trailer through there

 

Carson City to Ely is only 320 miles (give or take). That should be well within the range of a tank of fuel. Even so, I do plan on carrying two 12 gallon HDPE carboys with me. If I stop to fuel up in Carson City, I should be able to make it to Ely without having to stop for fuel, but I'll carry some extra anyway. I'll be making the trip during the day since the idea is to see some of the country.... don't get to see much at night.

 

We went across US 50 thru Nevada last summer with our pickup camper towing a 7000 lb cargo trailer.
Us 50 goes east-west and crosses a lot of north-south ridge lines along the way, so there ARE some hills to climb/decend. No problem downshifting or with an Ebrake.
However, we didn't get anywhere near 320 miles to a tank with those hills and altitude, you'll be using those spare fuel cans...
Beautiful scenery, especially looking down the straight shot of road thru the long valleys in between ridgelines.

Let us know how your trip was!

 

Well, I'm going to take them regardless, but expect I might get a little bit better milage than you did, since I won't have have a camper in the bed. I'll be towing about 7000 to 8000 lbs on a gooseneck, but won't have the added weight and wind resistance caused by a slide-in camper.

 

Um, what can I say? I drive Rt. 50 from Carson City to Delta, Utah about five times a year.

No problems with the road. It's in very good shape.

Central Nevada is without a doubt, very definitely, I-promise-you, not flat! It's basin-and-range country. While the basin-crossings are relatively flat and straight, the passes through or around the Desatoya Mountains, the Toiyabe Range, the White Pine Range, and the Snake Range are steep, winding, and top out at 6500-8000 feet. You go all the way from salt pan up to pinyon forest (in a couple of places even subalpine) and down again, over and over.

Even so, it's not bad. I've done it many times with a 3500 dually 4x4 hooked to a 30 foot trailer. A few places you slow down to 25 miles an hour is all. Beautiful country, very barren and empty, a "two hundred mile view". Take tools and a few basic repair items, and watch your fuel gauge, because beyond Fallon, you'll only find "good" diesel at Ely and Delta.

You'll see wild life, look for elk in the mountains and mustangs on the slopes. Watch for jack rabbits and antelope crossing the road -- I've flattened the former, but managed to avoid the latter.

And if you're lucky, you'll see bombing and strafing runs by Air Force F16's and Navy F18's on Labou Flats, about ten miles south of the road.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for the info GP... like I said above, I have some 12 gallon carboys (actually I have 4, not 2 and also a 30 gallon HDPE drum. Now I just need to figure out what combination of those to carry for extra fuel. Thanks again guys.... I'll be making the crossing in late Sept., what kind of weather can expect that time of year?

 

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